Practical information about Panama

Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Panama enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures almost all year round. The country experiences two main seasons – the rainy season and the dry season.

• Rainy season: May to November
• Dry season: December to April

During the rainy season, short and heavy downpours are common and help maintain the country’s lush landscape. The dry season, on the other hand, offers many sunny days with clear skies. Panama is a popular destination all year round, but the dry season, as well as July and August, are particularly sought-after periods for travellers. It’s advisable to plan and book your tour well in advance if you wish to visit the country during these months.

Panama City
The capital, Panama City, enjoys a tropical climate with minimal temperature variations. Temperatures generally range between 24°C and 31°C, making the city pleasant to visit throughout the year. The nearby coastline provides a refreshing breeze that helps to ease the heat. Like the rest of the country, the city’s rainy season is characterised by brief but intense showers, which rarely cause any major disruption to city life.

As a British citizen, you must hold a valid UK passport and a return ticket to enter Panama. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return home.

As a British citizen, you do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Panama.

Please refer to the passport and visa regulations on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Please note: It is your own responsibility to check whether you require a visa for any transit airports along the way.

If you are travelling via the US, the following applies to British citizens:

To travel via the United States, you must apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Without an ESTA, you will not be allowed to travel through the United States. Apply for the travel authorisation in good time at least 72 hours before your departure to the US. All travellers must apply, regardless of their age. You can apply and find the price via the following link: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. You should have your passport, itinerary, credit card, and e-mail address on hand when making your application.

The travel authorization is electronically connected to your passport and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is earliest). We recommend that you bring a physical copy of your ESTA with you if, for example, the system is down on your arrival; however, this is not a requirement.

If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new ESTA.

Note that you must contact the United States embassy to apply for a visa if you have visited any of the following countries:

• Cuba as of 12 January 2021 (incl. layover)
• North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen as of 1 March 2011

Stricter requirements will also apply if you hold dual citizenship with any of these countries.

For further information on filling out your ESTA application, please see the overview of frequently asked questions and their answers here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en.

You can also get in touch by telephone at: +1-202-325-8000

If you are travelling via Canada, the following applies to British citizens:

To travel via Canada, you must apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Without an eTA, you will not be allowed to travel through Canada. Apply for the travel authorization in good time. eTA costs 7 CAD per person and all travellers must apply, regardless of their age. You can apply via the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp. You should have your passport, itinerary, credit card, and e-mail address on hand when making your application. The travel authorization is electronically connected to your passport and is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires (whichever is earliest). We recommend that you bring a physical copy of your eTA with you if, for example, the system is down on your arrival; however, this is not a requirement.

If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA.

Before departure, you can download our app here, where you will find your travel documents and contact information for TourCompass and our local partners.

Before your arrival, the authorities in Panama recommend that you complete this digital entry form. You can find the form here: https://declaraciondeviajero.ana.gob.pa/Declaracion/

It’s not always required, but as it may occasionally be requested, we recommend that you complete the form in advance.

Your travel documents, which you can find in our app, include important details such as your hotel accommodation information and pick-up times for your included excursions and transfers in Panama. You will also find the contact details of your drivers and guides here.

If you’re continuing on to Costa Rica, you’ll receive a welcome pack upon arrival in San José containing your tour itinerary, including important details about the start times of your pre-booked excursions and transfers. The pack also includes a QR code that you can scan to access fascinating insights about the cities and regions you’ll be visiting in Costa Rica, along with general practical information about the country.

We recommend downloading the WhatsApp app to your smartphone and adding the phone numbers of our local partners. This allows you to send messages and make calls free of charge when connected to Wi-Fi.

We recommend that you contact your GP or an authorised private vaccination clinic for information about vaccinations. You can also read more about the rules regarding travel vaccinations here.

Please be aware of the rules about yellow fever – especially if you are entering via another country where yellow fever is present. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Your vaccination certificate should therefore always be carried with you in your hand luggage when you travel.

