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 Panama Information
Official Name : Republic of Panama
President : Ricardo Martinelli, a pro American President.
Minister of Tourism : Ruben Blades, singer songwriter, lawyer and Hollywood movie star
Languages : Spanish and English in the tourist areas
Climate : Two seasons called "summer" and "winter" by Panamanians and refer to rainy season (April to December) and dry season (December to early April). Year round temperature is 27C but 16¬25C in the valleys and highlands. The trade winds from the north cool down the temperatures in the dry season. Humidity is relatively high the rains pour down and can last from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. The skies clear up quickly and the sun re-appears.
Currency : U.S. dollar denominations referred to as Balboas. U.S. coins are mixed with Panamanian mint coins of the same value and both work just as well in the telephone booths and casinos. You can exchange currency from almost anywhere in the world.
Geography : 75,990 sq km (29,340 sq m) with 9 Provinces (Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, Veraguas) and one territory, the Archipelago of San Blas. Panama is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea , the Pacific Ocean to the south, Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. It is possible to drive straight from Canada through all of Central America up to Darien . Colombia cannot be reached by land.
Population : 2,839,177 (81 per sq m) 2% growth rate (37% ages 1-15, 56.7% ages 15-59 and 6% ages 60+)
People : 70% mestizo, 12% African descent, 10% white, 8 Indigenous
Religion : 85% Roman Catholics, 12% Christians, 3% Greek Orthodox, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists
National Flower : Peristeria elata (orchid of the Holy Spirit)
National Bird : Harpy Eagle
Facts for the Traveler :
Visas A tourist card suffices for US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens and most other nationalities do not need to obtain a visa, but they do need a tourist card (available from embassies and airlines serving Panama or upon arrival at the airport). Citizens of the UK , Germany and Switzerland can stay up to three months without a visa or tourist card if they have an onward ticket and sufficient funds.
Driver's License : All driver licenses are valid for up to 90 days. Carry passport with you in case you are stopped by a traffic police.
Shop hours : 9 am or 10 am to 7 pm with no lunch breaks. Many stores and all malls open on Sundays. In December shops open 7 days a week.
Banking Hours : 8:30 to 3 pm
Govt Offices : 8:30 to 4 pm
Time: EST
Electricity: Variable - either 110V or 220V
Relative Costs : Budget Room: US$7-19
Moderate Hotel: US$20-55
Top-end Hotel: US$60 and upward
Budget Restaurant: US$2-5
Moderate Restaurant: US$5-10
Top-end Restaurant: US$12 and upward
Tips : 10% is the usual, 15% for exceptional service
Bank Holidays : 2005: January 1(New Year's) and 9 (Martyrs Day), February 5-8 (Carnival), March 16-19 (Holy Week), May 1 (Labor Day), November 2-5 ( Independence from Colombia Week), November 10 and 28 ( Independence from Spain ), December 8 (Mother's Day), December 25 (Christmas Day).
Attire : Casual and semi formal for evening. Hats and suntan lotion recommended and jackets or shawls for elevated areas.
Transportation : Buses cost 25 cents; city taxis start at a dollar per passenger (add 25% for each additinal passenger) and 25% per each city zone limit. A taxi from Multicentro in Paitilla to Old Panama could cost you about $2.00. Panama Jack takes a regular taxi to the airport and pays $12 to $15 plus toll. You can get to any point in the country through the efficient public transportation. The 7-hour drive to David costs $10.60 and buses leave every 45 minutes.
If you need any other information on Panama, Please contact me: Panama Jack
jack@republicofpanama.net E-Mail Address
In 1502, during his fourth and the last of sea expeditions, Christopher Columbus was amazed by the verve and audacity of this naturally endowed island and its calm waters. Elegant rainforests, serene water bodies, Caribbean beaches, and miles of exotic coral gardens define the landscape of this virtually untouched archipelago. This is the place where at least a dozen countries have filmed the Survivor series. Labeled as one of Panama’s top tourist destinations, the Lonely Planet Guide calls this place a biologist’s fantasy. Welcome to Bocas del Toro.
