Thursday, July 30, 2009

Apartments with Direct Ocean Views for Sale: Destiny Tower , Balboa Avenue, Panama City

Apartments with Direct Ocean Views for Sale: Destiny Tower , Balboa Avenue, Panama City:

Apartment Rentals in Panama

Apartments in Panama are a perfect alternative for hotels. You get spacious accommodation instead of a single room in a hotel.

Panama Sol Realty
Plaza Paitilla, Office 74
Ave. Balboa with 56 East street
Or Ramon H. Jurado
Panama City, Republic of Panama

www.rentinpanamacity.com

Panama Video Postcard

A nice travel video of Panama cities, views of Panama, the oceans, beaches, etc:

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Panama Airport Video



The Panama Airport Video

Miraflores Locks Video, Panama Canal 24 July 2009

Yhis video of the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal is captured from Kroooz-Cams.com on 24 July 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Special Deals For Panama Canal Cruises: Watch Video

Enjoy cruising through the Panama Canal at the lowest prices!



Affordable and professional computer services in Denver, CO.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Bocas Island Red Frog Beach

The picturesque Red Frog Beach is on Bastimentos Island in the Bocas Island region of the Republic of Panama. You can reach it only from Panama City or San Jose by air, and after that a boat will take you to the Red Frog Marina and onto the Island.
Enjoy surfing, snorkeling, hiking, spelunking, bird watching and boating at at Red Frog Beach

Panama Bay Hotel Video

Panama Bay Hotel offers luxurious lodging, high professional services, incredible nightlife to the guests of Panama.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

How Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City Works

Julie Ray
writes about the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama:

"Many visitors of Panama will utilize the convenient and affordable national bus service that can get you to and from nearly every corner of Panama. If you are inexperienced with traveling by bus in Panama or speak little Spanish, the tips below should help you travel with ease.

If you are in Panama City, you will begin your trip in the Albrook Bus Terminal, located next to Albrook Mall and near the Marcos A. Gelabert Airport (more commonly called the Albrook Airport). Ask a taxi driver to take you to “Albrook Term-e-nall” or “Term-e-nall de auto-boos” (should cost about $2.00 from downtown Panama City) and you will be delivered to complex with brightly painted buildings and a seemingly endless number of buses and taxi cabs. The taxi will drop you off on the street with the mall to your left and the bus terminal to your right. You will cross the street towards the terminal (watch out for the Diablo Rojo buses!) and enter the building..."

The full text of the article is here

Panama, El Cangrejo, Via Veneto Video






Restaurants in Panama on Video, Part 2

Taj Majal Restaurant



Madame Chang Restaurant



Los Canones Restaurant in Portobelo, Panama

Restaurants in Panama City on Video, Part 1

Restaurants in Panama City:

Boccalino Restaurant



The Londoner Restaurant



Las Tinajas Restaurant



Shihan Restaurant



Patio Mexicano Restaurant

Playa Langosta Video , Colon, Panama

Playa Langosta beach is just 45 minutes drive from Panama City on a brand new highway!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Embassy Village Panama

Embassy Village is an exclusive lifestyle community located in one of the former canal zone areas in Panama City, where you will find the new U.S. Embassy and Consulate, the United Nations regional offices,the City of Knowledge, and many other regional headquarters of internationalcompanies and organizations.

Just minutes away from everything you need and more such as dining, shopping, golfing, marinas, an active night life, and tourist attractions such as the Panama Canal, the Old Panama, the largest man-made lake Gatun, and many others.

Panama Canal Construction Video

The history of the Panama Canal on videos:



Sunday, July 12, 2009

Tourist Visa To Panama For American Citizens

On the airplane traveling to Panama City you will be given an immigration form and a customs form. Typically only one customs form is needed per family, but all persons entering Panama will need an immigration form. Be sure to have both filled out before you enter the Immigration area in the Tocumen International Airport. Agents are usually busy and do not want to wait for you to fill it out. If you have questions about either form, you can ask a flight attendant or perhaps a person sitting near you on the plane for assistance. Also, check in the airline’s free magazine provided in the seatback pocket; there is typically a set of directions towards the back of the publication. The forms are in Spanish and English. They ask for basic information including your name, passport number, reason for travel, where you will be visiting in Panama, etc.