Please read our general travel terms and conditions carefully, as these are part of the agreement terms for tours purchased at TourCompass. Tours purchased from us are covered under the “Package Travel Act”.

Click here to read our travel terms and conditions.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels, and other services) is listed on it.

Please see our booking conditions for further information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate, click here.

We always advise you to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when heading off on your dream holiday. It is also highly recommended to acquire cancellation insurance for extra protection.

Click here to proceed to our page on insurance, where you can read more about our recommendations.

In Panama, the currency is the Panamanian balboa (PAB). However, as the US dollar (USD) is also officially accepted and used throughout the country, we recommend using USD, as it is easier to exchange back if you don’t spend all your cash.

You can check the current exchange rate for USD and PAB here.

Cash withdrawals are easily made in banks and ATMs (both PAB and USD), which are widely available across the country, though access can be limited in very remote areas. Most shops, restaurants, and hotels in Panama accept Visa cards, but it’s wise to carry some cash just in case.

Get an idea of the general price level in Panama here.

Tipping in Panama is considered customary and a valued way to show appreciation for good service. Although not mandatory, it’s common to leave a tip for service staff. How much you choose to give is entirely up to you and depends on your experience. Below are the general guidelines for tipping in Panama:

• Guide: 5–10 USD per person per excursion
• Driver: 2–3 USD per person per excursion
• Housekeeper: 1–2 USD per room per night
• Porter: 1–2 USD per suitcase

At many restaurants in Panama, a service charge is often included in the bill. However, it is considered polite to add an extra 5–10% directly to the waiter for exceptional service. If a service charge is not included, it is customary to tip 10–15% of the total bill. Tips can be given in both USD and PAB, but tourists often find it more convenient to use USD, as this currency is widely accepted and preferred in tourist areas.

At the vast majority of our destinations, we are able to take allergies, as well as allergens or preferences, into account when it comes to food; however, it is important that you inform us of this when you book the tour.

Telephone & Wi-Fi:
Using data and roaming abroad can be expensive if it is not already included in your mobile plan. You can contact your mobile provider to find out which services are included in your plan and what rates apply to you in different destinations.

If your mobile plan does not already include data and roaming abroad, we recommend using the free Wi-Fi available at your hotel or in restaurants. This way, you can make calls and send messages home free of charge via services such as FaceTime, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

If you’d like to stay online throughout your tour, the most affordable option is to buy a local SIM card with data upon arrival in Panama.

Electricity:
Panama uses 110 volts. The plugs are type A and B – the American model with two flat pins – so remember to bring an adapter.

Make sure you pack all your important and indispensable things in your hand luggage. This applies to items such as passports, visas, vaccination cards, travel documents, insurance documents, credit cards, money, computers, mobile phones and cameras, as well as information about your health and vital medicines.

Visitors are not permitted to bring plants, seeds, fruit, and other plant products into the UK from their travels outside the UK, unless they are accompanied by a plant health (phytosanitary) certificate. These rules also apply to smaller quantities of plants and plant products.

Read more about the rules here.

Please note that our tours are not generally suitable for people with impaired mobility. Please contact us for information about your options in relation to your specific needs.

Most airlines have electronic tickets (e-tickets).

It is essential that you check the names provided. We only use Surname/First given name for each traveller. These must match the Surname/First given name as shown in your passport. Any middle name(s) are omitted from your booking, as these are not required. If there is a hyphen in your name, it will be removed and the names joined together.

Please check the attached itinerary, along with all name details, and you must reply to us within one working day with any comments. Changes to flight itineraries at a later date will be subject to extra charges. 

The airline will assign you a seat on the plane at check-in. If you have specific wishes regarding where you sit on the plane, you can make a seat reservation yourself on the airline’s website or in their app. Please note that most airlines require payment for a seat reservation.

It varies when airlines open for seat reservations, but as a general rule, you can book seats from the time of booking and up to 48 hours before departure.

