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Destination Guides - North America / Panama
Travel Advice on Health, Climate, Local Info, Customs and Laws
| Travel Advice/Warnings |
| Avoid the border areas around Columbia. Travel to the Darien province should be conducted only with an organised group, and to recognised tourist destinations protected by the Panamanian police. Check the FCO website for detailed advice. Sporadic demonstrations do occur in Panama City, you should avoid them all and monitor the local media for up to date information. Street crime is common, be aware of the high crime rates, especially in the tourist areas. Do not draw attention to yourself or carry large amounts of cash or valuables. |
| Vaccinations & Health Alerts |
| Panama City has some good private hospitals and clinics but medical facilities outside the capital are limited. It is recommended that you vaccinate against Hep A, Polio and Typhoid. A Yellow Fever vaccination is no longer a requirement to enter the country however, it is still present in certain areas and you should check if the areas you intend to travel to have are at risk (the provinces of Darien, San Blas, or east Panama). Malaria and Dengue Fever are both present. |
| Seasonal Climate |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Temp (c) |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
| Rainfall (cm) |
8 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
32 |
30 |
40 |
38 |
32 |
40 |
57 |
30 |
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| The temperature barely changes throughout the year and rainfall is extremely high between May to December. |
BBC - Weather Centre - Forecast for Cristobal, Panama
| Tuesday |
Max Temp: 28°C (82°F), Min Temp: 25°C (77°F), Wind Direction: W, Wind Speed: 5mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1012mb, Humidity: 81%, Sunrise: 06:10EST, Sunset: 18:24EST |
| Wednesday |
Max Temp: 28°C (82°F), Min Temp: 26°C (79°F), Wind Direction: W, Wind Speed: 5mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1011mb, Humidity: 81%, Sunrise: 06:10EST, Sunset: 18:23EST |
| Thursday |
Max Temp: 29°C (84°F), Min Temp: 25°C (77°F), Wind Direction: W, Wind Speed: 4mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1010mb, Humidity: 76%, Sunrise: 06:09EST, Sunset: 18:23EST |
(by the BBC Weather Centre in association with the Met Office) |
| Local Customs/Laws |
| Penalties for drugs related offences are severe. |
| Getting Around |
| Internal flights possible but limited, no rail service. There is a good road system but the standard of driving is poor and the heavy rain makes conditions worse. Use only licenced taxis and insist on not sharing them with strangers. |
| Public Holidays/Festivals |
| New Year on 1 January, National Martyr's Day on 9 January, Carnaval the week before Lent which commences on 17 February, Semana Santa, the week before Easter which falls on 2-5 April 10, Labour Day on 1 May, Independence from Spain on 10 & 28 November, Mother's Day on 8 December and Christmas Day on 25 December. |
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| Visa Requirements |
| Visas not required for stays of up to 30 days. You must be in possession of an onward ticket, sufficient funds (usually US$500) to cover your stay and 6 months validity on your passport. If you transit the USA on your way to Panama, you must have a machine-readable passport or a valid US non-immigrant visa. |
| British Embassy Details |
| MMG Tower, Calle 53, (Apartado/PO Box 0816-07946), Panama City. Tel: (507)269 0866 |
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