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Driving in PanamaThis forum post has messages dated from 09/10/10 through 09/11/10, please be sure to read all the messages. If you feel it is old or outdated, please follow up with a question or comment and someone may be able to update it, or reply with newer information if you have it.
| Driving in Panama My husband and I will be making our first visit to Panama next month. We plan to stay at Playa Blanca and venture out from there each day to explore and see the country (or parts of it). We are interested in renting a car during our stay. Will we need anything other than our US drivers license? Do you recommend that we carry our passports with us during the day or can we leave the locked up at the hotel? Also, would it be easier or possibly cheaper to higher a driver rather than renting a car and going it on our own? |
| "Driving ..."
Having your own car to come and go as you please is nice. Drivers' license and passport is all you need to rent a car. We stayed in Panama City for a day or two, then rented a car and headed off into the western parts of Panama. Getting out of the city was a chore - got lost, and finally stumbled onto a police station. Went in to ask directions, and one of the polecemen got in the car with us, showed us the way out of town, whereupon we gave him $10 for thanks and a cab ride back to the station. Try that in the U.S.! On Passports: Make a copy of the main page and the page that was stamped when you entered Panama. Carry that and leave your passport at the hotel - most will have a safe. This would be general practice wherever you travel. If you dont know spanish, learn a little before you go and get one of those pocket spanish/english dictionaries. |
| "Driving"
Thanks Arlo, that helps a lot. Did you have any trouble getting around once you got out of the City? We were even wondering about hiring a driver for a day or two. |
| "Drivin',, etc."
No, once you get out of the city, all is well. We did invest in a roadmap; Adventuremap by Nat'l Geographic - look on Amazon. It's pretty good - fair amount of detail showing the back roads, etc. and includes a 'summary' map of Panama City, although if you rent a car (we used Alamo, downtown) they will have maps of the city in more detail. Well worth it if you're going to drive around on your own. Hiring a driver might be a good idea - cabs are pretty reasonable(and plentiful) and I would bet that if you ask at the hotel or wherever you stay, they will have recommendations in that regard. If you feel adventurous, you can always hop on one of the diablo rojo (red devil) buses that run around town. You'll know one when you see one - look like school buses, but painted up in quite bizarre fashion - some even have horns (as in bull) on top.Arlo (actually its Bruce - not sure how Arlo got in there) Loveland, CO |
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