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Panama Information

Overview

Panama is a curious but exhilarating combination of cultural influence. It lies at the centre of the world, its isthmus constituting the last part of a natural land-bridge between the North and South American continents. Its strategic position and glorious terrain - from wildlife-rich jungle to sun-soaked beach - suggests that it will remain an important country for a long time yet.

The country has been a pivotal trade route for 500 years, first under Spanish rule, then as part of independent Gran Colombia and modern Colombia, and in 20th century, as an independent nation. However, the Panama Canal Zone, completed in 1914, became an American Protectorate for many decades. It was only in 1977 that the Americans agreed to turn over the canal to full Panamanian control by 1999.

In the 1980s, the country was run by Head of the Armed Forces, Manuel Noriega, who was very unpopular in Washington. In 1989, after an unsuccessful coup (thought to have US backing), US President George Bush authorised an invasion to remove the troublesome dictator.

Today, Panama is more settled in its own skin and embarking upon ambitious new projects. The Panama Canal, which recorded its busiest year to date in 2007, is to expand substantially by around 2014.

Top Things To See

Discover Panama City’s curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the eastern bazaar. The historic old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of narrow, cobble-stoned streets and colonial buildings.

While in Panama City, see the Plaza de Francia, the Paseo de las Bóvedas along the massive stone wall, San José Church, with its magnificent golden Baroque altar, and the Santo Domingo Church, next to which is the Museum of Colonial Religious Art.

Visit the President’s Palace, the most impressive building in Panama City; and further along the waterfront take a turn around the colourful public market. Then explore the fascinating Museum of the Panamanian Man north of the market.

Take an excursion to the ruins of Panama Viejo, including the square tower of the old cathedral, 6km (4 miles) from the capital. This is the original Panama City, sacked in 1671 by celebrated Welsh buccaneer Henry Morgan, who helped undermine Spanish control of their colonies.

Visit the interesting Panama Canal Museum in the Casco Viejo area. The canal was opened in 1914, and an average transit takes eight hours to complete. On 31 December 1999, Panama took over full control of the canal from the USA.

Take a day trip from Panama City to the island of Barro Colorado in Gatun Lake, a vast manmade stretch of water created during construction of the Panama Canal. The island is a biological reserve and reputed to be one of the world’s leading natural tropical laboratories.

Marvel at Chiriquí Province’s scenery, characterised by volcanic highlands, with many waterfalls, rivers and spectacular mountain scenery, known for its cattle and thoroughbred horses, as well as banana and coffee plantations.

Notice Panama’s Spanish legacy in Portobelo, a colonial garrison town with three large stone forts facing the harbour. Also in town are an old Spanish cannon, and the treasure house where gold and silver from Peru and Bolivia were stored before being shipped to Spain.

Learn about tropical flora and fauna in the Gamboa Tropical Rainforest Reserve and the Soberanía National Park. The Antón Valley (El Valle de Antón) is also famous for its orchids.

Roam the Darién National Park in the sparsely populated wilderness of the Darién Gap, which contains an exceptional variety of habitats, ranging from sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves and swamps to tropical rainforest. The park is also home to two Choco Indian tribes.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Make the most of Panama’s excellent shopping. Its position as a crossing point between oceans has made it a major commercial route. Panama City’s Central Avenue, Colón’s Front Street, newer shopping sectors and Tocumen’s duty-free stores have grown as a result.

Attend one of the many fiestas in Panama’s various cities - in particular, Panama City ‘s Carnival is superb. This is held on the four days before Ash Wednesday. Others are held to celebrate local patron saints.

Witness Las Balserías, a Ngöbé-Bugle Indian celebration held in the Chiriquí Province every February, that includes feasts and a contest in which the young men toss balsa logs at one another; those who emerge unscathed may choose their partners.

Go birdwatching: the country is considered one of the world’s best birdwatching spots, with about 950 species. Recommended sites include Soberanía National Park (40km/25 miles north of Panama City), and the Baru National Park in the Chiriquí Province, famous for its Quetzal birds.

Take a boat trip along the Panama Canal, 80km (50 miles) long. The scenery is beautiful, and the mechanics of the canal fascinating. Crocodiles, birds and other wildlife lives along the banks. Also recommended are bus or train rides alongside the canal.

Enjoy some excellent diving and snorkeling locations, including: Isla Grande near Portobelo, where there are a number of dive centres offering excursions to the best reefs; the Bocas del Toro archipelago; and the San Blás Islands (off the northeast coast).

Breathe in the sea air of the island of Taboga, where fine beaches and quality hotels abound. The main method of transport is by water taxi, known locally as panga. A longer trip by launch is necessary to get to the Pearl Islands, which are visited mainly by sea-anglers.

Go surfing: good locations include Santa Catalina, Venado and Rio Mar in the Pacific and Isla Grande, Bluf and Careneros in the Atlantic; waves can reach 4.5m (15ft).

Climb the dormant Baru Volcano (3,475m/11,400 ft) on horseback; it is located in beautiful Chiriquí Province, near the popular resort town of Boquete and the mountain resort, Cerro Punta.

Embark on a tree canopy adventure in the El Níspero Botanical Gardens, where participants are fastened into a harness, pulled up to the treetops and swung from one platform to another in order to enjoy particularly ‘green’ views.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

American, French and Spanish food is available in all restaurants and hotels in Panama City and Colón. There is a huge selection of excellent restaurants in Panama City, as well as other main cities. There are also several Oriental restaurants. Native cooking is reminiscent of creole cuisine, hot and spicy. Seafood is excellent and in abundance. The choice and availability of wines, spirits and beers in hotels, restaurants and bars is unlimited.

