Ship with containers passing through the Pedro Miguel Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama.

Passing through the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama.

Catamaran passing through the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama.

Catamaran passing through the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama.

National Flag of Panama.

Woman wearing the Pollera, the traditional dress of Panama. In Panama, hand made polleras evolved during time to a very elaborate piece of clothing. Currently is the National Costume. Panamanian girls and women would generally own two polleras during their life: one before age 16 and one at adulthood. A single pollera can cost from several hundred to several thousands of dollars and take up to a year to create. The mosquetas and tembelques, gold and pearl jewelry, that accompany a pollera are generally passed down as heirlooms through generations.

Woman wearing the Pollera, the traditional dress of Panama. In Panama, hand made polleras evolved during time to a very elaborate piece of clothing. Currently is the National Costume. Panamanian girls and women would generally own two polleras during their life: one before age 16 and one at adulthood. A single pollera can cost from several hundred to several thousands of dollars and take up to a year to create. The mosquetas and tembelques, gold and pearl jewelry, that accompany a pollera are generally passed down as heirlooms through generations.

Woman wearing the Pollera, the traditional dress of Panama. In Panama, hand made polleras evolved during time to a very elaborate piece of clothing. Currently is the National Costume. Panamanian girls and women would generally own two polleras during their life: one before age 16 and one at adulthood. A single pollera can cost from several hundred to several thousands of dollars and take up to a year to create. The mosquetas and tembelques, gold and pearl jewelry, that accompany a pollera are generally passed down as heirlooms through generations.

Damn at the Miraflores Locks, Panama. This damn releases the excess water from the lakes.

Ruins of Panama Vieja. The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by the notorious conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, better known as Pedrarias, and burned down during a battle with the equally notorious Welsh pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. After that disaster, the Spanish moved Panama City to a more defensible site a few kilometers southwest, in the area now known as Casco Viejo.

Ruins of Panama Vieja. The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by the notorious conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, better known as Pedrarias, and burned down during a battle with the equally notorious Welsh pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. After that disaster, the Spanish moved Panama City to a more defensible site a few kilometers southwest, in the area now known as Casco Viejo.

Ruins of Panama Vieja. The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by the notorious conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, better known as Pedrarias, and burned down during a battle with the equally notorious Welsh pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. After that disaster, the Spanish moved Panama City to a more defensible site a few kilometers southwest, in the area now known as Casco Viejo.

Ruins of Panama Vieja. The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by the notorious conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, better known as Pedrarias, and burned down during a battle with the equally notorious Welsh pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. After that disaster, the Spanish moved Panama City to a more defensible site a few kilometers southwest, in the area now known as Casco Viejo.

Ruins of Panama Vieja. The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by the notorious conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, better known as Pedrarias, and burned down during a battle with the equally notorious Welsh pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. After that disaster, the Spanish moved Panama City to a more defensible site a few kilometers southwest, in the area now known as Casco Viejo.

Ruins of an old church in Casco Viejo, Panama.

Iglesia de San José also known as the Church of the Golden Altar. the Church of San Jose, with its famous golden altar that was saved from the greed of the pirates and the ruins of the convent of Santo Domingo.

Iglesia de San José also known as the Church of the Golden Altar. the Church of San Jose, with its famous golden altar that was saved from the greed of the pirates and the ruins of the convent of Santo Domingo.

Teatro Nacional de Panama. The new Republic of Panama was to have a National Theatre by Law 52 in 1904. The Italian architect Genaro Ruggieri was commissioned to design the National Theater and the adjoining Palace of the Government. The date of the inauguration was on October 1, 1908 with the inauguration of Don Jose Domingo de Obaldia as the President of the Republic.

Teatro Nacional de Panama. The new Republic of Panama was to have a National Theatre by Law 52 in 1904. The Italian architect Genaro Ruggieri was commissioned to design the National Theater and the adjoining Palace of the Government. The date of the inauguration was on October 1, 1908 with the inauguration of Don Jose Domingo de Obaldia as the President of the Republic.

Teatro Nacional de Panama. The new Republic of Panama was to have a National Theatre by Law 52 in 1904. The Italian architect Genaro Ruggieri was commissioned to design the National Theater and the adjoining Palace of the Government. The date of the inauguration was on October 1, 1908 with the inauguration of Don Jose Domingo de Obaldia as the President of the Republic.

In dug out canoe being guided by indigenous Embera in Chagres National Park, Panama.

In dug out canoe being guided by indigenous Embera in Chagres National Park, Panama.

In dug out canoe being guided by indigenous Embera in Chagres National Park, Panama.

Tour guide explaining craftsmanship of the Embera tribe, Chagres National Park, Panama.

Embera women weaving basket out of dyed straw, Chagres National Park, Panama.

Embera children paint dye on themselves in decorative patterns. Dye is also a repellant from bugs.

Embera children paint dye on themselves in decorative patterns. Dye is also a repellant from bugs.

Embera children paint dye on themselves in decorative patterns. Dye is also a repellant from bugs.

Embera woman weaves a basket out of dyed straws. Chagres National Park, Panama.

Embera woman weaves a basket out of dyed straws. Chagres National Park, Panama.

Embera woman weaves a basket out of dyed straws. Chagres National Park, Panama.