Travel Information
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
The Republic of Panama is located near the center of the Western Hemisphere, bounded by the Caribbean Sea to the North, the Pacific Ocean to the South, Costa Rica to the West and the Republic of Columbia to the East.
Capital: Panama City
Political division: 10 provinces and 5 indigenous areas.
INAUGURATION AND REGISTRATION
The VIII Meeting of Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group will be held in Panama City from Thursday to Monday, October 24 to 28, 2019.
Registration will begin at 8:00 am on Thursday, October 24th.
MEETING LOCATION
Hotel El Panama
Calle Eusebio A. Morales, Panama City, Panama
http://www.elpanama.com/default-es.html
CONTACTS IN PANAMA
Rosabel Miró R.
Executive Director
Panama Audubon Society
E-mail:
Tel: + 507-232-5977
Cel: + 507-6616-8954
Yenifer Díaz W.
Project Coordinator
Panama Audubon Society
E-mail:
Tel: + 507-232-5977
Cel: + 507-6674-0049
TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT
INFORMATION FOR VISA
All participants must travel with their current passport (minimum of 3 months before expiration). It is recommended that all participants contact the Embassy or Consulate of Panama in their country to verify the requirements for obtaining a visa. For information about the consular offices of the Republic of Panama in your country, you can access https://www.migracion.gob.pa . Information concerning the visa requirements can be accessed by the Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic of Panama at the following address:
https://www.panamatramita.gob.pa/tramite/solicitud-de-visa-de-turista#Completar%20el%20formulario%20de%20solicitud%20de%20visa.
If you need a letter of invitation that helps in the issuance of your visa, please send an e-mail to info @ audubonpanama.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The Hotel El Panama, venue of the meeting, offers the following rates per night, per room:
* These rates already include 10% hotel tax.
Rates include:
✓ Breakfast buffet
✓ WiFi Internet in the room
✓ Welcome Cocktail (per stay, per room)
✓ Use of facilities (swimming pool, Business Center, gym)
✓ The maximum occupancy per room is up to 4 people
NOTE: Any charges for extra service or expenses such as phone calls, mini-bar, laundry, restaurant, bar drinks, etc. will be covered by the participant and must be paid before leaving.
Soon you will be notified when the reservation period begins at Hotel El Panama. If you wish to make your reservations at other hotels in the locality, below, a list of them:
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The official language in Panama is Spanish.
CLIMATE AND TIME ZONE INFORMATION
In October temperatures in Panama reach a high of approximately 30 ° C during the day and may drop to 24 ° C at night.
Panama uses Eastern Standard Time (EST) or UTC/GMT -5 hours.
NOTE: It is very common in Panama that the air conditioners of the meeting rooms are set to very low temperatures. It is recommended to have a sweater or jacket at hand during meetings.
ELECTRICITY
The electric current in Panama is 110 – 120 volts @ 60Hz.
CURRENCY
The official currency in Panama is the Balboa (B/.). Its value is set to always equal one US dollar and US paper currency is used as legal tender. Panama mints its own coins but these are interchangeable with US coins of the same value. We recommend changing your money at the at the airport as most hotels in the city do not offer exchange services.
HEALTH INFORMATION
All passengers are advised to be aware of their vaccination and health history, specifically the International Certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination before making the purchase of their air ticket.
The Ministry of Health of Panama requires the application of the Yellow Fever vaccine for travelers coming from or traveling through the following countries: Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador , Honduras, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia , Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
TRANSPORTATION]
In the city there are different public transport services :
MetroBus. Buses cover the trunk routes (Via Ricardo J. Alfaro, Transistmica and Via España) for B/. 0.25 (25 US cents)
Metro de Panamá Line 1. There is a north-south track that joins the National Transportation Terminal in Albrook, with the town of San Isidro, in the district of San Miguelito . The cost is B/. 0.35.
Metro de Panamá, Line 2. It comprises a 21-kilometer route, starting from the San Miguelito district to the Nuevo Tocumen urbanization, east of Panama City.
The daily operating hours of the Panama Metro are from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and on Sundays and holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
NOTE: Both MetroBus like the Metro de Panamá require rechargeable electronic cards (they are sold in Albrook Mall and the subway stations, they cost two dollars, plus the recharge).
Driver's license: Visitors can drive up to 90 days with a foreign license.
Toll roads: Corredor Norte and Corredor Sur: You must pay in advance for their use, unless you drive a rental car which will have a payment card installed. For privately owned cars the prepayment of the service can be done in cash at the authorized centers located in the supermarket chains of the city (El Rey, Super 99). In the toll booths neither cash nor credit card payments are accepted. The toll is deducted automatically from your account as you drive slowly through the toll booth.
Other transportation services include taxi, Uber and Cabify.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
The Panama Audubon Society accepts no medical liability, accident, travel insurance, compensation for death or disability compensation for loss or property and personal injury or other losses that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation during the meeting. In this context, before arriving in Panama strongly we encourage participants to obtain travel insurance covering the period of the meeting.