IF YOU GO
U.S. nationals need only a passport to enter Panama. Although a $5 "tourist visa" is required, you can buy one when you arrive at the airport. The currency is the U.S. dollar and while the official language is Spanish, almost everyone you meet speaks at least some English. Thanks in part to prosperity brought by the canal, Panama is a safe and welcoming country for tourists.
My eight-day tour, "Panama: Wildlife Bridge of the Americas," was run by an Alabama-based outfitter, International Expeditions. Among the highlights was a two-night stay at Finca Lérida Lodge, a rustic but delightful guest house on a working coffee plantation (www.fincalerida.com). Prices for the tour start at $3,498 per person based on double occupancy (www.IEtravel.com; 1-800-633-4734).
The Panama Tourism Authority's official website is www.visitpanama.com.
PETER MANDEL
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