General
Information
 Whether is snorkeling
or tank diving, the diving enthusiast is bound to
find his appeal in any of the various waters of
Panama. Panama offers both, the lively and colorful
clarity of Caribbean style Atlantic; the vast and
mysterious Pacific Ocean full of large marine species,
exactly where  Balboa discovered it; and the jungle
encircled Gatun Lake, bed of the Panama Canal.
The isthmus of Panama, running on an east-west axis,
finds the Atlantic Ocean on its northern shores.
Starting from the west, the first dive site is Bocas
del Toro. The scuba diving in and around Bocas can
be enjoyed throughout the year, with most of the
dive spots no more than one hour boat ride from
Bocas town. The water temperatures is very tropical
and constant, so full or even short wetsuits are
not required. Water visability varies from one dive
spot to another, and is always dependent on weather
conditions. The months of September and October
are traditionally the better months, due primarilly
to more suitable climatic conditions. During this
period there is less rain and wind, allowing for
clearer water conditions.
Dive
Centers & Accommodations
Getting
There
International Airlines serving Panama with regularly
scheduled flights:
American
Airlines
Avianca
Continental
Airlines
Copa
Airlines
Cubana
Delta
Airlines
Iberia
Lloyd
Aero Boliviano
Grupo
Taca
Mexicana
West
Caribbean
Local Air Services
A variety of national airlines operate from the International
Airport Marcos A. Gelabert, in Albrook. They offer
routine and charter flights to more than 150 airfields
in the Republic.
Aeroperlas
www.aeroperlas.com
Bahía Piña, Contadora, David, Free Zone
of Colón, Bocas del Toro, Changuinola, Chitré,
La Palma, El Real, Jaqué, Garachiné,
Sambú, Special Flights.
Aeromapiex
E-Mail
David, Bocas del Toro (Island), Changuinola and Panamá
City.
Aerotaxi
iflyap@aeroperlas.com
San Blas
ANSA
iflyap@aeroperlas.com
San Blas
Aviatur
aviatur@sinfo.net
San Blas, Darién, Sambú, Garachiné,
La Palma, Jaqué, Piña, Contadora, San
Miguel. Special Flights.
Helipan
www.helipan.com
Helicopter Rental & Tours.
Helix
www.aero.com.pa
Helicopter Charters Flights.
Entry Requirements
All visitors require a valid passport and an onward/return
ticket.
Additional requirements vary according to nationality
and are subject to change. You are recommended to
check with a Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or ticketing
agents for airlines that fly to Panama to obtain the
most updated information.
At the time of writing, nationals from the following
countries do NOT REQUIRE any further documentation:
Argentina, Austria, Belgium Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Finland, France, Germany Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary,
Israel, Italy, Luxemburg, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal,
Singapore, Switzerland and UK.
Nationals from the following countries do REQUIRE
a tourist card (US $5) or a tourist visa, available
from Panamanian embassies and consulates, airlines
serving Panama, border crossings, or at the international
airport : Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Denmark, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland,
Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands,
New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan,
Tobago, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela.
Nationals from Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Philippines,
Peru, Dominican Republic and Thailand require tourist
visas and should contact an embassy or consulate.
If your country is not listed above, contact your
nearest Panamanian Consulate or Embassy or the Panamanian
Immigration office Tel: 507-227-1448 Fax: 507-227-1227
Upon entry, every visitor is given a stamp allowing
him or her to remain in Panama as a tourist for 90
days. This may be extended by applying to an immigration
office in Panama City, David or Chitre, the only offices
that can issue an extension.
For information regarding Pensionado and other Residence
Visas, 2nd Passports etc. click here
You may enter Panama with 200 cigarettes and 3 bottles
of liquor tax free. If you try to leave Panama with
articles made from endangered species you may be severely
punished.
Please note: There is a US$20 departure tax when you
leave Panama.
Travel Tips
Getting Around
If your stay is confined to Panama City, don't bother
with buses or rental cars. Taxis are available for
reasonable fares. Choose a relatively new car that
is in good condition. The slightly higher fare is
more than worth it for reliability and cold air conditioning.
For longer trips or journeys to remote areas, plan
to get a vehicle with four-wheel drive capability,
as you may be driving on rugged terrain. These vehicles
are popular and run out fast, so plan ahead. Most
major towns have car rental agencies, so renting a
car is a relatively easy process. It's important to
bring the rental reservation document that states
the agreed upon rate. Remember, you must be at least
25 years old to rent a car (23 if paid by AMEX). All
major rental car agencies are represented in Panama.
The Pan American Highway, also known as Interamerican
Highway, joins Panamanian cities with Costa Rica.
