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Casi 1,35 millones de personas visitaron Panamá entre enero y octubre de 2010, entre turistas (el 80%), pasajeros de cruceros (16 por ciento) y visitantes del día (4%), un 10,3%más que en el mismo período de 2009, según las últimas cifras difundidas por la Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP).

De los 1.348.439 visitantes, 1.079.901 eran turistas, es decir, que pasaron al menos una noche en el país, según los criterios de la Organización Mundial del Turismo. De entre los turistas europeos, la mayoría eran españoles.

Estos turistas estuvieron en Panamá una media de nueve días y gastaron cada día 113 balboas (83 euros), gracias a lo cual este país centroamericano registró el gasto turístico más elevado de la región, según la ATP.

Las divisas generadas por el sector del turismo alcanzaron los 1.368 millones de balboas (1.005 millones de euros), lo que supone un aumento del 14,2% respecto al año anterior.

Durante un acto en Madrid previo a la inauguración de la Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR), el ministro panameño de Turismo, Salomón Shamah, ha resaltado el hecho de que la guía de viaje Lonely Planet haya elegido Panamá como uno de los diez países que recomienda visitar este año.

Por su parte, el viceministro, Fernando de León de Alba, ha detallado los distintos ejes de promoción de la oferta turística: historia y cultura, ecoturismo, deporte y aventura, Ciudad de Panamá, sol y playa y etnias indígenas.

Shamah ha recordado que, desde el pasado octubre, Iberia ofrece vuelos directos entre Ciudad de Panamá y Madrid. La aerolínea española ofrece cuatro frecuencias semanales y ha permitido reducir la duración del trayecto en más de cuatro horas --ahora son diez de ida y diez de vuelta--.

También ha indicado que los extranjeros que visitan Panamá están cubiertos por un seguro de accidentes y emergencias médicas gratuito desde el momento en que llegan al Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumén y durante los 30 días siguientes.

En el stand de Panamá en Fitur se mostrarán los últimos proyectos hoteleros de lujo que se están desarrollando y se destacará especialmente el turismo de cruceros. Se espera que en esta nueva temporada lleguen al país centroamericano 185 cruceros y 320.000 pasajeros.

Three natural parks are the patrimony of the humanity. Five star Hotels in a modern, mighty and full of life city. Two dormant volcanos. Sighting of birds in the tropical forest. Sports and adventure. Almost three thousand kilometers of beach and coast. The Panama Canal. A stroll in the interoceanic train to visit the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific coast is only one hour long. This and much more will be available for you in your visit to Panama!
 
This Central American country, that limits with Costa Rica and Colombia, was present at the International Tourism Fair, Fitur, on the 19th and the 23rd of January in Madrid. And on the afternoon of the 18th of January, its delegates (minister of tourism and vice-minister) showed the assistants of the event in the Puerta de America, all the wonders of Panama.
 
An exotic nature, 21 museums, the Panama Jazz Festival (from the 10 to the 15 of January), the carnivals (from the 4 to the 8 of March); the ATLAPA Conventions Center; the fort of San Lorenzo and the Archaeological Park of the Panama Viejo; molas of fabric that made by craftswomen of the ethnic group kuna, the beautiful chicken farmers (in traditional skirts), the Archipielago of Las Perlas and Bocas del Toro are some others of their attractiveness.
 
Source: PATRICIA MEDRANO, enLatino.com

Panama has a tropical climate. Temperatures are relatively high and vary little throughout the year. During the day in Panama City, temperatures range between 24° C (75.2 °F) and 29° C (84.2° F). In the Pacific, temperatures are usually lower than in the Caribbean. In the highlands and mountains, temperatures are usually lower. For example, in the highland towns of Chiriquí like Boquete and Volcán, temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Panama City: The weather is hot (31° C) ranging between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Highlands: The climate is cooler (23° C) staying between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Beaches: The climate is hot (31° C) ranging between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Climate by Province:

Chiriquí Province

Climate:

The mild climate of the mountainous area is characteristic of the areas with highest elevations in the province, and can be fully enjoyed in Cerro Punta, Volcán and Boquete. In these areas the rainfall is abundant, raining almost nine months a year, which helps make the climate more pleasant in this region. The diversity of climates makes Chiriquí one of the most productive provinces of the country. The coffee and oranges grown in Boquete are considered among the best, along with strawberries from Cerro Punta.

 

Veraguas Province

Climate:

The climate is tropical humid in the lower areas, and temperate and very humid in the mountainous regions.

The lowest average temperatures in the province are around 22 º C in the highlands of the Andes; whereas the highest average temperatures, around 27 ° C, are in the lower elevations. 


Los Santos Province

Climate:

The province of Los Santos has a tropical savanna climate A wi?. As such, on the coasts we can find premontane dry forest, premontane rain forest and tropical dry forest. However, this situation does not prevent microclimates from being established in the highlands that correspond to other environmental conditions, as can be seen in the cases of Canajagua and Cerro Hoya.

 

Herrera Province

Climate:

The climate in the province of Herrera is varied, and one can encounter humid or temperate climates.  You will feel a more temperate climate in mountainous areas such as Cerro de Tijera, Cerro de Rock, Cerro Largo, Cerro del NUCO and La Loma.

Wetter weather will be felt when traveling across the plains of Santa María and Ocú, as well as in nearby areas by the coast such as the city of Chitré.

