North and Central America and Caribbean

Panama

Still current at: 08 August 2008

Updated: 19 May 2008

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

 

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

 

Crime

 

There is a risk of street crime.  You should not carry large sums of cash or valuables in public.  Deposit them in hotel safes wherever possible.  Be vigilant when using ATM cash machines installed in public places, usually outside banks.  There have been cases of people being attacked after drawing cash from these machines.  There have also been instances of devices being inserted in ATMs, which allow cards to be cloned.  Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times.

 

Beware of pickpockets in busy thoroughfares, on buses and at bus stations.  Be alert for muggers particularly in the main shopping areas especially Via Espana and Avenida Central, the area of Caledonia, as well as in the old town (Casco Viejo) in Panama City, and in the old Panama ruins (Panama Viejo), the Madden Dam area - off the main Panama to Colon road, and the city of Colon, where unemployment, street crime and drug usage are high.

 

Occasional armed hold-ups occur in restaurants in Panama City, Colon and elsewhere.  There have also been recent attacks on individuals at gunpoint in broad daylight.  Local police report that other high crime areas around Panama City are San Miguelito, Rio Abajo, El Chorillo, Ancon, Curundu, Vera Cruz Beach, and Parque Soberania.

 

Since June 2006, there have been incidents of serious assault, some involving taxi drivers.  Some incidents have occurred during broad daylight. You should use registered taxi companies, and whenever possible call a taxi company rather than hail a taxi in the street.   It is advisable to travel accompanied by someone you know and not to sit in the front seat of a taxi. Ensure that you do not get in a taxi with unknown passengers and instruct the driver not to stop and pick up any additional passengers.

 

In February 2007, there were reports of burglaries being committed by organised criminal gangs.  It is reported that the perpetrators use ruses, such as door-to-door sales and household cleaning suppliers, to gain the trust of the victims and gain access to their homes.  The criminals then gather information about the victim’s movements and routines.  In some instances, the criminals are suspected of using various symbols or drawings marked on perimeter walls or fences to communicate with other gang members.  An organised robbery with several other gang members is then committed.  You are advised to be cautious if approached by visitors seeking access to your property.  If you are in doubt about the motives of any visitors, you should alert the police. 

 

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad. 

 

Political Situation

 

Panama Country Profile

 

Political demonstrations occur occasionally in Panama City, mainly around Panama University, and the main road known as the Transisthmica.  You should avoid being caught up in any demonstration.

 

In February 2008 there were violent demonstrations throughout Panama City and other parts of the country. This was due to the death of a construction worker who was shot by the Panamanian Police. The demonstrations were mainly located near to numerous construction sites and the demonstrators threw rocks, stones and other items at passing cars and clashed with police.

 

You should monitor local media and avoid all demonstrations.

 

Local Travel 

 

You should travel to the Darien province by air, and only with an organised group to recognised tourist destinations protected by the Panamanian Police.  Please contact the British Embassy in Panama City for details.  You should not stray from the immediate vicinity of the protected resort area.  Expedition companies based in Panama also sometimes organise expeditions to Darien.  Check carefully that police protection is included. 

 

The border area with Colombia is particularly dangerous (beyond a line drawn from Punta Carreto in the Comarca de San Blas on the Atlantic coast, through Yaviza in the eastern Darien province, to Punta Pina on the Pacific coast).  Political and criminal violence in Colombia can spill over into Panama.  There are regular incursions by Colombian guerrillas and other armed groups.  Two Spanish nationals were kidnapped near the border with Colombia on 20 January 2006.  Foreign nationals and Panamanian citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, kidnapping and murder in this area.

 

Road Travel

 

Standards of driving and traffic management are both poor.  Panama has a reasonably good road system, except in Darien Province where there is hardly any paved road at all.  Most of the central Inter-American Highway is still only one lane each way and it is not well lit at night.  There is often night construction on this road with few signs alerting drivers to such construction.

 

By law seat belts must be worn by drivers and front seat passengers, and children under five must travel in the back in fitted child seats.  You are warned that motor insurance is not compulsory in Panama, even for third party damage and injury, and many Panamanians drive without it.  If you are involved in a car accident, Panamanian law requires that you should wait with the vehicle until the traffic police (Transito) arrive.

