Sandwiched between two oceans and two continents, Panama is a small skinny country crammed with culture, history, engineering marvels, wildlife and tropical beaches. Given this country’s compact size and diversity, you can cram a wide-range of life-changing experiences in a short period of time.

Pirates? Monkeys? Indigenous communities? Hiking? Museums? Our trip had this and more. We saw a wide variety of cityscapes, landscapes, biodiversity and adventures. Discover all of these on our adventure, Panama: Journey Between Two Oceans.

What were my favourite experiences? There were many but here are 5 that made an impact on me:

Biomuseo, the brightly coloured biodiversity museum designed by Frank Gehry. The museum’s galleries and interactive dioramas examine human influence, the geological history, and the interconnectedness of all species. The Panamarama exhibit immerses you in six minutes of Panama’s amazing natural wonders through recorded images and sounds on gigantic projection screens, some as high as 30 feet in the air. Just lay back and soak in this experience.

Encounter with a remote Embera community on the Darien Peninsula. We travelled down a small tributary to an Embera village. Upon our arrival we were greeted by a small group of children who took our hands and escorted us to their village. The head person discussed this village’s traditions and customs, illustrated how their basketry is created, the problems they face because of their remoteness, gave us a tour of their village and houses, and the importance of music and dance in their culture. What do I remember besides the adorable children? The red telephone booth, the solar panels, the beautiful garden that one villager created around their house, and the absolute need to maintain and protect their lifestyle.

The beautiful beaches and history of Islas de las Perlas or the Pearl Islands . We arrived mid-afternoon to the Pearl Islands, just as all the other boats were leaving. We swam, snorkelled and kayaked in solitude. You may see great schools of fish, turtles, dolphins, and even humpback whales (July-October). On land watch for dwarf ant eaters, deer, iguanas, parrots and other birds. Flora and fauna are protected

As their name suggests, the islands were named for the large number of pearls discovered by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1503. The islands were a haven for pirates. But the strangest site is the wreck of the submarine Explorer built in 1865 during the American Civil War.

Transiting the Panama Canal. This was not high on my list of must things to see and do but I was surprised at how I had underestimated one of the most amazing engineering marvels. It is a definite must see. We viewed the new canal for Neopanamax ships. Small boats are often tied together and go through the original Panama Canal. Our small 24 passenger catamaran had a smaller catamaran tied up to our boat and the two of us traversed the original Panama Canal as the sun set. We were followed by a very large freighter which definitely made us feel small!

Wildlife Viewing. There are many opportunities for hiking and watching wildlife and birds. However, our most rewarding experience was rescuing a sloth caught between two boats at a marina. Our guide and another man were able to lift the sloth onto our catamaran and then called a friend with a small boat. They then transferred the sloth to this small boat, motored to a section of heavily vegetated land, and returned the sloth to the wild. One of the best wildlife viewing I have experienced.

Panama is more than just the Panama Canal. It is culture and history, rainforest and beaches, wildlife and ocean life. Panama packs a punch! Every day offers something new in Panama.