1] WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR TRAVEL TO PANAMA?

A passport is about all you need. Citizens of most countries are not required to have travel visa’s. It might be a good idea to check with your consulate if your are in doubt. Your airline will sell you a tourist card when you check in.

2] WHAT CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED?

Visa, American Express and Mastercard are accepted in most tourist areas. You will need one to rent a car. You should carry some cash when visiting outlying areas.

3] CAN TRAVELERS CHECKS BE USED?

Yes, but be careful. While most banks will cash them, many merchants will not accept them. If you carry travelers checks, those issued by American Express, Visa or Master Card seem to be the most accepted. Most banks and hotels charge a fee for cashing Travelers Checks.

4] IS THERE A DEPARTURE TAX?

Yes! The departure tax is $20 per person, regardless of age.

5] WHAT IS THE OFFICAL CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE?

The official currency is the Balboa at an exchange rate of 1-1 with the US dollar. Panama does not print paper money and the US dollar is used regularly. Panamanian coins are exactly the size of the U.S. coins of the same value and are used interchangably in vending machines, toll booths etc.

6] WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE?

Temperatures vary between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

7] HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP?

Check your bill to see if the tip is included. A normal tip is 10 -15%

8] WHAT TIME ZONE IS PANAMA IN?

Panama is in the same time zone as the Eastern United States and does not observe daylight savings time.

9] WHAT IS THE EHNIC MAKEUP OF PANAMA?

According to IPAT the country’s population is 63% Mestizo, 14% African Decent, 10% Spanish Decent, 5% Mulatto and 5% Indian.

10] WHAT LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN IN PANAMA?

Spanish, Of Course! Though it is usually not difficult to find someone who speaks English, especially in tourist areas.

11] WHAT KIND OF HEALTH CARE IS AVAILABLE IN PANAMA?

Panama offers great medical care and modern hospitals in the metro areas. Please be advised that Panama is a big country and in the more isolated parts you can be a long way from medical care.