Panama is not all the time costly to visit. Touring right here is considerably cheaper than touring in Europe, Canada or the USA however considerably pricier than Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador. 

It’s not the costliest nation in Central America – that prize goes to Costa Rica, intently adopted by Belize – however thrifty vacationers will want to plan fastidiously and sacrifice a few house comforts to preserve prices to a minimal.

Fortuitously, there are many methods to save on meals, lodgings, transport and excursions. The seashores are free and there’s no scarcity of outside actions at Panama’s intensive and reasonably priced nationwide park system.  

Listed here are our high suggestions for making your Panama journey bueno, bonito y barato (good, good and low cost).

Visit throughout the moist season

The moist season runs from Might to November in Panama. Lodge charges can drop 10–30% throughout this era, however you should have to cope with bursts of torrential rain. Most downpours are fairly transient, erupting within the afternoon and clearing an hour or two later, however a number of days of steady downpours aren’t unknown. Sure actions, equivalent to birdwatching and white water rafting, are a lot better within the wet season. 

Bocas del Toro has a extremely changeable microclimate; the province is regularly moist when the remainder of the nation is dry, and generally vice versa. Worldwide flights to Panama are often least expensive in the direction of the tip of the moist season, September to November.

When you solely intend to visit western Panama, think about flying into Costa Rica

Lots of Panama’s finest sights lay within the western provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro. When you don’t intend to journey past these areas, it’s generally (however not all the time) extra economical to fly to San José in Costa Rica after which journey overland to Panama. 

The direct bus from San José to the worldwide border at Paso Canoas is an hour or so longer than the bus from Panama Metropolis to David (the second-largest metropolis in Panama). You’ll have to submit to immigration formalities, which may be time-consuming. 

The journey to Chiriquí is faster and cheaper when you use intercity buses reasonably than worldwide ones like Ticabus, which generally means longer commutes, increased costs and would not cease at David.

Take the bus to and from Tocumen airport

An official taxi from Tocumen Worldwide Airport to downtown Panama Metropolis can set you again USD $30–40. A shared taxi is cheaper at round $15 per particular person if touring solo.

The most cost effective is the Metrobus, which prices not more than $1.25. Earlier than leaving the airport, ensure to purchase a rechargeable Metrocard, appropriate to be used on all Metrobuses and trains. They price $5 and are good to go together with $Three of fares included.

Be aware you will want a Metrocard to entry long-distance providers at Albrook bus station.

When you’re single, keep in a hostel dorm

Single vacationers will discover the most cost effective digs in hostel dorms. Relying on location, you may get a few facilities and clear quarters for $10–20 per night time. 

Hostels are widespread within the main vacationer hubs of Panama Metropolis, Boquete and Bocas del Toro, however much less widespread elsewhere.

{Couples} and teams ought to keep in inns

A personal room in a low cost lodge is roughly the identical worth as a non-public room in a hostel, round $30–50 per night time. When it comes to consolation, nonetheless, lodge rooms are often superior. The cheaper, extra spartan rooms have followers and cold-water-only showers (air-conditioning can bump up costs by $15–20). 

Some inns have a handful of extraordinarily fundamental, ultra-cheap quarters ($15–20) with a shared rest room; ask reception if they’ve algo más económico (one thing cheaper) or un quarto con baño compartido (a room with shared rest room). 

In fact, the principle drawback of utilizing inns is that you just gained’t have a shared kitchen at your disposal. 

When you actually need to save, sleep in a hammock

When you don’t thoughts roughing it, a hammock is the most cost effective possibility. Hostels sometimes cost $2–5 per night time for a pitch, and it’s possible you’ll discover locals ready to supply the identical service. 

Use mosquito repellent, nets and/or insecticide coils, particularly within the moist season. A heat blanket or sleeping bag could also be obligatory as temperatures can drop markedly at night time, even within the steamy lowlands. Be aware it is unsafe to sleep in a single day in public areas, together with the seashore.

Use public transportation in Panama Metropolis 

Panama Metropolis cab drivers are notoriously wily. Overcharging is the norm, particularly when you seem to be overseas. Worse but, town is regularly gridlocked, making journey by automotive gradual and inefficient. 

To economize and problem, use Metrobuses and trains to get round ($0.25–0.35 per journey). When you should use taxis, strive to agree on a worth earlier than getting in. And in case your driver seems to be a good one (lots of them are), seize their cellphone quantity for future use. 

Keep away from vacationer taxis and taxis that wait exterior inns. They may actually overcharge you. Ubers are often cheaper and simpler than taxis.

Go for buses over home flights 

Home flights are undeniably quick. You’ll be able to cross the complete nation from Panama Metropolis to David by airplane in about an hour. However with most round-trip fares exceeding $120, home flights aren’t low cost and carry a hefty carbon footprint too. 

Though considerably slower (the identical journey from Panama Metropolis to David takes seven to 9 hours), the Terminales David-Panamá (TDP) or the Padafront buses are much more economical and environmentally pleasant.

Gorge on fruit for breakfast

Recent fruit in Panama is nutritious, scrumptious, ubiquitous and low cost. Choices embrace a rainbow array of domestically grown produce like pineapples, papayas, avocados, bananas, watermelons and oranges. 

Get fruit from avenue distributors and native markets (a fruit breakfast in a restaurant is comparatively poor worth). Smoothies are one other wholesome and financial possibility.

Feast on carbs for lunch

When you intend to eat out a lot, lunch is probably the most economical meal of the day. Avenue meals is skinny on the bottom in Panama, however low cost sit-down eateries abound and often supply cheap set menus and/or carb-rich lunch buffets for round $5 a head.

A typical Panamanian lunch consists of a fatty meat or hen most important with a beneficiant facet of rice and beans plus a few slivers of (generally sweetened) plantain and a sugary drink. Sadly, vegans and vegetarians aren’t well-served in Panama.

You’ll be able to typically drink the faucet water 

With the exceptions of Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala and different distant areas, the faucet water in Panama is usually secure for consumption. Save on {dollars} and plastic waste by refilling your reusable water bottle at a kitchen faucet.

Select guides and excursions fastidiously

Until occasions are very tight, you will have to splurge on a number of excursions. When you converse Spanish fairly nicely, sourcing your personal native guides can work out cheaper than utilizing a tour operator. 

It’s finest to search strong suggestions out of your lodge or hostel they sometimes know the place the very best offers are. Most cities have an workplace of the nationwide Surroundings Ministry, Mi Ambiente, and can level you in the precise route. 

A information to every day prices in Panama (US {dollars}) 

Dorm mattress in a hostel: $10–20
Fundamental lodge room for 2: $30–50
Self-catering house (together with Airbnb): $70–100+
Public transportation in Panama Metropolis: $0.25–0.35, or $1.25 for toll roads
Espresso: $1–3
Lunch for 2: $10–20
Dinner for 2: $20–40
Beer on the bar: $1–3