Provincia de Panamá Travel Forum

Hi everyone,

Some friends and I are flying in and out of Panama City with an 8 hour layover each time. We plan to escape the airport for at least a few hours and want to at least see the canal. Can anyone reccomend the fastest, and possibly cheapest, way to get to the canal from the airport? Is it far? Can we get a cab to take us to the Miraflores Museum?

Also, if anybody can reccomend the shortest itinerary ever for our attempt to "tour" the city in 4 hours...that would be fantastic! Really, we are just looking for a quick walk through town and a good meal.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone.
I will have 3-4 days at the end of my trip through central america in panama city. Is there any sites/interesting things/fun things etc outside of the city that are worth doing?? I will have already been to San Blas, Boquete, and zip liningm,and have toured Panama city aka canal, etc. any other ideas???

Another question, is it easy enough to show up in the city and find a guest house or hosteL? are there signs all over (in thailand, you could show up at any time, check out the room and pay your money), is it like this in panama?? Or is it better to book in advance, I will be backpacking with my spouse.
Thanks!!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Panama from November 25th to February 22nd. I've read where a US license is acceptable for driving or renting a car. Is this correct? I have also read where shorts and sandals are not acceptable in Panama City. Are Birkenstocks ok? Thank you.

when i come visit la chorrera will anybody be able to help me search for my mom?she lives in la chorrera.can someone to help me search for margarita gonzalez de la chorrera?

I am seeking hotel recommendations for Panama City and Colon. I am passing through the canal late June/ early July and my wife and daughter will be joining me aboard for the two day passage. However, on each end of the canal, they will need a hotel for a couple of nights. The place should be clean, safe, have A/C and not super pricey. They don't need five stars - just a good two or three!

Hi
I will be traveling to panama city in June.. Looking for a interperter ,.,.

English to Spanish... contact Allan at ap6797@yahoo.com..

Thanks Allan

http://www.canalhousepanama.com/

http://www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com/index.htm

http://www.thebalboainn.com/index.htm

http://www.pattyscasitas.com/Contactus.htm

http://www.casasucrebedandbreakfast.com/

Here is my plan. Arrive 1:30PM June 6 Saturday and go back 3PM June 13 Saturday. Arrive in PC. Stay 2 nights. Fly ($86RT) to Yandup Island 2 nights - Fly ($70RT) to Contadora ("IC") 3 nights (hope to stay at Perlareal). From Yandup to IC is doable because flight arrives in PC 7:55AM and leave to IC at 10AM. The flight arrives back to PC 11:15 to connect for 3 PM return flight..nice.

I need one key thing. A nice hotel close to everything around 100 USD. I'd like to be close to Casco Viejo and Amador Causeway...short walks or taxi rides ..and I'd like to see the canal, briefly. Please advise, help help

Hello all,

My name is Matthias McCurren. I am 21 years old, and am a Junior in College. I have the opportunity to do an internship in Panama City, Panama this summer-specifically-Amador Causeway. I just wanted a bit of inside information on the area, as I've never traveled there before. I'd really appreciate it if anyone could help me out as to if...

The area is safe? Which areas should one stray away from?
Expensive? Approximately how much is an average apartment's rent per month?
Fun? How's the night life?

Any extra information that you think I should know would also be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matthias

hi!! im wondering if anyone can tell me what airlines i should look at for cheap flights from panama to venezuela? thanks! :)

I am a USA citizen and will spend 42 days as a tourist in Panama (April 1, 2009 to May 12, 2009) Does anyone know if I can get an extension on the 30-day Tourist Card at Tocumen Airport when I arrive so I can stay the full 42 days? Does it cost extra? Or, do I have to go to a government office to do this? Again, does it cost extra? (Where do I go?)

Or, do I have to get a Stamped Visa ($135.00 Ouch!) from the Panamanian Consulate before I leave the United States?

Or, what happens if I show up at the airport when I leave with a Tourist Card that expired 12 days ago?

Thank you so much for any help!

Going to panama city. Will be there only 3 fully days. Is it better to stay in panama city itself....or near one of the beaches which can be 1.5 hours from the city. My travel companion wants to stay in farallon.....where as I think panama city itself is more appropriate for a 3 day stay. Regardless of where we stay we want to spend 1 day seeing panama city, and we want to spend the rest of our time seeing nature/mountains, and the panama canal. Any ideas?

I would like to bring my prescription with me in order to buy (an affordable) pair of corrective designer sunglasses (Kate Spade). Can anyone recommend a reliable business in Panama City/Colón or nearby? Will I save a lot of money? Thanks.

My girlfriend has around 8 hours between flights on a Saturday. Gets in from LA around 10 am or so. Any interesting things to do on a Saturday ie: a unique tour of the city/canal or is there a safe part of the city to wander around and stay busy for half a day?

Thx

Just came back from Colombia. When we were in Medellin we rented an apartment for 4 days rather than a hotel. It was a great experience. Now my question is this a good idea for panama city. Are the residential areas were the apartment rentals are located close to all the tourist attractions in panama city? Is panama an easy city to get around and figure things out. Without a hotel....we will have no one to ask questions to regarding where to go and how to get there
? Can anyone reccomend any good apartment/condos specializing in renting out for a week or so for tourists?

