Panama, the isthmus that joins Central America and South America
San Lorenzo Fort
Colonial times were an era of struggles for political and economic power. European countries fought over the new lands. Panama City, in the middle of it all, was a favorite target because it was the hub and transit zone for goods traveling back and forth between the Americas and the Old World.
The first city on the Pacific
Nothing could be more important for the Spanish crown than defending the mouth of the Chagres River, the water highway that led into the interior of the country and met the Camino de Cruces to reach Panama City. That is why this privileged spot, which offered a commanding view of the surroundings, was chosen to build the San Lorenzo Castle in 1595.
How to get there
A 4×4 vehicle is recommended. You need to reach the city of Colón and take the road down the coast, crossing the new Atlantic Bridge and the former Sherman military base, a remnant of the days when the Americans governed the so-called Canal Zone.
Agua Clara
Panama is much more than its Canal.
Atlantic Bridge
A beautiful piece of architecture inaugurated in 2019. At the western end of the bridge lies San Lorenzo and the road leading to the Gatún Locks visitor center, where you can see the Canal just as the Americans built it at the beginning of the 20th century. On the eastern side of the bridge is the Agua Clara Visitor Center, an ideal spot to watch the Expanded Canal, a mega project carried out between 2009 and 2016 that multiplied the transit options for ships from all over the world.
The trans-isthmian train
Built in the mid-19th century, when Panama was part of Colombia, the Panama Railroad was the first mega project to connect the two oceans.
A route laid out in 1850
Used by thousands of adventurers seeking California gold, it is the route that survives today for container and passenger transport, with cars fitted out to enjoy the lush tropical rainforest. It runs alongside the Canal locks, the Culebra Cut and over Gatún Lake, an artificial lake that serves as a water reservoir for the optimal operation of the interoceanic waterway.
Old Panama
The full name of this archaeological site was Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá, and it took over the area inhabited by the Cueva indigenous people.
The Biomuseo
Located on the Amador Causeway, the Biomuseo building is a spectacle in itself. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, its winding roofs and vibrant colors make it impossible to miss.
The story that joined continents and separated the seas
With eight permanent exhibition halls, the Biomuseo tells the story of the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, which completely changed life on Earth.
At the end of the tour, you can admire the sunset from the museum gardens, with a beautiful view of the Bridge of the Americas (the first one built over the Canal).
PANAMA
The isthmus that joins Central America and South America
