Page 50 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

48 BASICS Travel essenTials
individuals concerned. in Guna Yala, in particular,
CALLING HOME FROM
PANAMA each island has its own regulations (see p.255).
To make an international call from
Panama, dial the international access Senior travellers
code (in Panama it’s 00), then the
destination’s country code, before the Given that Panama is one of the world’s top retire-
rest of the number. note that the initial ment destinations, especially for north americans,
zero is omitted from the area code when Panamanians are well used to meeting older
dialling the UK, ireland, australia and new foreign travellers. Though senior Panamanian and
Zealand from abroad. resident foreign retirees are eligible for incredible
Australia 0061 + area code minus initial discounts on everything from flights to cinema
zero tickets, visitors generally are not.
Ireland 00353 + area code minus initial
zero Time
New Zealand 0064 + area code minus
initial zero Panama is four hours behind Greenwich Mean
South Africa 0027 + area code Time throughout the year, the same as Eastern
UK 0044 + area code minus initial zero
US and Canada 001 + area code Standard Time in the Us, though note time
changes for daylight-saving hours. Panama is one
hour ahead of Costa rica. if in doubt, consult
card. if you have an unlocked mobile phone on an Wtimeanddate.com.
850 GsM (the setting for much of the americas), you
can easily buy a siM card on arrival for a few dollars, Toilets
from numerous corner shops in Panama City, or
from albrook bus terminal. Only expensive phone Public toilets are thin on the ground in Panama.
packages (around $40) are available at Tocumen You will generally find them in airports and bus
international airport. Once the initial credit has terminals, which require payment of a few cents to
expired, you can buy prepaid airtime cards from an attendant, who in return will hand you an inade-
shops around the country. alternatively, you might quate few sheets of paper – always travel with an
consider renting a mobile or satellite phone; the emergency toilet roll. Other options are fast-food
executive business hotels can usually procure one joints, cafeterias and petrol stations. Most places
for you. incoming calls are all free in Panama. outside top-end or very modern hotels with their
own septic system require you to throw used toilet
Photography paper into an adjacent basket – alas sometimes
missing altogether from the most rudimentary
The dazzling sunlight of any tropical country, establishments. in Guna Yala and parts of Bocas, a
especially in the dry season (late Dec to april), can toilet cistern is no guarantee of a water treatment
make it difficult to take decent photographs. The system; everything may still flush straight out to sea.
best times for the light are just after dawn and
late afternoon to dusk, but since the sun rises and Tourist information
sets quickly it doesn’t give you much time. if you
need to purchase any photographic equipment, The official tourist agency, the autoridad de
such as camera batteries or memory cards, Turismo Panamá (aTP; Watp.gob.pa), has a slowly
Panafoto in Panama City (Wpanafoto.com) is improving website (in english too) at Wvisit
really your only bet. panama.com, though the swanky air-conditioned
People are fascinating subjects, but be sensitive. if tourist offices in the major towns and resort areas
you want to photograph one or more human are still not geared up to assisting passing tourists.
beings, rather than a market scene with people in it, You may be lucky enough to get a map and, if you
you should ask their permission. in indigenous have a specific question, the employee will
villages in particular, ask the village chief or the head probably do their best to help you, but do not
of the tourist committee what the protocol is – expect lists of local accommodation or tourist
some villages do not permit photography at all. Tour attractions, nor assume the person will speak
groups to a village may be encouraged to snap english. Reception staff at a good hostel or hotel
away but you should still ask for permission from the are a far better bet for reliable information.

022-049_Panama_3_Basics.indd 48 30/06/17 11:49 am