PANAMA
ALTITUDE
The volcano Baru is the highest peak of the mountains range, reaching 3,475 meters and located at the center of the country.
BEVERAGES
Fruit juices are excellent. You can also find lager beers. The coffee from Panama is starting to be known. We recommend to drink mineral water.
CREDITS CARDS
International credit cards are generally accepted mainly in cities but not everywhere. You can withdraw cash from ATMs, preferably in banks that offer secure warranties.
WEATHER
Tropical climate with dry season from December to April and rainy season the rest of the months.
ELECTRICITY
110 volts outlets, with flat blade plugs. Please bring a plug adapter. Computers and cell phones have an internal transformer, therefore, you will only need a plug adapter.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2023
- 1 and 2 January: New Year’s Day
- 9 January: Martyrs’ Day
- 21 February: Carnival
- 7 April: Holy Thursday
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 3 November: Separation of Panama and Colombia
- 5 November: Colón Day
- 6 November: Colón Day
- 10 November: Day of the Saints
- 28 November: Independence of Panama
- 8 December: Mother’s Day
- 20 December: Duelo Nacional Day
- 25 December: Christmas
GASTRONOMY
The cuisine derived from many other International contributions is very diverse. Fish and sea products are obviously in the spotlight, however there are many other dishes to taste.
CURRENT TIME
Panama is 6 hours behind France in winter and 7 hours behind in summer. When it is 16h00 in France, it is 10h00 in winter and 9h00 in summer.
WEB ACCESS
WIFI connections in general work well.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language, however English is widely spoken.
CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
The national currency is the Balboa associated to the US Dollar. It is convenient to bring small bills of US Dollar or US Dollars traveler’s checks, as Euros are less accepted especially outside the capital.
TIPS
The service is generally included in the bills in restaurants and bars mainly in the capital. It is recommended to leave approximately between 10 to 15% tip of the value of beverages.
HEALTH
No vaccination is mandatory to enter the country. It is recommended to drink mineral water and to be careful with what you eat in remote areas. Please do not forget to bring your medication if you are following a treatment. You should use mosquito repellent.
SAFETY
No security problems. Respect the basic security rules, remaining cautious.
HOW TO DRESS?
Casual outfit and comfortable shoes to visit. Plan to bring light clothes and warmer clothes to wear in case the temperature is cooler in higher elevations or in certain places where the AC can be very cold! Bring a light raincoat.
We recommend: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
