[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Thanks very much John, it’s a pleasure providing information (about a place that I love) that may be of use to you during your time here and help you make the most of it.
Best,
Jessica

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hello Richard,

Here’s the info you requested and some additional information I like to give to first-time visitors.

Hope you have a great visit.

Regards,

Jessica

Helpful information:

Planning a visit? Here is some important information about Panama travel and resources:

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; Turista Internacional, email: incentives2@turistaintl.com, website: http://www.turistaintl.com; 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.

Useful contacts

Kindly note: As Panama editor I travel the country in order to write about it. As I am a full-time writer, I do not offer consulting, concierge, real estate, or travel-related services.

Real estate: International Living does not sell or broker real estate or rentals. For real estate queries, contact Pathfinder International Real Estate, exclusive real estate marketer to International Living:

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

Rentals: Panama has a growing number of rental management companies. One of the first on the scene was Panama Sol:

Panama Sol
Email: panama@panamasolrealty.com

Legal assistance: Whether you plan to live, invest or retire 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) 380-0606.
E-mail: rmk@mata-kelly.com
Website: http://www.mata-kelly.com

Subscriptions and Memberships: For questions on IL subscriptions, products and services please contact International Living Customer Service via the website: https://internationalliving.com/about-il/customer-service/

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

Thanks again for your inquiry.

Best of luck with all your Panama plans.

Regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Panama Correspondent
International Living Publications

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

IMPORTANT PANAMA HOLIDAYS 2013*

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 9 Martyr’s Day (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours)
February 8-12, Feb 13 Carnival & Ash Wednesday
March 28-31 Holy Week (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours Good Friday)
May 1 Labor Day (Moved to April 29 to create a long weekend)
August 15 Founding of Panama La Vieja (original city)
November 3-5, 10-11, 28 Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8 Mother’s Day
December 25 Christmas Day
* subject to change

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hi Susan,

Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you had a harrowing time as you were unable to fly. In my experience 98-degree weather is uncommon in Panama. We get lots of “mild days” in the high 70s (right now during the wet season, usually May through November…close to noon today it was still cool at around 78 degrees) and in the high 80s during the rest of the year (dry or summer season). So blackout days due to high temperatures are uncommon, though impossible to predict unfortunately.

It is good that you will be booking ahead via Air Panama but do ask about the pet policy because my understanding is that they do not guarantee they will have room for your pet. It depends on the size of your pet though, the only time I ever heard of this being an issue was with a friend of mine who had a large, overweight labrador and the small plane (to Contadora Island, tiny planes) was already at its weight limit.

Best,

Jessica

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Keith,

That was an April Fool’s “joke post.” There is no Spanish language requirement for residence (of course there is one for citizenship but that has always been the case and most expats live here on residence visas and never pursue citizenship).

Regardless, Keith, we do always encourage potential Panama residents to do their best to learn some Spanish, as knowing at least a little Spanish both helps you show you’re respectful of the locals and can have a very significant positive impact on your Panama experience.

Hope this information helps.

Best regards,

Jessica

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear John,

My understanding is that there are 2x weekly flights from Tocumen to Bocas del Toro, arguably the most popular beach destination that’s most easily reached by domestic flight. Per Air Panama (I just called and checked their website…Air Panama is the only domestic airline right now) there are no other flights from Tocumen to domestic destinations. The Tocumen-Bocas flights “will be available indefinitely but this is considered a test”…i.e., there may be additional flights in the future but it will depend on the data gathered from the currently available run. If unsuccessful even the Bocas flight from Tocumen risks being cancelled. They would not tell me how long they plan to let the flights go before evaluating.

By the way: The David airport expansion has lengthened the runway in David, and it will be able to accommodate the type of larger aircraft currently being used for international flights, but none of the local sources, from the civil aviation authority to the tourism authority, have given us any concrete information with regard to international flights or new domestic flights to and from David. A lot of people ask me whether some day they’ll be able to fly from U.S. destinations straight to David, without stopping at Tocumen. I think it is a possibility but in the far future.

Hope that helps.

