Panama
The Pan-American Highway in Panama is being renovated and expanded to a four-lane Highway.
From the Costa Rica-Panama border to the village of La Concepción there is about 13 miles (21 km). From La Concepción to the city of David there is about another 15 miles (24 km). The highway enters Panama traveling generally from west to east.
- David
David, with an estimated population of 115,173, is located about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the town of Pedregal and the Golfo de Chiriquí (Gulf of Chiriquí). David is the capital of the Chiriqui Province and is a center of trade for agricultural products such as bananas, sugar, and coffee, as well as smaller manufactured goods. From David, the highway travels east about 55 miles (89 km) to Tolé.
- Tolé
From Tolé to the town of Santiago is about 50 miles (80 km). Immediately east of Tolé, the highway crosses through some mountains for the next 36 miles (58 km). About halfway to Santiago, the Inter-American Highway crosses over the San Pablo river.
- Santiago (Panama)
From Santiago to Aguadulce is about 38 miles (61 km), where the Pan-American Highway (still CA Highway 1) reenters the tropical lowlands. From Aguadulce to Penonomé is roughly 30 miles (48 km). This stretch of highway crosses the Santa María river.
- Penonomé
From Penonomé, the highway travels southeast, then northeast, then roughly north in a loop as it mostly (but not completely) avoids crossing into Panama's Central Mountains. From Penonomé to La Chorerra is about 63 miles (101 km). From La Chorerra, it is only about 15 miles (24 km) to Balboa just west of Panama City.
- Panama City
Panama City, with a population of roughly 708,738, is the capital and largest city in Panama. Before entering the city, the Pan-American Highway crosses over the Panama Canal on the Centennial Bridge, which replaced the Bridge of the Americas as the major canal crossing in 2004. Panama City, compared to many other large Central American cities, is very modern. Some local attractions include the 17th-century Metropolitan Church, the Interoceanic Canal Museum of Panama, the Plaza de Bolívar, the Palacio de las Garzas (Heron's Palace or Presidential Palace), and the Panama Canal.
From Panama City, the highway turns northeast; from Panama City to Chepo is roughly 35 miles (56 km); from Chepo to Cañita is another 15 miles (24 km).
- Cañita
At the village of Cañita is the old terminus (end) of the northern route of the Pan-American Highway. Supposedly, the highway continues another 110 miles (180 km) past Cañita to the village of Yaviza. This stretch of highway is extremely remote.
- Yaviza
Yaviza is a village near the junction of the Tuira and Chucunaque rivers. It is here that the Inter-American Highway officially ends and, consequently, the northern Pan-American Highway. From Yaviza southeast lies the virtually impenetrable Darién Gap, a 57-mile (92 km) stretch of rugged, mountainous jungle terrain.
Read more about this topic: Pan-American Highway (North America)