Exploratory trip to Panama

[Lillian Cole]

My wife and I have booked a week trip to Panama the last full week (Sun to Sun) of October.
Panama currently tops our list of retirement destinations. We want to see three locations – Coronado, Pedasí and David and have booked internal flights to get around.

This trip will be our first and the goal is to get a feel for each of the three places, see what’s available in terms of housing (purchase, rent; need local tours with RE agents); and last but not least, meet up for a coffee and chat with expats who live there full time.

We know it will be a tight schedule yet, we hope, feasible with tips and advice from the IL community.

Would much appreciate to hear back and, in advance, thank you to everybody who would take time to revert.

Stan & Lillian

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hi Stan and Lillian,

Thanks for posting and hope you have a wonderful trip. You’ll find plenty of tips all over the Panama Insider website and this forum can be a great place to post specific questions. Do feel free to search and explore this forum in addition to the main Panama Insider website. You’ll find sample itineraries and sections on the places you plan to visit. I’ll just re-post something here from a recent post about meeting other expats, as well as general travel tips we like to share with new visitors.

Best,

Jessica

IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch

Networking/Meeting other expats

Though International Living does not arrange meetings between expats or in different locations in Panama, there are a great many ways to meet expats and others in Panama. There are many online tools you can use.

One popular online forum is Americans in Panama, on Yahoo Groups. It’s for English speaking expats who are currently living in Panama or looking for information about living here. It has an extensive collection of files and links about Panama, and a searchable message archive where you can search for the answer to your Panama questions (and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, post a new question.)

To find and join the forum you will have to have/sign up for a free Yahoo e-mail account. Visit Yahoo Groups, website: http://www.groups.yahoo.com, to learn more or try this link:

https://beta.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/americans_in_panama/info

Or search for other Panama-related groups and blogs online. You’ll find sites (on yahoo and on other platforms) for different areas of Panama, from El Valle to Boquete and beyond. Since you are visiting El Valle, in Anton, you may want to check out the El Valle Yahoo group. They often post information about social events that you can attend to network with and talk to residents. I believe now they are posting these notices at a new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132422730687136/

Networking tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are extremely popular in Panama and great ways to grow your network. You can create a profile for free and search Panama-related groups.

(The International Living Panama Facebook page is a great place to start, visit http://www.facebook.com/internationallivingpanama and “like” the page to begin posting or reading past posts. My photo album containing flyers on Fun Things to Do in Panama may be of interest).

Attending expat and local events is also a great way to get involved and meet new people. There are many websites where you can find out about events and more, including:

• The Visitor, website: http://www.thevisitorpanama.com
• Playa Community (Pacific beach communities around the Hub town of Coronado. Since you’re visiting Chame this may be of particular interest): website: http://www.playacommunity.com
• Internations organizes mixers in Panama City about every 2 weeks: http://www.internations.org

The above are great resources if you want to find out what hangouts are popular with expats…places like Smiley’s in Pedasi, Picasso in Coronado, and the Tuesday Market in Boquete.

If you have special interests, you can often find like-minded groups, from the Canadian Association to the local Kabbala or Harley/motorbike enthusiasts. Just search them online!

In addition, here are some expat contributors, bloggers, business owners, etc:

• Nanette Witmer is an expat and IL correspondent living in David, Chiriqui, just outside the Boquete Highlands: Chiriqui@internationalliving.com

• Susan and Jason Thomas own the Boquete Garden Inn in Boquete, where they often host social happy hours, website: http://www.boquetegardeninn.com.

• Frauke Schnell de Muñoz is a European and long-time Panama resident living in Sora who also has a few cabins for rent there. Her e-mail address is fraukeschnellmunoz@yahoo.com.

• Cynthia Cudmore-Mulder owns Cerrito Tropical B&B and Calaloo restaurant on Taboga Island; website: http://www.cerritotropicalpanama.com.

• Connie & Mikkel Moller live in Pedasi where among other things they are active in the spay and neuter program. They have a blog in which they share their experiences: http://www.ourthirdlifepedasi.com/

• Rosalind Baitel lives in Panama City where she runs her business, Promises Consignment Boutique —the first and only consignment boutique in Panama dedicated to charity fundraising. Among other things she is an expert on Panama’s Jewish Community and charities in Panama. She enjoys networking and connecting people when possible and appropriate. Email: promisespanama@gmail.com.

Choose your sources wisely
We’ve met and interviewed a great many expats over the years, most of whom are wonderful people, generous with contacts, information, and advice. However, past experience has taught us that many potential expats let down their guard when traveling and meeting locals or other expats. Be outgoing and make friends, but use the same good judgment you employ back home. Again, in our experience, most people are great. But it is also true that some people will only be “nice” because they want to sell you something or get something from you. Some people will try to convince you, perhaps over drinks, that you should buy their land without taking the time to do your due diligence (we call this the “margarita effect”). Some people will even have ulterior motives for bad-mouthing or praising Panama to you.
Take “free advice” with a grain of salt. Seek out local friends and resources that have nothing to gain from your decisions and/or second opinions on important matters. And for news and editorial on Panama, trust reputable sources. Remember that bloggers, website owners, and forum posters aren’t generally monitored by any authority, whereas books, newspapers, and vetted news sources are kept in check by editors, publishers, and professional associations. So take blogs and website posts with a grain of salt, too.