Best,

Jessica

[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.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hello Tom,

I have had excellent experiences with the quality of healthcare here (this is what you’ll hear from most any expat here in Panama, the general consensus is surprisingly good). Naturally I have not had that specific type of surgery so I cannot give you a personal recommendation. However, the best-known hospital in Panama is the Hospital Punta Pacifica, and you will find part of the website is dedicated to bariatrics. It is the only hospital in Latin America that is affiliated with Johns Hopkins International and I believe (you can inquire if you contact the hospital admin) its JCI affiliation is kept up-to-date. It is also known as the most technologically advanced hospital in Latin America. It’s not the least expensive hospital in Panama; it is possible that other hospitals or clinics here offer similar services as Punta Pacifica at lower prices. The city’s major hospitals include the above, as well as Paitilla Hospital, Hospital Nacional, and Hospital San Fernando. Also, it is possible some of the smaller facilities offer this type of procedure. I hope this helps as you begin your research.

If anyone on the Forum has had surgery in Panama I hope they will chime in, too.

Best regards,

Jessica

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Wonderful, thanks Susan!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Mary-Lou,

This is a great question. The below advice is for both people like you, who plan extended stays, and for expats who are making a permanent move but don’t yet have everything figured out.

Many visitors (and some expat residents) manage perfectly well in Panama with home-country credit and debit cards. If your ATM card has a “Plus” symbol on the back, it should work for cash withdrawals here in Panama. ATMs in Panama dispense only US dollars.

You may also find yourself operating via credit cards. Note that traveler’s checks are rarely used anymore. You can sometimes use U.S. checks in Panama, but locals prefer not to accept them because they take double the time to clear (and sometimes the local’s bank will charge extra fees, taking out a chunk of the check).

ATMs:
In Panama City and other major destinations like David and Santiago, there are ATMs around nearly every corner. After all, Panama has one of the largest financial districts in the world, with some 80-plus different banks operating here. You’ll also find ATMs in most supermarkets and shopping malls. (Watch out when visiting the islands or remote areas, though. There’s no ATM on Contadora Island, for example.) Take into account fees you may be charged to make withdrawals while abroad; you could pay anywhere between $3 and $5—or even more—each time you use the ATM.

Credit cards:
If you’re planning to use your credit cards in Panama, again, take into account fees each card’s issuer may impose for use abroad. Many credit card issuers now shamelessly charge not only a fixed fee for every international purchase but also up to 3% on the purchase amount.

Before leaving home, tell your bank representative that you’re planning on spending time in Panama and discuss these fees. You may find that opening an account in a different bank in the U.S., Canada, or wherever home may be, can save you money when you get to Panama. Some banks—like Charles Schwab—have special offers for things like foreign ATM fee reimbursement, or better bill paying options, while others (like Capital One) may offer credit cards with no foreign currency fees. You’ll find it well worth your while to research these options exhaustively. Find out before you start your long-term stay here so you know what to expect and how to save on fees where possible.

Wire transfers:
You may need to use international wire transfers to get your money to Panama, but note that fees are usually charged on both ends. Happily fees often are the same no matter how much money you wire, so this can be the better option for large amounts. Be sure to ask what your home country bank charges to wire the money internationally and what the Panamanian bank charges to receive it. Ask your bank if you can lower the fee by transferring the funds yourself over the Internet. Also ask your bank whether or not you need to be there, in person, to sign a wire order. Thankfully, Panama’s currency is the U.S. dollar, so if you are from the U.S., you generally don’t have to worry about exchange rates.

Safety and contingency plans

No matter where you travel, have a contingency plan and expect the unexpected. For example, what will you do if you find yourself out of cash or lose your credit cards? Know your credit card pin for cash withdrawals (though these can be so expensive they should only be used as a last-ditch measure). Keep emergency numbers, credit card numbers, and any other pertinent information listed in a secure location, so you can call to report card losses immediately (again, online banking is a plus, as you can access your information securely online with your secret password). Back up your contacts on your phone and cell phone regularly. Talk to loved ones about being away and ask who will be available to help in a pinch (Panama has several Western Union and MoneyGram branches you can use to get funds to you in an emergency.)

