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Panama, Panama, Panama
Greetings from Panama! My name is Marina Ehrman and I have been a professional tour guide and promoter for Panama Tourism and Travel Company since 2005. I love what I do and am proud to share what my country has to offer. It is filled with endless leisure and commercial attractions, friendly happy people who open their doors to all visitors. Panama is a country of incomparable natural beauty with a variety of tourist attractions, beautiful beaches in the Pacific and Caribbean. The tropical climate year round with its diversified flora, fauna and indigenous groups make it one of the most important of Ecotourism in Latin America. I invite you to know our country’s history, culture and also enjoy the cuisine, folklore and traditions that only a place in the world can provide………Panama! Contact me and I’ll organize your visit and will be happy to welcome you in Panama. For more information on Panama, follow my Facebook page and my blog. Visit www.panamatourismtravel.com

Guided Fishing at the Panama Canal



Fishermen are always impressed by the abundance and variety of fish in Gatun Lake at the Panama Canal. This lake is home to species such as peacock bass, tarpon, snook, and many others. Since these fish are so plentiful, there are no limits or restrictions.

One of our fishing guides will take you and your party on a private guided tour of the lake and show you the best spots.

Surrounded by the peace and tranquility of lush tropical forests, this is a great tour for friends, families, or individuals to enjoy the bounties of nature that Lake Gatun Panama offers.


International Access Code to Phone Panama

How to dial Panama Tourism & Travel ?  

International Access Code to Phone Panama

To Dial internationally, you must first dial your country's special code to access international phone lines. Each country has a specific code. It doesn't matter where you are dialing around the world, to get "out" of your country you must first dial your country's international access code.

For example,

To call from the USA or Canada to Panama Tourism & Travel dial 011 first:
011 (507) 6694-11-09

How to Dial from inside Panama

From inside Panama you can call us by dialing 6694-11-09 only.

List of International Access Codes to dial any international phone number

For your convenience, here is a list of countries and their international access codes.

