Visas, Vaccines, etc. . . .
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What do you need to get to Panama?
Visa - You do not need to purchase or be approved for a Visa before traveling to Panama. Either when you check in from the US or when you land in Panama your airline will sell you a tourist visa card (this is less than $20). You will need to present this during the immigration process, and should carry this with you while in country. If you would like more specific information, check with your airline, or see the State Department's website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_994.html Vaccinations - While it is recommended that your vaccines are up to date and that you travel with your WHO vaccination card, Panama does not require you to show proof of vaccination when entering or departing. If you would like more information on recommended vaccinations, please see the Center for Disease Control's website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationPanama.aspx Passport - All persons must have a valid passport in order to enter Panama and re-enter the US. Please be sure that your passport has at least six months until it expires. If you are in need of a passport, you should file for it now, and ask for the expedited process, as passport applications have been backed up for months. Please see the Department of State's website for more information: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html Safety - Panama is one of the safest countries in the world. In a graph by the Pinkerton Intelligence Agency published in Newsweek magazine, in which countries all over the world were rated for tourist safety, Panama merited the most desirable category for tourist safety - the same category as the U.S. In general Panama is safer than Costa Rica, and along with Chile and Uruguay is among the safest countries in Latin America. The purse snatchings and pick-pocketing common in other placer are almost unheard of. However, as for all foreign travel, when going about it is advised to carry a photocopy instead of your actual passport, not to flash expensive jewelry, or camera equipment, and not to carry large sums of money. Like everywhere, there are poor areas of town where it is not wise to walk around, especially at night. Money/Banking - It is not necessary to bring all the cash you need with you. There are plenty of ATMs in Panama City, and most accept any debit card with the Visa or Mastercard logo (they usually charge the normal ATM fee for withdrawing from another bank). Likewise, most businesses accept credit cards. It is necessary to have cash for taxis, tipping, and eating out or shopping in smaller, local places. |
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