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waygukgaijinhaole

I have a 12 hour layover in Panama City, on my way back to Ecuador.

Anyone know...
A) ...if there is any problem with my leaving the airport?
B) ...what I should go do? Can I see the canal? Anything else interesting to see with only 12 hours?

Short-term travel advice appreciated. Thanks.

pirateinpanama · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 93 Location: Panama City, Panama

If you have something good to read, that may be better. $25 to and from the city. It depends what time too. If it's the daytime, you can hit Central Ave. and do some bargain shopping. Go to the Causeway and you'll see various bars/restaurants as well as part of the Canal. Go to one of the different casinos and try your luck.
A limited amount of time for a city that offers a lot. Wishing you the best!

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

A 12 hr layover????? IN Panama City??? ON your way back to Ecuador????? That sounds BIZARRE!!!!! Isn't there some way you can just get a refund on that part of your trip and catch local transportation over the Darien Gap back to Ecuador. I mean, shoot! You're so close!! What kind of ticket seller on LSD put together that ticket package?????? Confused

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

Well, let me get out my handy, dandy Lonely Planet and check it out!!!! Hmmmm...it sez......that there are two ways--boats and walking. But this book is like 15 years old, and they may have more efficient ways now----I'd check out smaller plane services at the airport--or charter flights from elsewhere in Panama. Shoot!! I wouldn't up up with no 12 hour layover from Panama to Ecuador. That's just HEINOUS!!!!!!

refazenda · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject: Crossing into Colombia

I have heard the same thing, that you cannot cross over land from Panama to Colombia. Basically the road was never finished. is it bad blood between the two countries? I don't know. If someone has the latest news, let us know.

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

My Lonely Planet sez: " At present there is still no road through the Darien jungle and the Pan American Highway ends some 80 km beyond Panama City. Work is going ahead on the Colombian side and the road should reach the Panamanian border within about 3 years. Little is happening on the Panamanian side, however, and there's a good deal of discussion ging on about the environmental issues and the increased ease with which plant and cattle diseases might spread from S America shoud the road be completed. It is quite possible that it will never be finished."

This Lonely PLanet is from ....YIKES!!! Shocked

1986,

so it is seriously out of date. Maybe someone with more recent info could comment

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

1986? Wow, wasn't Noreiga still in power then?

I always thought the lack of a crossing was due to civil war in Colombia...that the FARC simply made it too dangerous on the highways? Somebody correct me if I'm wrong...I've never been.

12 hours in Panama. How about a round of golf?

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

Yes, Noriega was still in power. But I would think he would've wanted it finished to get drugs from Colombia over to his little kingdom for easy shipment to points norte.

I don't think the US invasion in 1989 (?) helped things either. You need a stable country for road building. Those road builders don't want to be shot at on top of everything else they must face: snakes, yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria, etc......

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

BTW Wayguk......you were the poster who wanted to know about gift-giving to your new Ecuadoran boss back in Dec, right? How did that go? Sorry I never got back to you but my other two S Amer teacher friends just never got back to me....Hope you made a good impression! Laughing

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

Going overland is a bad idea without a heavily armed guide. It�s Disneyland for drug runners and guerillas. Think vacation zone for them.

If you have the cash, you could see the canal, ofcourse, or take lunch at the Balboa Yacht Club, or shopping. I�d get an overnight, if at all possible. Make it worth the cab ride.

Manolos in El Cangrejo is reasonably priced. For dinner.

Try www.panamainfo.com for the IPAT suggestions.

Me, I�m in the mountains right now. I hate driving in that town.

waygukgaijinhaole · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject:

Update in case anyone else has a 12 hour layover in Panama...

No problem getting out of the airport. Just tell them you have a layover and you don't have to pay tax...or very little tax(can't remember). Just outside the baggage area is a lounge with a bunch of rental car counters. They have 10-hour rentals...because it is common to have very long layovers in Panama. BTW, I asked at 3 travel agents. They all said I would have to layover in Panama for at least 10 hours.

The rental car was nice, air-conditioned. It was about $40 with all the insurance and gas and everything. They gave me a good map and I was on my way. I had a great lunch, shopped at a big outdoor market and watched 2 ships traverse the canal. I also watched the Canal movie and went through the museum, which is quite good.

I am a female and was alone and was totally comfortable driving and wandering about by myself. I recommend renting a car and wandering around if you have a layover in Panama.

Oh, there were also tours specially coordinated for layover travelers, but I opted for my own car.

Twisting-yes, that was me. I didn't bring a gift. Boss was Irish. EC didn't work out for me. Sad

I'm back in Korea. Smile