Panama is a proud nation that offers exceptional wildlife adventures, celebrates its Spanish heritage with colorful festivals, and respects its seven indigenous groups. Located at the southern end of Central America, Panama is a land bridge where the wildlife of North and South America meet and intermingle. It is home to some of the most remote (although accessible) rain forests in the world containing 940 different bird species. Because the coasts are less than an hour’s drive apart, you can easily spend the morning snorkeling in the Caribbean and the afternoon swimming in the Pacific.

The country’s indigenous people share a strong desire to maintain their traditions. In particular, the Kuna Indians of San Blas (Kuna Yala) have lived in the eastern portion of Panama for two centuries. In the 1920’s, the government granted the tribe the right to limited self-rule. Ever since, the Kuna have preserved everything about their way of life that makes them special: native dress, arts & crafts, language, and a largely unspoiled environment. There are an estimated 70,000 Kuna, the majority of which live on the district’s islands. (The Kuna like to say that their archipelago consists of “one island for every day of the year.”)