Shiny showrooms, high-rise condos and luxurious procuring malls illuminate Panama Metropolis’s banking district – the epicenter of prodigious actual property improvement in recent times. Panama Metropolis is a world banking middle and world trans-shipment hub with beneficiant offshore tax constructions and powerful secrecy legal guidelines.
Doubtful cash, laundered via actual property, has been reworking the town’s oceanfront because the Noriega years. Regardless of this chequered previous and current, it is necessary to keep in mind that you’re extremely unlikely to come across cartel-related violence as a vacationer.
It’s protected to journey alone. The banking district is properly policed, at the least through the day, and most crimes are the low-key and opportunistic kind you may encounter in any main metropolis. Elements of the town are tough and tumble, others aren’t any go, however most are benign. You’ll have no issues if you happen to keep alert and comply with large metropolis guidelines.
Right here’s what you should know earlier than touring to Panama Metropolis.
Planning your journey to Panama Metropolis
Examine a map earlier than selecting the place to remain
Each neighborhood has its benefits and downsides. With cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial structure, the historic quarter of Casco Antiguo is probably the most memorable and romantic a part of the town.
It has a plethora of high-end eating places, luxurious lofts and swanky rooftop bars, however a dearth of budget-friendly eateries and its public transport hyperlinks aren’t one of the best.
The Calidonia district within the southern a part of the town occupies a grid of streets from Plaza 5 de Mayo to Calle 42 Este. Avenida Central bustles with market stalls and the roads to the south are dotted with economical inns.
The district is close to loads of Metro trains and buses. You’ll be able to decide up low-cost avenue meals through the day when kitchens open for native hospital workers and civil servants. After darkish, nevertheless, Calidonia turns into shady and downbeat with restricted eating choices.
To the east of Calidonia, the so-called banking district is a patchwork of a number of districts or corregimientos, together with trendy and rising neighborhoods that host the lion’s share of high-end lodgings and Airbnb leases. There are just a few hostels and never practically sufficient economical inns. Many respectable eating places are dispersed all through the banking district, however not all the time inside strolling distance.
Should you’re on the town to social gathering, the neighborhoods of Marbella and Bella Vista have nice entry to the bars and golf equipment on Calle Uruguay. El Cangrejo is an leisure zone with a on line casino, good Metro prepare hyperlinks on Vía España and a parade of eating places on Vía Argentina.
Time your go to for budget-friendly offers and nice climate
The excessive season coincides with the dry season, mid-December to early April, when costs are usually greater. The main festivals of Christmas, New Yr, Carnival and Semana Santa see a value enhance within the capital, however not as a lot because the seashores, the place most city-dwellers spend the vacations.
Mid-April to early December is the most affordable time to go to Panama Metropolis, if you happen to don’t thoughts getting moist. Most deluges final solely an hour or two within the afternoon, however the season will get wetter because it goes on.
Within the depths of it, the skies might be overcast for days, however the rains are often intermittent and the cloud cowl can convey reduction from the relentless Panamanian solar.
Get a Metro card
Though a automotive is sweet for day journeys out of city, don’t plan on driving a lot within the metropolis. The one-way highway system is baffling, metropolis thoroughfares are sometimes congested and diversions are par for the course.
As a substitute, use Panama Metropolis’s public transport system, which features a fleet of air-conditioned buses and Central America’s first-ever Metro prepare. Purchase a three-in-one “Rapi-pass” upon arrival and achieve entry to Metro trains and buses and the departure gates at Albrook bus station.
Etiquette in Panama Metropolis
Gown for consolation however look sharp
Panamanians like to decorate up and look their greatest. The ostentatious shows of style on show in Obarrio embody stiletto heels that by some means survive the assault course of the town’s pavements.
When socializing, informal apparel is ok, however keep away from carrying shorts and sandals to good eating places or social features.
All the time preserve a stash of low denomination payments
You will want to point out ID and signal a register if you happen to pay for something with a better invoice than a USD$20. Counterfeit cash is a matter within the nation, so all $50 and $100 payments will probably be scrutinized in Panama.
Don’t smoke in public
Laws launched in 2008 banned smoking in public locations. Individuals who smoke in non-designated areas are topic to fines of $25-100.
Tip lodge cleansing workers
Should you keep in a lodge, go away a tip for one that cleans your room – USD$2-3 a day is ok. A ten% tip is commonly added in good eating places, however not all the time – verify the invoice earlier than paying.
In low-key native eateries, it’s possible you’ll go away some free change for the server. Until they assist with baggage, taxi drivers don’t count on a tip.
