Panama
Useful Information |
Currency
& Local Taxes Since
1904, the U.S. dollar has been legal tender
in Panama. The Balboa, Panama's monetary
unit, trades at parity with the dollar.
Panama does not print bank notes, except
for collector or commemorative purposes,
but it does mint its own coins. The Government-owned
Banco Nacional act as the nations bank
and clearing house for the banking system.
Prices may be written in Balboas (B/.)
or dollars ($). Travelers' checks and
credit cards are widely accepted. International
departure tax, at present is US$20.00
collected at the airport. Hotel taxes
are 10% The Value Added Tax on goods and
services, other than food and drugs, is
5%. |
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Language
Spanish
is Panama official language. English is
widely spoken among business, banking,
retail and international communities.
Hotels, restaurants and tourist-oriented
activities have English-speaking personnel. |
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Religion
There
is complete freedom of worship in Panama.
The majority of Panamanians are Roman
Catholic. Because of the wide diversity
of the country, there are numerous churches,
temples and synagogues everywhere. |
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Shopping
Panama
is a free port for tourist goods from
all over the world. There are jewelry,
precious stones, embroidered tablecloths,
oriental crafts, watches, perfumes, photographic
and electronic equipment, electric household
goods, fine crystal and porcelain, all
at reasonable prices. Most stores are
open from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Monday through
Saturday. Many are open on Sunday and
special sales are frequent throughout
the year. Supermarkets are modern and
well stocked; many are open 24 hours.
There are large, modern shopping centers
in Panama, with a wide variety of specialized
shops.
Panama
City is a shopper's paradise. Via Espana
and Central Avenue offer everything from
the latest fashions to the most complex
computers and low costing handicrafts.
Handicraft shops offer a variety of wood
and straw wares, embroideries and paintings,
in addition to the famous Molas, hand-stitched
by the Kuna Indians. |
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Credit
Cards The
most common international credit cards
used in Panama are: Visa, Master Card,
American Express and Diner's Club. They
are widely used and accepted in the majority
of establishments. |
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Clothing
Light-weight
clothing is recommended. Dress for business
is formal; a lightweight suit for men,
while dresses or pantsuits for women are
recommended. A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
are necessary if going to the coast or
countryside. |
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Restaurants
Panama
City offers a variety of restaurants serving
virtually every international cuisine
- French, Chinese, Peruvian, Mexican,
Italian, Japanese, Indian, American and
much more. Be sure to try native dishes
like Sancocho, Ceviche, and the Carimanolas,
Gallo pinto and others. And it's a pleasure
to taste our beers and national liquors.
It is not usual for a service charge to
be included on the bill in restaurants
in Panama. Check with management if you
are in doubt. 10% to 15% of the bill would
be acceptable. |
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Power
and Communications Practically
the entire country is served by the National
Electric Grid (110V) and the automated
telephone System, which allows immediate
national or international communication
from any part of the country. There are
public telephones in cities, towns and
highways that used 5, 10 and 25 cents
coins as well as electronic cards (Smart
chips Phone Cards) purchased in Panama. |
(507) |
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102 |
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- 106
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226-7000 |
228-8127 |
104 |
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IAD
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Country
Code |
National
Collect Calls |
National
Directory Assistance |
International
Operator Assisted Calls (person to
person, station to station and collect).
International collect calls my be
placed from public phones as well |
IPAT
(Pamana Tourism Boureau) |
Red
Cross |
Police
Department |
International
Automated Service Information (MIDA) |
- International
Automated Dialing
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Climate
& Time The
country has a pleasant, tropical climate
and an average temperature of 80ºF, which
drops comfortably in the evening. Humidity
averages 70%. The rainy season lasts from
May to December, though it never rains
for an entire day. During the dry season,
trade winds constantly keep the air fresh.
In the mountains the average temperature
is 50ºF to 60ºF.
Panama
is on U.S. Eastern Standard Time all year.
(GMT -5) |
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Internet
Services Internet
services in Panama are completely privatized,
thus there are a host of companies offering
a full range of services. Most internet
service providers, work on a "flat
fee" basis, meaning there is a monthly
charge for unlimited time spent surfing
the web. The cost associated with this
service varies from company to company,
however, the price tends to hover between
$24.00 and $40.00 per month.
Panama
City has several cyber cafe's from which
to choose. Prices vary from one cafe to
another, but the average price is between
$2.50 - $4.00 per hour. |
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Drivers
License Visitors
may drive in Panama with the official
driver's license of their country of origin
for a maximum period of three months. |
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Hospitals
Panama
has a number of very up-to-date private
hospitals and clinics the principals being
Clinica Paitilla, Clinica Nacional, Clinica
America and Clinica San Fernando. For
ambulance service call Alerta (tel. 263-4522). |
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Entry
Requirements A
valid passport, and a visa or tourist
card, which can be obtained through the
airlines, as well as a ticket to leave
Panama, and/or documents to enter another
country are required to entry. Tourist
cards are good for 30 days, renewable
in Panama for an additional two months.
There is a Departure Tax of $20.00 Customs:
Travelers may bring three bottles of liquor
an one box (10 packs) of tobacco, into
Panama.
The Tourist
Card will be given to citizens of independent
countries of the Western Hemisphere, except
citizens of Cuba. In addition, it will
be given to citizens of European countries,
except citizens of Yugoslavia and Europeans
who previously were citizens of non-democratic
countries. Every tourist should carry
a valid passport, except citizens of the
United States of America, who only need
proof of citizenship to obtain a tourist
card. The following persons do not
need a tourist visa. Citizens of Costa
Rica, Honduras, Spain, Federal Republic
of Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland,
Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden. Citizens
of countries not listed above can obtain
a tourist visa from Panamanian consuls
abroad and costs $10. Citizens of
countries with a special agreement with
Panama may obtain visas free of charge. |
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Tourism
There
is an entity, the IPAT or "Instituto
Panameno de Turismo" (Panama Tourism
Bureau), that regulates and promotes the
Tourist Industry in the country. This
government institution has many visitor
information centers spread throughout
the territory. |
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Importing
Pets
The
following is a list of requirements needed for
the importation of domestic animals in Panama:
- To
enter Panama, every domestic animal needs
a certificate of vaccination against Rabies
and a health certificate issued by a qualified
veterinarian. Both documents must be sealed
at the nearest Panamanian consulate.
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Three days before the pet's arrival, an import
application must be submitted to the Department
of Control and Prevention of Zoonosis. The
document should include the pet's information
(breed, age, color, sex, name, origin and
particular signs), flight number, airline,
hour and date of arrival; and the owner/guardian's
data (name, Passport or ID number, address
and telephone). The application must also
specify the length of stay of the animal (temporary
or permanent).
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A total of $130.00 must be paid for quarentine
expenses to the National Bank, located on
the first floor of Tocumen International Airport,
from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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Present the bank's receipt and all the other
documentation to the Veterinarian of the Quarantine
Department of Tocumen International Airport,
in order to get the pet.
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