When you are a tourist in a new place, you normally let a tour guide help you out with places to visit. If you happen to be going to Panama, do not fret. This article will be your guide as you unravel Panama, a land abundant in fish, trees and butterflies – and a whole lot more.

Here are some of the go-sees when in this marvelous country:

1. Go you feel like getting in touch with your inner historian? A visit to the Casco Viejo ought to do the trick. Casco Viejo is a Spanish colonial sector that has been around for more than 3 centuries. It showcases the Spanish era in the country and makes one get in touch with the Spanish era that the country has undergone.
2. Once you are done visiting a historical place, it is time to explore nature and its fine offers. If this is what you have in mind, you may want to pay a visit to Ancon Hill and Metropolitan Park. Ancon Hill boasts of a terrific view of Panama’s pride, the Casco Viejo, Panama City and the Panama Channel. On the other hand, the Metropolitan Park boasts of the only rainforest in the world to be situated within a metropolis. Thus you are sure that you will be able to have a wonderful nature treat with these two locations.
3. Hungry after the hike and nature trip? Get a taste of Panama by taking a tour of Panama City’s restaurants. These places have been rated as the best when it comes to Latin American cuisine, thus you are sure to have a gastronomical feast once you pay them a visit. Want to have a bite? Try the ceviche, sancocho and sushi. Not only that, but the seafood fare is also mouthwatering.
4. Wrap up your day with a tour of the nightlife in Panama City. Casinos and clubs are where the parties at, so better bring a friend and enjoy the night away talking to amazing people or trying your luck at the casino tables. Who knows, Lady Luck may come with you and you get some dollars richer.

Are you ready? Pack your bags and be onboard the next flight – to Panama.

Places have their own stories to tell. They have histories that may lead to the way that it is today. These stories alone pave the way for a place to endear itself to a person’s heart, tourist or otherwise. In addition, it also becomes an interesting story to any newbie or visitor.

Panama, for instance, has a lot of stories to its name – all interesting. So how did Panama get its name?

It is said that when the first settlers of Panama came, a lot of butterflies were in the area. Thus, it was named Panama since it means “many butterflies” in one of many indigenous languages in the area.

Another theory is that the country was named such because of the vast number of trees known for the same name in its location.

The most common by far is that Panama got its name from Panamá, a word that means “an abundance of fish”. When Captain Antonio Tello de Guzman  explored the Pacific area in his exploration in 1515, he came upon a fishing village and thus sent word about its existence.

With the many theories to its name, one can not help but mix and match, so to speak. To date, Panamanians believe that their country got its name from a general term which means an abundance of fish, trees and butterflies. Well, if you can’t decide, you just mix them all together, don’t you? That way, you have a better meaning to a single word.  Not only that, but you have yourself a legacy, a way to hold everything together, in such a way that you preserve tradition and the beauty of where your place got its name.

Even with this very beautiful theory of how Panama was named as such, other people still believe that Panama comes from the word bannaba which means far or far away.

Even with these varying stories, Panama remains to be an oyster in the Pacific region, a place not often traveled to, but is a joy to visit. It certainly has a lot to offer, with the varying cultures and festivities, and don’t forget – though it is far bannaba (far away), it is still a land with an abundance of trees, fish, and butterflies. Who wouldn’t want that?

Panama City Xmas Celebrations

Panama City is the center of Christmas celebrations in Panama, with 25% of its 3 million population living in Panama city. The observance of this Panama holiday is done according to the mixture of Spanish and American traditions. Many Americans stayed long in Panama during the building of the Panama Canal. The Christmas celebration begins on the 2nd week of December, whereby houses and businesses are decorated for the upcoming Panama holiday. Traditional Christmas lights and Christmas trees are put up on houses and businesses to symbolize that Christmas is coming soon.

In Panama City, Christmas is observed by holding Christmas parades. These parades make Christmas an exciting Panama holiday. The children from around the Panama city, particularly those from poor families, are gathered, and together they are brought to the center of festivities to receive some gifts and to enjoy the parades. The floats used in the parade are decorated colorfully in national styles. The women and girls dress in their native party dresses called polleras, while the men and boys in their menunos. Everybody in Panama City is looking up for this Panama holiday, Christmas, so they can wear their native costumes.

Panama City Expats Celebrate

Expats and tourists enjoy going to the Panama City Beach to enjoy one more tradition of this Panama holiday where a giant Christmas tree is ceremoniously lighted while singing Christmas carols. Even members of the local churches come together and they serve hot cocoa and cookies to everybody. Firework displays can be seen and enjoyed at the end of the festivities on this Panama holiday. Later at night, a Christmas boat parade, with colorful and glittering lights, is held in Panama City Beach.

Many tourists come to Panama city in time for Christmas to witness and enjoy this Panama holiday and at the same time to escape the snowy and cold winter of their home countries. Other nations up north normally experience snow banks and ice storms during December so they come to Panama city to feel its hot and humid weather. Many people from the northern countries make sure that they choose Panama city as their Panama holiday destination during the Christmas season.

Family Time in Panama City

The Panamanians in general have their big Christmas, Panama holiday celebration on the 24th of December. There are no bells to announce the coming of Jesus Christ, only firework displays. Families enjoy the huge meals together as they light the fireworks that shoot out from every Panamanian town. After the meals, at around past 1:00 am of December 25, Christmas day, people put some Christmas cheers into their cars and drive around for a visit to other family members and friends. Some tourists who are experiencing this Panama holiday tradition for the first time find this practice unique.

In Panama city, visiting relatives and friends in the middle of the night during Christmas is not odd. It is their tradition, and the relatives and friends will feel insulted if you do not go to their houses for a plate of food and some drinks.

The Panama non-working days during Christmas are half-day of the 24th, the whole days of December 25 and 26. The 26 was just recently declared a public holiday in Panama City.

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