Driving in Panama

[WAYNE MARINA]

Hi Jessica,
Visiting Panama for the first time end of November and the first week of December. We are staying in Panama City two days prior and two days after our weeks stay at Playa Blanca.

While we are in Panama City we would like to see the three cities and the Panama Canal. Do you recommend that we do this on our own, or should we use a tour guide? We are renting a car because I would like to drive to Playa Blanca and visit Sora and El Valle during our trip.

Also I see that November 28th is a holiday. Will shops in Panama City be closed that day?

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Wayne,

Most of Panama (outside of Panama City) can be explored via the Pan-American Highway, also referred to as the Inter-American Highway. Constant repair and maintenance keep the road in excellent condition…easy to navigate in a rental car. Panama City, on the other hand, has a complex road and highway system, and major infrastructure works (such as Central America’s first ever metro line) are expected to contribute to heavy traffic and changing detours through 2014.

Most prefer not to attempt driving in the city, even with a GPS system or application like Waze, as detours and other temporary changes to circulation may not be reflected (unless you’re already accustomed to driving under these conditions…like if you’ve lived in Italy or the Philippines…somewhere with lax traffic regulations and enforcement). Taxis are plentiful…it is easy to take a cab or hire a driver. You’ll find contact information below.

If you’re planning on driving in Panama City, a hefty serving of patience for unruly drivers and a GPS (and/or Waze) can help. All car rental agencies have GPS available for rent (it’s unlikely your home GPS will be able to register Panama maps).

November 28 is a big holiday here and many shops will be closed. The malls may have some shops open. There will be parades and detours. Traffic in Panama City may be very light despite all this because it falls on a Thursday and a lot of people will leave the city to celebrate in more traditional towns/with family from rural areas.

Hope that helps.

Best regards,

Jessica

You may already have the below information, but including it just in case.

For Your Itinerary: You’ll Need to Know…

Arriving/Departing: Most travelers fly into Tocumen International Airport, Panama City, Panama (PTY), Panama’s only international airport and the region’s biggest hub. Panama’s international airline, Copa, is Latin America’s largest.

For domestic flights, Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in Panama City (also referred to as Albrook, after the neighborhood in which it’s located) offers flights from domestic airline Air Panama.

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

There are also small domestic airports or airstrips elsewhere in Panama, including the San Blas/Kunayala region, Contadora Island, and Bocas del Toro.

Customs and Immigration: U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a passport to visit Panama. No visa is required.

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, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay, may visit Panama for up to 90 days without a visa*.

*This list is subject to change. Please 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.

Country Information:

• Time Zone: EST (No Daylight Savings adjustments. Google “time in Panama” for the exact current time).

• Power: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz, US Standard two-pin plugs. As the U.S. is 120v, you may want to purchase a converter/transformer to safeguard your 120V appliances. Power surges do occur; you may want to use power strips with surge protection to safeguard your laptop and other electronics.

• Currency: Panama uses the U.S. dollar (referred to as the Balboa). All bills are U.S. bills; you’ll find a mix of coins from different U.S. states as well as Panamanian coins (exact same size/specs as U.S. coins). Major credit cards are widely accepted in Panama City (I mean, not in thatch-roofed fondas or open-air markets, but you know, shops with actual doors and stuff). Outside the city, you may need to use cash for most expenditures; there are even hotels/motels that don’t accept credit cards (ask before you go).

• Foreign exchange: this is not a country where you’ll find exchange posts around every corner. You can withdraw dollars from ATMs in Panama City, ask whether your hotel offers exchange services, or plan on getting to a bank during local operating hours.

• Climate: Panama is tropical with average temperatures of 88º F and two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry “summer” season is usually December-April. Expect rain on the Caribbean coast (places like Bocas del Toro), year-round. In highland regions such as Boquete, misty rain is common and temperatures can drop to 60º F at night. No matter where you go, you may need a light sweater or jacket due to cool ocean breezes or over-zealous use of air conditioning. For more information, consult Google News, The Weather Channel, or any other trusted news or weather source.

For help planning your visit contact your travel agent or make use of reduced travel websites such as Kayak.com. Low airfares are often available on Copa/United, visit: http://www.copaair.com for more information. Other airlines like Spirit also offer budget flights.

For help choosing a hotel and other information try review sites such as TripAdvisor.com. The Riande Airport Hotel (tel: +507-290 3333; website: http://www.hotelesriande.com) is the closest to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, but far from city conveniences.

Local contacts:

• Local Travel Agent: Casey Halloran, Co-Owner, Costa Rican Vacations & Panama Luxury Vacations, In Costa Rica: 1-800-606-1860 ext 401, In Panama: 1-866-393-4192, Web: http://www.vacationtopanama.com.

• For road trips, tours, and transportation in Panama (including airport pickups) contact local operators like Inside Panama, email: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601; Sealandsky Journeys, email: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847; or Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, email: macoluche@hotmail.com.

• Rental Cars: There are many rental companies in Panama including

o National: http://www.nationalpanama.com/english/index.htm
o Hertz http://www.rentacarpanama.com/general/default.aspx
o Budget Rent A Car http://www.budgetpanama.com/
o And more: 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 double.

Taxis do not use meters; they carry charts showing the price increase by district. Add $0.35 per additional person to the fare. Taxis charge extra for pickup at hotels, airports, and other tourist destinations. Any taxi can take you to the airport. Only special white “tourism taxis” are allowed to pick up passengers from the airport. Tocumen Airport fare is a flat fee of about $25.

It is not customary to tip (unless the driver has gone above and beyond, carrying lot of luggage, acting as a tour guide, returning a lost item, etc.). It’s always a good idea to ask the taxi driver what the fare will be before getting in.

[ROSS SHAMENSKI]

We rented a car in Panama in June 2013. We rented it from the Dollar Rental Car desk at the Trump Hotel, it worked out fine. [By the way the Trump Hotel only cost us $150 per night and was fabulous]. I too would recommend a GPS as driving in Panama can be quite the adventure. Patience is required. Having the rental car gave us more freedom to go when and where we wanted. Have fun.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Wonderful, thank you so much for sharing this info about your experience, Ross!

Best,

Jessica

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