Panama Travel Guide

Entry requirements

Citizens from the following countries can enter Panama visa-free because their countries hold treaties with Panama that entitle their citizens to visit for up to 180 days without a visa, having a passport valid for at least 6 months upon entry: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Bhutan, Brazil, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica,…

Panama has used the US dollar ("$") as its only currency since 1904 although Panamanians often refer to it as balboa. 1 balboa consists of 100 centesimos. Panama has its own coins, made by the United States Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint, in the same weights, sizes and metallic compositions as US coinage, but with Panamanian stampings. The Panamanian coinage is completely interchangeable with standard US coinage in Panama. You may get a handful of change back with a conquistador on the quarter and an Indian on one of your pennies, but Lincoln on the other penny and Roosevelt on the dime. Pan…

There are two kinds of buses in Panama: the ones you find on the highway, and "city buses" (Metrobuses, which replaced the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils). The highway buses are constantly making journeys from terminals in Panama city to different destinations along the Pan American Highway, and back to the terminal. They're pretty frequent, and the buses will pick you up or drop you off at any point along their route, and most of them are air conditioned. The roughly linear shape of the country makes it ideal for a bus system, so ideal in fact that you don't really need to rent a car to get around…

By far the most commonly spoken language in Panama is Spanish. A small minority on the Caribbean Coast speaks an English derived Creole which is not all that dissimilar from Jamaican Patois. Even smaller minorities speak indigenous languages, but you'd have to deliberately search them out to hear, let alone have a use for those languages. If you have a firm grasp of Spanish, you should have no problems getting around.

Most of Panama is very safe. People in rural areas are generally extremely friendly and very helpful. If you want to visit Latin America, but are paranoid about security, Panama might be a good place to cut your teeth.

Panama is well known for its excellent medical care, making it a hot spot for medical vacations. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all visitors over 9 months of age travelling to the provinces of Darien, Kunayala (San Blas) and Panama, excluding the Canal Zone. Most countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before permitting travelers to enter from Panama.

WhatsApp is the most widely used app for calls and messaging, popular among both locals and visitors. Telegram is also used, though to a lesser extent. These apps allow users to communicate for free, as long as both parties have the app installed.

Panama is a diverse country, with a mix of cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles that coexist in relative harmony. Although race is generally not a determining factor in daily life, it’s useful to understand certain customs and expressions to avoid misunderstandings.