Though many of the banks you may know back home have branches here—such as Scotiabank—don’t assume the systems are the same. A bank branch here in Panama won’t have your account information or waive ATM fees just because you’re an account-holder in another country.

Opening an account in Panama (Mary-Lou, this may apply for you later on down the line, if you decide to move here permanently. Including it because other readers may also want to know).

For permanent or very long sojourns, opening a bank account in Panama is the best solution. Keep in mind, however, that this takes extra time (and patience) in Panama’s ultra careful, conservative banking environment. You may be surprised to learn that the banks have many “suitors,” so rather than courting your business, they vet you to ensure you’re a legitimate customer.

Usually, the bank will want lots of documents like utility bills or references showing that you and your interest in Panama are legit. Some of the things you might need include tax returns and credit reports. A local introduction (from your Panama attorney or another business contact) can get you in the door with a good bank and speed things up considerably. You do not need to be a resident of Panama to have an account, but it helps, as few Panama branches cater to non-residents unless they are opening large businesses here.

It’s always a good idea to keep your home accounts open. Even if you have a Panama account, it’s likely you’ll want to use your U.S., Canadian, or other accounts to do business or maintain residence at home. If for some reason you wish to close them, make sure your Panama account is set up (and that you’ve started using it to ensure all is well) before closing your home accounts.

Long-term, most expats end up wiring funds from home to a Panamanian bank account. They then conduct day-to-day transactions with a local (Panama-based) ATM card, credit card, and/or checkbook. You’ll find Panamanian bank accounts are easy to use, as many offer modern online banking access and free bill paying. Ask about these services. You’ll likely find that banks here generally charge much less in fees than U.S. banks. Get a Panama-based credit card and you can earn points or miles, avoid foreign transaction fees while in Panama, and pay the monthly bill online from your Panama account.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hello Amy,

Sorry for the delay. I have not been to or researched Los Islotes (I tend to write more about towns and cities, less about private gated developments within a town or city). The website says it is a private gated community on the west coast of the Azuero peninsula (province of Veraguas).

The west coast of the Azuero Peninsula is an area I don’t cover because it’s not attracting expats (for a few understandable reasons, more on that in a moment). On this Panama Insider website you will find information on many places, including east coast Azuero towns such as Las Tablas and Pedasi. Azuero has one developed coast (east) and one primarily forested, undeveloped coast (west). While I have traveled the east coast several times and can recommend it as a place to visit or live, I would not recommend the west coast because the infrastructure is lesser and much of the land is national park land that should/will likely remain undeveloped (Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya aka Tres Cerros and the Western Cordillera). So in this region, compared to the regions that we do cover, there are less roads, vast areas without power or water (needless to say, Internet), etc.

I don’t mean to discourage you if you’re the pioneer type, but questions you might ask of the developers include how long the drive is to the nearest hospital (the nearest non-public, non-social security hospital), how long to Panama City, closest major supermarket (unless you plan to live without this). If you need high-speed Internet ask about that, too.

RE the importance of protecting forested zones in west Veraguas (and elswhere in Panama), a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Luis H. Cordova writes: (MACHINE TRANSLATION, bold added by me) “Very wet tropical forest:
This life zone is one of the best bio-climates for forestry. Occupies a significantly large area in Panama, reaching about 10,900 square kilometers or 13.4% of the country, represented in large block, continuous or in strips, to generally low elevations along the Caribbean coast and in the western part of Azuero Peninsula, in the Sierra de Cañazas, in the Coast Range north from Panama City to the border with Colombia and in the mountain valleys adjacent to the Colombian Choco Darien. Smaller but significant areas are presented in Chiriqui near the border with Costa Rica and the Tabasará Mountains in eastern West Chiriqui and Veraguas. Unlike other areas, most of this area still exhibits a high cover of mature virgin or secondary forest, although it is being colonized (Alto Chucunaque Darien). It is a difficult environment for agriculture and until recently was avoided for such purposes.

