Panama is promoting itself
as a dramatic link between
oceans and continents and
has impressive proof of
that role.
The southernmost
Central American country
borders the South
American country of
Colombia on its southern
border, while its
eastern coast fronts the
Caribbean and its western
shores are on the Pacifi c
Ocean.
“Panama is the bridge
of the world,” Luis Vargas
of the Panama Tourist
Authority told a recent
Toronto gathering.
Panama is “the only
country in the world where
you can cross from the
Pacifi c to the Caribbean in
one hour,” he added.
Panama is known in
part for the Panama
Canal, the famed shipping
transit project that’s also a
major tourist draw. Those
interested can visit the
Miraflores Locks, found
15 minutes from Panama
City and home to a visitors
centre, Vargas said.
Vargas says his homeland
– which borders
ecotourism pioneer Costa
Rica – has set aside 20% of
its territory for parkland;
is home to centuries-old
historical sites that have
received UNESCO World
Heritage Site status; and
has seven indigenous
groups; water sports;
nightlife; and shopping in
modern malls.
Historical sitesinclude
Puerto Bello, a site from
which the conquistadores
loaded plunder from South
America aboard ships
bound for Spain.
“We’re a small country,
but huge at the same
time because we have a
lot of things to do,” he
continued.
Vargas also declared that
Panama is the safest country
in Latin America.
Meanwhile, Yolanda
Molinuevo of Panamanian
carrier Copa Airlines’
Toronto office noted Copa
has four weekly flights
from Montreal to Panama
City and five a week from
Toronto.
“We have the largest
[airline] network in
Central America,” she
continued, adding Star
Alliance member Copa
serves 74 destinations in
30 countries.
Among its destinations
is the Colombian capital
of Bogota, to which it has
eight daily frequencies,
she noted.
Copa notes its clients
travelling from this country
to Latin America will
bypass the United States,
and Molinuevo said those
connecting in Panama
City to points elsewhere
in Latin America or the
Caribbean can do so in
as little as 30 minutes,
as in-transit passengers
don’t have to go through
Panamanian customs or
immigration and their
luggage will be forwarded
through to their final
destination.
Molinuevo also said
Copaalso offers its passengers
travelling beyond
Panama a free one- or
two-night stay in the
Panamanian capital.
Copa’s “modern and
flexible” fleet includes 12
B737-700s and 68 B737-
800s, she added.
She noted that Copa’s
ConnectMiles frequent-flyer
program can be used to
redeem points with any
other Star Alliance carrier