Country Name
IDD International Prefix
Afghanistan
00
Albania
00
Algeria
00**
American Samoa
011
Andorra
00
Angola
00
Anguilla
011
Antarctica
Antigua
011
Argentina
00
Armenia
00
Aruba
00
Ascension
00
Australia
0011 (Voice calls)
0015 (Fax calls - Telstra)
0018 (Telstra special rates)
0019 (Fax calls - Singtel Optus)
Australian External Territories
00
Austria
00
Azerbaijan
00
Bahamas
011
Bahrain
00
Bangladesh
00
Barbados
011
Barbuda
011
Belarus
8**10 ( written as 8~10)
Belgium
00
Belize
00
Benin
00
Bermuda
011
Bhutan
00
Bolivia
0010 (ENTEL)
0011
(AES COMMUNICATIONS BOLIVIA)
0012
(TELEDATA)
0013
(BOLIVIATEL)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
00
Botswana
00
Brazil
0014 (Brasil Telecom)
0015 (Telefonica)
0021 (Embratel)
0023 (Intelig)
0031 (Telemar)
British Virgin Islands
011
Brunei Darussalam
00
Bulgaria
00
Burkina Faso
00
Burundi
00
Cambodia
001
Cameroon
00
Canada
011
Cape Verde Islands
0
Cayman Islands
011
Central African Republic
00
Chad
15
Chatham Island (New Zealand)
00
Chile
00
China (PRC)
00
Christmas Island
0011 (Telstra)
Cocos-Keeling Islands
0011
Colombia
Comoros
00
Congo
00
Congo, Dem. Rep. of (former Zaire)
00
Cook Islands
00
Costa Rica
00
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
00
Croatia
00
Cuba
119
Cuba (Guantanamo Bay)
00
Curaçao
00
Cyprus
00
Czech Republic
00
95200 (Discount carrier)
Denmark
00
Diego Garcia
00
Djibouti
00
Dominica
011
Dominican Republic
011
East Timor
00
Easter Island
00
Ecuador
00
Egypt
00
El Salvador
00
144+00 Telefonica
Ellipso (Mobile Satellite service)
00
EMSAT (Mobile Satellite service)
Equatorial Guinea
00
Eritrea
00
Estonia
00
Ethiopia
00
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
00
Faroe Islands
00
Fiji Islands
00
Finland
00, 990, 994, 999
France
00 (France Telecom)
40 (TELE 2),
50 (OMNICOM)
70 (LE 7 CEGETEL),
90 (9 TELECOM)
French Antilles
00
French Guiana
00
French Polynesia
00
Gabonese Republic
00
Gambia
00
Georgia
8**10 (written as 8~10)
Germany
00
Ghana
00
Gibraltar
00
Global Mobile Satellite System (GMSS)
00
Globalstar (Mobile Satellite Service)
00
Greece
00
Greenland
00
Grenada
011
Guadeloupe
00
Guam
011
Guantanamo Bay
00
Guatemala
00
130+00 Telefonica
147-00 Telgua
Guinea-Bissau
00
Guinea
00
Guyana
001
Haiti
00
Honduras
00
Hong Kong
001-- PCCW0080 -- Hutchison
009 -- New World
Hungary
00
ICO Global (Mobile Satellite Service)
00
Iceland
00
India
00
Indonesia
001,007
017 Voice Over Internet (VOIP)
Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean - East)
00
Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean - West)
00
Inmarsat (Indian Ocean)
00
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean)
00
Inmarsat SNAC
Note: Inmarsat plans to shift all other codes to this Single Network Access Code by 2009.
00
International Freephone Service
N/A
International Shared Cost Service (ISCS)
Iran
00
Iraq
00
Ireland
00
048 to Northern Ireland (this special arrangement is much cheaper than dialing through the UK using country code 44)
Iridium (Mobile Satellite service)
00
Israel
00 (default selected carrier, not available from public phones);
012 (Golden Lines); 013 (Barak LTD); or 014 (Bezeq LTD)
Italy
00
Jamaica
011
Japan
001 (KDD)
010 (MYLINE/MYLINE PLUS)
0061 (Cable & Wireless IDC)
0041 (Japan Telecom)
Jordan
00
Kazakhstan
8**10 ( written as 8~10)
Kenya
000
006 to Uganda
007 to Tanzania
Kiribati
00
Korea (North)
00
Korea (South)
001, 002
00700 (Speed/ SKTelecom mobiles)
Kuwait
00
Kyrgyz Republic
00
Laos
00
Latvia
00
Lebanon
00
(To dial Syria From Lebanon, you may use "02-xx-number", where xx is the area code in Syria.)
Lesotho
00
Liberia
00
Libya
00
Liechtenstein
00
Lithuania
00
Luxembourg
00
Macao
00
Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Rep of.)
00
Madagascar
00
Malawi
00
Malaysia
00
Maldives
00
Mali Republic
00
Malta
00
Marshall Islands
011
Martinique
00
Mauritania
00
Mauritius
020
Mayotte Island
00
Mexico
00
Micronesia, (Federal States of)
011
Midway Island
011
Moldova
00
Monaco
00
Mongolia
001
Montenegro
99
Montserrat
011
Morocco
00**
Mozambique
00
Myanmar
00
Namibia
00
Nauru
00
Nepal
00
Netherlands
00
Netherlands Antilles
00
Nevis
011
New Caledonia
00
New Zealand
00
Nicaragua
00
Niger
00
Nigeria
009
Niue
00
Norfolk Island
00
Northern Marianas Islands
(Saipan, Rota, & Tinian)
011
Norway
00
Oman
00
Pakistan
00
Palau
011
Palestinian Settlements
00
Panama
00 Cable & Wireless
088+00 Telecarrier
055+00 Clarocom
Papua New Guinea
05
Paraguay
002
Peru
00
Philippines
00
Poland
0**0
Portugal
00
882 Rubicon/BT "GeoVerse"
Puerto Rico
011
Qatar
00
Réunion Island
00
Romania
00 022 to Moldova (this special arrangement is much cheaper than dialing through Moldova using country code 373)
Russia
8**10 ( may be changing to 00)
Rwandese Republic
00
St. Helena
00
St. Kitts/Nevis
011
St. Lucia
011
St. Pierre & Miquelon
00
St. Vincent & Grenadines
011
Samoa
0
San Marino
00
São Tomé and Principe
00
Saudi Arabia
00
Senegal
00
Serbia
99
Seychelles Republic
00
Sierra Leone
00
Singapore
001 - Singtel IDD
002 - MobileOne IDD
008 - Starhub IDD
012 - Singtel FaxPlus (Fax over IP)
013 - Singtel BudgetCall
(Voice recommended only/Fax possible)
018 - Starhub I-Call
(Voice over IP)
019 - Singtel V019
(Voice over IP)
Slovak Republic
00
Slovenia
00
Solomon Islands
00
Somali Democratic Republic
00
South Africa
00
Spain
00
Sri Lanka
00
Sudan
00
Suriname
00
Swaziland
00
Sweden
00
Switzerland
00
Syria
00
(To dial Lebanon from Syria, you may also use ""06-xx-number"", where xx is the area code in Lebanon.)
Taiwan
002
Tajikistan
8**10 (written as 8~10)
Tanzania
000
000, 005 to Kenya
006 to Uganda
Thailand
001 (to call Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from Thailand, dial 007-60 +Area Code)008, 009 Voice Over Internet (VOIP)
Thuraya (Mobile Satellite service)
Timor Leste
Togolese Republic
00
Tokelau
00
Tonga Islands
00
Trinidad & Tobago
011
Tunisia
00
Turkey
00
Turkmenistan
8**10 ( written as 8~10)
Turks and Caicos Islands
011
Tuvalu
00
Uganda
000
000, 005 to Kenya
007 to Tanzania
Ukraine
8**10 ( written as 8~10)
United Arab Emirates
00
United Kingdom
00 (including ISDN)
United States of America
011
US Virgin Islands
011
Universal Personal Telecommunications (UPT)
Uruguay
00
Uzbekistan
8**10 (written as 8~10)
Vanuatu
00
Vatican City
00
Venezuela
00
Vietnam
00
Wake Island
00
Wallis and Futuna Islands
19**
Yemen
00
Zambia
00
Zanzibar
000
Zimbabwe
00

