When most people hear of Panama the first thing they think of is the Panama Canal. Panama, however, is far more than just a country with a busy shipping lane. Panama also offer some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving and other recreational activities in the world.
Local Language: Spanish is the official language of Panama however English is widely understood around Panama City and other tourist areas.
Visa Requirements: Canadians are allowed in Panama without a visa.
Health Risks: Rabies, dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria.
Costs: Panama is realtively cheap, though more expensive than some other Central American countries. Look at spending $50 per day if you're eating out and staying in hotels.
Traveling through Panama, you'll probably experience things you never planned on. There are so many activities and things to see in Panama that most people don't give it credit for, and it's much less crowded than say Costa Rica.
The Panama Canal is of course very interesting, as it's an engineering marvel connecting the Pacific and the Caribbean / Atlantic. Watching ships navigate their way through the canal is certainly a 'different' sight to behold, and there is also a museum detailing everything you'd want to know about how the Panama Canal was built and other facts.
If you're travelling on a budget you can find some super cheap hotel rooms for about $10 US per night. But, if you're on a "vacation" then there certainly isn't any shortage of luxuty accommodation. Click here for Hotels in Panama
Panama is well connected to the rest of the world with many flights arriving daily. You can find flighst with several airlines, and getting Cheap flights to Panama City, Panama should be no problem.