The old town of Panama (or Casco Viejo, Panama) features many architectural styles, from Spanish colonial buildings to French and West Indian terraced houses built during the construction of the Panama Canal. From bustling nightlife to sandy beaches and Gulf of Mexico cruises, it's no wonder that Panama City Beach is one of the most popular spots in Florida. The Metropolitan Natural Park (Metropolitan Natural Park), which extends from Panama City along the Panama Canal, has unique species of birds and other animals, such as tapirs, pumas and caimans. The tropical forests surrounding Panama are vital to the operation of the Panama Canal, as they provide it with the water needed to its operation.
In the process of redevelopment and gentrification, the old town has become one of the city's main tourist attractions, second only to the Panama Canal. Panama City is home to at least 14 hospitals and an extensive network of public and private clinics, including the Santo Tomás Hospital, the Hospital del Niño, the Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital Complex, the Paitilla Medical Center, the Santa Fe Hospital, the National Hospital, the San Fernando Hospital Clinic and the Punta Pacifica Hospital. Located on the Pacific side of the country, in the Gulf of Panama, this majestic island is only 20 kilometers from the capital, making it the best day trip from Panama City. This sector of the economy has experienced great growth since the transfer of the Panama Canal Zone at the end of the 20th century.
Panama's status as a convergence zone for capitals around the world due to the canal helped the city establish itself as a prime location for offshore banking and tax planning. The oldest is Old Panama, an archaeological site that preserves the ruins of the first city, founded in 1519 and destroyed by pirates. According to the Köppen climate classification, Panama City has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), slightly drier than a tropical monsoon climate. Because of the importance of the canal to the Panamanian economy, the tropical forests surrounding the canal have been kept in an almost pristine state; therefore, the canal is a rare example of a vast engineering project in the middle of a forest that helped preserve that forest.
Panama City Beach is a popular destination for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer players, as well as golfers. Built and established in 1671 after the destruction of Old Panama by the privateer Henry Morgan, the historic district of Panama City (known as Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo or San Felipe) was conceived as a walled city to protect its colonists against future pirate attacks. The Ministry of Tourism of Panama expects the convention center to host 100 international events a year.
