A Little Reminder about the November Holidays

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hi there Panama Insiders,

I hope your November is getting off to a great start. While many of you are transitioning from Fall to Winter, we’re getting ready for the “winter” or wet season to end, as the dry summer season typically begins in December.

This month is an important one here…perhaps the most important month of all. November is Mes de la Patria, or national pride month. In the coming days we will celebrate Panama’s independence from Spain in 1821 and its separation from Colombia (in 1903) to become a sovereign democratic republic.

I’ll be out of office a lot this month (see list at the end of this post), so if you email me on one of the below-mentioned bank holidays or during International Living’s Fund Your Life Overseas seminar (I’ll be gone for that Nov 10 through 14), you’ll receive the below information in an auto-reply. Likewise, government offices and many businesses will be closed for the November “Fiestas Patrias,” though shopping malls will likely remain open (some shops may close Nov 3rd and 28th).

We’ll tell you more about the November holidays and the celebrations that take place here in an upcoming post/missive, so keep an eye out for that. Wishing you all a happy November and a wonderful Thanksgiving if that’s something you celebrate (for our Canadian readers who celebrate in October, hope it was a great one!)

Best to you all,

Jessica

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Hi folks,

As November 2 and 3-5 are holidays in Panama, I am out of office until November 6. I will also be out of office November 10-14 and November 28. I will reply to relevant messages as quickly as possible after my return, but urgent or time-sensitive inquiries should be sent to International Living Customer Service or one of the resources listed below.

Please read the below thoroughly, you may find the answer to your question instantly!

Panama travel and resources:

Arriving/Departing: Most travelers fly into Tocumen International Airport (PTY), known as the Hub of the Americas. Located in east Panama City, Tocumen the nation’s only major international airport for commercial flights. Copa is Latin America’s largest airline and has helped transform Tocumen into the region’s busiest hub with a great selection of international flights plus domestic flights between Panama City and David City.

The Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in the Albrook sector of Panama City (aka “Albrook Airport”) is a hub for domestic airline Air Panama, which offers flights to popular sites such as David, Bocas del Toro, Pedasi, Contadora, and Guna Yala (formerly known as San Blas).

The Enrique Malek airport in David, Chiriqui offers flights to and from Costa Rica; all other flights to and from David are domestic.

To visit the mountain region in and around Boquete, drive, take a bus, or fly from Panama City to David. From David it’s only a 30-minute drive / bus ride to Boquete on a new four-lane road.

* The new Scarlett Martinez airport at Rio Hato (Pacific Coast near Coronado) serves mostly charter flights.

Customs & Immigration for U.S./Canadian citizens: You must have a passport to visit Panama. Check your passport expiration date prior to booking travel—your passport must be valid for six months from your date of arrival. No visa application is required. Be prepared to show proof of solvency and of intended departure.

Citizens from visa waiver countries, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay, may also visit Panama for up to 90 days without a visa*.

*This list and other information in this message is subject to change. Always check with your nearest Panamanian consulate or your home country’s foreign affairs office prior to travel to ensure you have the latest information.

If you need help planning your visit, contact a travel agent or make use of reduced travel websites such as Kayak.com. Promotional airfares are often available via Copa/United websites. Panama is served by many of the world’s major airlines. Spirit offers budget flights to Panama.

Local tourism/travel contacts:

Road trips, tours (day tours, eco-tours, etc), ground transportation, airport pickups, etc:

• Panama Vacations, http://www.vacationtopanama.com

• Ancon Expeditions, http://www.anconexpeditions.com

• Roadrunner Panama, web: http://www.panamaroadrunner.com

• Inside Panama, email: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601

• Panama Travel: http://www.panamatravelunlimited.com, info@panamatravelunlimited.com

• Sealandsky Journeys, email: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847

• Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, email: macoluche@hotmail.com

New hotels are constantly opening in Panama. For help choosing a hotel and other information try review sites such as TripAdvisor.com. The Riande Airport Hotel (www.hotelesriande.com) is close to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, but far from city conveniences. If staying in Panama City you may want to choose hotels in central or downtown areas for ease of exploration.

Rental Cars: There are many rental companies in Panama, including National Rent A Car: http://www.nationalpanama.com/english/index.htm. Find more companies listed at: http://www.panamatours.com/Services/serv_carentals.htm.

Taxis are available nearly everywhere and are very inexpensive. Fares within the greater metropolitan area are usually $3 to $5. Visits to outlying areas like the Panama Canal Miraflores visitor center can cost $6 to $10. Taxis do not use meters; they carry charts showing the price increase by district and number of passengers. Taxis are yellow and have ID numbers painted on their sides. Taxis charge extra for pickup at hotels, airports, and other tourist destinations. It is not customary to tip yellow taxi drivers (unless the driver has gone above and beyond or helped load luggage). Always ask the taxi driver what the fare will be before getting in.

Tocumen Airport fare (yellow taxi) should be $25 total for up to two people or $10 each for groups. “Tourism taxis” are white, you will find them at Tocumen Airport. These and private ground transport companies usually charge around $35 total for up to two people. For more airport fares see: http://www.tocumenpanama.aero/index.php?cccpage=transporte_publico. Services like Uber do operate in Panama but are not regulated by the government, insurance authority, etc., so caveat emptor. I have successfully used one of these services called TuChofer.com and Uber several times.