New Panama Canal Administrator

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors announced the appointment of engineer Jorge Luis Quijano as the new Panama Canal Administrator. Mr. Quijano will succeed Alberto Alemán Zubieta, who has been at the helm of the Canal for the past 16 years and whose term will end on September 3, 2012.

Jorge Quijano´s professional career at the Panama Canal began in 1975 and after several promotions he was appointed Maritime Operations Director in 1999. The Operations Department is the largest one within the Panama Canal and it is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure and equipment of the waterway.

Since September 2006, Quijano is the Executive Vice President of the Engineering and Programs Management Department in charge of the Panama Canal Expansion Program. He heads a group of about 500 professionals which is specifically responsible for contracting and managing the Locks Design and Construction contract, the Atlantic and Pacific entrance channels dredging contracts, the contracting of four dry excavation contracts to create a new 6.1 kilometer inland channel in the Pacific end of the Canal, the Lake level dredging to be performed by ACP´s workforce and other smaller contracts. As such, Quijano leads an integrated program management team made up of a consultant and ACP’s own professionals who have the responsibility to direct the execution of the entire Expansion Program.

FAQ: What’s the basis for the Panama’s economy?

Panama is a primarily service-based economy. Services include the Panama Canal, logistical services, tourism, the largest free trade zone in the Americas, and an international banking center with over 100 banks. Because of the high quality of life, many companies are making their Latin American corporate headquarters in Panama. There are also tax incentives and special economic zones for businesses and corporate headquarters.

Bananas, shrimp and coffee are the major agricultural exports.

FAQ : Is Panama a typical Latin American country? What’s the Ethnic makeup?

Panama is not typical at all. Don’t expect to see mainly the typical mestizo (descendants of a combination of Spanish and Indian) population like in the rest of Latin America. There's saying that Panama was "born globalized." The population of 3.3million people has diverse origins: Spanish descendants, blacks (brought in from the Caribbean to build the Canal), indigenous cultures, and important immigrant populations from North America, Europe, China, India and Middle East.

Of special note and a a tourism attraction are the are seven living Indian cultures: Gunas in the Guna Yala Islands on the Caribbean, Embera and Wounaan in the province of Darien, Ngobe Bugle in the provinces of Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro & Veraguas; and Teribes & Bokotas in Bocas del Toro province.

FAQ : Are there any required vaccines? What about mosquitos?

 There are no required vaccines or shots. Believe it or not, you are unlikely to see a mosquito your whole trip! Panama may be a tropical country but mosquito control is effective. Exceptions would be if you are in the rainforest after dusk or hiking or overnight in the jungle, in which case insect repellant is advised.

