Is Coasta Rica more beautiful then Panama?

Question

Hey, so im going down to Panama in about a month. Looking up pictures, it seems that Coata Rica is very tropical with 'perfect beaches" and such. Although, pictures of Panama don't seem to show the same beauty. Is this true from anyone who has been there?

Answer 1

I'm sure you'll find beauty in Panama, too.  The city is really a big, modern looking place with lots of buildings and right on the water.  And it's hotter in Panama.  CR has highlands where the weather is perfect all year, and beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean that are warm/hot all year like the coast of Panama.  Surfer friends of mine go to Bocas del Toro, some islands off the northeast coast of Panama.

San Jose, CR, is probably not as exciting and busy as Panama City.  I didn't find San Jose such a fantastic city.  It was friendly enough and had some decent dance clubs, but it didn't have amazing colonial or historical architecture.  But CR has rain forests, volcanoes with hot springs to visit, whitewater rafting, and great beaches.  I haven't been to Panama, but I've been to CR 3 times.  I could live in CR.

I'd like to go to Panama.  Read in the Lonely Planet guide or Let's Go central america.  They'll tell you the nicest places to visit.

Answer 2

Both countries are different.  While Panama has more developed infrastructure in its capital city, Costa Rica has developed their eco-tourisim industry since the 60's.  Panama has always been the finance and business country, while Costa Rica has been the tourism place.

However Panama has been developing its tourism industry to the extent that it's rivalring Costa Rica's.  So there's a lot to see in each countries.