Panama - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

I read this book on the flight down to Panama for our honeymoon. It covered all of the basics of the customs, culture, history, food, etc. for what turned out to be a very charming country. This book is a must read for anyone that is traveling to Panama and wants to go beyond the boundaries of a guided tour or 4 star hotel stay. If you prefer to get to know the people and culture of Panama choose this quick read to get you started.

The book is small enough to carry around, quick to read, covers almost all the necessary info. It should however also include some 'less positive' facts about living in Panama for foreigners, who are unfortunately often and also quite easily taken advantage of in many ways they would not naturally think of.

We are so glad we bought this book. Great supplement to the Bradt Travel Guide. These are the ONLY 2 books that have been published recently (our trip is November 2007) and so far don't seem so out of date. Got a lot of ideas & suggestions out of this book & well worth what little it costs.

I have graduate students read it before going to Panama. It gives more insight than most locals I have talked to. And I have used it to inform ex-pats on things they are not aware of.

This is an interesting book about Panama. I liked this book because I learned some facts about Panama that I did not know before reading this book. Some of the interesting facts that the author of this book mentions in this book include the following information: Sopa Sancocho is Panama's national food and originates from Panama's interior. Arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) is a popular food in Panama. For a nation that knows the harsh reality of poverty, food is eaten in Panama with gratitude. In Panama City, high-rise apartment blocks are popular with moneyed couples. Detached Spanish-style villa homes attract families in Panama. Latin American Spanish varies slightly in dialect from country to country, and while locals can usually spot the differences, some foreign Spanish speakers cannot.

short and concise! Worth a read.

This very small book held a few good suggestions, but these could probably be gleaned by spending just a few days in the country. Not too in depth. Better to go on some blogs about Panama to learn way more.

tells it like it is