Origin of the name Panama

There are several theories about the origin of the name Panama. Some believe that the country was named after a commonly found species of tree; others believe that the first settlers arrived in Panama in August, when butterflies abound, and that the name means "many butterflies" in indigenous tongue. The best known of these versions is that a village populated by fishermen originally bore the name PANAMÁ, after a beach nearby, and that this name meant "many fish".

Ancon Hill



Ancon Hill is a steep 654-foot hill which overlooks Panama City, Panama adjacent to the township of Ancón.
 
It was under U.S. jurisdiction as part of the Panama Canal Zone for much of the 20th century and therefore was never developed like most of the surrounding urbanized parts of the city. As a result, it became a kind of an "island" of jungle in an urban area, where wildlife still survives cut off from other jungle areas. It is not uncommon to see sloths, White-nosed Coati, Nine-banded Armadillos, Geoffroy's Tamarins or deer on Ancon Hill, which now has protected status. Its name is used as an acronym by a Panamanian environmental group, Asociación Nacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (ANCON).

 
The lower slopes contained residences and Gorgas Hospital. Higher up were the residence of the Governor of the Canal Zone, and Quarry Heights, where the United States Southern Command was located. Quarry Heights was named for being adjacent to a large rock quarry on one side of the hill, which left a visible cliff face on one side. The hill contains an abandoned underground bunker once manned by the U.S. Southern Command. At the top are two broadcast towers and a small road that reaches them. One way vehicular traffic is now allowed during daylight hours. Hikers can use the road to reach the summit, and it is a popular jogging and hiking trek. Along the path, all manner of vegetation and birds can be seen, including large number of orchids (all of which are protected by CITES).
 
 
Tour Suggestion
 


History

When the pirate Henry Morgan sacked Panama City in 1671, his scouts first climbed Ancon Hill to gain knowledge of the local defenses. Ancon Hill overlooks the site of the new city, constructed after Morgan's destruction of the old one.

The first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal in 1914, the SS Ancon, took its name from the hill and surrounding township.

When Panama regained control of the hill following the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty, one of the first things the country did was fly a large oversized Panamanian flag atop the hill.


Red Frog Beach

Red Frog Beach is a hidden paradise on the island of Bastimentos in the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. The crystal blue waters, unfailing temperate weather, pristine beaches, and remarkable jungle rainforest all combine to create a complete sense of unspoiled tropical tranquility. A peaceful diversion from the everyday grind, Red Frog Beach offers both adventure and escape with diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, Bocas surfing, beach hikes, nature walks, and much more.

Strategically placed in the most beautiful location in Bocas Del Toro, Red Frog Beach takes advantage of an incredible array of natural amenities that will captivate Panama vacation visitor and resident alike. The north facing "windward" side of the island is the perfect retreat for those seeking adventure, exploration and discovery. The island's distinctive wild life presents an unparalleled study in ecological evolution while the long barreling reef breaks, steep drops, and splitting tubes present a challenge few surfers can resist.

If peace, serenity, and relaxation are what you crave, you will find exactly what you're looking for on the "leeward" side of the island. From the calming sound of crystalline waters lapping onto white sand beaches to the enchanting song of the many indigenous bird species that call our island home, there are so many ways to entice the senses and relish in the feeling of sweet release.

No matter what you're looking for in island escape, you'll find it at Red Frog Beach in Bocas Del Toro Panama. Experience paradise like never before while creating lasting memories with friends and family. We invite you to explore this site and learn more about the adventures that await you on Red Frog Beach. 







Punta Culebra Nature Center

Punta Culebra Nature Center (PCNC) is a non-profit initiative of STRI that relies on the support of the Smithsonian Foundation of Panama and international entities. It offers visitors an open-air museum focusing mainly on marine science and education, conservation and interpretation of marine coastal environments. More than 700,000 students and visitors have visited PCNC since it opened in 1996, and hundreds of schools have taken part in its educational program.

The Center is a place where individuals can increase their awareness and appreciation of coastal and marine environments in Panama and nearby regions of South and Central America. Its goal is to increase public understanding of Panama ’s past and present coastal environments, promoting their conservation. It is also meant to show how scientific discoveries improve our understanding and deepen our appreciation of the natural world.

PCNC occupies a territory of approximately 1 1/2 hectares and is only 15 minutes away from the heart of Panama City. The area has great natural wealth and the appropriate infrastructure so that locals and foreigners of all ages can take part in an enriching experience, as they enjoy the scenic views.

