Panama Travel Guide

Language

The official language is Spanish. However, many Panamanians speak both Spanish and English.

Currency

The official currency is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), equal to 100 centesimos, but the US Dollar is accepted everywhere at a rate of B1 = US$1. Balboa are available only in coin denominations. The only paper currency used is US dollars. It is easy to exchange currency and travelers checks in Panama at banks, exchange shops, hotels and the airport. Avoid the black market. The best rates are offered at the larger banks. Old, creased and dirty foreign notes may be refused for exchange. Most major credit cards, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners club, are widely accepted. There are about 300 ATMs in Panama City. Banks are usually open from 8am to 1.30pm on weekdays.

1.0182

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are the norm.

Communications

The international access code for Panama is +507. The outgoing call code on Cable & Wireless is 00 (on Telecarrier dial 088+00 followed by the relevant country code. On Clarocom dial 055+00 followed by the relevant country code e.g. 0550027 for South Africa). Discount telephone rates apply between 10pm and 7am. Coin and card-operated public telephones are available, cards being sold at stores and vending machines. There are no domestic area codes in Panama. Cell phone providers offer digital TDMA 800 and GSM 850 networks therefore triband handsets are required for international visitors. There are several Internet service providers in Panama and Internet cafes are widely available in Panama City. Most hotels also offer the Internet.

Duty-Free

The following items may be brought into Panama duty free: 500 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco, three bottles of alcohol, opened bottles of perfume for personal use and gifts up to the value of B/.50. Fruit, vegetables and animal products are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Panama Tourism (IPAT), Panama City: +507 226 7000 or www.ipat.gob.pa

Embassies in Panama

• United States Embassy, Panama City: +507 207 7000.
• British Embassy, Panama City: +507 269 0866.
• Canadian Embassy, Panama City: +507 294 2500.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Panama): +52 (01)55 1101 2200.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Panama City, Panama: +507 226 2559.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Panama City: +507 264 6633.

Panama Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Panama, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 483 1407.
• Embassy of Panama, London, United Kingdom: + 44 (0)20 7409 2255.
• Embassy of Panama, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7177.
• Embassy of Panama, Jakarta, Indonesia (also responsible for Australia): +62 (0)21 571 1867.
• Embassy of Panama, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (012) 460 6677.
• Consulate of Panama, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 379 8550.

Emergency

Emergencies: 104 (Police), 103 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language is Spanish. However, many Panamanians speak both Spanish and English.

Currency

The official currency is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), equal to 100 centesimos, but the US Dollar is accepted everywhere at a rate of B1 = US$1. Balboa are available only in coin denominations. The only paper currency used is US dollars. It is easy to exchange currency and travelers checks in Panama at banks, exchange shops, hotels and the airport. Avoid the black market. The best rates are offered at the larger banks. Old, creased and dirty foreign notes may be refused for exchange. Most major credit cards, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners club, are widely accepted. There are about 300 ATMs in Panama City. Banks are usually open from 8am to 1.30pm on weekdays.

1.0182

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are the norm.

Communications

The international access code for Panama is +507. The outgoing call code on Cable & Wireless is 00 (on Telecarrier dial 088+00 followed by the relevant country code. On Clarocom dial 055+00 followed by the relevant country code e.g. 0550027 for South Africa). Discount telephone rates apply between 10pm and 7am. Coin and card-operated public telephones are available, cards being sold at stores and vending machines. There are no domestic area codes in Panama. Cell phone providers offer digital TDMA 800 and GSM 850 networks therefore triband handsets are required for international visitors. There are several Internet service providers in Panama and Internet cafes are widely available in Panama City. Most hotels also offer the Internet.

Duty-Free

The following items may be brought into Panama duty free: 500 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco, three bottles of alcohol, opened bottles of perfume for personal use and gifts up to the value of B/.50. Fruit, vegetables and animal products are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Panama Tourism (IPAT), Panama City: +507 226 7000 or www.ipat.gob.pa

Embassies in Panama

• United States Embassy, Panama City: +507 207 7000.
• British Embassy, Panama City: +507 269 0866.
• Canadian Embassy, Panama City: +507 294 2500.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Panama): +52 (01)55 1101 2200.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Panama City, Panama: +507 226 2559.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Panama City: +507 264 6633.

Panama Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Panama, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 483 1407.
• Embassy of Panama, London, United Kingdom: + 44 (0)20 7409 2255.
• Embassy of Panama, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7177.
• Embassy of Panama, Jakarta, Indonesia (also responsible for Australia): +62 (0)21 571 1867.
• Embassy of Panama, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (012) 460 6677.
• Consulate of Panama, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 379 8550.

Emergency

Emergencies: 104 (Police), 103 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language is Spanish. However, many Panamanians speak both Spanish and English.

