Panama City Guide Sections:

• Visa & Immigration
• Survival Basics
• Cost of Living
• Accommodation
• Communications
• Money
• What To Take
• Health
• Local Transport
• Shopping
• Sightseeing

Visa & Immigration

Tourist Visa Required?

For US citizen: No
For UK citizen: No

Length of stay allowed as a tourist? 90 days

How to get from the airport?

Taxis: Pre-arrange a taxi or transfer prior to your arrival in Panama, especially if you arrive at night - it’s by far the safest and easiest way to travel from the airport.

Basics of Survival

Main currency accepted?

The Balboa which is pegged to the US$ (1:1); US dollars are widely accepted.

Where can I get cash from?

Cash withdrawals should be made from a well-lit ATM in a mall or inside a bank.

Primary language spoken?

Spanish - the Latin American kind is essential if you’re staying in your own accommodation and not in a major hotel chain. You may read everywhere (including guidebooks, online resources and forums) that English is widely spoken. It’s not!

This is the case amongst professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants etc.) but is not true for much of the population such as taxi drivers, many smaller shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. The good news is that language lessons (even 1:1) are very good value.

When should I go?

Panama City has a mostly tropical climate with 2 seasons - wet and dry; the best times to go are between December and April.

What type of plugs do I need?

American-style, flat, 2-pin plugs. Take plenty of adapters with you - they’re hard to find in the city.

Availability of business equipment (laptop, phone, cables etc.)?

Electronic goods are available at the malls - but unless you speak good Spanish you may struggle to find the more unusual equipment/accessories.

What is the crime situation really like?

Panama is generally a safe city although the usual precautions for living in a big city should be taken.

Where should I avoid?

Whilst many guidebooks tell you to avoid Casco Viejo/Antiguo especially at night, it’s actually one of the most buzzing times to visit this great part of the city. There are however specific parts (like the entrance road) which you should not walk though at night or during the day.

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Cost of Living

What can I expect to pay monthly for a furnished 1 bedroom apartment?

Accommodation in Panama City is generally easy to find due to the abundance of apartments. Finding good quality furnished accommodation is however slightly harder although is likely to get easier with the increasing real estate development.

For some of the more upmarket apartments, expect to pay between £400-1,000/$800-1,800 per month. Cheaper accommodation can be found although you will need to check that it has internet access and all the facilities you need.

How much does a basket of groceries cost for 2 people for 2 days?
- Assume this would include 2 packets of meat, some vegetables, a bottle of water or other soft drink, some eggs, some cheese, some fruit, pasta/rice/potatoes.

El Rey is a large and popular supermarket here. Riba Smith is a more upmarket one where you can buy international brands; a typical basket here would cost approximately £10-12/$20-24.

Riba Smith carries some organic foods and there is an organic store, Organica, which has a small range of organic foods but few fresh veg/fruit/meat options in the Punta Pacifica area.

What would I pay for an expensive meal out?

Spending £15/$30 per person would be considered expensive in Panama City; although there are a few more upmarket restaurants in the centre which cater to this type of market - usually in the larger hotel chains.

What can I expect to pay for an average meal out?

You can eat a good quality meal for an average of £5/$10 per person (including a drink) at many places in the city although you can eat for far less than this if you head to local restaurants.

Where To Stay

The city is divided into districts. Some of the more popular areas include:

• El Cangrejo - centrally located, safe and upscale area of the city.
• Punta Pacifica & Punta Paitilla- home to many of the new high rise condo developments, it’s a smart, expensive and swankier part of town.
• Amador Causeway - a 15-20 minute taxi ride from downtown, the Amador Causeway is great if you prefer to stay outside the hustle and bustle of the city and want great views of the ocean.
• Casco Viejo - a New Orleans French Quarter-style area of the city; trendy, funky and very cool!

Where to Find Furnished Accommodation

Suggestion 1: www.PanamaCasa.com

Comment: More expensive but fully furnished apartments with good customer service - and they speak English.

Suggestion 2: Craigs List

Comment: As usual, a good range of apartments at all prices but it’s probably advisable to view an apartment before booking.

Communications

What’s the availability of high speed internet really like?

High speed internet is available in Panama although wireless internet is not as widely available as you might expect. Many apartments come with high speed internet and there are no data restrictions.

Where’s the best place to get pre-paid SIM card?

