Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, but the country's natural attractions offer great birding opportunities, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. Panama is a proud nation that offers astounding wildlife indigenous peoples and colourful festivals. The country's indigenous name means 'abundance of fish'. Rafters can ride 20 sets of rapids in a single day, wildlife abounds in the scarcely-visited national parks, and a person can snorkel in the Caribbean Sea and swim in the Pacific Ocean...on the same day! In fact Panama has more to offer than nearby, touristic Costa Rica.
Electricity: 110 & 220V, 60Hz
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5
Dialling Code: 5070

Climate
Panama's dry season is from around mid-December to mid-April. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season and the humidity makes the heat harder to endure. Rain in Panama tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine. The Darién Gap can be crossed in the dry season.

Festival Calendar
Carnaval is celebrated over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday and involves music, dancing and a big parade on Shrove Tuesday. The celebrations in Panama City and Las Tablas are the most festive. The Semana Santa (Easter Week) celebrations at Villa de Los Santos, on the Península de Azuero, are equally renowned. The Festival of the Black Christ at Portobelo on October 21 includes a parade of the famous life-size statue of the Black Christ and attracts pilgrims from all over the country.

Currency
Balboa (B) = 100 centavos. There is no Panamanian paper currency; coins exist in denominations of B10 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos. US currency circulates freely: B1 = US$1.
Banks and cambios are available for changing currency. There is no need to exchange US Dollars.
Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly used, but American Express and Diners Club are also accepted.

Visas
Every visitor needs a valid passport and an onward ticket to enter Panama, but further requirements vary from country to country and occasionally change. UK, Germany and Swiss citizens and many other nationalities need only a passport, while people from Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, USA and more need a tourist visa or tourist card (US$5) as well.
Please contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements for your particular country.

Health
Take precautions against dengue fever, malaria, rabies and yellow fever.

Best time to go
Panama's tourist season is during the dry season from around mid-December to mid-April.
The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat more oppressive than otherwise. Rain in Panama tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine. If you will be doing any long, strenuous hiking, the dry season is the most comfortable time to do it.

Upon arrival
Once you’ve reclaimed your baggage and cleared customs, you will be warmly welcomed to Panama, assisted with your luggage and taken you to your hotel by private air-conditioned minivan/bus. Please do not leave the airport terminal building unless you have made contact with Amazing Peru staff. Also ignore the calls from taxi drivers as your private transport has been provided for you.

Food and drink
Drink only bottled water. Pasteurised milk is widely available. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Avoid street food vendors and the cheaper restaurants.

What to eat and drink

To try some typical foods, here is a selection of what we recommend.

French, Spanish and American food is available in all restaurants and hotels in Panama City and Colón. There is a huge selection of excellent restaurants in Panama City, as well as other main cities. There are also several Oriental restaurants. Native cooking is reminiscent of creole cuisine, hot and spicy. Dishes include ceviche (fish marinated in lime juice, onions and peppers), patacones de plátano (fried plantain), sancocho (Panamanian stew with chicken, meat and vegetables), tamales (seasoned pie wrapped in banana leaves), carimañolas and empanadas (turnovers filled with meat, chicken or cheese). Waiter service is the norm. The choice and availability of wines, spirits and beers in hotels, restaurants and bars is unlimited.

Highlights
PANAMA CITY: The capital is a curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the bazaar atmosphere of the East. In the old part of the city with its narrow, cobble stoned streets and colonial buildings, most of the interesting sights are to be found. These include the Plaza de Francia, the Court of Justice Building, the Paseo de las Bóvedas along the massive stone wall, San José Church with its magnificent golden Baroque altar and the Santo Domingo Church, next to which is the Museum of Colonial Religious Art. The old historic city with the Salón Bolivar is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Overlooking the bay is the President’s Palace, the most impressive building in the city; further along the waterfront is the colourful public market. The most interesting museum in town is the Museum of the Panamanian Man north of the market and near the shopping centres. A worthwhile excursion from the city is a visit to Panamá Viejo and its ruins including the square tower of the old cathedral, 6km (4 miles) away. This is the original Panama City which like Fort San Lorenzo was, in 1671, sacked and looted by Henry Morgan.

1 2