Travel Tips
Supplies & Donations
If you're planning a trip to Altos del Maria, please consider donating school supplies for the children of Picacho village, or medical supplies for the Leishmaniasis clinic Dee Braden is conducting every Wednesday in Cacao.
Visit this web site to learn more: Leishmaniasis Treatment.
Airports
Tocumen International Airport is the main point of arrival. Once here, most trips within the country arrive and depart at Albrook Airport.
Buses
Buses are really cheap in Panama. If you can figure out how to use them in the city, they are a great saving--even over taxis.
You can take a bus almost anywhere in the country for a very reasonable price. Some are large, air conditioned and even have movies.
As you get into the interior, they get smaller and less luxurious—down to a truck with a canopy and benches in the back.
The main transportation terminal is at the Albrook Mall. You can take a taxi or bus to there and then take a bus to anywhere in the country and even further.
www.worldheadquarters.com/panama/transportation/index.html
(The) Interior (or west of Panama City)
Once you get out of the city and across one of the bridges, travel is pretty simple. The Pan-American Highway is the main artery from Panama City to Costa Rica. The roads on the south side of the highway go to the Pacific Ocean and on the north side go to the mountains. There is only one road over the mountains from the Pacific side to the Caribbean/Atlantic side of Panama. This is at the town of Chitre. There is no road that connects the towns together on the Atlantic side of Panama.
Internet
This is widely available throughout Panama and most hotels have WiFi capability – bring your laptop.
Maps
The best free map of Panama and Panama City is found in a slick little publication called Focus magazine which is free at most hotels and tourist spots in the country. They also publish a free bi-weekly newspaper called the Visitor which tells you about most of the activities around the country for the coming weeks. The international car rental businesses also have free maps.
Money
The Balboa is the local currency and is equal to and completely interchangeable with the dollar. There are no Balboa notes – just coins which have the same values/sizes as in the US
Do not bring $50 and $100 bills. Because of counterfeiting, some businesses will not accept them at all and other businesses will require you to sign for each bill with ID. (Tedious)
Do not bring traveller's checks. They take about a month to clear, and most businesses will not accept them.
Mastercard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted. Discover card is not used in Panama.
ATM's are everywhere with a $500 per day limit. Look for the "CLAVE" sign.
Passport
Keep your passport with you at all times as you will be asked for identification in many places, including banks, stores and if you get lost!
Porters
On arrival at Tocumen, push carts are available for personal use. However, once your bags are at the counter at customs, you will have no more access to carts. Porters have large dollies and will want to put all your items big and small on the dolly. Then, they will push it about 100 feet out to the sidewalk. There, they will unload and charge you 50 cents to a dollar per bag. Sometimes another porter will hail a taxi and load your luggage expecting a similar amount. If you can carry it all, do so and avoid the porters. They can be rather surly and not the best introduction to Panama
Rental Cars
The best way to hire a car is via the internet before you get here – that way you can shop around on line –in English!
Whilst it is more expensive, a 4x4 is the best vehicle for exploring the Interior of Panama. To take the back road to El Valle from Altos, you must have a 4x4.
Taxis
Taxi’s throughout Panama are plentiful, and can be easily recognized by their numbered markings, however, they come in all sizes, shapes and colours. All fares are based on zones or areas, and not determined by meters.
Most fares within the metropolitan area average between B/.1.00-B/.1.50, and for each addition person there is a B/.0.25 surcharge. As a rule of thumb hand the driver B/.2.00 and leave the cab. Trips from Panama City to Tocumen International Airport cost approx. B/.15.00, with each additional person paying B/.5.00. The standard hourly rate for taxi rental is B/.8.00, however, that can vary depending on the type of service you are requesting, so establish a price before departing.
See the following links for some good advice for Gringos (foreigners)
www.offshorelegal.org/faqs/offshore-faq/panama-taxis.html
www.travelblog.org/Forum/Threads/12636-1.html
Telephones
Telephone service in Panama is quite expensive. If you are planning to live or stay in Altos del Maria, buy a cellular phone and use the pay-as-you-go money cards. Mas Movil by Cable & Wireless is your best option. You can buy a phone for as little as $30 and by taking advantage of $3 or $4 worth of calls, for the price of $1 offers, you will save.
Traffic
Traffic in Panama City is fast and aggressive. Most maps are minimal, most streets are unmarked and buildings are un-numbered. So get ready for an exciting drive. If you are totally lost, stop a taxi and ask them to lead you somewhere for the price of the ride. The Policia Nacional are also very helpful to tourists and will lead you somewhere for no fee – just have your passport et voila!!!
Relax and Enjoy Panama and carry a good book to read in case of delays…..