David

Hi travelers,does anyone know of a good map source.
Like to find a good map of panama ciy showing streets ,hotels etc.
Most of what I found doesn't show enough. thanks

Hi All,

This february I will be travelling to a Maritime Convention in Panama and have taken the opportunity to combine this with a week of holidays.

I will be travelling with my friend and his wife so we would need separate rooms in a decent hotel which allows me to attend the convention in city center and allows them to easily access the beach / tourist attractions.

Any suggestions for low budget options (around $40 per room per night..).

Thanks for your advice! Thomas from Amsterdam.

Furthermore, can we do most things out of Panama city or does it pay off staying over in other places besides Panama city?

I'm here at a conference but have some time this pm to play tennis - can anybody recommend tennis courts in panama city open to the public, where I may be able to pick up a game ? anybody want to play ?

Hello,

During our 3 days visit in Panama City, we would like to visit Colon/Portobello in one day and do the Embera tour on another day.

In order to avoid 2 trips towards Colon, we thought to stay in Colon overnight instead of going back and forward from PC. Can anybody advice if that would be a good choice? Or it is anyway doable and not heavy to do those transfers from PC?

thank you in advance for your help.
Jolita

Hi,

We will arrive to PC at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night in January 09, two adults and two teens. We are seeking a clean, affordable hotel for one night before heading out on our adventure. Since we plan to rent a car, we would like to stay somewhere easy to get drive to. I understand driving in PC can be a challenge.

An alternative would be to take a shuttle (assuming it's free or low priced) and then pick up our car on Sunday.

Any advice on easy-to-drive-to hotels?

Also, we have just eight days in Panama (Sunday through Sunday), so we are seeking advice on potential itineraries. We do not want or need fancy hotels or resorts. We are more outdoorsy (hike, swim, snorkle) than the shopping types, and we like smaller towns and less populated beaches. Our sons are 16 and 12. For now, I believe we will want to spend some time at El Valle, the Pacific and Gulf sides, and of course have a visit to the Panama Canal.

If you have any advice on "must sees" and the order of driving, we would appreciate it.

Thank you to all who can share their wisdom and experience!

I'm thinking about planning a trip to Isla Taboga. My intention is to lounge, swim, tan and perhaps a bit of adventure. For anyone that has been here can you offer me some advice on the island. Planning on taking a ferry from Panama city and staying for 5 days, is there a site of schedules and fares? I'm looking for a backpackers type cabin or inexpensive hotel any recommendations? Anything else that you think would be helpful is appreciated!!

Thank you!

I'm heading down to Panama for two weeks in september. Can anyone recommend a nice reasonably priced place in the Casco Viejo part of Panama City?

I have recently read that Panama is the current hot spot for American retirees. I would love to hear from you if you are one of those who have made the move there.

And if you are a native resident or a traveler, feed back on which city I should visit for a week or so to see if it would appeal to me enough to move there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Francesca

Hi,

I will be travelling by myself from the US to Isla Contadora in August, to visit a friend. I would like to stay a day or two in Panama City and visit the city and the canal.

Does anyone know of a hotel in a safe area, not too far from the airport, that would also have sighteeing tours? Ideally, I'd like to take a tour from the hotel, and return to the hotel? I do not speak Spanish, and being by myself, I really do not want to end up in the wrong place.

Thank you for any suggestions!

hello
we are planning on a short stopover in panama city this summer - and would like to do the partial or full canal transit. So far we have found the transit dates, what's missing is a reputable tour operator that organizes it.

Can anyone please recommend a trusted one?
Thanks a million

Rhia

I'm going to Panama city in June 08, and would like to get 1 week vacation rental condo near the coast outside the city. Also plan to travel from Panama city to Ecuador. Can anyone help with a good travel agent contact/teleno. in Panama city ?

Mike

I am a very active middle aged single lady traveling alone to visit friends in Boquete, Panama in the end of July.I will fly into Panama City and then take a puddle jumper to Boquete. I have been to Panama once before on a cruise and toured the Panama canal area so I am not interested in seeing that again. I thought that I would stay in Panama City a day or two before moving on to Boquete. My questions are:

What are must see sites in Panama City?

Is one full day in Panama City enough or should I plan on spending 2 full days?

I am looking for a nice hotel around $100 per night if possible that is in a safe area where I can walk around in the evening after dinner by myself. I want to be where there is some night life. Any suggestions?

I will be in PC in August for the marathon.[1st time in Panama]
I am looking for a decent cheap hotel near the start [Multiplaza mall]
"Near"could mean accessible by foot in 10-15 minutes as I'll need to save my energy!

Does anyone know of a good hotel in Panama City, Panama? I'm trying to find something on Av. Balboa. Thanks!

We'll be arriving by cruiseship at Amador. Does anyone know of a tourguide, who can pick us up there and show us the highlights of Panama City? Thanks!