Difference between revisions of "Panama"

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|pop = 3,309,679
 
|pop = 3,309,679
 
|currency = Balboa (PAB) and/or U.S. dollar (USD)
 
|currency = Balboa (PAB) and/or U.S. dollar (USD)
|hitch = {{very good}}
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|hitch = <rating country='pa' />
 
}}
 
}}
 
[[File:Katja and Augustas hitchiking in Panama.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Hitchhikers [[Katja and Augustas]] on the road in Panama.]]
 
[[File:Katja and Augustas hitchiking in Panama.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Hitchhikers [[Katja and Augustas]] on the road in Panama.]]
'''Panama''' is a country in [[Central America]] where hitchhiking happens most readily. Roads north of Panama city are brilliant. Roads to the south are atrocious, and worsen as you approach [[Yavisa]].  
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'''Panama''' is a country in [[Central America]] where hitchhiking happens most readily. Roads north of Panama city are brilliant. Roads to the south are atrocious, and worsen as you approach [[Yavisa]]. Hitch-hiking is called ''viajar a lift'', you can say you are ''buscando un lift hacia...'' (''looking for a lift towards...'').
  
There are borders with [[Costa Rica]] in the North and [[Colombia]] in the South. However, there are no roads to [[Colombia]]. There is a way to go through the jungle but it's extremely dangerous due to the Colombian 'guerillas'.
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Panama has borders with [[Costa Rica]] to the North and [[Colombia]] to the South. However, there are no roads to [[Colombia]]. To get to Colombia see the article on the [[Darién Gap|Darien Gap]]
  
 
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== Personal Experiences ==
== Getting around the Darién Gap to Colombia ==
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:''I wasn't so lucky, and the immigration official asked me for a ticket proving that I was leaving Panama. He told me to go buy a 25 dollar ticket from Panama City to San Jose. Instead I went into an internet cafe and made a fake ticket that convinced him I was flying back to Chicago from Panama City. Crashed at plenty of fire stations, and got a discount on a boat cruise to Colombia, but you can do better...''-[[User:Chael777|Chael777]]
 
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:''In Panama is easy to ride, mostly all the pickup cars will just stop. And if you get sick of waiting for a ride all the buses will be slowing down near the place you try to hitchhike and invite you in, for a cheaper price.''-[[User:Ajeremias|Ajeremias]]
 
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:''I had the same experience as Chael777: guy at the border (route 36 in Bocas del Toro) also refused to let anybody in without a plane ticket.  Like Chael777, I was able to forge one on the computer in the internet cafe. Hitchhiking in Panama takes an hour on average, but for longer rides it's usually still faster than buses, which drive slower and stop more frequently.'' -[[User:Dr.Keith|Keith]]
It is possible to hitchhike a boat from Panama to Colombia or [[Ecuador]] so you don't have to cross the [[Darién Gap]]. On the Caribbean coast you may find boats in [[Bocas del Toro]], right on the canal or in [[Portobello]].
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:''Entring the country i was forced to show a ticket back to my own country, and a paper proving 500$ in my account. As the road system is very simple, with the PanAmericana crossing the country, and some secondery roads crossing verticaly, most the traffic will go same rout, however while waiting in those highways seem long going out of cities, getting towards them from smaller routs is almost too easy.''-[[User:Aqua|Aqua]]
In Portobello you should be able to jump on a charter boad to [[Cartagena]], Colombia (~325 US). However, the best place to find boats to Colombia is in the San Blas Islands on the northern Carribean coast of Panama. To get to San Blas, you need to head about 150 kilometres south from Panama City on the Pan American highway. Tell the locals you are headed to the Kuna-Yala National Park. The road to the park is now tarmacked although very windy and sickening.  
 
 
 
The traffic, as mentioned before, is very light, though the vehicles that do go down this road are usually loaded with supplies for the San Blas Islands. There's a good chance a driver will pick you up, and, since there is no regular boats to the islands, there's a good chance you can get free, convienent passage by helping unload/load up the waiting speedboats with supplies.  
 
