Panama is not at all times costly to go to. Touring right here is considerably cheaper than touring in Europe, Canada or america however considerably pricier than Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador.
It’s not the most costly nation in Central America – that prize goes to Costa Rica, intently adopted by Belize – however thrifty vacationers might want to plan fastidiously and sacrifice a number of house comforts to maintain prices to a minimal.
Happily, there are many methods to avoid wasting on meals, lodgings, transport and excursions. The seashores are free and there’s no scarcity of out of doors actions at Panama’s intensive and reasonably priced nationwide park system.
Listed below are our high suggestions for making your Panama journey bueno, bonito y barato (good, good and low-cost).
Go to through the moist season
The moist season runs from Might to November in Panama. Resort charges can drop 10–30% throughout this era, however you’ll have to deal with bursts of torrential rain. Most downpours are fairly transient, erupting within the afternoon and clearing an hour or two later, however a number of days of steady downpours should not unknown. Sure actions, akin to birdwatching and white water rafting, are significantly better within the wet season.
Bocas del Toro has a extremely changeable microclimate; the province is continuously moist when the remainder of the nation is dry, and generally vice versa. Worldwide flights to Panama are normally least expensive in direction of the tip of the moist season, September to November.
For those who solely intend to go to western Panama, think about flying into Costa Rica
A lot of Panama’s greatest points of interest lay within the western provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro. For those who don’t intend to journey past these areas, it’s generally (however not at all times) extra economical to fly to San José in Costa Rica after which journey overland to Panama.
The direct bus from San José to the worldwide border at Paso Canoas is an hour or so longer than the bus from Panama Metropolis to David (the second-largest metropolis in Panama). You’ll should undergo immigration formalities, which will be time-consuming.
The journey to Chiriquí is faster and cheaper when you use intercity buses slightly than worldwide ones like Ticabus, which generally means longer commutes, greater costs and does not cease at David.
Take the bus to and from Tocumen airport
An official taxi from Tocumen Worldwide Airport to downtown Panama Metropolis can set you again USD $30–40. A shared taxi is cheaper at round $15 per individual if touring solo.
The most affordable is the Metrobus, which prices not more than $1.25. Earlier than leaving the airport, make sure to purchase a chargeable Metrocard, appropriate to be used on all Metrobuses and trains. They value $5 and are good to go along with $3 of fares included.
Observe you will have a Metrocard to entry long-distance providers at Albrook bus station.
For those who’re single, keep in a hostel dorm
Single vacationers will discover the most cost effective digs in hostel dorms. Relying on location, you will get a number of facilities and clear quarters for $10–20 per evening.
Hostels are widespread within the main vacationer hubs of Panama Metropolis, Boquete and Bocas del Toro, however much less frequent elsewhere.
{Couples} and teams ought to keep in lodges
A personal room in an inexpensive lodge is roughly the identical worth as a non-public room in a hostel, round $30–50 per evening. When it comes to consolation, nevertheless, lodge rooms are normally superior. The cheaper, extra spartan rooms have followers and cold-water-only showers (air-conditioning can bump up costs by $15–20).
Some lodges have a handful of extraordinarily primary, ultra-cheap quarters ($15–20) with a shared rest room; ask reception if they’ve algo más económico (one thing cheaper) or un quarto con baño compartido (a room with shared rest room).
In fact, the primary drawback of utilizing lodges is that you simply received’t have a shared kitchen at your disposal.
For those who actually need to save, sleep in a hammock
For those who don’t thoughts roughing it, a hammock is the most cost effective choice. Hostels usually cost $2–5 per evening for a pitch, and it’s possible you’ll discover locals ready to supply the identical service.
Use mosquito repellent, nets and/or insecticide coils, particularly within the moist season. A heat blanket or sleeping bag could also be vital as temperatures can drop markedly at evening, even within the steamy lowlands. Observe it is unsafe to sleep in a single day in public areas, together with the seashore.
Use public transportation in Panama Metropolis
Panama Metropolis cab drivers are notoriously wily. Overcharging is the norm, particularly if you look like overseas. Worse but, the town is continuously gridlocked, making journey by automobile gradual and inefficient.
To economize and problem, use Metrobuses and trains to get round ($0.25–0.35 per journey). For those who should use taxis, attempt to agree on a worth earlier than getting in. And in case your driver seems to be a superb one (a lot of them are), seize their cellular phone quantity for future use.
Keep away from vacationer taxis and taxis that wait exterior lodges. They are going to definitely overcharge you. Ubers are normally cheaper and simpler than taxis.
Go for buses over home flights
Home flights are undeniably quick. You’ll be able to cross all the nation from Panama Metropolis to David by airplane in about an hour. However with most round-trip fares exceeding $120, home flights should not low-cost and carry a hefty carbon footprint too.
Though considerably slower (the identical journey from Panama Metropolis to David takes seven to 9 hours), the Terminales David-Panamá (TDP) or the Padafront buses are way more economical and environmentally pleasant.
Gorge on fruit for breakfast
Recent fruit in Panama is nutritious, scrumptious, ubiquitous and low-cost. Choices embody a rainbow array of regionally grown produce like pineapples, papayas, avocados, bananas, watermelons and oranges.
Get fruit from avenue distributors and native markets (a fruit breakfast in a restaurant is comparatively poor worth). Smoothies are one other wholesome and financial choice.
Feast on carbs for lunch
For those who intend to eat out so much, lunch is probably the most economical meal of the day. Road meals is skinny on the bottom in Panama, however low-cost sit-down eateries abound and normally provide cheap set menus and/or carb-rich lunch buffets for round $5 a head.
A typical Panamanian lunch consists of a fatty meat or rooster most important with a beneficiant facet of rice and beans plus a number of slivers of (generally sweetened) plantain and a sugary drink. Sadly, vegans and vegetarians should not well-served in Panama.
You’ll be able to typically drink the faucet water
With the exceptions of Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala and different distant areas, the faucet water in Panama is mostly secure for consumption. Save on {dollars} and plastic waste by refilling your reusable water bottle at a kitchen faucet.
Select guides and excursions fastidiously
Except occasions are very tight, it would be best to splurge on a number of excursions. For those who converse Spanish moderately effectively, sourcing your individual native guides can work out cheaper than utilizing a tour operator.
It’s greatest to hunt stable suggestions out of your lodge or hostel they usually know the place the perfect offers are. Most cities have an workplace of the nationwide Setting Ministry, Mi Ambiente, and can level you in the correct course.
A information to day by day prices in Panama (US {dollars})
Dorm mattress in a hostel: $10–20
Primary lodge room for 2: $30–50
Self-catering house (together with Airbnb): $70–100+
Public transportation in Panama Metropolis: $0.25–0.35, or $1.25 for toll roads
Espresso: $1–3
Lunch for 2: $10–20
Dinner for 2: $20–40
Beer on the bar: $1–3
