Yearly average temperature: 27 Centigrades or 82 grades Farenheit. Rainy seasons from May to August and from December to January. Dry seasons from February to April an September to November.
FAQ’s
Spanish is the oficial language in Panama, but english is widely spoken in Bocas del Toro.
Balboa: equivalent to the american dollar, which is freely used in the country. There are not Balboa bills, only coins, that are equal to the american dollar in size and value.
9.883 inhabitants (2000 census) is the population of the islands.
110 VAC/50 cycles. Some places have also 220 VAC/60 cycles.
There is only one bank in Bocas del Toro, a branch of the National Bank of Panama, in the Goverment House street. Open mondays to fridays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, and saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 md.
Most of shops and service stores and resturants and hoteles accept credit cards. Travellers checks can not be cashed in the National Bank. Money from credit cards can be get at Caja de Ahorros and at Panama National Bank.
There are many public telephones in Bocas del Toro city that accept coins or international phone cards. Phone company is Cable and Wireless at 1st. street. Also there are a couple Internet Center ($ 1 one hour). Roaming and wi fi are available in most of the island
To visit the National Park, tourist must shown up in the Zapatillas Keys refuge. Fee for nationals and Panama residents is $ 1.00 per visit.Foreigners pay $ 10.00 per visit.
The office of ATP (Panamenian Tourist Board) is also the Tourist Visitors Center, at 1st. street, besides the police station. Phone-fax: 00507-757-9642. The tourists can find all the information for spend a perfect vacations in the islands.
IMPORTANT
INMIGRATION & VISA
In the Government House. All foreigner visitors must have a valid passport and visa to enter or leave Bocas del Toro. Main office is in Changuinola City. A tourist can remain in Panama for 90 days, not normally extendable. There is no need to obtain departure permits to leave the country, provided that the visitor complies with the terms of the tourist status. If a tourist exceeds the time allowance without a legal extension or justification, a fine will be charged according to the exceeded time. Visitors should carry their passports with them at all times.
LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS NOR TOURIST CARDS TO ENTER PANAMA:
Germany, Hungary, Argentina, Israel, Austria, Italy, Chile, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Poland, El Salvador, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Finland, Greece, France, Singapore, Guatemala, Switzerland, Honduras, Uruguay, Holland (The Netherlands), Luxembourg, Belgium, Bolivia.
COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS REQUIRE A STAMPED VISA:
Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, The Philippines, Peru, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Ecuador.
COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS CAN ENTER PANAMA WITH A TOURIST CARD (OR VISA):
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Curaçao (Dutch Antilles), United States, The Vatican, Grenada, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Paraguay, Western Samoa, St Kits and Nevis, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome & Principe, Sweden, Surinam, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela.
CITIZENS OF ALL OTHER NATIONS:
They need an authorized visa to enter the country.
STAMPED VISAS:
Can be obtained at Panamanian consulates abroad. Authorized Tourist Visas: Can be obtained at Panamanian consulates abroad with the authorization of the Immigration Bureau in Panama and the approval of the NationalSecurity Council. Tourist Cards: Tourist cards cost $5.00 and can be purchased at air lines or travel agencies. All tourists must have valid passports, with the exceptions of citizens of the United States of America, who only need a proof of nationality to obtain a card. Departure Tax: There is a departure tax of $20 at Tocumen International Airport.Tourism Visa is valid only for three months.
DRIVE CARS:
For drive cars in Bocas you can drive with your license but only for three months.
Be sure to bring with you License and Passaport when you are driving.
