THE Panama City (or Panama City) is the capital of Panama.
To arrive
- By plane, by Cup, on two daily flights from São Paulo, six weeks of Manaus, four weeks of Brasilia, also has daily flights from Belo Horizonte.
- There are boats between Cartagena/Colombia and Panama.
Understand
Panama City is a multicultural place, with large populations from many different parts of the world. Spanish is spoken by the majority, and many speak some form of English. Customer service is slowly improving, and surprisingly sad in hotels. However, on the streets, Panamanians are for the most part extremely friendly and helpful and would love to give you any advice or information. There's great shopping, from the high-end stores in the malls around Paitilla and in the banking district around Via Espana, to the real bargains around La Central (Avenida Central, now turned into a pedestrian walkway) and the mall's exterior Los Pueblos. You can find many ethnic stores (mostly Chinese and Indian) in certain parts of the city.
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One of the easiest ways to get around the city is by taxi. Taxis do not have a meter. Fares are set by the authorities, and are determined based on which section of the city you are starting and which section of the city you are going to, with a surcharge for each additional person. The driver must have a dashboard (which includes a map) that will show the costs for the fare, and they are required to show it if you ask. Fares are around $1.25 per trip within a zone, and longer fares within the city are around $5. Keep in mind that the former Canal Zone is in a different section, and will be at least a $5 fare. The surcharge for additional passengers should be $0.50 per additional passenger, and there is also an additional $0.40 surcharge if you call a taxi (at least those were prices a few years ago). A taxi to or from the international airport typically costs $25 plus tolls if you take the Corredor Sul highway. A taxi to the Amador Causeway costs between $5 to $10. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, and they may pick up additional passengers along the way. The rule is that there is at least a small or no deviation from the first person's route, the first person taken is the first person to be taken to the destination, otherwise it will ask if it is ok to take the other person first. Taxis can also be rented for the day, and fares are again shown (probably around $20-$25). In that case, they will expect a little extra (tip and/or lunch). Taking a bus ride is much cheaper and more convenient. Fares are $0.25 and the bus's destination is written across the front of the windshield in large letters. Buses are privately owned and drivers typically compete with each other for passengers. For that reason, colorful bus decorations to attract customers. During rush hour buses can get crowded, and it is not unusual to see 3 people sitting on a 2-person bench and many people standing along the aisle. It is not advisable to use buses during these hours.
Look
• Panama Canal. The easiest and cheapest is to go to Miraflores locks (adults $8, students $5 including museum, tickets only $5/$3), and just watch the boats go. You can also take a train along the canal, or of course take a boat! A taxi to Miraflores locks will cost around $15, or less if your Spanish is good. • Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is the historic part of the city, where you'll find lots of colonial government style buildings, cathedrals and museums including a Canal Museum. • Panama Viejo. The site of the ruins of the old city, with an interesting museum. • Amateur Causeway. The Amador Causeway connects the three islands to the main island. Coming from the corridor, there is a lovely view of Panama City and the Puente de las Americas. Many Panamanians like to spend their weekends walking, cycling or rollerblading down the aisle, or eating a meal or drinking at one of the many restaurants and bars on the islands. • Mi Pueblitos. The rather deserted museum (admission free) on the slopes of Cerro Ancon shows the different ethnicities of Panama. There are several artisans producing curiosities.
Buy
• Area of Caledonia has plenty of street markets. • Albrook Shopping Mall has good value and high quality clothing and more like a movie theater. • Luxury shopping MultiPlaza Mall, higher prices, better quality products. • Luxury shopping MultiCentro Mall, not as popular as MultiPlaza and Albrook • Very local Central Avenue, very cheap shopping street. Full of department stores, stores and shopping. Many natives.