Exhibitions

  • Panama: Abundance of Fish
  • Discovery Room : An Underwater Journey with All the Senses
  • Open-air historic and interpretative displays
  • Turtle and Shark Pool
  • Aquarium Exhibits
  • Touching Pool
  • Lookout point with views of the entrance to the Panama Canal and its surroundings
  • Two trails across a Tropical Dry Forest
Future plans include: a major scale Touching Pool, and a project for a larger aquarium.
The Visit

The Punta Culebra Nature Center allows visitors to take a short journey through Panama's geological, military and natural history, and to learn about marine and terrestrial life through a unique experience.
Most of the constructions here are old military bunkers built during the First World War; columns date back to construction of the Panama Canal. There is also a small room, called "la casita", built more recently by old Panamanian Defense Forces. All of these spaces have been conditioned to hold temporal and permanent exhibitions and to serve as projection areas.

Natural attractions

  • There are two trails through a tropical dry forest, a typical ecosystem of the Pacific side of Central America which is almost extinct today. This forest is a refuge and habitat for racoons, iguanas, birds of all kinds and armadillos, among others animals that visitors can admire as they walk around.
  • The rocky shore, the sandy beach and a patch of white mangrove forest have plenty of marine life which is best seen during low tide.
  • The sea life exhibitions show the magnificent biodiversity of Panamanian coastal ecosystems, particularly that of coral reefs from the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
  • A pool that is home to sea turtles and sharks who swim among other colorful fish.
  • Experience touching marine organisms such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and even stingrays.
  • As they walk through the natural trails and the exhibitions, visitors will receive information from specially trained naturalists about Smithsonian research.
  • A beautiful view of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal completes this educational experience

Colon Free Zone



That is what the Colon Free Zone is all about!



Founded in 1947 with 50 hectares of land of the City of Colon, at the entrance of the Atlantic side of the Panama Colon, today is an emporium of 500 hectares with over 1800 companies that operate from it, where over 14,000 people are employed.


The Colon Free Zone's activities represent about 10% of Panama's GNP.It was created to offset the lack of economic activity of the Atlantic City after World War II taking advantage of the maritime route.


The Colon Free Zone is served by three ports in the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal, Manzanillo International Terminal "MIT", one of the most modern and competitive ports in the area; The Colon Container Terminal, and the Panama Ports Company, S. A. On the Pacific side, there is another port run by Panama Ports Company. In terms of air transportation, the Airport of Tocumen is 80 miles from the Free Zone where international carriers have a hub.


Finished goods arrive from industrialized countries in the Far East, Europe and North America, mainly by ship.


They are then re-exported to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Sales amounted to US$ 6 billion a year before the crises in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.


The goods imported by the Colon Free Zone Users (companies authorized to operate there) come into the area free of any duties and/or tariffs. When re-exported, the buyers have the responsibility of paying the taxes in their respective countries.


0% TAXES means that all profits earned from re-exporting (that is sending merchandise to other countries) are totally free of tax. Only profits made to sales to the fiscal territory of the Republic of Panama, are subject to Income Tax.


100% OPPORTUNITIES means that, the fiscal advantage, coupled with the strategic position of the Colon Free Zone allows companies to store merchandise at a closer distance to their market. As merchandise comes in containerized form and in bulk, the freight costs are considerably cheaper.


Since the Colon Free Zone Users serve a market of 500,000,000 consumers in the Latin America and Caribbean markets, buyers can be served with smaller quantities, according to their own particular markets, making a better use of their working capital.


The best example of this symbiosis is explained the example of some medicine manufacturers, who import medicine in bulk from two or three factories, and re-ships, after repackaging and re-labeling in full compliance with Health Authorities, in more than 5 languages, re-exported in smaller parcels as the markets need.


There are three types of companies that operate in the Colon Free Zone. These are Distributors, who have a distribution contract from manufacturers to distribute their goods in certain or all markets served.


The other one is the Multinationals who have established their own companies in the Colon Free Zone as logistics center serving their distributors in the region. Some of them, such as the electronic companies, have also parts warehouses as well as training centers for their clients.


The last one are those companies, which offer third party logistics, service to multinationals companies. They store, label, repack; re-ship goods according to the requests made by the company who contracts their services.


As part of anyone's travel in the Republic of Panama, the Colon Free Zone is a must see place!