Even though it's the tropics and it gets very hot and humid, in Panama City you will see many men in suits everyday and very elegant women. In Boquete, the dress code is a little bit more relaxed yet still formal. Bocas del Toro would be the only place where flip flops are the norm. read more
Still, for all its diversity, Panama’s dominant culture has Spanish origins. The family is all-important, and machismo is a way of life for most men. Catholicism is prominent, as such, several of the country's holidays and festivals relate to religion. read more
Survivors of the burning of Panama City in 1671 rebuilt a walled bastion on a rocky promontory to the west. This became the home of the colonial administration and the Creole elite, who lived in two-story mansions. Outside the city walls was a neighborhood of free blacks living in thatched structures. read more
Panamanian culture is a hybrid of African, Native Panamanian, and European culture - specifically Spanish. For example, the tamborito is a Spanish dance that was blended with Native American rhythms and dance moves. Dance is a symbol of the diverse cultures that have coupled in Panama. read more