Panama is the southernmost, easternmost country in Central America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east, and connects North America with South America. The country is shaped like the letter S and borders both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Panama has a tropical maritime climate with a hot, humid, rainy season (May through to December) and a short dry season (January through to May).
Spanish
Panama is in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone and five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5). There is no daylight savings in Panama, so the time difference with U.S. destinations changes by an hour during daylight savings. Panama is also always one hour ahead of Costa Rica.
The official currency of Panama is the Balboa, named after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513. Since 1904 one Balboa equals one US Dollar. In other words, in practice, the currency used day-to-day in Panama is the US dollar, which is also legal tender. Currently there are Panamanian coins that have the same weight, dimension and composition of the coins used in the USA (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents). Panama also has its own $1 coin. For paper money, only the US Dollar is used (there are no paper Balboas). No need to exchange your US dollars.
To enter Panama, all foreigners will need a passport that is valid for at least six months from their date of entry. No visa required for US citizens to enter Panama.
People dress similar to people in Miami with the exception of no shorts at restaurants and in churches.
Uber. Take into consideration traffic can be very heavy at times when planning to move around in the city. Airport approved taxis are also accessible.
Panama is a very safe country and the people here are friendly. Crime isn’t a problem in most places, but there are a few areas that tourists should avoid, including the city of Colón, poorer parts of Panama City, and some regions of the Darién. Be sure to wear sunscreen while you’re visiting and exercise caution while hiking in the forest or swimming in the ocean. There are hospitals in larger cities and clinics in smaller towns. If any emergency arises, call 911 for an ambulance or 104 for the police.
By most standards, Panama is inexpensive. Those coming from North America or Europe will find Panama cheap, while South American or Central American travelers will find the prices comparable. That said, how much you spend here depends on how you want to travel. If you’re inclined towards upscale accommodations and fancier restaurants, your travel bill will be sizably larger than the budget traveler staying in dorm rooms and subsisting on street food. Even so, the most posh accommodations are still affordable by some standards.
Like tipping in general, this is largely a personal choice and depends on the service rendered. If you feel that the person has been helpful, then tip them. If not, do not feel obligated to tip. However, Panamanians don’t earn huge salaries, so these tips can be an important source of income. For porters or baggage handlers, $0.50 to $2 should do it. For more extensive services – such as for naturalist guides or shuttle drivers – you may want to tip more. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip.
It’s customary to tip 10% at most restaurants. This can, however, vary depending on where you are. You don’t need to tip street vendors or in cafeterias, but in upscale restaurants you may want to tip slightly more. The choice is yours.
Typical Panamanian food is based around beans, rice, plantains, and meat; including beef, chicken and pork. Seafood is widely available and excellent, and tropical fruit is plentiful. Panamanian breakfasts usually include eggs, meat, tortillas, fruit, and coffee. Lunch and dinner can play off the same theme and involve a type of meat or fish, beans and rice, and vegetables like yuca and plantains.
Yes! In fact, some people theorize that Panama means “abundance of fish” in one of the country’s native tongues. Seafood options are plentiful and easy to come by. Corvina is one of the most common fish and also one of the tastiest. A type of sea bass, corvina is often grilled, fried or served as ceviche. There are other types of ceviche as well, including octopus and shrimp, which are marinated in lime juice, peppers and onions. Other kinds of seafood include red snapper, crab, squid, and prawns.
Panama’s local fruits and vegetables are safe to eat. Panama is a tropical country with farms scattered across it, and many small farmers sell their produce at markets or alongside the road. Fruit includes mangoes, papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, bananas and plantains. Domestic vegetables include corn, yucca, squash, and a few types of beans.
In most places, the water in Panama is safe to drink. The Panama Canal Company had a high standard for hygiene, and as a result the water is clean in Panama City and much of the rest of the country.
Panamanian national beers include Balboa, Panama, Soberana, and Atlas. These beers are light and similar to a lager or pilsner. There are usually Mexican and American beers available as well. Today, Panama's craft beer scene has grown tremendously including: Casa Bruja, La Rana Dorada, Istmo Brew Pub, etc, many of which can be found in el Casco Viejo or sold in grocery stores and restaurants. Panama’s national alcoholic drink is seco, which is distilled from sugarcane. It’s cheap and potent, so be careful. Overall, you can find almost any kind of alcohol in Panama due to the fact that there is a lot of traffic passing through the country from all over the world through the canal.
Seco is distilled from sugarcane and is most popular in rural areas, where it's often mixed with milk. Ron Abuelo is a Panamanian rum aged 7, 12+ years and notable for the fact the Abuelo is one of the very few distilleries that grow their own sugar cane. Sancocho is Panama's traditional chicken soup. Cafe: Panama is famous for its Geisha coffee, which is the most expensive in the world. While it sells for around $9 per cup in Panama, you can spend as much as $18 for just a cup of this magical joe when in New York City. That’s nothing compared to the $68 it costs for one cup in Dubai. Raspado: A raspao is as popular in Panama as a hamburger would be in the United States. A raspao is shaved ice or snow cones sweetened with both artificial sweeteners or straight from the fruits that make the flavors. You can add some delicious, sweetened condensed milk for an extra 5 cents. Cocada Tortilla Amarilla Hojaldre Ceviches
Panama hat, mola (square piecework of fabrics made by the Guna Indians in the San Blas Islands of Panama), Panama Jersey, Ron Abuelo (This is Panama’s national rum and it is delicious! You can purchase a small bottle for under $10 at any grocery or liquor store or splurge $15 for better 7-year aged version), gourmet coffee (There is some really good gourmet coffee that is grown in Panama and it makes a great souvenir to take back home. Geisha coffee is one of the most premium and expensive coffees in the world and can sell for up to $170 a pound. Panama is one of the top producers of this particular blend of coffee, and you have to try it while you are here. While in Casco Viejo you can try the $9 cup at Bajareque Coffee House or Cafe Unido. http://pty.life/panama-coffee-shops/).
Yes, with Zola. Check out our registry and website here! www.zola.com/registry/mariafernandaandwilliam
-Hairarchy Salon -Fuzion Salon: http://www.fuzionsalon.net -You can also download the app 'Get LIV' that allows you to book and receive beauty services from the comfort of your home or hotel *Reach out to Maria Fernanda (786) 838-6849 for any other suggestions or appointment scheduling
-Hairarchy Salon -Miranda Makeup: https://www.mirandamakeupart.com
The church and reception are only 500 meters from each other.
Yes. There are pharmacies (farmacias) throughout the country where you can find most prescription and non-prescription drugs. Some pharmacies are a part of larger chains, while others are small, local operations. Most medicine is cheap and widely available. If you are unable to find the brand you are looking for, chances are there is a generic option. Some drugs – including antibiotics, sleeping pills, and strong pain medications – are not available over the counter in Panama.
Multiplaza