Central & South America
Panama
While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travelers. This overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing in the Americas.
Because the coasts are just an hour's drive apart, you could easily spend the morning snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea and the afternoon swimming in the Pacific Ocean.
Fishing enthusiasts will be pleased to know that more deep-sea fishing records have been set at Piņas Bay, on the Pacific coast, than anywhere else in the world.
It is a proud nation that offers astounding wildlife adventures, that respects its seven indigenous peoples and that celebrates its Spanish heritage with frequent and colorful festivals. There's an inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover.
The country's indigenous name means 'abundance of fish'. Rafters can ride 20 sets of rapids in a single day, wildlife abounds in the scarcely-visited national parks, and a person can snorkel in the Caribbean Sea and swim in the Pacific Ocean...on the same day! It's no wonder the locals boast that Panama has much more to offer than nearby, traveler-soaked Costa Rica.
A variety of beautiful landscapes, exceptionally gorgeous beaches, and a remarkably diverse fauna and flora make Panama a choice vacation destination.