Don’t use medication
Though Panama Metropolis is steeped in narco {dollars}, Panamanian society frowns on drug use and the regulation doesn’t tolerate it. If the police discover you in possession of even small portions of marijuana, you would spend a number of years in a Panamanian jail.
Don’t count on folks to talk English
Panama Metropolis Spanish is Caribbean Spanish, extraordinarily quick and closely laden with jerga (slang). If Spanish isn’t your first language, it’s possible you’ll battle to catch it.
Don’t anticipate finding many English audio system throughout your day-to-day transactions. English is extensively spoken within the enterprise group, however not a lot exterior of it, and mastering just a few primary phrases of Spanish will aid you get round.
Well being and security in Panama Metropolis
Do not be afraid to drink the faucet water
The faucet water in Panama Metropolis is completely protected to drink. Save on plastic waste by refilling water bottles at a faucet. Should you want purified water, you may refill on the 20-litre garrafones in most lodge lobbies.
Put together for environmental hazards
Panama Metropolis is an city hothouse scratched out of the jungle. The weather are fierce – humidity is commonly 100%. It’s best to take a day or two to loosen up and acclimate to the warmth if you happen to come from a cold-weather nation.
All the time apply sunscreen earlier than going exterior and preserve an enough water provide useful. Put on mild garments and a hat to maintain the solar off your face. Deliver a sturdy umbrella if you happen to go to through the moist season.
Panama Metropolis suffers from flash floods throughout heavy downpours. Should you get caught in a storm, you would find yourself wading via deep puddles. Visitors is usually heavy and plenty of components of the town will not be pedestrian-friendly. Folks residing with bronchial asthma might discover their signs are aggravated by fumes.
The Bay of Panama is a dump for industrial effluence and untreated sewage, so the oceanfront malecón generally reeks.
Dodge scammers
Scammers function in all large cities and a few goal vacationers. Be cautious of strangers who inform unlucky and earnest tales that finish with them asking for cash. If it smells fishy, it most likely is.
Be careful for pretend tour guides who ask for cost prematurely after which stand you up. Previous-school taxi scams that contain going across the homes to extend the fare can occur wherever on this planet. However in Panama Metropolis, it’s widespread for taxis to easily overcharge.
There aren’t any meters within the cabs. Fares are presupposed to be primarily based on zones, however in follow, it not often is. Should you look international, taxis drivers will bump up the fare. It is best to barter the worth beforehand.
Panama Metropolis is protected for solo feminine vacationers
Panama Metropolis is usually protected for solo feminine vacationers to go to however it’s greatest to keep away from strolling alone at evening in Casco Antiguo, Santa Ana or Calidonia.
Girls might obtain consideration from chatty males on Metro trains or buses. If a person gained’t go away you alone, ask a close-by older girl to help.
Keep away from sketchy neighborhoods
Thirty years in the past, Casco Antiguo was dicey. Right now, issues have considerably improved, however there are nonetheless pockets of the previous neighborhood the place it’s best to train warning.
Should you’re staying in Casco Antiguo, the 20-minute stroll from the closest Metro prepare station, 5 de Mayo, is dangerous at evening. Use a taxi or an Uber as a substitute. To the west of Casco Antiguo, the neighboring El Chorrillo district could be very harmful and uncared for. It’s best to keep away from this neighborhood solely.
The district of Santa Ana, north of Casco Antiguo, is bisected by the pedestrianized peatonal, a full of life procuring avenue which is protected to stroll through the day; keep alert within the crowds. The aspect roads east of the peatonal are sketchy, and also you shouldn’t wander round them.
At its north finish, the peatonal connects with Plaza 5 de Mayo, the Nationwide Meeting, a Metro station, a bus terminal and a dirty confluence of roads and flyovers. The world is full of life into the night however keep alert and use a car after 11pm.
North of 5 de Mayo, Avenida Central strikes into Calidonia district with avenue distributors and hustle. It is tremendous to discover within the day, however don’t flaunt costly tools or jewellery. Caledonia is spooky and seedy after darkish. Keep away from run-down or poorly lit streets.
Maintain your paperwork useful
Everyone seems to be legally required to hold a photograph ID always in public in Panama. Vacationers ought to carry their passport or a photocopy of their passport with the picture web page and immigration entry stamp.
LGBTIQ+ vacationers are welcome
Attitudes in rural Panama are considerably conservative however much less so in Panama Metropolis. LGBTIQ+ vacationers are unlikely to come across prejudice and discrimination primarily based on sexual orientation and gender identification is prohibited by Panamanian regulation. There’s a full of life homosexual scene in Casco Antiguo and El Cangrejo.