At this time, the Darién jungle continues to
be impenetrable, preventing access by land to Colombia.
A tour by car along the Transisthmic Highway joins
Panama City with Colón. Even the most remote
areas of Panama are accessible by paved secondary
roads. The bus service is good and covers the entire
country as well as the other countries in Central
America and Mexico.
Religion
Most Panamanians are Roman Catholic. However, due
to the great diversity in the country, there are numerous
churches, temples and synagogues all over the country.
There is freedom of religion in Panama.
Language
Although the official language in Panama is Spanish,
English is widely spoken and understood in the major
cities.
Climate
The country enjoys an agreeable tropical climate and
an average daytime temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit,
with cooling in the evenings. The average humidity
is 70%. The rainy season goes from May to December.
Throughout the dry season, trade winds keep the air
continuously cool. In the mountains, the average temperature
is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Clothing
Light clothes are recommended. Business clothing is
formal. A light jacket for men and a tailored suit
or a two-piece pants suit for women is recommended.
A wide-brim hat and sun glasses are necessary if you
go to the shore or inland.
Time Zone
Panama's time is five hours behind Greenwich Mean
time (GMT). Thus, Panama is on Eastern Standard time
(EST); it does not have daylight saving time.
Electricity and Public Services
The current is 110w - 60hz and 220w. Telephone and
international cable services in Panama are excellent.
There is a direct-dial system to locations inland
and all over the world. Our country code is 507.
Local calls are 10 cents and the bright blue Cable
and Wireless phone booths are everywhere, although
some take calling cards only.
For international calls your best bet is to bring
an international calling card with you. International
calls made through hotels,like everywhere are very
expensive. A more time consuming option is to go to
a Cable and Wireless office to make an international
call or send a fax. You can also visit one of the
numerous internet cafes that offer Net2Phone international
phone calls for 25 cents a minute.
Renting a cellular phone in Panama is easy, as several
companies offer convenient plans for those visiting
the country. Most companies require a valid passport
and a deposit, which can be paid in cash or with credit
card; for an additional fee insurance is available.
Calls are charged on a "per minute" basis,
and are offered on a daily, weekly and monthly plans,
with international access often available. Each company
might differ in their policies and pricing, thus we
recommend that you act accordingly.
The two major cell phone operators are Bell South
and Cable & Wireless. There is an enormous amount
of competition between the two, so services are quite
extensive reasonably priced. If you wish to purchase
a phone several options are available to you. Both
prepaid and one year contracts are available.
Money
Since 1904, the United States dollar has been the
legal currency in Panama. The Balboa, the Panamanian
monetary unit, is par valued with the dollar. Prices
can be expressed in Balboas (B/.) or in Dollars ($).
Traveler cheques and credit cards are widely accepted.
The International departure duty is US$20.00, payable
in the airport. The hotel tax is 10%. The added tax
value to products and services, with the exception
of food and medicines is 5%.
You can access your American bank account in Panama
City at the ATM machines that have "Cirrus"
or "Plus" sign on them, provided that you
have a personal ID number. Look on the back of your
debit card to see if it has these names. This a quick
and hassle-free way to get cash in increments of up
to $500 a day, depending on the daily limit your card
imposes.
Business Services
More than 150 international banks and their branches
operate in Panama. The United States, Brazil, Colombia,
Venezuela, Taiwan, Argentina, South Korea, Japan,
Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, China,
Spain, France and others are represented here. The
banking hours vary, but most of them are open from
Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Some
banks offer services on Saturday.
Most private business offices are open from 8:00 a.m.
until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. It is customary for all offices
and stores to close for the lunch period for at least
one and a half hours. Office hours for government
offices vary and it is advisable to check prior to
visiting any government office.
If a holiday falls on Sunday, it is observed on the
following day. The executive branch is authorized
to designate days of national mourning on which all
offices and commercial businesses are closed.
Medical
Health care is both excellent and reasonably priced
in Panama. Many of the country's physicians earn their
degrees in the U.S. and other industrialized countries,
and the state university offers a top quality medical
program. Bilingual doctors are common in all Panama
City hospitals. Water supply is safe to drink with
few exceptions throughout the country.
Health
No vaccines or pills are necessary prior to visiting
our country. Remember, the tropical sun can be strong;
so it’s wise to take protective sunglasses and sunscreen
with you. Although Panama is indeed a tropical country,
mosquito control is effective. Exceptions would include
hiking and over-nighting in the jungle, in which case
you should use protective insect repellant.
Water
Panama is the only country in Latin America where
you can drink water straight from the tap.
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