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My name, Panama, comes from an Indian word that means "abundance of fish, flowers, and butterflies". Bordered by the Caribbean Sea on the north, the Pacific Ocean on the south, Columbia on the east and Costa Rica on the west, I am a connecting link between Central and South America and a true crossroads of the world.
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MY HISTORY
Founded by Pedro Arias Dávila on august 15th 1519, my first city was invaded by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671 and then destroyed. You can see the ruins on what is known today as "Panama vieja" (old Panama). Moved to the other end of the bay I became a walled city known today as "Casco viejo" (Old City shell) and I grew to become what I am today, the modern and friendly city where you will enjoy during your visit.
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MY CANAL
Known as the eight wonder of the modern world, the Panama Canal was built between 1904 and 1914. This impressive engineering work provides easy transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by a locks system that ascends ships to the Gatun lake and then descends them to the other ocean at about 50 miles on the opposite side. On certain fixed dates we can arrange full or partial transits departing from and returning to your Hotel.
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MY TRADITIONS
Being the crossroads of the world, many cultures have passed through my lands and I have gathered the best of them. An example is "La Pollera" one of the most beautiful typical dresses of the world which is a combination of Spanish, French, Afro-antillean and native Indian influences. It's incomparable beauty can be best appreciated from the Hotel Costa del Sol during our "Carnival" (mardi-gras) at the beginning of the Lent when the whole country stops for four days of party and fun.
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MY PEOPLE
My five different Indian cultures have been in Panama long before Christopher Columbus arrived. You can see Kunas living today as they did then in the San Blas islands and Chocoes in the Chagres River. The Spaniards came in the 16th century, later the Africans enriched my heritage with their music and art. Chinese came to work in the construction of the railroad in mid 19th century. By the end of that century came the French and the Afro-antilleans and later in the beginning of the 20th century the Americans to engineer and build the great canal.
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MY BEACHES and ISLANDS
Everywhere you look there are beaches. Some of them within 10 minutes from your Hotel. I am proud to hold more than 40 sport-fishing world records for marlin and sailfish. You can dive in islands located in two different oceans and in the Gatun Lake the same day. You can spear fish or just see spectacular coral or even a submerged city in the middle of what was the largest manmade lake in the world until very recently.
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MY
RAINFOREST
I am the youngest land that emerged from the oceans 3 million years
ago. The significance of linking the landmasses of the two Americas
in biological terms explains my incredible bio-diversity and makes me ideal for Geotourism.. More than
10,000 varieties of plants and more than 1,000 species of birds
explain why the Smithsonian Institute's single permanent Tropical
Research Center is located here and the richnesess of my ecotourism. The only Rainforest located in the
middle of a major city in Latin America is within minutes from your
Hotel. |
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Copyright © 2007 Gray Line Panama. Todos los derechos reservados
E-mail: tours@grayline-panama.com
TEL: + (507) 300-2333
FAX: + (507) 300-2340
Edificio San Jose 8 Calle D El Cangrejo
P.O. Box 0816-03299, Panama
Republic of Panama (Back to top)
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Copyright © 2007 Gray Line Panama. Todos los derechos reservados
E-mail: tours@grayline-panama.com
TEL: + (507) 300-2333
FAX: + (507) 300-2340
Edificio San Jose 8 Calle D El Cangrejo
P.O. Box 0816-03299, Panama
Republic of Panama
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