 
 
Once you get to the islands, try to find your way to the main island where there is a police station, small hotel, and airstrip. This is where all boats to Colombia have to check in before leaving. In addition to sailboats, there are speedboats that flit back and forth between the two countries with a myriad of different supplies, and you may be able to get on one of them. [[User:Themodernnomad|themodernnomad]] was able to get on a small speedboat with a group of Colombians to the small Colombian town of Capurganá in the [[Darién Gap]]. Remember, to be able to continue hitchhiking in South America, you need to at least get to [[Turbo]], because Puerto Obaldía and Capurgana are closed into the jungle and only accessable by sea.
 
 
 
Also bare in mind that locals who want to get from one place to an other in the San Blas are acustomed to travel in those small speed boats and that they all pay the price that the driver asks (typically in 2011 about 10 US$ per hour of boat per person).
 
 
 
On the pacific coast the situation of the marinas is difficult. In order to find boats heading to Colombia or Ecuador you should try the [http://www.balboayachtclub.com Balboa Yacht Club].
 
  
 
== Cities ==
 
== Cities ==
 
<map lat='8.4' lng='-80' zoom='7' view='0' country='Panama' float='right' width='600'/>
 
<map lat='8.4' lng='-80' zoom='7' view='0' country='Panama' float='right' width='600'/>
 
* [[Panama City]]
 
* [[Panama City]]
* [[David, Panama|David]]
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* [[David (Panama)|David]]
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* [[Colon (Panama)|Colon]]
 
* ''<small>add more?</small>''
 
* ''<small>add more?</small>''
 
[[wikipedia:Panama]]
 
[[wikipedia:Panama]]

Revision as of 21:13, 16 December 2016

Flag of Panama Panama
Information
Language: Spanish
Capital: Panama City
Population: 3,309,679
Currency: Balboa (PAB) and/or U.S. dollar (USD)
Hitchability: <rating country='pa' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
Hitchhikers Katja and Augustas on the road in Panama.

Panama is a country in Central America where hitchhiking happens most readily. Roads north of Panama city are brilliant. Roads to the south are atrocious, and worsen as you approach Yavisa. Hitch-hiking is called viajar a lift, you can say you are buscando un lift hacia... (looking for a lift towards...).

Panama has borders with Costa Rica to the North and Colombia to the South. However, there are no roads to Colombia. To get to Colombia see the article on the Darien Gap

Personal Experiences

I wasn't so lucky, and the immigration official asked me for a ticket proving that I was leaving Panama. He told me to go buy a 25 dollar ticket from Panama City to San Jose. Instead I went into an internet cafe and made a fake ticket that convinced him I was flying back to Chicago from Panama City. Crashed at plenty of fire stations, and got a discount on a boat cruise to Colombia, but you can do better...-Chael777
In Panama is easy to ride, mostly all the pickup cars will just stop. And if you get sick of waiting for a ride all the buses will be slowing down near the place you try to hitchhike and invite you in, for a cheaper price.-Ajeremias
I had the same experience as Chael777: guy at the border (route 36 in Bocas del Toro) also refused to let anybody in without a plane ticket. Like Chael777, I was able to forge one on the computer in the internet cafe. Hitchhiking in Panama takes an hour on average, but for longer rides it's usually still faster than buses, which drive slower and stop more frequently. -Keith
Entring the country i was forced to show a ticket back to my own country, and a paper proving 500$ in my account. As the road system is very simple, with the PanAmericana crossing the country, and some secondery roads crossing verticaly, most the traffic will go same rout, however while waiting in those highways seem long going out of cities, getting towards them from smaller routs is almost too easy.-Aqua

Cities

<map lat='8.4' lng='-80' zoom='7' view='0' country='Panama' float='right' width='600'/>

wikipedia:Panama