Panama / Practical city guide

Panama City

Get oriented, plan your arrival, and find practical answers for your trip.

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8.99° N
79.52° W

Country / area: Panama
Time zone identifier: America/Panama
Currency reference: PAB / USD
Geographic source: GeoNames ↗

Geographic data is source-imported. Transport, payment, and entry details need current verification. Read our source notes ↗

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Your Panama City guidebook

Panama City / Money & payments

Panama Balboa or US Dollar? How Money Works for Visitors

Panama uses both: the balboa is the legal unit, pegged one to one, but every banknote is a US dollar. Why that dates from 1904, which coins you will get, and what shops must accept.

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Panama City / First-time visitor

Panamá Viejo vs Casco Viejo: Panama City's Two Old Towns

Panama City has two old towns because the 1519 city was destroyed in 1671 and rebuilt 7.5 km away in 1673. How Panamá Viejo and Casco Viejo differ, what each costs and which to visit.

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Panama City / Day trips

Panama Canal: Miraflores or Agua Clara Visitor Centre?

Choose Miraflores for a short trip from Panama City and the original locks; choose Agua Clara for the Neopanamax locks near Colón. Prices, hours, ship timing and travel compared.

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Panama City / Day trips

Guna Yala, Panama: Visitor Rules, Fees and Who Decides

Guna Yala (San Blas) is governed by the Guna General Congress, which reserves all tourism for Guna people. Its published rules, boat fares and lodge list, and which fees it does not publish.

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