"A man, a plan, a canal: Panama." Finally completed in 1914, the Panama Canal cuts straight through the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, and standing as one of the modern wonders of the world. But if wordplay and wonder aren’t enough to draw you in, consider the many other opportunities Panama affords, from quaint colonial towns to beautiful Caribbean beaches to the buzzing metropolis of Panama City. Visitors to this sliver of a nation have the opportunity to explore the rich, tropical forests of the Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, the countless islands in the Pearl Archipelago, or the strong indigenous culture of the Kuna. Although its past was marred by the dictatorial rule of the infamous Manuel Noriega, the country has shed this oppressive past and now boasts one of the best developed economies of the region; and as it uses the US dollar as its official currency, you probably won’t even have to exchange money. One of the greatest aspects of tourism in Panama is the lack of other tourists. While boasting much of the same natural beauty and hospitality of the more popular destinations of Costa Rica and Guatemala, Panama is largely free from the traveling hordes, leaving views unencumbered and destinations uncrowded. For your next Central American romp, Panama is the place to go.