Panama Travel Guide

Panama — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Central America.
Language: The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.
Area: 75,517 sq km (29,157 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 5.
Electricity: 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are the flat two-pin American type.
Population: 3.2 million (UN estimate 2006).
Population Density: 42.3 per sq km.
Capital City: Panama City. Population: 827,828 (2005).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Colombia in 1903.
Head of State: President Ricardo Martinelli since 2009.
Religion: Almost all Christian; 86% Roman Catholic.

Recent History

In May 2004, Martin Torrijos (son of the former military leader Omar Torrijos who had been instrumental in negotiating the 1977 treaty with the US to handover the Panama Canal) defeated ex-president Guillermo Endara in the presidential elections. Torrijos took office in September that year and pledged to pursue a free trade agreement with the USA, which he secured in December 2006. In October 2006, Panamanians voted in a referendum to expand the canal. The project which will begin in 2008 and is due to be completed by 2014. The canal enjoyed its busiest year ever in 2006-7, with transits up 3.7% to a record 14,721.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +507. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

Internet cafes exist in main urban areas.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes five to 10 days.Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1300

Press

• Daily Spanish-language newspapers include: Crítica Libre, La Estrella de Panamá, El Panamá América, La Prensa and El Siglo.
• A twice-monthly English-language newspaper is Panama News.

Radio

• RPC, METO 103.5, Super Q and Omega Stereo are all commercial networks.
• KW Continente broadcasts some BBC programs.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
8 Dec Mothers’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
9 Jan *National Martyrs’ Day
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only)
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia)
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only)
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain
28 Nov *Independence Day (from Spain)
8 Dec Mothers’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
9 Jan *National Martyrs’ Day
6 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only)
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia)
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only)
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain
28 Nov *Independence Day (from Spain)
8 Dec Mothers’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
For public holidays falling on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

* Where these public holidays fall mid-week, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

Contact Information

Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT) (Institute of Tourism)

Apartado 4421, Zone 5, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Vía Israel, San Francisco, Panama
Tel: 226 7000.
Website: www.ipat.gob.pa or www.visitpanama.com

Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the UK

Panama House, 40 Hertford Street, London W1J 7SH, UK
Tel: (020) 7409 2255 (consular section).
Website: www.panaconsul.com (consular section).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.
Can also deal with tourism enquiries.