I noticed that Panama did not have its own country topic yet, so here it is!

I'd like to bring forward some info about the upcoming (2024) nomination of the Trans-Isthmic Colonial Route:

The nomination has been divided into two phases: the first includes the Castillo de San Lorenzo, Camino de Cruces, Casco Antiguo de Panama and the Archaeological Site of Panama Viejo.

The second phase of the nomination includes Portobelo and the Camino Real.

Source: https://www.presidencia.gob.pa/Notas-de-prensa/Presidente-recibe-a-experta-que-evaluara-postulacion-de-Ruta-Colonial-Transistmica-como-patrimonio-de-la-UNESCO

To me it is still unclear whether the two existing WHS will merge into this new WHS (and then disappear), or whether this is considered an additional site. It has received its own UNESCO id, which isn't done with extensions, so that suggests the latter. (Mexico did so also with the Camino Real and I guess China will do it as well with the Central Axis of Beijing).

An update on what I found in the documents so far to address my doubts as explained above:

- Overall, the plan seems to work towards a Reformulation - a fully new WHS that will incorporate parts of earlier one(s). They will do it in 2 stages, and what is now nominated in 2024 (and got a Referral advice due to lacking legal protection) is stage 1.
- The reformulation idea stems from this mission report from 2013, which explores the possibilities around the Panama Viejo/Historic District of Panama WHS after the completion of the Cinta Costera project with a maritime viaduct and other elements crossing the archaeological parts of Panama city.
- Part of stage 1 of this reformulation into a broader Trans-Isthmic Colonial Route also is San Lorenzo, which is already part of another WHS.
- In stage 2, Portobelo is foreseen to be included, which forms the other WHS together with San Lorenzo.
- Nowhere in the docs of Portobelo/San Lorenzo (a site that has been in danger for a long time already due to poor conservation) I can find a reference to what the inclusion of these 2 forts into the reformulated Panama WHS means. It seems logical that it will disappear as a separate WHS?

Overall, progress is really slow. The state of conservation of the components is slowly improving, but still pretty bad for Portobelo for example. A revamped WHS will not change that.

The 2024 WHC has brought more clarity into this issue. Explanation starting from here.

So the plan is - replace Panama WHS with the new one and keep the Portobelo/San Lorenzo WHS next to the new one (which also includes the same 2 forts but focuses on a transisthmian route and with different OUV)

UPDATE: Panama 's Parliament approved draft law to declares the Trans-Isthmian Colonial Route as cultural heritage as recommended by UNESCO

The draft law will create buffer zone to protect the Camino Real, the Camino de Cruces and the Capilla de la Palangana. After law enactment Panama will be able to present its candidacy to UNESCO for the inclusion of the Trans-Isthmian Colonial Route in the World Heritage list.

https://www.metrolibre.com/nacionales/panama-avanza-hacia-la-inclusion-de-la-ruta-colonial-transistmica-como-patrimonio-mundial-XF9061264

Yesterday at the WHC, we saw the penultimate act in the Panama WHS saga about the Colonial Transisthmian Route (there is a phase 2 announced for the future, but it is not on the T List yet).

The decision was as follows:
- New inscription, year 2025: The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá
- The previous WHS, Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá, ceases to exist, but its components are included in the new inscription.

What does this mean:
- The total # of WHS for Panama stays the same
- The Castle of San Lorenzo, part of another Panamanian WHS (Portobelo-San Lorenzo), is now a double entry. Yep. And that WHS will become a double-double when phase 2 of the Colonial Transisthmian Route will be inscribed in the future and Portobelo is added (or maybe it will cease to exist at that time, nothing has been said about that yet).
- There's also an old Tentative List entry called 'Archaeological Site and Historic Centre of Panamá City' that still exists. Yep.

I have tried to summarize what the Colonial Transisthmian Route entails in its intro text:
The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá comprises 6 sites that represent the efforts of the 16th-century Kingdom of Spain to enable a global transportation system with its colonies via the isthmus.

It includes the Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá, the Castle of San Lorenzo (a defense system to protect the port and roads), and three sections of Camino de Cruces. Its roads were used until the mid-18th century, after which the importance of the route declined due to the increasing use of the Cape Horn route. The route also facilitated a mutual sharing of beliefs, crafts, and heritage among various communities.

A second phase for this serial site, adding Portobelo and a section of the Camino Real, is planned.


P.S.: to select the right site to 'tick' in Your Visits, choose The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (not the one with ftwhs at the end, we have to merge that one in still)

It seems sane to me