Some say the archipelago got its name because of a large bull-shaped rock in one of the islands; some attribute its name to the many waterfalls that resemble a bull’s mouth; some others say that the majestic waves crashing against the volcanic rocks make a sound like the roar of a bull. Whatever the reasons, Bocas is a bull of an island.
Among the earliest settlers in these islands are about 350 species of birds including the beautiful red-billed tropicbird, four species of now endangered turtles, sloths, caimans, and numerous fishes. In the dense forests, tapirs, wild cats, and jaguars can be seen roaming about freely in search of prey. A short ride through the mangroves takes you to an island garden where you can see the flutter of brightly colored butterflies. Bocas del Toro is a veritable paradise for the backpacking tourists as well as retirees.
The palm-lined Caribbean beaches have an untamed beauty about them. The jungles are so dense in some places that sunlight fails to kiss the ground. The mountains and rivers are unexplored and there are spooky mangroves. This is not just another island destination where you can just finish up your planned activities in the given time and return. Bocas has so many options that you will find it difficult to keep to a schedule. Bocas and other adjoining islands offer nature walking, beaching in the silver sands, sport fishing, dolphin sighting, visiting the interior forests in search of rare plant species, visiting the colorful homes of the indigenous people, and much more for the discerning tourist.
Time was when Bocas was known for banana and cocoa cultivation. All that remains of that period are the fading remnants of the Unified Fruit Company’s headquarters and a park which have been accorded stately and historical importance. The current surge in commercial activities around Bocas is mostly driven by the tourism and realty industries. Baby boomers from the US, Canada, and Europe are lapping up prime ocean front properties creating a never-before-seen rise in the prices.
Apart from the usual attractions of being in Panama, Bocas is attracting people who are seeking a retirement abode or a second home in a sophisticated Central American location because of its English-speaking populace and because there have never been an incidence of a hurricane. In spite of its popularity among tourists, Bocas is subdued and friendly. Most of the time, you can be sure that no one else will disturb your rendezvous with the sun kissed beaches. The crystal clear waters reflect your calm face shorn of all the worries of a busy city life. Most of the hotels in the archipelago are located in Bocas, adding spice to the variety of foods served in this Panamanian island and extending full-on nightlife. This is one of the reasons why Bocas del Toro is preferred over many other busy Central American tourist locations.
At Bocas, you will be amazed at the variety of residential options, restaurants serving a surprising array of delicacies from sea food to pizza to Chinese and East Indian dishes. You will just not want to return from Bocas del Toro.
Highest predicted GDP growth in Latin America for 2011 (International Monetary Fund)
2nd lowest predicted inflation rate in Latin America for 2010 (International Monetary Fund)
Lowest inflation rate in Latin America over the last 20 years
#1 retitrement destination in the world six years in a row (International Living Global Retirement Index)
Better food and restaurants than any other Central American Country
Second largest Free Trade Zone in the world after Hong Kong
Second largest number of off-shore corporations in the world after Hong Kong
77 million baby boomers retiring over the next ten years - 4% expected to retire in Latin America!
Highest rating for tourist safety from the prestigious Pinkerton Intelligence Agency (same rating as U.S.)
Infrastructure far ahead of the rest of Central America
Clean, drinkable water throughout the county
Official currency is the U.S. $
Only 2.5 hour plane ride from Miami
Daily direct flights from L.A., Newark, Atlanta, Houston, and Miami
Panama has world-class medical facilities - at prices far less than the U.S.
Panama in the banking center of Latin America, with over 90 banks
Best Looking Columbian Hookers in Central America
represented from 35 different countries
Bank loans are widely available to foreigners in Panama, with interest rates comparable to the U.S.
Panama has perhaps the best retirement benefits program in the world
Numerous programs exist to assist foreigners in obtaining permanent residency in Panama quickly and easily (in as little as 4 months)
Panama has a stable democracy and strong poltical ties to the U.S
Real estate prices that are still far below those of Costa Rica and other traditional Latin American tourist and retiree destinations
Much cleaner beaches than Costa Rica and other Central American Countries
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