Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yet the US is only one of many
cultural influences
- which derive from Spain and other
parts of Europe, West Africa, the West Indies, China, India and the Middle East - fused with
the fascinating heritage of the eight indigenous peoples that survived the Spanish conquest.
Panama's complexities and contradictions confront you at every turn, which can intrigue
and frustrate in equal measure. The Panamanian government has actively started to promote
tourism
, yet there's often very little information on offer. The colourful traditional attire
of Panama's indigenous populations is unashamedly used as photo fodder, but the people
themselves are frequently ignored by their government. Many inhabit the tropical rainforests
of Panama's national parks, which remain desperately underfunded and are threatened by
government-sanctioned projects.
Indeed, it's hard to visit Panama and not be both amazed and perturbed by the pace of
change in this small, young nation, as skyscrapers increasingly fill Panama City's skyline and
motorways push deeper into the Darién. The world's grandest canal celebrated its centenary
in 2014, to much media hype, and the country increasingly features on backpackers' itiner-
aries. Outside the big attractions, though, it's easy enough to get off the beaten track. Make
the effort to seek out the country's lesser-visited corners - far-flung island or deepest jungle
- and you'll discover a remarkably authentic slice of undeveloped Latin America.
