Panama - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Central America
Local Time: GMT -5
Capital City: Panama City
Population:
Area: square km, square miles.
Language(s): Spanish, English widely spoken
Dialling Code: 507
Emergency: Police: 104. Fire: 103. Ambulance: 225-1436/228-2187
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence required
Electricity: 110/220V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Balboa (PAB 1 = 100 Centesimos) or US Dollar (USD 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: USD: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
Coins: PAB: 1, 10. Centesimos: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or Cents: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards & Travellers cheques are widely accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0800-1300 Mon-Fri (some open Sat)
Office: 0800-1200 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-2000 Mon-Sat (some open Sun)(supermarkets open 24 hours)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 9 Martyrs Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, May 1 Labour Day, Aug 15 Old Panama City Day, Nov 3 Independence from Colombia, Nov 5 Independence Day, Nov 10 First call for Independence from Spain, Dec 8 Mother's Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day

Business/Social Hints: Business is usually conducted in Spanish. Many people speak English as their second language. Body language conventions include eye contact during conversation. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: A service charge is normally added to hotel bills, therefore tips are not necessary. Tips in restaurants are around 10%. No tips for taxis, as fares should be agreed in advance

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever* (for all travellers going to Chepo, Darien & San Blas), rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: There is a risk in Bocas de Toro in the west and Darien and San Blas in the east. In the other 6 provinces the risk is minimal. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports of all visitors must be valid for the period of intended stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Panama
2) For a max stay 90 days
a) Holders of British passports being `Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies'
b) Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland
3) For a max stay 30 days
a)Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Korea (South), Monaco, Nicaragua, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Uruguay & Vatican City
4) Holders of a Tourist Card issued to nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United States & Venezuela

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey within 9 hours provided holding tickets and documents for their next destination. The passengers are not permitted to leave the airport
3) Those continuing their journey to a third country by same flight without leaving the aircraft

Exit Permits

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets (overland transportation tickets are not accepted), documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay

Climate

Tropical climate with hot temperatures and plentiful rainfall which mainly falls between May-Nov. Rainfall is greater on the lowlands on the northern or Caribbean coast with almost twice as much rain as the Pacific coast, although temperatures are virtually the same

Clothing

Lightweights, tropical and washable cottons all year with warmer clothing for higher regions. Rainwear advisable particularly during the rainy season

Charts for Panama City

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 33 32 32 31 30 31 31 30 29 29 29 31 Min Temp (C) 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 Humidity am (%) 88 85 81 81 88 90 90 90 91 90 91 90 Humidity pm (%) 84 81 78 81 88 90 91 91 91 92 92 90 Rainfall (mm) 35 18 22 75 208 235 180 201 212 265 260 130

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Consulate General of Panama
Panama House, 40 Hertford Street
London, W1J 7SH
tel: +44 20 7409 2255
fax: +44 20 7493 4499
e-mail: panama@panaconsul.co.uk
website: www.panaconsul.com
hours: 0930-1700 (Mon-Fri)