Soils are generally poor in high and zonal sites, which once cleared soon after become sterile. This is not a zone which can be devoted to livestock or commercially oriented farmers, rather its an area with a forest environment and in terms of national land policy, land in this area of life should, with few exceptions, be reserved exclusively for orderly forest production. Unfortunately it is not; despite difficult accessibility these lands are subject to titling without any preconditioning, and are being used for other purposes.

The natural forest has a variety of associations found in well-drained plains and ridges and convex upper slopes, with well-defined layers and a rich variety of species formed by trees, woody epiphytes, lianas, heliconias and more.

It is virtually impossible to attempt to draw up a complete list of species that can be found in this area of life…” report: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad395s/ad395s10.htm

Hope this helps a bit.
Best regards,

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Dennis, My understanding is that tennis is very popular here, with everything from casual games to tournaments being available for you to join. I am not a bridge player so I don’t know from duplicate bridge, but there are active game players in major expat communities in the city, at the beach, and in the mountain community in Boquete. To see examples of the activities and how people find partners to play, why don’t you take a look at the community beach website, PlayaCommunity.com? I think it will give you a good idea RE how easy it is to find partners and set up games.
Best regards!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Dennis,
At present Panama has two international airports: Tocumen International, known as the Hub of the Americas because it is the busiest airport in the region, and the David Airport (Enrique Malek) which is mostly domestic but added the word international when it began receiving flights from Costa Rica. A former military airport (very old) at Rio Hato on the Pacific Coast, about 1.5 hours drive west of Panama City, is currently being rebuilt and when completed the government says it will be Panama’s only true international airport outside of Tocumen. The exact open date and flights won’t be available till next year earliest, it is thought.
Regards!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hello Rebecca,
My understanding is that personal (non-business) plans available in Boquete range from 1mb to 10mb (this is download speed, generally the upload speed is much lower, say 1mb), but you can find a list of the providers here and if interested contact them yourself for detailed info on current packages (or consult their websites to see what the current offers are, they continually upgrade): http://www.hablayapanama.com/info/boquete/internet/ Since Boquete town is one thing and the greater Boquete district is more expansive, when moving to Boquete, if Internet is important to you, you need to choose an area that is wired for one of the major providers or be ok with spending a lot more (perhaps double or triple) to get high speed in a more remote location. Hope this information helps!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hi there John and Doug, yes my understanding is that for birds the paperwork gets more complicated. It is possible, there are people who have brought their birds down but you may find the extra requirements a bit time-consuming. For detailed current info it is best to ask a relocator or attorney that deals with this regularly, if you don’t have one try:

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) 380-0606.
E-mail: rmk@mata-kelly.com
Website: http://www.mata-kelly.com

For other animals like horses and cows yes, the process is more complex, Cats and dogs are the most common and thus the processes are the easiest/most streamlined.

Hope this helps.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Hello James,

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; Turista Internacional, email: incentives2@turistaintl.com, website: http://www.turistaintl.com; Sealandsky Journeys, email: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847; or Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, email: macoluche@hotmail.com.

I don’t feel comfortable venturing any kind of figure RE cost of the entire itinerary as that depends greatly on your choices for:

dining: a meal can cost anywhere from $2 to $60 depending on whether or not you self-cater, sample local places, have wine/drinks with meal, etc

accommodations: from $10 to $200 a night depending on your tastes (hostels? hotels?)…you say mid-level so I’d guess you will pay somewhere between $40 and $90 a night.

I will say entrance fees to attractions like museums and natural parks are usually very inexpensive, sometimes as little as $2 to $10.

Unfortunately rental cars are not a whole lot cheaper than in the States, as insurances (which I always recommend getting) add a lot to the daily rates. The last time I rented a car I went to a nicer (more expensive) rental agency, I think it was National, and I got a promotional rate of about $90 for the first week (total was 8 or 9 days) and ended up paying $400 after factoring in all the insurance (I take all of the options offered minus health as I have my own). And that for a small automatic with no bells or whistles (no tint to the windows, manual windows).

Hope this helps you figure your own costs.

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