Expat Community > Panama

StanLeeee
Joined 2021
Posts: 725

Recent Travel Experiences

3 years ago

Mys wife (Panamanian citizen with US permanent resident visa) and I (American citizen with Panamanian permanent resident visa) left Springfield MO on April 28 and arrived in Boquete the next day.

The only problem we encountered was in Springfield where United Airlines employees tried to tell us that they couldn’t issue us boarding passes unless we possessed negative COVID test results less than 48 hours old. Proof of vaccinations did not interest them.

Obviously this was BS but I was not surprised because I have encountered massive ignorance at United before. I get the feeling that their employee retention rate is rather low and training for new employees is not particularly effective.

I had checked on the requirements well in advance and found that:

1) It is difficult and expensive to get a COVID test in Springfield unless you say that you are feeling ill with typical symptoms, which sounds like a very bad idea...you might end up in quarantine.

2. You can easily obtain the test at Tocumen airport for $50.

3. Panamanian immigration will not accept foreign test results so don’t bother. Apparently they have found a number of counterfeit certificates.

This all turned out to be true. There are COVID test labs in every terminal at PTY and another one near the baggage claim area.

First you must pay and get a receipt. We had been told that they accept credit cards but the cashier didn’t like that idea and demanded CASH ONLY, US dollars please!

There is an ATM a few steps away but it would be best to have cash with you.

They stick a swab up your nose, twirl it around, and give you the results 15-30 minutes later.

I didn’t see anyone getting a positive result, but they have a small area roped off for the allegedly Infected. I don’t know what happens if you get sent there but I doubt that it would be a pleasant experience.

From there you go to Immigration, baggage claim and Customs. No one was interested in any of the forms you can download and fill out before you leave, or any of the junk they give you on the plane except for the skinny official declaration form that I need a magnifying glass to read.

There’s not enough time to catch the afternoon shuttle to David so we stayed overnight in PC and took the morning flight. You could go to Albrook and take the bus to Boquete, save some money at the price of feeling like someone beat you with a bat for the next three days but I’d rather not.

We tried a new hotel, Marriott Residence Suites at Punta Pacífica, which was OK but somewhat overpriced for our requirements at $120.

The suites have full kitchens which would be very nice for a longer stay. There’s a Super 99 grocery store across the street and a very nice Brazilian restaurant in the hotel building.

It’s only about a 15 minute drive from Tocumen, $6 to $9 by Uber. This is better than the downtown hotels.

Nice view of the harbor too.

There’s a free breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant but we had to leave before it opened at 6:30 AM.

Flying to David on Copa from the domestic terminal is still a pain in the posterior so it’s a good idea to allow plenty of time. First you have to go upstairs to the ticket agents, who are NOT the same ones that serve international travelers, check your baggage, and get boarding passes.

Then back downstairs to security and the waiting area. We tried to check our bags and get the boarding passes after arrival from Houston the previous day but they wouldn’t allow it. Not sure why.

I seem to remember having checked my luggage all the way through to David from Springfield in the past, but this time they claimed that such a thing was illegal, immoral and unheard of. United Airlines...

Flight to David left and arrived more or less on time and we were met by a relative who brought us to Boquete. For most people who are not that fortunate, they would either have to pay a Taxi to take them to Boquete (40 minutes, price negotiable) or taxi to the bus station which is cheaper but not much fun.

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