Destination: Panama
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Dangers & Annoyances
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Crime is a problem in certain parts of Panama City, namely the districts of Chorrillo and Calidonia. It can also be dangerous to stroll the Casco Viejo district at night. In general, use common sense; stay where it’s well lit and there are plenty of people.
Colón has some upscale residential areas, but most of the city is a sad slum widely known for street crime. If you walk around, even in the middle of the day, well-meaning residents will inform you that you are in danger. Unless you’ve just got to visit Colón’s Zona Libre, it’s best to avoid the city altogether.
Parts of Darién Province are extremely dangerous. Many people, including tourists and missionaries, have been kidnapped and/or murdered in the vicinity of the Colombian border.
Plying the waters of the Archipiélago de San Blás are numerous Colombian boats that run back and forth between the Zona Libre in Colón and Cartagena, Colombia. It has been well documented that some of these boats carry cocaine on their northbound voyages. If you decide to ride on one of these slow cargo boats, be forewarned that your crew may be trafficking drugs.
Hiking Safety
You should be adequately prepared for hiking trips. Always carry plenty of water, even on short journeys, and always bring adequate clothing; jungles do cool down a lot at night, particularly at higher elevations. Hikers have been known to get lost in rain forests – even seemingly user-friendly ones such as Parque Nacional Volcán Barú. A Panamanian hiker who entered that park in 1995 was never seen again; it’s assumed that he got lost, died of hypothermia and was fed upon by various creatures.
Never walk in unmarked rain forest; if there’s no trail going in, you can assume that there won’t be one when you decide to turn around and come back out. Always let someone know where you are going, in order to narrow the search area in the event of an emergency.
Police
Police corruption is not as big a problem in Panama as it is in some other Latin American countries. However, it’s not unheard of for a Panamanian police officer to stop a motorist for no obvious reason, accuse him or her of violating a law, and levy a fine to be paid on the spot. If there are people around, making a big scene will sometimes fluster the officer into letting you go. Most of the time, however, you become an unwilling participant in a waiting game.
Your best option, unless you want to try to wait out the officer, is to negotiate the fine down. Most officers will insist the fine is US$20. However, US$5 is the going rate for ‘getting out of trouble.’ Failure to pay anything can result in your being led to jail with the officer insisting you really did break some law.
Swimming Safety
Sadly, in recent years there have been several deaths in Bocas del Toro and on other beaches around the country owing to strong currents. Tourist brochures do not mention the drownings that occur every year in Panamanian waters. Of these, about 80% are caused by rip currents. A rip current is a strong current that pulls the swimmer out to sea. It occurs when two currents that move parallel to the shore meet, causing the opposing waters to choose the path of least resistance, which is a path out to sea. It is most important to remember that rip currents will pull you out but not under.
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore to get out of it – rip currents dissipate quickly. When the current dissipates, swim back in at a 45° angle to the shore to avoid being caught by the current again. Do not try to swim directly back in, as you would be swimming against the rip current and would only exhaust yourself.
If you feel a rip current while you are wading, try to come back in sideways, thus offering less body surface to the current. If you cannot make headway, walk parallel to the beach so that you can get out of the rip current.
Thefts & Muggings
Tourist-oriented crime is uncommon in Panama, but it does happen, particularly in the districts of Chorrillo and Calidonia. Be smart; avoid carrying all your money in one place, avoid entering areas that appear unsafe, and adhere to the rule ‘if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.’ This last rule is a reference to Panama’s confidence artists – people who defraud others after gaining their trust – of which there are many.
If you elect to go bar-hopping in Casco Viejo at night, play it smart and follow this advice: leave your watch, jewelry and expensive clothing at the hotel; take only the amount of money you think you’ll need, and then a little extra tucked away in a shoe; and be sure to carry photographic ID (it’s the law). If you look like you don’t have anything of value on you, you’re less likely to interest a mugger.
It is a good idea to carry an emergency packet somewhere separate from all your other valuables. It should contain a photocopy of the essential pages of your passport. On the back of the photocopy you should list important numbers, such as your traveler’s checks’ serial numbers, airline ticket numbers, and credit card and bank account numbers. Also keep one high-denomination bill with this emergency stash.
If you are robbed, you should get a police report as soon as possible. This is a requirement for any insurance claims, although it is unlikely that the police will be able to recover the property. If you don’t speak Spanish and are having a hard time making a police report, your embassy can often advise and help.
Panama has a long history of business-related crimes, particularly with regard to real estate. If you want to sink money into any kind of Panamanian business, make sure you check it out thoroughly. Don’t invest more in Panama than you can afford to lose.
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