Waze is an excellent app to have on your smart phone and help you navigate Panama City.

Country Information:

• Currency: Panama uses the U.S. dollar ($), locally referred to as the Balboa (B/.). Paper currency is entirely U.S. (there are no Balboa bills). Coins in Panama are a mix of U.S. coins and Panamanian coins (same exact size). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Panama City, Amex is not widely accepted. Outside the city, you may need to use cash for some expenditures, including hotels/motels (a good rule of thumb is to assume nothing & ask before you go).

• Foreign exchange: If you are coming to Panama with anything but U.S. Dollars, note that this is not a country where you’ll find exchange posts around every corner. Your options are generally to withdraw USD from ATMs in Panama City, use your credit card, ask whether your hotel offers exchange services, or plan on getting to a bank during business hours.

• Climate: Panama is tropical, with average temperatures of 88º F and two seasons: dry (summer) and wet (“winter”). The dry season is December through April in most parts of the country. The rainy season is mild, with most of the Pacific Coast experiencing only afternoon showers. The heaviest rains usually happen some time between August and November, but even then entire days of rain or gloomy weather are rare. Boquete and Bocas del Toro get about double the rainfall of Panama City and other Pacific Coast destinations. In highland regions temperatures can drop to 60º F at night. No matter where you go in Panama, consider bringing a light cardigan or jacket. (If you’re coming back from the beach and are wet from swimming, the breeze can feel cold. Also air conditioning in restaurants, hotels, etc., can be cold.) There are no hurricanes here. For current weather information consult Google News, The Weather Channel, or any other trusted news or weather source.

Important Resources For Potential Expats:

As Panama editor I travel the country in order to write about it. It is my pleasure to answer your questions about Panama and/or direct you to the appropriate person or department for help with other queries. As I am a full-time writer, I do not offer any consulting, concierge, real estate, or travel-related services, but here are some providers that will be happy to hear from you and help with relevant matters or answer questions:

Legal assistance: Whether you plan to live, invest, retire, or have a home in Panama, you’ll need a Panamanian lawyer to assist you with legal matters. If you don’t already have one, send your legal questions to:

The Law Offices of Rainelda Mata-Kelly
Suite 406-407, Tower B, Torres de las Americas
Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama
Local tel: +(507) 216-9299
From the U.S. or Canada tel: (011 507) 216-9299
Email: rmk@mata-kelly.com
Website: http://www.mata-kelly.com

Real estate: International Living does not sell or broker real estate or rentals. But you can send your real estate/rental queries to Pathfinder International Real Estate, exclusive real estate advertiser to International Living:

Pathfinder International Real Estate
info@pathfinderinternational.net
Website: http://www.pathfinderinternational.net

International Living is the ultimate information source

Subscriptions and Memberships: Do you have questions on IL subscriptions, products or services? Do you need help troubleshooting technical issues (login, change of email, password, etc.)? If so, please contact International Living Customer Service via the website: http://internationalliving.com/about-il/customer-service/.

Products: Subscriptions, detailed reports, and other products are available for sale at the International Living bookstore, http://www.ilbookstore.com.

Thanks again for your patronage. We trust you’ll benefit from the ultra-specific, actionable information provided in IL publications and products. Don’t hesitate to write again with any additional questions.

Best of luck with all your Panama plans.

Regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Panama Editor
International Living Publications

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International Living holds highly informative seminars in Panama every year. Exhibitors and speakers range from legal and real estate specialists, to expats who have already made the move, to tax and insurance experts.

The 2015 Fast Track Panama event took place on April 9-11. A recordings package will be
available via IL customer service and/or the IL bookstore (links above).

The next Fast Track Panama event will be held February 12-14 in Panama City. It’s nearly sold out, so if you’re interested in attending please do not delay. To contact IL Events, visit http://internationalliving.com/customer-service/events-questions/
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Panama Holidays 2015*

January 1: New Year’s Day
January 9/12: Martyr’s Day (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours on the Friday*).
February 14-17, 18: Carnival & Ash Wednesday
April 2-5 Holy Week (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours Good Friday)
May 1: Labor Day
August 15: Founding of Panama La Vieja (Original Site of Panama City)
Nov 2: Day of the Dead (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours)
Nov 3-5, 10, 28 (30): Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8: Mother’s Day
December 25: Christmas Day (Many businesses close at noon Dec 24/31)

ALSO: This year only, due to the Americas Summit: April 9-10 (Panama City only)

* subject to change

Panama Holidays 2016**

January 1: New Year’s Day
January 9 (8): Martyr’s Day (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours).
February 5-9, 10: Carnival & Ash Wednesday
Mach 24-27 Holy Week (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours Good Friday)
May 1 (2): Labor Day
August 15: Founding of Panama La Vieja (Original Site of Panama City)
Nov 2: Day of the Dead (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours)
Nov 3-5 (7), 10, 28: Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8: Mother’s Day
December 25 (26): Christmas Day (Many businesses close at noon Dec 24/31)

** holidays are subject to change. If a holiday falls on a weekend, then observance may be moved to the following Monday via executive decree.

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