EXTENSIONS: 75,990 square kilometers square kilometers
POPULATION: Approximately 2,839,177
Capital: Panama City
LANGUAGE:
• Official Language: Spanish.
• Other languages: English.
CURRENCY:
- The Balboa (B /)
- 1 Balboa = $ 1 (USD)
- The dollar is the currency of commercial use.
TIME DIFFERENCE: 5 hours less than the meridian of Greenwich.
ELECTRICITY: 110 volt plugs with two pins and 220 volts, 60 cycles. Adapters are required for European appliances.
Telephone code: + 507
Religión:
• Catholic (85%)
• Protestant (15%)
• Other: Religions of indigenous origin still prevail.
POLITICAL DIVISION:
- It comprises 9 provinces, 75 districts or municipalities, 3 indigenous regions (Kuna Yala, Embera, Ngöbe - Bugle), with provincial level, since they have a regional governor; 2 districts (Kuna de Madungandí and Kuna de Wargandí) with level of colonial administrative districts, which make up a total of 621 townships across the country (2).
GOVERNMENT:
- Unitary, republican, democratic and representative.
- The Government is composed of a president, two vice presidents and twelve Ministers of State who comprise the Executive Branch, the Legislative Assembly with 72 legislators, members of the legislature power, and nine judges that make up the judiciary power.
DOCUMENTATION
- Valid Passport. All tourists must carry a valid passport.
- Return ticket and documents to enter another country of destination.
- Economic solvency.
- Visa or a tourist card.
- Tourist Visa: You can obtain it in the Panamanian consulates abroad.
- Tourist Cards: Valid for 30 days, usually sold by the airline upon check in and luggage delivery at the airport of departure. Cost: $ 5.00. If they forget to sell you one, you can buy it on arrival at Panama's Airport immigration authorities. You can buy an extension at the central immigration office for two additional months making the application 7 days before the expiry of the first 30 days. In some cases a tourist card is not necessary. The tourist card gives you 90 days in Panama. If you want to extend your stay over 90 days, you should visit the offices of Immigration and Naturalization Service before the end of the period of 90 days (see more under the details of how to extend your visa).
WEATHER:
- Panama's climate is pleasantly tropical, and the temperature is almost uniform throughout the year. The nights are usually cool. The country has two seasons: the rainy season from May to January and dry season from January to May.
TEMPERATURES:
- The average temperature is 27 º C.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:
- Metric system.
TRANSPORTATION:
- By air:
- COPA Airlines is the national airline.
- Delta Airlines Iberia, Aerolineas Argentinas and American Airlines fly frequently to Panama.
- Iberia Airlines has direct flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Tocumen International Airport is 27 kilometers from the capital.
- There are three airlines operating domestic flights between major cities.
- KLM has direct flights from Amsterdam three times a week.
- Spirit Airlines will open flights from Fort Lauderdale from February 1.
- By boat:
- Boat: The Panama Canal is the main route between the Atlantic and the Pacific and through Balboa Port go several cruise lines.
- Cruise Ports: Gatun Yacht Club, Cristobal Cruise Port (Balboa), Colon Cruise Port , and Amador Fort Cruise Port.
- Panama will become the homeport of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line from December 2008.
- By road:
- You can use the Pan American Highway that connects Panama City with Costa Rica.
- There is a road connecting Panama City with Colón.
- There are bus services linking major cities.
COMMUNICATIONS:
- Mobile phones: The main operator is Movistar and Cable & Gíreles.
- Fax: Most post offices and hotels have this facility.
- Internet: There are Internet cafes throughout the country
- • Telegram: These can be sent from post offices in cities and towns. Some hotels also provide this service. Each cable carries a fee of 50 cents.
- Mail: Airmail to Western Europe takes between 5 and 10 days. The main post offices have post office box service (Poste Restante) and Express Mail Service.
- Newspapers: La Prensa, El Panama America and La Estrella de Panama are the most important newspapers.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
- Panama City, Panama Canal, Darien, Bocas del Toro, Cocle, Colon, Chiriqui, Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, Comarca de Kuna Yala, Comarca Embera and Comarca Ngobe Bugle.
GASTRONOMY:
- Panama's restaurants reflect cultural diversity. You will find a lot of restaurants offering local and international dishes.
- Because of its proximity to the coast, seafood is fresh and abundant in Panama.
- The most common fish on many menus is also one of the most delicious: the croaker.
- No one can speak of Panamanian cuisine without mentioning the ceviche. This traditional dish is raw sea bass marinated in lime juice, peppers and onions and the locals consider it a delicacy.
FESTIVALS:
- On January 9 Feast of the Martyrs.
- On November 3, Separation of Panama from Colombia.
- On November 4, Flag Day.
- On November 28 Independence from Spain.