The name of «  Panama  » has various origins:

• The first one comes from comestible fruits growing on a tree that was called « Panama ».

• The Indians Kunas, as far as they are concerned, state that « PA NA MA » means « far away from here » in their own language. It was the answer they would give to the Spanish Conquitadors in their quest for gold.

• Another theory is that Panama in native language means « abundance of fishes ».

The Panama Isthmus was discovered by Spanish explorer Don Rodrigo de Bastidas in the year 1501 who was accompanied by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa . One year later, in 1502, Christophe Colomb visited the Isthmus during his fourth and last journey. Before teh Spanish would arrive, about 80 native tribes were living on the Panamanian soil.