Travel Information From Barbados to Panama

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Panama. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given. Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Panama.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Panama take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series. Rabies: Rabid dogs are commonly found in Panama. However, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Panama, rabies treatment is often available. Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife. Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include • Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers) • Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens • Visitors to rural areas Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Panama.

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age.

You will need 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the date you intend to leave.

Local Phrases Language : Spanish

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = Hola
Good morning = Buenos dias
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes
Goodbye = Adiós
Nice to meet you = Encantada de conocerte(feminine)
Encantado de conocerte(masculine)

Conversational

How are you? = Cómo estás
I am good thank you = estoy bien gracias
What’s your name? = Cuál es tu nombre?
My name is … = Me llamo …
Do you speak English? = Habla usted Inglés?
I don’t speak … = no hablo...
How do you say… in … = Cómo se dice... en...
I don’t understand = no entiendo

Basics

Yes = Sí
No = No
Please = Por favor
Thank you = Gracias
You’re welcome = De nada
Excuse me (as a question) =
Excuse me (as sorry) =
Wait = Esperar
Hurry up = Apresúrate
Go away = Vete
Let’s go to = Vamos a
I want to go to … = Quiero ir a …
A little bit = Un poco
A lot = Mucho

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = Restaurante
Do you have? … = Tienes? …
Not too spicy = no demasiado picante
It was delicious = Estaba delicioso
The bill, please = La cuenta, por favor
How much? = Cuanta(feminine)
Cuanto(masculine)
Very expensive = Muy cara(feminine)
Muy caro(masculine)

Can you reduce the price? = Puedes reducir el precio?
Please can I have a beer? = Por favor, puedo tomar una cerveza?

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = Taxi
Car = Coche
Bus = Autobús
Right = Derecha(feminine)
Derecho(masculine)

Left = Izquierda(feminine)
Izquierdo(masculine)

Straight = Derecha(feminine)
Derecho(masculine)

Stop here = Deténgase aquí

Places

Downtown = Centro
Street = Calle
Hotel = Hotel
Museum = Museo
Mall = Centro comercial
Market = Mercado
Hospital = Hospital
Doctor = Médica(feminine)
Médico(masculine)

Police = Policía
Post office = Oficina de correos
Bank = Banco

Time & Dates

What time is it? = Qué hora es?
Today = Este Dia
Tomorrow = Mañana
The day after tomorrow = Pasado mañana
Yesterday = El dia de ayer
When? = Cuándo?

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = Donde esta el inodoro?
Help me, please = Ayudame por favor
Call an ambulance = Llama una ambulancia
I don’t feel good = no me siento bien

• Panama City: +5078385912

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Panama City

Panama City, the capital of Panama, is a modern city framed by the Pacific Ocean and man-made Panama Canal. Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic center, is famed for colonial-era landmarks like the neoclassical Palacio Presidencial and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars. The Miraflores Locks offers views of ships traversing the canal, an essential shipping route linking the Atlantic and Pacific.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Crime

Crime hot spots in Panama

Here are some notorious crime hotspots to avoid while traveling in Panama:

Colón, Panama

Colón is simply a no-go zone day or night, and most government agencies have issued stern warnings about travel to the coastal city.

Bastimentos Island, Bocas del Toro

Bastimentos is the largest island in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, one of Panama’s top tourism destinations. There have been reports of muggings, attacks, and rapes of tourists after dark. It is better to stay on the main island (Isla Colon), which has a police station or nearby Isla Carenero which is smaller with a tight-knit community of locals.

Panama City

Particularly at night, avoid the areas of Calidonia, El Chorillo and San Miguelito where shootings are not uncommon. Watch out for pickpockets at bus stations and busy shopping areas such as Avenida Central.

Tips to stay safe

- Keep your possessions close
- Keep your bags shut and try to carry them on your front at all times
- Mobile phones and wallets should never go in your back pocket
- You are required to have a form of proper photo ID on you at all times. Don't give the police any reason to hassle you so make sure you have one on your person or at least a copy of your passport and the page with your entry stamp.

• The most common religion in Panama is Roman Catholicism.
• Don't accept taxi rides from strangers and unmarked taxis.
• Don't ignore the power of the Pacific ocean - strong currents occur. Always be cautious.
• Don't forget the rainy season is usually between April and December.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Panama?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Panama. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare of Panama is ranked 49th in the world. The public hospitals in Panama are funded by the Social Security System and the Ministry of Health. Services in these hospitals are almost free. However, those who can afford private healthcare may choose to do so.

Health Risk

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Occurs from accidentally rub feces (poop) of the triatomine bug into the bug bite, other breaks in the skin, your eyes, or mouth.

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Occurs from mosquito bite.

Occurs from sand fly bite.

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.