Things to know: Waiter service is the norm.

National specialities:
• Ceviche (fish marinated in lime juice, onions and peppers).
• Patacones de plátano (fried plantain).
• Sancocho (Panamanian stew with chicken, meat and vegetables).
• Tamales (seasoned pie wrapped in banana leaves).
• Empanadas (turnovers filled with meat, chicken or cheese).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is customary in hotels (where it is added automatically) and restaurants.

Nightlife

Panama City, in particular, has a wide range of nightlife from nightclubs and casinos to folk, ballet, belly dancing and classical theatre. Dancing and entertainment are available in all the big hotels, as well as many clubs. Other large towns and resorts have music, dancing, casinos and cinemas. Further details can be found in local papers.

Shopping

Panama is a duty-free haven and luxury goods from all over the world can be bought at a saving of at least one-third. Local items include leatherware, patterned, beaded necklaces made by Guaymí Indians, native costumes, jewels and precious stones, straw products, electrical equipment, handicrafts of carved wood, ceramics, papier mâché artefacts, macramé and mahogany bowls.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-2000. Some supermarkets are open 24-hours.

Climate

Temperatures are high across the whole country throughout the year, though cooler at high altitudes. The rainy season lasts from May to November. Rainfall is twice as heavy on the Pacific coast as it is on the lowlands of the Caribbean coast.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens are worn, with rainwear advisable, particularly in the rainy season. Warmer clothes are needed in the highlands.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
9 Jan* National Martyrs’ Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
1 May Labour Day.
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only).
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia).
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only).
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain. 
28 Nov* Independence Day (from Spain). 
8 Dec Mothers’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
9 Jan* National Martyrs’ Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labour Day.
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only).
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia).
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only).
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain. 
28 Nov* Independence Day (from Spain). 
8 Dec Mothers’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note

For public holidays falling on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

* Where these public holidays fall mid-week, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Yes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: Yes

Health Care

Modern and reliable private medical services are available. According to current legislation covering sanitary matters, Panama offers healthcare facilities to all nationals and foreign travellers who may require them, independent of any reciprocal agreement with a particular country. International travellers are, however, advised to take out medical insurance.

Note

A yellow fever certificate is required from all travellers coming from infected areas.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Balboa (PAB; symbol B/.) = 100 centavos. There is no Panamanian paper currency; coins exist in denominations of B/.10 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos. US currency was adopted in 1904 and exists alongside the Balboa coinage: B/.1 = US$1.

US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of US$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of US$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Banks and cambios are available for changing currency. There is no need to exchange US Dollars.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

MasterCard and Visa are the most commonly used, but American Express and Diners Club are also accepted.

Traveller's Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1500, Sat 0830-1200.

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/2
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passport Note

(a) No brief account of the complex Panamanian visa regulations is likely to be fully successful as passport and visa regulations are liable to change at short notice. (b) Panamanian immigration procedures are rigidly enforced and non-compliance with the regulations may result in transportation at carrier’s expense to country of origin. (c) Many nationals requiring visas also require authorisation from the Immigration Authorities in Panama before entry.

Passports

Passport valid for a minimum of six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Australia, Canada and USA who will be issued a tourist card in lieu of a visa for stays of up to 30 days (extendable to 90 days at the discretion of the immigration authorities);
2.  nationals of Bulgaria and Romania who do require a visa.


Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist: £30. Tourist card: Prices vary, depending on nationality and also on where the tourist card is obtained from (eg prior to departure, on the flight or upon arrival at the airport). Some nationals can obtain the tourist card free of charge (including nationals of the USA). Enquire at the consulate for details.

Validity

Visas and tourist cards are valid within a three-month period from the date of issue and allow stays for up to 30 days (extendable to 90 days at discretion of immigration authorities).

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses. A tourist card can be issued either by the travel agent or on the flight or at the airport.

Working Days Required

Normally 24 hours if no authorisation is needed; up to 40 days if authorisation (which depends on nationality) is needed.

Contact Addresses

Instituto Panameo de Turismo (IPAT) (Institute of Tourism)

Apartado 4421, Zone 5, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Vía Israel, San Francisco, Panama
Tel: 226 7000.
Website: www.ipat.gob.pa or www.visitpanama.com

Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the UK

Panama House, 40 Hertford Street, London W1J 7SH, UK
Tel: (020) 7409 2255 (consular section).
Website: www.panaconsul.com (consular section).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700. 
Can also deal with tourism enquiries.

Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the USA

2862 McGill Terrace, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 483 1407.
Website: www.embassyofpanama.org

Travel Advice

Warning

Travel to the Darien province should be conducted only with an organised group, and to recognised tourist destinations protected by the Panamanian police.

There are sporadic demonstrations in Panama City about various social and political issues. Since 12 February 2008, there have been violent demonstrations occurring throughout Panama City and other parts of the country. This is the result of the shooting and death of a construction worker by the Panamanian Police. Travellers should avoid all demonstrations and construction sites and monitor local media for up to date information.

If transiting the USA on the way to Panama, you must have a machine-readable passport or a valid US non-immigrant visa.

Travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

• Panama Overview
• Panama Things to See
• Panama Things to Do
• Panama Events
• Panama Climate
• Panama Public Holidays
• Panama Health
• Panama Currency
• Panama Passport & Visas
• Panama Contact Addresses
• Panama Travel Advice