 

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

 

Sea Travel

 

You should be extremely careful when wading or swimming on Pacific and Caribbean beaches as in some locations there are strong currents and undertows.  These beaches seldom have signs warning of the dangers.  Drownings occur every year.  Do not bathe in the Bay of Panama.  It is polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste.

 

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Do not become involved with drugs of any kind or in any way.  Possession of even very small quantities can lead to heavy terms of imprisonment (up to 15 years).  The judicial process is slow and conditions in Panamanian prisons are harsh and not comparable to those in the UK.  You must be aware that simply being in the company of someone who is using drugs is sufficient grounds for arrest.  From the time of arrest, it can take upwards of 12-24 months before you even appear before a judge.

 

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

 

As a British nationals you do not require a visa to visit Panama but you are required on arrival to have a return or onward ticket and have the equivalent of US$500 or a credit card.  An initial stay of 30 days is granted upon entry.  Extensions of stay can be obtained from the Panamanian immigration authorities.  

 

Passport validity

 

Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country and that it has a plentiful supply of unused pages.

 

Yellow Fever 

 

Proof of yellow fever immunization may be required if you are arriving from an infected area.

 

Travelling with children

 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries required documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. 

Panama City has some good private hospitals and clinics but medical facilities outside the capital are limited.

Malaria and dengue fever are common to parts of Panama, including in some outlying areas of Panama City. Dengue fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  In 2007 there was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region.

In October 2006, the Panamanian Health Ministry reported cases of acute renal failure with neurological involvement resulting in a number of deaths. Evidence suggests that the cases were due to contamination of liquid medications with traces of diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent not intended for human consumption.

The implicated medications are only prescribed by the Department of Social Security, are not readily available in pharmacies and have the Department of Social Security label (Caja de Suguro Social) on the bottle.  The Panamanian Health Ministry has ordered that these medications be recalled and provides a list of them on their website in Spanish.  However, cases of contamination are still being reported in hospitals.  You are strongly advised not to take any of these products and consult a medical professional if you are in any doubt about the safety of any pharmaceutical products available in Panama.

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 17,000 adults aged 15 or over in Panama were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.9% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Panama and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel For more general information on how to do this see or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

 

Natural Disasters 

 

There is a possibility of earthquakes in Panama.  The last major one struck the border between Panama and Costa Rica in December 2003, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale.

 

During the rainy season (April to December) occasional flooding and landslides occur in rural areas and some city streets become temporarily impassable due to flooding.  October and November normally have the heaviest months of rainfall.  You should monitor regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.  In November 2006, the Panamanian authorities declared a state of red alert for the Colon region on the Caribbean coast of Panama, after torrential rains caused a number of deaths.

Insurance

 

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

Passports

The British Embassy in Panama can assist with Temporary or Emergency Passports but only in emergencies.   However, the British Embassy in Panama does not issue standard passports.  These applications are sent to the British Embassy in Costa Rica for processing.  Processing can take up to 15 working days.  If a courier is used, you will have to bear the cost. The service will normally take 6 working days.  Further guidance can be obtained from the British Embassy in Panama.

 

Trips via the US

 

Since many trips to Panama are made via the United States, it is important to note that all passport holders who wish to enter the US or transit the US to onward destinations under the Visa Waiver Programme must present an individual machine-readable passport.  If you do not have a machine-readable passport you must obtain a non-immigrant visa from the nearest US Embassy prior to travel (see also above for British passports).  For further details, in particular concerning children travelling on a parent's passport, please contact the US Embassy.

 

Airport tax

 

A US$20 airport tax (payable only in cash) is charged upon departure but this is sometimes included in the airline ticket fare.

 
Money

 

Ensure you have enough money for your stay and return.  Bank transfers can take several days although Western Union offers a quicker service.

 

Many restaurants, hotels and shops will only accept US$20 notes or require identification for use of larger value notes because of problems with counterfeit $50 and $100 notes.