We also point out that the airline has complete control over all seats on the plane and that they are therefore entitled to make changes to the reservation at any time. If you do not make a seat reservation before departure, the airline will assign you a seat at check-in.

Your passport and your booking reference, which appears on your itinerary, are required to check in.

We recommend that you download the airline’s app on your phone. In the app, there is an option for online check-in, which typically opens 24 to 48 hours before departure. The app also allows you to stay informed of any flight changes and other important information about your flight.

Please note that the flight times may have changed in relation to those listed on the travel itinerary you received when you booked your holiday. It is always the flight times in the airline’s app or on the airline’s website that apply.

We recommend that you arrive at the airport to check in at least 2 hours before departure. It is a good idea to check the airport’s website for the latest updates.

We use many different airlines for our destinations. You can check the exact rules for hand luggage and checked baggage on the airline’s website or in their app.

If domestic flights are used in your itinerary, please be aware that baggage permissions may be different from how they are for your international flights. In general, you can always purchase more baggage allowance locally.

If your baggage is delayed, please contact the staff in the baggage reclaim area to report your missing baggage.

It is important that you have your baggage receipt when completing your PIR (Property Irregularity Report).

Please note that you must not leave the baggage area at the airport until you have completed the report.

In the event of delayed baggage, we ask you to contact our partner, who will ensure that your guide/driver waits for you.

Should any changes occur in connection with your flight reservation before departure, we will of course contact you to let you know.

Should your flight be delayed after check-in, the airline is responsible for rebooking your flight. They will typically book the next possible flight and arrange any meals and accommodation if necessary.

Our partner checks for any changes in arrival times and will naturally still wait for you, even if your flight is delayed.

If, due to a delay or cancellation, the airline books you on another flight number after you have arrived at the airport, please contact us on TourCompass’ emergency number.

Immigration:
When you arrive at your final destination, you will go through immigration, where your passport and any entry documents and visas are checked. In many places, you will be required to provide fingerprints, and a photo of your face will also be taken for biometric recognition. You may also be asked questions about your travel plans in the country and possibly where you are staying.

Customs:
Once you’ve cleared immigration and picked up your luggage, you will head through customs. If you have nothing to declare, you can go through “nothing to declare”. If, on the other hand, you have something to declare, it is important that you go through “declare”. It’s your own responsibility to check the customs regulations that apply in the country you are travelling to.

When you come out into the arrivals hall at the airport, you will be met by a guide/driver holding up a TourCompass sign with your name on it, who will make sure you get safely to your hotel.

In the unexpected event that you cannot find your guide/driver, please contact our partner on the emergency number which appears on the travel documents.

Normal check-in is typically from 2 pm, and you cannot therefore count on getting your room earlier. If you’d like to check in early, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

When you check in, the receptionist will generally register your credit card and may reserve an amount. This is not an additional fee, but customary at hotels to ensure payment of any consumption e.g. from the minibar. When you check out, the amount will be automatically released if you have not made use of this.

It is very normal for hotels to take a copy of your passport. In some places, this is a requirement of the local authorities.

Check-out is normally by 10 am. If you’re not travelling until the afternoon or evening, you can have your luggage stored until it’s time to leave. If you would like a late check-out instead, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, road closures, or other disruptions, it may be necessary to change the order of the sightseeing tours and attractions in the daily itineraries.

We have a 24-hour emergency hotline so that you can always get in touch with us should anything unforeseen occur during your tour. You will also be sent the telephone numbers and emergency telephone numbers of our partners at the destination. In some cases, it may be easiest and fastest to contact our partners due to time differences, if, for example, you find yourself in a situation where your pick-up for an excursion or transfer is more than 15 minutes delayed.

We rely on happy travellers, and we would therefore very much like to hear from you after your return home. Send us an email at info@tourcompass.co.uk or call us on tel.: 01279 704 135.