 

Cocle Province

Climate:

We will find a large lowland area in the relief of Cocles Province, which has an arid climate. The central mountain range of the isthmus extends towards the north of the province, where the climate is also arid in some places, and humid in others. Broad rivers cross these territories, whose waters originate from the mountains and on the south side of the knot of Anton Valley.

 

Colon Province

Climate:

With a tropical humid climate and natural diversity of flora and fauna, this region is identified by the waters the Atlantic Ocean offers us to allow entry through the Panama Canal. A Duty Free Zone and port for cruise ships invite us to enjoy a tour of the crossroads of colonial landscapes on a summer afternoon.

 

Darien Province

Climate:

Darién is a very wet and rainy region. This factor, along with a scant population, is crucial for the conservation of its fauna and flora; it is one of the most ecologically diverse regions of our entire planet.

Its jungle, declared a Biosphere Reserve and National Park, is also known as the Darién Gap or the Panamanian Amazon. This is the biggest park in Panamá and the second largest in Central America. In addition, it provides a biological corridor where typically tropical species can mix with northern Nearctic species.

 

Bocas del Toro Province

Climate:

The climate of Bocas del Toro is hot and tropical with a typical temperature of between 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 18 degrees. This very humid tropical climate extends across almost the entire province; however, in the highlands the climate is temperate
The multiple cultural roots of Panama have turned this country into an expressive and colorful place. This is specifically evident in the pieces of local crafts, some traditional and others more contemporary. The Panamanian craftsmen have created a wonderful collection of pieces of all types, so that the visitors take a good remembrance of their trip. Some of these works are true works of art, like the ones produced by the indigenous groups with different materials such as textile, wood, fibers and vegetal seeds. The designs of these crafts, inspired generally by the pre-Columbian art, are splendid creations of finest aesthetic.
These two ethnic races are natives of the Darien jungle, which is somewhat far from the capital city, and can be accessed by plane or in small cruise ships, however Emberá and Wounaan communities exist in areas closer to Panama City. The former can be found in Lake Alajuela, in the Canal region, in the towns of Parará Purú and Drúa. The Wounaan have settlements close to the Chagres river, also in the Canal area, in San Antonio, Mocambo and Ella Purú. Other settlements close to the capital city are a short distance away, in the areas near Chepo, located towards the province of Darien, among them the Emberá Ipetí community. In all these communities, the members of these ethnic races live just like they do in Darien, conserving their customs, their foods and their beautiful craftsmanship, which can be obtained there.
The best way to get to know the Kunas is to take a trip to their district, a marine paradise in the Caribbean coast an hour flight away from Panama city. One can also access the community of Cartí by road. Once in Kuna territory, there are dozens of islands to chose from, each one of them with beautiful beaches full of white sand and intense green waters surrounded by palm trees. Enjoy the delicacies of the Caribbean environment of Kuna Yala while you admire the expressions of their ancestral culture, among them the canes carved in wood, called nuchus, their dancing to the tune of the pentatonic flutes and the famous molas, made with vibrant colors and magistral designs. If you cannot go to Kuna Yala, you could admire the molas and how they make them in the Kuna craftsmanship stands in the city of Panama.
The Ngäbe and Bugle tribes inhabit great mountainous regions in the provinces of Chiriqí, Bocas del Toro and Veraguas. If during your stay in Panama you visit the higher lands of Chiriquí, or the islands of Bocas, you could visit some of these ethnic tribes' communities. The  Ngäbe-Buglé, as they are usually called, are somewhat reserved and live in small communities formed by family clans, spread throughout their territorial district. Normally they celebrate their traditional ceremonies, like balsería, in remote places high up in the mountains, and because of this their customs remain shrouded in mystery and legend. Their neighbors, the Naso-Teribes and the Brí-Brí live in even more remote areas of the province of Bocas del Toro.
In Panama it is said that the authentic country is found at the other side of the bridge that crosses the Canal, the country of the ancient traditions. In certain way, it is true since very close to the capital city in the first town located along the interamerican road the country ways are still kept and a certain happiness is found among the colors and spirit of the interior. Starting in La Chorrera, at few kilometers from the capital city up to San Carlos located at the limit of the province of Panama, in practically all towns visitors may enjoy the diverse and extraordinary samples of the Panamanian folklore, especially during the town fairs. In the country, the religious beliefs are mixed with the cultural traditions, particularly on the dates of the saints venerated by the respective towns whose anniversaries are fully celebrated. These towns form part of the region of the Arco Seco which offers dozens of beautiful white sand beaches.
In the towns of this province have been kept the rich cultural expressions created during the years of the Spanish colonization. The traditional dances such as the cumbia, the tamborito and the punto are as ancient as the people of these towns who take this culture with them wherever they go. A visit to the towns of the Herrera and Los Santos provinces places tourists in contact with the most representative aspects of our culture. During the fairs and celebrations, both men and women dress beautifully in traditional ways that are very pleasing to the eyes and sing and dance to the rhythm of the vernacular music accompanied by drums, violins, mejoranera, socavon and churuca. During each time of the year there is some fair or celebration to enjoy in Ocú, Parita, Pesé, La Villa de Los Santos, Guararé, Las Tablas o Tonosí and each festivity is a sample of the cultural traditions carefully kept during centuries in these two provinces. In the cascos antiguos of the main towns of each province tourists may also visit the colonial churches whose ancient walls still hear the people’s prayers.
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