There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Panama City each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national holiday) January: Panama Jazz Festival (local event)Each year, the Panama Jazz Festival welcomes artists from all over the world as well as music students from the local schools. Major cultural event that attracts each year thousands of spectators.
Second week in February: Carnival de Panama (celebrated nationwide)During four days, Panama lives for the various festivities organised all around town. Among the features specific to Panama's carnival celebrations are beauty contests (in Northern and Southern parts of the city), parades, traditional costumes and salsa shows.
Second week in April: International Film Festival Panama (IFF Panama, local event)The festival showcases local and regional talent. The program consists in film screenings, debates with actors and filmmakers, and Q&As with the audience.
May 1: Labour Day (national holiday) October 21: Festival del Cristo Negro (local event)For this festival, tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on Portobelo, some even walking the 53 miles from Panama City, to pay penance, perform other acts of devotion, and celebrate their faith at the Iglesia de San Felipe. This church is home to an eight-foot wooden statue of the Black Christ, thought to have washed up on a nearby shore in the 17th century. Legend has it that the residents of Portobelo were spared from a cholera epidemic sweeping across the isthmus by praying to the Black Christ on this day in 1821. Following a mass held in the church, 80 able-bodied men begin a four-hour procession carrying the statue around the town, amidst a carnival atmosphere.
December 25: Christmas (national holiday)| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22/72 | 31/88 | 25/1.0 | Good period to go
|
| February | 22/72 | 32/90 | 10/0.4 | Good period to go
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| March | 22/72 | 32/90 | 18/0.7 | Good period to go
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| April | 23/73 | 31/88 | 74/2.9 | Good period to go
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| May | 23/73 | 30/86 | 203/8.0 | Not the best period to go |
| June | 23/73 | 31/88 | 213/8.4 | Good period to go
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| July | 23/73 | 31/88 | 180/7.1 | Good period to go
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| August | 23/73 | 30/86 | 201/7.9 | Good period to go
|
| September | 23/73 | 29/84 | 208/8.2 | Not the best period to go |
| October | 23/73 | 29/84 | 257/10.1 | Not the best period to go |
| November | 23/73 | 29/84 | 259/10.2 | Not the best period to go |
| December | 23/73 | 31/88 | 122/4.8 | Not the best period to go |
Panama City's Tocumen International Airport is located about 24 kilometres (15 miles) east of the city centre.
Panama City is often congested with traffic. Roads are in a fairly good state, especially compared to other Central American countries. However, various structural renovation works are ongoing in the capital. For this reason, public transport is the best option for getting around the city, which also has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive.
Panama City's Metro system currently has one line, operated from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. The fare for a single ride is PAB 0.35.
More than 1,000 metrobuses operate daily in Panama City from 4:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. In order to use them, you first need to acquire a reusable pass (PAB 2). Fares evolve depending on how far you go (from PAB 0.25 to PAB 1.25).
Taxis are plentiful in the Panamanian capital. For safety reasons, it is best to book taxis by telephone, rather than hailing a cab in the street. Expect to pay about PAB 10 for a trip within the city centre.
Renting a car is possible in Panama, provided you are over the age of 25 and in possession of an international driver's licence. But it is highly recommended that you drive very carefully, because traffic rules are not always observed by local drivers.
Upon your arrival in Panama, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Autoridad de Turismo Panama (ATP)Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
Panamanian currency is in the Balboa (PAB).
1 € = 1,10 B
1 B = 0,91 €
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
See your doctor before you travel. It is recommended that you obtain insurance covering health care expenses as well as medical evacuation or repatriation before you leave home. Panama City counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
VaccinationsVisitors arriving from countries where yellow fever is endemic must show proof of yellow fever vaccination, usually documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), and is recommended for all visitors intending to spend at least part of their stay in the inland areas to the east of the Panama Canal Zone. The following vaccines are also recommended:
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Panama City.
As a French citizen, you do not need to obtain a visa if you will be visiting Panama as a tourist for less than three months. However, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of your stay. You must also be in possession of an onward or return ticket.
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Panama, be sure to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country for the latest travel information and recommendations. Comprehensive information that may be helpful for international visitors is also provided on the Panama page of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website: view information for travellers to Panama
Here are a few basic Spanish phrases that will make your stay in Panama a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: ¡ Buenos días ! (morning) / ¡ Buenas tardes ! (afternoon)
Good evening: Buenas noches
Goodbye: Adiós
Yes: Sí
No: No
No, thank you: No, gracias
Thank you very much: Muchas gracias
Please: Por favor
I don't understand: No entiendo
Could you repeat ?: ¿ Puede repetir ?
What time is it ?: ¿ Que hora es ?
Sorry: Disculpe (to say sorry)
Excuse me: Con permiso (to get past) / ¡ Por favor ! (to get attention).
Airport: Aeropuerto
Train station: Estación de trenes
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hotel
Hospital: Hospital
Bank: Banco
Telephone: Teléfono
I'm (…): Yo soy (…)
I'm looking for (…): Estoy buscando (…)
How much is (…)?: ¿ Cuál es el precio de (…) ? /¿ Cuánto es ?
Do you have (…)?: ¿ Tiene (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: ¿ Dónde puedo encontrar (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: ¿ Dónde puedo comprar (…) ?
I'd like (…): Quisiera (…).
Tipping
In Panama, tipping is not necessarily required, although always appreciated if you are satisfied with the service. It is customary to leave a 10 percent tip in restaurants and cafés.