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 growing selection of international flights plus domestic flights between Panama City and David City. Many other airlines also serve Tocumen including big names like United, American, Delta, and more.

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 you can drive, take a bus, or fly from Panama City to David. From David it’s an easy 30-minute drive/bus ride to Boquete.

* 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 home country’s foreign affairs office (state dept/travel advisories/etc) 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 and TripAdvisor.com

Promotional airfares are often available via Copa/United websites. 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. The Riande Airport Hotel and Crowne Plaza Panama Airport are close to 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. El Cangrejo is a popular neighborhood for hotels, Metro de Panama access, and walkability.

Rental Cars: There are many rental companies in Panama, including National Rent A Car (www.nationalpanama.com/english/index.htm), which in my experience tends to have the best rates and service. Find more companies listed at: http://www.panamatours.com/Services/serv_carentals.htm.

Taxis are available nearly everywhere and are 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. Services like Uber do operate in Panama but are not specially regulated by the government transit authority insurance authority, etc., so caveat emptor. I have successfully used Uber and a similar service called TuChofer.com many times and generally find service/cars to be superior to taxis. There is also Cabify and an app called EasyTaxi for regular yellow taxis.

Tocumen Airport to/from city center fare (yellow taxi) should be $30 total for up to two people or $15 each for parties of three or more. “Tourism taxis” are white, you will find them at Tocumen Airport as the only taxis authorized for airport pickup. These and private ground transport companies usually charge around $35 total for up to two people. I usually use Uber (you can even reserve a day in advance).

For more airport fares see: http://www.tocumenpanama.aero/index.php?cccpage=transporte_publico

Waze is an excellent app to have on your smart phone and help you navigate Panama City if driving and if you have local data. If not, you may want to download Panama City, Panama to your smartphone’s Google Maps app, to have access on your smartphone even when offline.

If you’d like local cell/data service, you can buy a cheap cell phone or Panama sim card for your cell phone at Tocumen airport, malls, and other places.

Many restaurants and businesses in Panama City offer free wifi to customers.

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 many expenditures, including hotels/motels (as always in travel, a good rule of thumb is A&A: 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 for purchases, take care of your exchange needs on arrival in Tocumen Airport, ask whether your hotel offers exchange services (many do not), or plan on getting to a bank during business hours (call ahead to ensure the branch you’ll visit does exchanges).

Climate: Panama is tropical, with average daytime temperatures of 88º F and two seasons: dry (summer) and wet (“winter”). The dry season (very little to no rain) 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 are usually in the August-November period. Boquete and Bocas del Toro get about double the rainfall of Panama City and other Pacific Coast destinations. In Boquete and other 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 in Panama. 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. Here are some providers that will be happy to hear from you and help with relevant matters:

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/rentals: 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

Best of luck with all your Panama plans.

Regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Panama Editor
International Living Publications

************************************************************

Panama Holidays*

2017

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 9 Martyr’s Day (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours).
February 24-28 Carnival
March 1 Ash Wednesday
April 13-16 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)
November 2 Day of the Dead (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours)
Nov. 3-5 (6?), 10, 28 Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8 Mother’s Day
December 25 Christmas Day (Many businesses close at noon Dec 24 & 31)

2018

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 9 Martyr’s Day (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours).
February 9-13 Carnival
February 14 Ash Wednesday
March 29-April 1 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)
November 2 Day of the Dead (Dry: no alcohol sold for 24 hours)
Nov 3-5, 10 (12?), 28 Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8 Mother’s Day
December 25 Christmas Day (Many businesses close at noon Dec 24 & 31)

* All of the above is subject to change. If a holiday falls on a weekend, then observance may be moved to the following Monday via executive decree. This is often announced a month or two ahead of time, hence TBC dates in parentheses/question marks.

[Lillian Cole]

Hi Jessica,

Thanks very much for taking the time to revert and the comprehensive info on all aspects of travel and networking in Panama we currently look to explore for our upcoming trip in October.

One quick note. We read that there are flights between Panama and Pedasí but haven’t seen evidence of that. Seems that flight only go as far as Chitre and it is a pricey taxi ride from there. Pedasí has an airport from what we gathered. Wonder if there is more recent info you can share on how to get to Pedasí from PC.

Many thanks,
Lillian

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hi Lillian,

Yes, a taxi from Chitre to Pedasi would be a bit pricey as the trip’s about an hour. You could alternatively rent a car or take a bus (might have to go to Las Tablas and from there another bus to Pedasi).

But did you check directly on the website for Air Panama, the domestic airline mentioned above? I just did, and it’s showing flights to/from Panama City – to/from Pedasi on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Air Panama’s website is airpanama.com

In Panama City, Air Panama uses the Marcos Gelabert (aka Albrook) Airport, not Tocumen International Airport (PTY).

Best,
Jessica

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