All persons arriving at Tocumen International Airport must pass through Immigration, as this is the first point of entry into the country when flying. Once arriving at the gate, follow the signs towards Immigration. You will take a set of stairs to a lower level and see the stations in front of you. Residents of Panama will line up to the far left in the line that does not wind through the partitions. As an international visitor, do not be tempted by this shorter line as the agents will make you move to the back of the visitor line when you reach the front. Before getting in the immigration line, be sure you have a completed tourist VISA in your hand. The tourist VISA costs $5 and has a metallic sticker in one of the corners. The VISA is typically good for 90 days for American visitors (at times it is 30 days). Often, if you arrive at the departure gate before boarding begins, you can purchase your VISA at the airport from where you depart to Panama. I have done this through Delta Airlines (departing from Atlanta, GA) and Continental Airlines (departing from Houston, TX). When I have traveled on American Airlines (departing from Miami, FL), they ask passengers to purchase the VISA in Panama City, Panama.

Important note!! If you do not purchase the VISA before arriving in Panama City, you will need to do so before you enter the immigration line. Look for an unmarked podium along one wall in the open area before the partitions for the immigration line. There may be a small sign in Spanish and English on the podium denoting that tourist VISAs are for sale, but this is incredibly easy to overlook. There is no sign on the wall or on the front of the podium. Be sure to purchase one for each person traveling with you, including small children. If you arrive at the Immigration agent without the VISA, they will send you back to get one and you may have to wait in line again. It is helpful if you share this information with other Americans in the line to expedite the process for everyone.

Recently added in June 2009 is a thermal imaging stop as you pass through the immigration line. This is to check for signs of H1N1 (swine) flu. The process is quick and painless. A poster near the agent with the imaging equipment explains the process.

Once you reach the Immigration agent they will ask for your passport, tourist VISA, and immigration form (the smaller of the two you filled out on the airplane). Hold on to the customs form for the time being. The agent will scan your passport and then ask you a series of questions, in fluent English or Spanish. Typical questions include: reason for your visit (tourist, business, military, student), length of stay (checking to see if you will stay longer than the 90 days permitted by the tourist VISA), and where you will be staying while in Panama. The agent will stamp your passport and the VISA and hand these back to you. Be sure to keep your VISA in a safe location as you will need this when leaving the country.

Next, proceed to the appropriate carousal to pick up your luggage. If the Immigration line was long an airport agent likely has removed all bags from the turnstile and they are on the floor nearby (often the bags will even be arranged according to type – duffel bags in one area, suitcases arranged from smallest to largest). Collect your luggage (carts are available) and proceed to the customs line across from the carousals. Here you will present your customs form (be sure that you have signed it). In June 2009 the form seemingly changed and the agent may ask you to fill out a different form at the table nearby. Once the agent approves your customs from, allow your bags to pass through the X-ray machine and collect them on the other side. Porters will be available to help you transport your bags, if desired. An appropriate tip is a couple of dollars, but may range to $5 if your party has a lot of luggage.

You have now completed the required process and can exit to meet your party (visitors exit to the right), get a taxi, or pick up your rental car (desks located to your left once you exit to the main lobby). If a tour company or hotel is meeting you, look for your name printed on a sign. Taxis leaving from the airport are all priced about $33.00 (may be $10/person if you have a group of 3 or larger). You also can cross the parking lot and wait for a Panamanian Diablo Rojo bus heading toward Panama (traveling to your left as your back is to the airport). Buses run only during daytime hours and will cost about $1, but is only suggested for the experienced travel with little luggage. The bus will take you to Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City. Taxi drivers will drop you off at your desired hotel or other location.

Remember to have your forms completed and your tourist VISA in hand before entering the immigration line and your entrance into the Republic of Panama will be as efficient as possible!
Author: Julie Ray


Choose and book a villa or an apartment in Panama

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Safety Advice For Visitors to Panama

1. Hire a local guide,
2. Wear appropriate footwear,
3. Don’t touch the plants,
4. Don’t forget the sun block,
5. Bring water and a snack.
6. Don’t pick up the animals

The full article text by Julie Ray is here

Also: don't wear nice jewelry, leave purses at motel, be careful at night esp if a woman, don't hold pkg or give rides (added by SixPaws )