Getting there
In this section you will find important information about your arrival to Panama
city, Panama which is most likely your point of entry. I will also present you
with some information you need to move around as well as anything you might
need in order to leave the country.
By Air
By Land
- Paso Canoas, Chiriqui at our border with Costa Rica.
- On foot from Colombia into the jungle of Darien (if you survive...)
By Sea
Arriving by Air at Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
So, let us assume you are
arriving by plane to our beautiful -yet chaotic at times- country. If you are
lucky you will be seated on the left aisle of your plane and in that case you
will be able to get a very good view of the capital from your window as the
plane approaches Tocumen International Airport. The international 3-letter code
that identifies this airport is PTY.
For those interested in aviation there is a very nice page with lots of
information about tocumen at Virtual-Aviation.info
While many airlines hold office in Panama, many don't even fly from there with
their planes but through an associated carrier. We are glad to inform you that
you can now fly directly from Europe (Madrid) with Iberia, you no longer have
to suffer the pains of being treated like a 5th class tourist at an american
airport, or be shoveled into a small room of with 200 other transit passengers,
nor have to pay the costly visa for the US, or the latest development (to have
to leave your luggage open and exposed to unrecoverable theft). Three hurrahs
for IBERIA!.
Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs
Right after you get off the
plane you will have to walk about 200-300 metres to the immigration counter.
You can run so that you do not end up in a long queue, after all there are only
3-4 immigration officials. Or alternatively you can begin in a relaxed way by
watching some of the posters while you walk towards immigration. At some point
you will reach the stairs that bring you from the tax free area down to the
Immigration point at the lower level.
Present your passport and the entry form you filled on the plane. Citizens of
certain countries such as the USA, The Netherlands, Finland, etc. do not need
an entry visa, only a valid passport or tourist card. Otherwise you should have
arranged your visa by now, that can be done at the nearest consulate and
usually requires a letter from your employer, a passport photo, a letter of
invitation or the data of your flight or trip arrangement as well as the
application fee.
Right in front of the
immigration control booths you will find the IPAT's (Instituto Paname�o de
Turismo) information booth. Past this point you see the baggage claim area.
When you pick up your luggage take it to the customs officials just opposite
the rather spartan claim area. After you have passed customs inspection you
will cross the electric door into the Passenger Arrival area. Maybe the
time to be greeted by your tour operator or your loved ones. At this level you
will also find shuttles to certain hotels and taxis. Only take "Taxi de
Turismo" (Tourism Taxi) which are specially marked, at this point you should
not venture yourself to take a regular taxi.
After some chat with your loved ones, or after you have arranged your transport
(this is where you can rent a car or hire a taxi) you will approach the
automatic doors to leave the building (and therefore the convenience of an
air-conditioned area). Don't be shocked, you will be greeted by a swoosh of
warm (hot during the day) air. Welcome to the tropics! we enjoy (or rather
learned to live with it) this temperature all year round.
Taking a ride to the city.
Tocumen International
Airport is about 30 minutes by car from the outskirts of the city. To go to the
city from the airport you will go via the district of San Miguelito, not quite
a pleasant sight in some parts, chaotic in others but that is our
country a mix of everything and a wide variety of contrasts. If you choose this
way you will at some point arrive to the elevated bridge over the Transistmica.
It is better if you continue straight towards Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba
Muerto) rather than taking left (towards the city) or right (towards Colon) on
the Transistmica.
You can also take the easiest and quickest way from the airport by taking the
"Corredor Sur" (a highway), just follow the signs. Be prepared to pay the toll.
Unfortunately the toll in Corredor Norte/Sur is one of the most expensive per
driven kilometer in the whole of the Americas. That thanks to the government of
Balladares and the Mexican company that built and manages the highway.
If you have chosen to rent a car and drive in Panama please take your time to
read the two articles (see Site Map)
about driving in Panama (the capital). It is for your best interest, people are
rather agressive in their driving and at some point you will have to put aside
politeness if you want to move forward.
