After a year and a half delay, I finally got the opportunity to visit Panama City, Panama and the it did not disappoint. Panama is definitely a vibe. Your first impression reminds you of New York City with its skyline and tall buildings. Spanish is the primary language in Panama and you will find it hard to find individuals that speak English or even willing to try so you will have to adapt to their culture. Google Translator will become your friend.
Travel Requirements:
- A Negative covid test 72 hours prior to departure, but per Delta’s website, if you are fully vaccinated you do not need a COVID test.
- Upload your vaccine card, negative covid test, and passport information at https://www.panamadigital.gob.pa/RegistroPacoViajero. You will receive a QR code that you will need to show at immigration upon arrival in Panama.
- The countries currency is the Panamanian balboa (sign: B/.; ISO 4217: PAB). It is named in honor of the Spanish explorer/conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa. There is no need to exchange currency because the USD is accepted everywhere ($1USD = B/ 1 PAB)
- Getting through customs was easy and quick (if you have all the necessary documents). I saved all documents needed in a cloud drive which was easy to access on my phone, because I do not like paper documents, but I do carry printed versions of all my documents as a backup.
- A Negative COVID test is required 72 hours prior to your return flight to USA. The cost $82 for PCR test with results within 4-6 hours. I had my test done at Hospital Nacional
Transportation: Uber is the way to go. The average cost for Uber X was ~$5 (including $2 tip each tip). A Uber Black is not that much more expensive, but the quality of the car is the same as a Uber X.
Accommodation: Stayed in Casco Viejo at an AirBnB (Casa Diez). The apartment consisted of two bedrooms (upper/lower), small kitchen area and living room. The bathroom was very compact and not comfortable. The usual streaming services were available, but I always travel with my Amazon Firestick or Google Chrome stick to stream channels from the US. All you need to do is connect streaming device to an HDMI port on the TV, switch to that port, and connect device to WiFi. This came in handy during my trip with the start of football season.
Overall, the location was perfect for the type of vacation vibe I were looking for.
What to Do in Casco Viejo and Panama City:
- LAZOTEA Restaurant & Rooftop
- Multiplaza Panamá Mall
- Panama Canal: Open from 8am – 5pm, Tues – Sun. Ticket office open from 8am – 11:00am; 12:30pm – 5pm. Cost is $10
- Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar
- Vista Corona Panamá
Photo Gallery:
Photo Shoot by Ilyana with AirBnB Experience:
