General Panama Travel Tips & Information

Entry requirements into Panama:

US visitors are required to buy a $5 tourist permit upon entry into the country. This is usually provided by the airline but if for some reason you do not receive one, don't worry as it is also available upon arrival in Panama. No other visa, special documentation is required except for a valid passpot. Links below give additional information about longer stay requirments, etc..

http://projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=pa http://www.panaconsul.com/pages/visas.htm

Most popular day tours from Panama City
Panama City Historical tour
Partial Panama Canal transit
Embera Village

Most popular overnight and multi-day destinations from Panama City
San Blas islands  (2 to 3 days)
Bocas del Toro & Boquete
Pearl Islands

Hotels we recommend  (there are lots of good hotels ... these are just some of our favorites)
In Gamboa:
Luxury: The Gamboa Rainforest Resort

B&B: Simply Devine Homestays (highly recommended)

In Panama City:
Luxury:   The Marriott

Upscale:  Country Inn & Suites

Midscale:  The Executive

Budget:   Las Vegas Suites

Shopping
Souvenirs, Artesania
Artisan market by old YMCA

Malls
Albrook mall ... for great deals
Multiplaza mall... fancy luxury mall

Our favorite local restaurants
Italian... Pomodoro in the Las Vegas Suites
Gourmet... 1987
Breakfast... The Executive Hotel
Seafood... Pencas, on the Causeway

Good places to go with small kids if you just want to let them run around
The Amador Causeway
Summit Rainforest Zoo
Clayton recreational fields

Sites to look for occasional airplane deals to Panama

Taca Airlines
The main carrier, along with COPA airlines, for Central America.

American, Continental and Delta fly to Panama and periodically have specials to this country.

www.kayak.com
Our personal favorite, allpurpose flight checker.

Maps
See www.pamana-maps.com for a good assortment.

Suggested Guidebooks & Books on Panama

Overall Guidebooks:     
Lonely Planet's Guide to Panama
Universally recommended as one of the best, most comprehensive, most readable guidebooks on Panama. 

Frommers Guide to Panama
Another excellent guide, most current edition came out Jan 2007.

Best Guidebook on Adventure and exploring the backcountry in Panama: Adventures in Nature Panama  by  Friar

Best book for the coffee-table:  
Portrait of the Panama Canal by  Friar
Coffeetable style book with pictures and excellent, informative text according to several reader reviews.

Best Guidebook on Panama Boat Cruising: 
The Panama Guide: A Cruising Guide to the Isthmus of Panama by the Zydlers

Most comprehensive Panama birding book: 
A Guide to the Birds of Panama by  Ridgely & Gwynne

Panama History that's fun to read: 
The Path between the Seas  by  McCullough
THE book to read about the history of the Panama Canal... totally engrossing, wonderfully written by a Pulitzer prize winning historian.

Ahem...Critically acclaimed historical fiction:  
God's Favorite: A Novel  by Wright
With Noriega the main character, gives a good glimpse into Panama's recent history.