Panama: Overview
The amazing Republic of Panama is located in Central America, between Colombia and Costa Rica, bathed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Besides this, Panama has the second largest free zone in the world, Colon’s Zona Libre, and links North and South America by the Panama Canal.
This Republic has many attractions, like its astonishing variety of tropical birds; its snorkeling and hiking places, the best in the Americas; and its magnificent beaches.
Climate
Panama has two well differentiated seasons, the dry season (mid-December to mid-April), and the wet season, which last the rest of the year. North of the mountains, in the Caribbean coast, it rains all year round, although presipitations are less frequent in February, March, September and October. In the lowlands the temperatures are high, generally about 32 ºC during the day and 22 ºC at night. Also, during the rainny season, humidity makes the heat even more unbearable. However, in the mountains, the temperatures are lower during the whole year, 10-18 ºC during the day and even lower at night.
Choosing a time to visit Panama depends on what places you are planning to visit and what activities you want to enjoy. If the idea is spending most of the time by the Pacific coast, the best months are December and January, when the rains are not too frequent and the climate is pleasant. This is also the best moment for hiking and the only time of the year for crossing the Darién Gap. However, you should know that during the dry season hotels’ rooms and prices in general are higher than in any other time of the year. During the festivals season, especially in Carnival, hotels are full, so it is necessary to make your reservations with enough anticipation.
Some recommendations
British, German and Swiss tourists, as well as visitors from other countries, need only a valid passport to visit Panama; while visitors from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Venezuela, the USA and others, need a visa as well as a passport. To know what the case is check with your country embassy. Do not purchase endangered species products; besides damaging the environment, you will also be facing some time in jail if you get cought.
The official currency is the balboa but the use of the American dollar is also widely extended. The best way of payment is by cash, since credit cards are only accepted in tourist-related places. There are many ATMs, except in the most isolated towns, which accept Cirrus, Plus, MasterCard, Visa and Amex. The only bank where foreign currencies can be changed is Banco Nacional de Panama, at the International airport Tocumen. Besides this or casas de cambio, which are not plentiful, there won’t be other place for changing your money. Tipping is not necessary in small coffees or casual places; however, the standard tip is a 10% of the total. Hotels’ rooms are charged with a 10%, so when requesting a rate, ask wether that percentage is included.
There are certain places in Panama that you shoul avoid or, at least, where you should be extra careful, since street crime rates are high. In Panama City keep away from the districts of Chorillo and Calidonia and do not travel the Casco Viejo at night. Limit yourself to the illuminated and frequented places. Colón has some important residential areas, but, in general, it is a grey city, famous for the dangers of its streets, even during day. Unless you have to visit the free zone, is better to avoid this city. Some places of the Darién Province are extremely dangerous; kidnappings and murders are every day business there. In San Blás Archipelago you will find many boats which come and go between the free zone and Cartagena, Colombia. It is highly recommendable to avoid them, since many traffic cocaine and other drugs during their trips.
As for health conditions it is important to keep in mind some illnesses of the country (yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria, rabies and Hantavirus), so you can take some cautions.
Where to go
Vibrant Panama City is the door to Latin America as well as an important international trading center. Here the diversity of colonial neighbourhoods, gigant sky-scrapers and ruins of old Spanish settlements became one city. The charming colonial district of Casco Viejo is the best place to see historical buildings and cobbled streets, reminders of Old Havana, Cuba.
In Archipelago Bocas del Toro, located in the Caribbean Sea, you can visit several islands of the National Marine Park Islas Bastimentos which offers ideal diving, snorkelling and swimming places along with beautiful beaches where several species of marine turtles are raised. The main city of the archipelago, Bocas del Toro is also a good destination.
The historical Taboga Island, known as Flowers' Island and located to the south of Panama City, offers us its protected tropical forest, an attractive beach, big pelicans flocks and, of course, many aromatic flowers. It is an ideal escape from the noisy city.
La Palma, capital of Darién Province and home of Darién National Park, is a one- street city. Although this is one of the most dangerous areas of the country, it also has the best national parks in Panama.
The Panama Canal is an engineer piece of art and one of the world’s most important waterways. It is also one of the places that you must visit during your trip. The best way of seeing the Canal is to go to Miraflores Locks from where you will have a great view of the surroundings. You can also visit a museum which has a scale model and a film of the Canal.
Santiago, a small rural but busy commercial centre is a good place to rest and reload energies between Panama City and Costa Rica frontier.
Festivals
The Carnival, which takes place during the four previous days to Ash Wednesday, stands out for its music, dances and for a big parade carried out on Shrove Tuesday. To enjoy the Carnival you must go to Panama City and Las Tablas. Holly Week celebrations in Villa de los Santos and Peninsula de Azuero are equally famous. On October the 21st the Black Christ festival takes place in Portobelo. During this celebration a parade with a life-size Christ's statue that attracts faithful from the whole country is carried out.
