What is the local language?
Spanish is the official language of Panama. Some indigenous tribes still speak their own language but most speak some Spanish. Most hotel workers, tour guides and even some taxi drivers will speak English. As tourism grows in Panama so does the percentage of Panamanians who speak English. Knowledge of Spanish is not essential for travel in Panama, but can help quite a bit if you are doing a trip on your own. In every case possible we attempt to match our clients with guides and drivers that speak their language. In some of the more remote parts of the country, this is still difficult.