Craftsmanship
Panamanian handicrafts, luxury handicrafts can either be purchased from shops at Centro de Artesanias in the Balboa neighborhood or at Mi Pueblitos stores. Indian stores in all the main stores in the district (El Dorado mall and surroundings, Los Pueblos, and along Via Espana) also sell Panamanian souvenirs. Gran Morrison is also a place to find manufactures.
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Provisions
There are many cafes along Via Argentina. Spanish sandwich shops offer excellent sandwiches, coffee, and churros. Try Manolo's Churreria (don't forget the churros filling, sweets filled with dulce de leche and rolled in sugar) or Del Prado. Sandwiches should cost $3 to $5. Also on Via Argentina is El Trapiche, serving traditional Panamanian food for less than $12/person. They serve excellent breakfasts. Niko's Cafe has several places throughout the city. Owned by Greeks, they are open 24 hours and have a good selection of sandwiches and hot food served all day. Don Lee is a Panamanian succession serving Chinese fast food, and you should definitely try it. There are plenty of Chinese restaurants, and some can be very affordable. Try some around El Dorado, they must be very authentic.
half distance
Lung Fung on Transistmica Avenue serves some of the best Chinese food in town. It will be a different experience. Try Dim Sum any day of the week (expecting long lines on weekends), however it has lost some of its charm now that the waiters speak as well as any Spanish rather than just Cantonese or Haka. Marbella is a very old Panamanian school restaurant on Balboa Avenue. It's a Spanish place specializing in seafood. Excellent paella and all kinds of good marine food. Prices have been stuck since 1984, so a healthy paella dish will cost you $13, and there's only one higher-priced item on the menu. Van Gogh – This great little Italian restaurant is right next to Via Venteo Casino. This has great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. It is one of the best Italian restaurants in Panama City.
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• Manolo Caracol is an excellent restaurant in Casco Viejo that serves tapas. Every day the chef invents a new and revamped menu with seasonal ingredients. Meals are $20 without drinks. Ten Bistro on Calle 50 and the Multiplaza Mall is another excellent choice, serving contemporary cuisine. Sake, located on the ground floor of the office tower at Punta Pacifica Hospital, is Panama City's hottest sushi restaurant.
drink and go out
Calle Uruguay is a neighborhood filled with bars and clubs for rich Panamanians and foreigners. La Bodeguita, Calle Uruguay. A popular bar that plays live salsa on weekends. • La Casona de las Brujas, Casco Viejo. An interesting bar in an inner courtyard of a building, next to an art gallery in Casco Viejo. Live bands play a variety of music styles. Taberna 21 is a popular hangout serving great Panamanian beer and Spanish tapas. Buy and taste Panamanian and Cuban coffee while you're here. It will be one of the best you'll taste of everything you've ever taken.
Safety
Be careful in both the Casco Viejo and Panama la Vieja ruins areas. There are tourist police in both neighborhoods but don't go too far in these areas alone (even during the day) and certainly not at night. Look both ways before crossing the street! Panamanian drivers are notoriously aggressive when traffic permits and won't slow down for you even if you're lucky enough to find a crosswalk. There is only one way to cross the road here. Wait for a stop in traffic and walk. Once you've started, keep going. Drivers will stop (99% of the time...). Otherwise, you'll be stuck waiting for hours.
sleep
Zulys Backpackers Hostel, Calle Ricardo Arias (between Hotel Mariott and Hotel Continental), tel. 269 2665, Cel. 6605 47 42, [1]. Hostal specializing in backpackers and other low-income travelers. Located in the heart of the city (Area bancaria/El Cangrejo), the safest place in all of Central America. Offer dorm beds at a price of $10; Private rooms at $12.50 per person (double occupancy). They offer tours to the San Blas Islands and have information about boats between Panama and Cartagena/Colombia.
Daily
Embassies
• Canada, World Trade Center First Floor, Commercial Gallery Calle 53E, Marbella, Panama, Republic of Panama, ☎ (011 507) 264-9731, 264-7115, 263-7913 ([email protected], fax: ( 011 507) 263-8083),
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