Panama is…
Home to more than 940 species of birds as well as 250 mammals and 354 reptiles and amphibians… from howler monkeys to caimans, from coatimundi to turtles, from ocelots to crocodiles, and from pelicans and toucans to king crabs and iguanas… plus the Central American tapir, the American crocodile, the scarlet macaw, many species of eagle, humpback whales, dolphins, and hammerhead sharks…
Blessed with two long coasts and myriad sand-fringed islands, plus some of the best deep-sea fishing, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving anywhere. Around its Coiba island lies the largest coral reef on the Pacific side of the Americas…
A U.S.-dollar jurisdiction—that is to say, Panama has been using the U.S. dollar as its currency for about 100 years…
An established medical tourism destination and home to the Johns Hopkins-affiliated Punta Pacífica Hospital in Panama City…
Home to both World Heritage Sites (Casco Viejo, Old Panama, and the forts of San Lorenzo and Portobelo) and UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites (the province of Darién, Coiba National Park, and the La Amistad Reserve)…
Because of its unique geographical position, Panama harbors a greater diversity of wildlife than any other country in Central America. A natural land bridge connecting the two continents, Panama is home to both North and South American species of wildlife. About 34% of the country’s land area is protected in 14 national parks, more than a dozen forest reserves, and 10 wildlife refuges…
The biggest international banking center in the region…
Without question, the best place anywhere in the world today to start a business (that’s why we moved here from France in 2008)…
One of the few Latin markets where it’s possible for you, as a foreigner, to borrow locally to buy real estate…
Home to more than two-dozen international schools…
One of the world’s true tax havens, a place where you can live and do business tax-free.
Following are five more practical things to understand about this country where we’ve chosen to base ourselves for the past decade.
Panama has an awful lot to recommend it.
It also comes with peculiarities and quirks that some days will conspire to send you screaming into your pillow… including:
#1: Taxis
In Panama City taxis are plentiful but sometimes impossible to hail. When you give the driver your destination, it’s not uncommon for him to reply, “No voy,” or
“Nope, not going there.”
It is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse to take you to a destination, but that doesn’t stop most of them from doing just that.
The best way to find a taxi is in front of a hotel or in a corner where cars pass in numerous directions. Avoid enlisting the help of hotel staff, though, to hail a cab… or you’ll pay an inflated “hotel fare.”
When you do find a driver willing to take you where you want to go, don’t pay more than US$5 for a trip within the downtown area. A trip to Casco Viejo should cost about US$5 to US$6, a trip to the Causeway US$10. The fare to or from the airport should be US$30.
Taxis are also easy to come by in Panama’s interior towns. A ride anywhere within a town shouldn’t cost more than US$2.
Panama City taxi fares were formalized in 2008, when a fare chart was published. Officially, fares are now figured on a zone basis. Still, an unscrupulous taxi driver (there’s no shortage of them) will quickly realize when a fare is unfamiliar with the city and try to charge two or three times the going rate. Have an idea of what your ride should cost before you get in.
It is not uncommon for taxi drivers to pick up other fares while you are in the car. It is their way of getting the biggest bang for their miles. This can extend the duration of your drive and could present a safety issue, so if you are not comfortable with having someone else in the taxi, let the driver know before you set off.
#2: Directions
Decent road maps of Panama can be hard to come by, and some maps of this country are just plain wrong. Car rental agencies generally offer the most accurate maps of Panama City.
A GPS is a good idea in this country. Digital maps of Panama can be downloaded for car navigation units and handheld GPS devices for as little as US$29.
If you’ve got a smartphone, you can use a local SIM card to access Google Maps and the handy map app called Waze. Both are reliable in Panama.
#3: Entry Visa
The stamp in your passport serves as your tourist visa and is valid for 180 days. You no longer pay for it on arrival. Now the cost is wrapped up in your airline ticket.
It used to be possible to extend your stay as a tourist in Panama by making a border run to, say, Costa Rica. You’d hop the border and then return a day or two later to be granted a new tourist visa.
This was always technically illegal… but now it’s also nearly impossible to pull off. Nowadays, you won’t be allowed to enter the country without showing proof of onward travel within your visa period. Generally, airlines request a plane ticket, but a bus ticket can also work.
#4: Seasons
Rainy season runs from May through November, while dry season is generally December through April. In recent years, though, these periods have been shifting. The best idea is to keep an umbrella handy all the time!
The Azuero Peninsula is considered one of the driest areas of the country. Even in rainy season, days go by without a sprinkle. The provinces of Bocas del Toro, Colón, and Darién receive the most annual rainfall.
#5: Mail Service
There isn’t any.
That is, Panama does not have door-to-door mail delivery service.
The best option for receiving mail in this country is with the help of a mail-forwarding service. These are typically based in Miami. We’ve had good experiences with Mail Boxes Etc., which has many locations across the country.
Kathleen Peddicord