From a cellphone shop in a mall (either Movistar or Cable & Wireless) - you need to activate the card so if you don’t understand Spanish but can speak a little, ask them to do it in the shop for you.

Is free wireless available?

Not typically.

Is is safe to carry your laptops around?

During the day and if you travel by taxi, you would be relatively safe carrying your laptop around with you.

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What To Take

What kind of clothes will I need?

The weather is hot, so take suitable cool clothes which you feel comfortable in. The locals dress like many city-dwellers so whilst shorts, flip-flops and t-shirts aren’t frowned upon, you will mark yourself out as a visitor rather than a local if you dress like this in the city.

Any specific items that aren’t available?

Most items can be purchased in Panama City, although you would be wise to take travel adapters with you as these, for some reason, are hard to find outside of the airport. You may also want to take laptop accessories etc. with you - computer shops are not easy to find, especially if you don’t speak the language.

Health

Can I drink tap water?

The legacy of the US canal building efforts, means that Panama City has a relatively clean water system and tap water in the city is actually safe to drink. You may however, feel more comfortable drinking bottled water.

Are there any specific health risks (diseases etc.) I need to know about?

Check with your medical practitioner for the vaccinations you might need; if you’re only planning on staying in or around the city however, you’re unlikely to need yellow fever or any of the other recommendations needed for visits to the more rural and remote areas.

Watch out for mosquitoes - it is a tropical area and Dengue Fever and Malaria do exist.

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Getting Around

What transport options are there?

There are public buses - known as Diabolo Rojos (red devils) which you may want to avoid if you value your life.

Taxis are plentiful and cheap - although you may need to brush up on your Spanish - you need to confirm the price with your driver before you get in as taxis do not have meters.

Prices are determined by distance and the number of passengers - but even from one side of town to the other, you should be paying no more than £1/$2 for 2 people. Most drivers are friendly - and some will try and chat to you. There are a few who speak basic English - and some will give you their card - take it, it’s always useful to be able to call up a familiar taxi driver.

What’s the driving like?

Driving is Panama City is wild; unless you’re a very confident driver and don’t mind a bit of stress (traffic is not great here) then stick to the taxis.

Shopping

Do you have to hand in your other bags (handbags, rucksack, shopping bags) at the entrance to the shop?

Yes - in some of the supermarkets and stores in malls, you have to hand in your bags to the security person at the entrance.

Do you have to weigh & price fruit & vegetables yourself prior to check out?

No

Do you pack your own bags?

Yes, most of the time. Although they may offer you help to pack and carry the bags to your car/taxi for you (a tip of $1 is usually expected).

Things To See & Do

Best ‘Hidden Gems’ & Must Do’s

These are not all hidden gems but worth a look nonetheless!

# 1: Cerre Ancon
Comments: Take a trip up Ancon Hill for great views of Panama City and Casco Viejo.

# 2: Mi Pueblito
Comments: A bit of a contrived tourist attraction but still worth a visit; you can see a replica village of how the natives and indigenous people lived in Panama before all the modernisation.

# 3: Panama Canal
Comments: An obvious attraction; consider doing a half-transit trip along the canal and marvel at the feat of engineering of this huge construction.

# 4: Casco Viejo
Comments: Spend an afternoon wandering round the quiet streets, stop for a coffee in a sun-drenched square or wait till the sun goes down and enjoy a great meal and some jazz.

# 5: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Comments: Located on the Amador Causeway, if you’re into nature and wildlife then you’ll enjoy an afternoon here when you can then head out to eat at one of the restaurants on the causeway to watch the ships queuing to pass through the canal.

# 6: Get out of the city!
Comments: Panama is a relatively small country and it is easy to travel to places outside of the city easily and cheaply. Try El Valle de Anton (a 2 hour drive) for a spring-like climate and countryside feel; or go into the rainforest to the Gamboa Resort. If you want to head to the Caribbean coast, head to the San Blas islands or a little further afield, Bocas del Toro is popular with backpackers - because of this, you might prefer to go here out of season.

Any other secrets a LIP should know?

If you can make friends with some locals (try taking language lessons and getting to know your teacher), they’ll show you a different side to Panama City which you otherwise wouldn’t see.

Guide Credits:

This guide was written by Lea Woodward.

With contributions from:

Jonathan Woodward.