Travel + Leisure has publishes this charming feature about the wonders of Panama for travelers.

This article comes at the same time that Panama will have increasing traveler and expat attention next year according to Forbes. While already a highly popular tourist destination, the publication predicts that the country will be “The Destination” in Central America next year.

Discover the Uncharted Beauty of Panama: Pristine Rainforests, Pristine Beaches, and a Vibrant Wildlife Haven

Panama, is the hidden gem of Central America. Nestled between the Pacific and the Caribbean, this lush nation is bursting with natural wonders. Panama showcases an exquisite fusion of history, culture, and natural wonders, from the Panama Canal to the skyscrapers of Panama City.

Historically regarded as a trading hub, Panama’s remarkable rainforests, pristine coastlines, and diverse wildlife now captivate global attention. With vast rainforests harboring jaguars, hummingbirds, and thousands of butterfly species, Panama stands as an unrivaled biodiversity treasure.

by John Bowe, Travel + Leisure | Updated on October 18, 2023

Excerpts:

“With almost 13 million acres of the world’s most biodiverse rain forest, rich with jaguars, hummingbirds, and two thousand butterfly species (take that, Costa Rica), plus some 1,800 miles of unsullied coastline, this country is poised for a tourism boom. Historically, lodgings outside the capital have contented themselves with hosting the budget-conscious backpacker crowd. In the past few years, however, thanks to government initiatives and the efforts of conservation-focused developers, a new class of luxurious resorts has come to offer a cushier way into the country’s insanely unspoiled attractions.

The moment we jumped into the Gulf of Chiriquí, we were surrounded by what seemed like most of the area’s 750 fish species: dorados; long fin halfbeaks; needlefish; jacks; yellow, red, and gold snappers; angelfish; barber fish; three species of puffer fish; eels; and various kinds of rays. “There are lots of beautiful dive sites in Panama,” Henriquez told me, “but there’s no place that has better stuff than here.” Guests often want to visit nearby Coiba National Park, one of Panama’s largest protected marine areas, to see turtles, whale sharks, and humpbacks, which appear twice a year as they migrate back and forth between the hemispheres.

Between the solitude, the undisturbed nature, the peace, and beauty of it all, I’d love to say I felt like a survivor of a shipwreck, alone on a deserted island. And then I remembered Tom Hanks in Cast Away, painstakingly crafting a net from a salvaged lace dress to catch fish, desperate to stave off hunger. And I realized, it wasn’t like that at all.”

Read the Full Article: https://www.travelandleisure.com/panama-where-to-stay-where-to-eat-8351301