Tour info

Transport

2 domestic flights, 3 road journeys

Accommodation

This trip combines friendly mid-range hotels with well-equipped rooms with private bathroom and comfortable but not luxurious wildlife and beach lodges. Throughout Panama accommodation is of a high standard.

Meals

Breakfast daily

Summary Of Nights

10 days, 9 nights: 3 nights Panama City, 2 nights Boquete, 3 nights Bocas del Toro, 1 night Gamboa

Guides

We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return.

Currency

The currency in Panama is the balboa which is interchangeable with the US dollar

How To Take It

The national currency in Panama is at parity with the US dollar, and only US banknotes are used. (There are some local coins equivalent to US cents). There are ATMs in most towns,where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK, and amounts may be limited, and vary from bank to bank. Notes can be obtained from exchange houses and also from banks which will supply advances on a debit or credit card.

Daily Spend

It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$40 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.

Tipping

Tips are welcomed and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.

Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential.

Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport Taxes

If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.

Climate

Those travelling between May and October should encounter high temperatures (around 35°C) and high humidity in the lowlands. The ‘official’ rainy (green) season is May to November.

December to April visitors will still encounter high temperatures in lowland areas, but cool evenings with temperatures falling to around 20°C. Rainfall and humidity will be much lower at this time.

It’s cooler and less humid at Boquete in the Chiriquí highlands of Panama.

For the coastal areas it’s hot all year round (often over 30°C). The busy times for visitors are the dry season months, especially weekends and Easter week. The green (i.e. rainy) season is much quieter.

Trip Suitability

Generally this holiday is suitable for all able, reasonably fit, visitors including families with children.

If you have a disability or special considerations, please contact our office.

Clothing And Special Equipment

Bring plenty of light cotton clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. A waterproof jacket and/or umbrella are also advisable. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper, and sensible to have long sleeves for areas where mosquitos may be lurking. Sandals are a good informal option for evenings. Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellant are essential and you should bring swimwear. A daypack is useful for carrying sunblock, guidebook, water and any extra layers.

Note that luggage on the domestic flights is limited to 14kg.

Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following; typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. For specific requirements you must consult your GP.

You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.

If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

Country info

When is the best time to visit Panama?

The best time to visit Panama is from mid-December to mid-April. As it is situated well within the tropics, Panama has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures (30°C) all year round at low altitudes. Temperatures are significantly modified by altitude – higher up it can be very cool at night. Mid-December to mid-April is the best time to visit Panama as it is the dry season. Apr-Nov is rainy season, with the Caribbean side receiving more rainfall than the Pacific. There is a small risk of tropical storms on the Caribbean coast but the country lies outside the main hurricane belt.

What is the official language of Panama?

Spanish is the official language of Panama.

What is the official currency of Panama?

Balboa is the official currency of Panama. The national currency is at parity with the US dollar, and only US banknotes are used. (There are some local coins equivalent to US cents). There are ATMs in most towns where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have to ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK, and amounts may be limited, and vary from bank to bank. Notes can be obtained from exchange houses and also from banks which will supply advances on a debit or credit card.

Do I need a visa for Panama?

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

What vaccinations do I need for Panama?

Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.

What is the time difference between Panama and the UK?

The time difference between Panama and the UK is GMT -5 hrs.

What countries does Panama combine well with?

Combine your holiday to Panama with a visit to neighbouring Central America countries, such as  wildlife-rich, slickly organised Costa Rica; and Colombia, with the northern coast of which Panama shares a swashbuckling history.

What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Panama?

The festivals that take place in Panama are:
Carnival in February-March. Celebrated with much gusto in Panama City, costumed revelry, music and dancing culminate into a big Shrove Tuesday parade.

Semana Santa is celebrated at Easter. It is celebrated throughout Panama with religious processions.

Kuna festivals take place on the San Blas Islands. There are several festivals throughout the year, all of which feature dancing, traditional sports and feasts.