Currency

The official currency is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), equal to 100 centesimos, but the US Dollar is accepted everywhere at a rate of B1 = US$1. Balboa are available only in coin denominations. The only paper currency used is US dollars. It is easy to exchange currency and travelers checks in Panama at banks, exchange shops, hotels and the airport. Avoid the black market. The best rates are offered at the larger banks. Old, creased and dirty foreign notes may be refused for exchange. Most major credit cards, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners club, are widely accepted. There are about 300 ATMs in Panama City. Banks are usually open from 8am to 1.30pm on weekdays.

1.0182

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are the norm.

Communications

The international access code for Panama is +507. The outgoing call code on Cable & Wireless is 00 (on Telecarrier dial 088+00 followed by the relevant country code. On Clarocom dial 055+00 followed by the relevant country code e.g. 0550027 for South Africa). Discount telephone rates apply between 10pm and 7am. Coin and card-operated public telephones are available, cards being sold at stores and vending machines. There are no domestic area codes in Panama. Cell phone providers offer digital TDMA 800 and GSM 850 networks therefore triband handsets are required for international visitors. There are several Internet service providers in Panama and Internet cafes are widely available in Panama City. Most hotels also offer the Internet.

Duty-Free

The following items may be brought into Panama duty free: 500 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco, three bottles of alcohol, opened bottles of perfume for personal use and gifts up to the value of B/.50. Fruit, vegetables and animal products are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Panama Tourism (IPAT), Panama City: +507 226 7000 or www.ipat.gob.pa

Embassies in Panama

• United States Embassy, Panama City: +507 207 7000.
• British Embassy, Panama City: +507 269 0866.
• Canadian Embassy, Panama City: +507 294 2500.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Panama): +52 (01)55 1101 2200.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Panama City, Panama: +507 226 2559.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Panama City: +507 264 6633.

Panama Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Panama, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 483 1407.
• Embassy of Panama, London, United Kingdom: + 44 (0)20 7409 2255.
• Embassy of Panama, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7177.
• Embassy of Panama, Jakarta, Indonesia (also responsible for Australia): +62 (0)21 571 1867.
• Embassy of Panama, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (012) 460 6677.
• Consulate of Panama, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 379 8550.

Emergency

Emergencies: 104 (Police), 103 (Ambulance).

Language

The official language is Spanish. However, many Panamanians speak both Spanish and English.

Currency

The official currency is the Panamanian Balboa (PAB), equal to 100 centesimos, but the US Dollar is accepted everywhere at a rate of B1 = US$1. Balboa are available only in coin denominations. The only paper currency used is US dollars. It is easy to exchange currency and travelers checks in Panama at banks, exchange shops, hotels and the airport. Avoid the black market. The best rates are offered at the larger banks. Old, creased and dirty foreign notes may be refused for exchange. Most major credit cards, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners club, are widely accepted. There are about 300 ATMs in Panama City. Banks are usually open from 8am to 1.30pm on weekdays.

1.0182

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are the norm.

Communications

The international access code for Panama is +507. The outgoing call code on Cable & Wireless is 00 (on Telecarrier dial 088+00 followed by the relevant country code. On Clarocom dial 055+00 followed by the relevant country code e.g. 0550027 for South Africa). Discount telephone rates apply between 10pm and 7am. Coin and card-operated public telephones are available, cards being sold at stores and vending machines. There are no domestic area codes in Panama. Cell phone providers offer digital TDMA 800 and GSM 850 networks therefore triband handsets are required for international visitors. There are several Internet service providers in Panama and Internet cafes are widely available in Panama City. Most hotels also offer the Internet.

Duty-Free

The following items may be brought into Panama duty free: 500 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco, three bottles of alcohol, opened bottles of perfume for personal use and gifts up to the value of B/.50. Fruit, vegetables and animal products are prohibited.

Tourist Office

Panama Tourism (IPAT), Panama City: +507 226 7000 or www.ipat.gob.pa

Embassies in Panama

• United States Embassy, Panama City: +507 207 7000.
• British Embassy, Panama City: +507 269 0866.
• Canadian Embassy, Panama City: +507 294 2500.
• Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Panama): +52 (01)55 1101 2200.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Panama City, Panama: +507 226 2559.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Panama City: +507 264 6633.

Panama Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Panama, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 483 1407.
• Embassy of Panama, London, United Kingdom: + 44 (0)20 7409 2255.
• Embassy of Panama, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 236 7177.
• Embassy of Panama, Jakarta, Indonesia (also responsible for Australia): +62 (0)21 571 1867.
• Embassy of Panama, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (012) 460 6677.
• Consulate of Panama, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 379 8550.

Emergency

Emergencies: 104 (Police), 103 (Ambulance).