Eco-Arts

 

Central Panama

 

Travel Tips

 

 

Passports

 

Reminder: A U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay is required.  Check your expiration date and apply soon if you need to. A tourist card is required and should be issued by the airline carrier (for a small fee) - you can get a visa instead but you'd have to get it from the consulate.

 

 

Here’s the State Dept. link where you can find application details:

§        http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

 

 

Documents to Bring

 

·        Passport and tourist card

·        medical insurance card

·        photocopy: passport, credit cards you’re taking, insurance card, etc. - leave a copy with someone at home and take one with you

 

 

Travel Insurance

Health Care: Please check with your health care provider to see what the coverage is overseas.  If they cover you, get the details about reimbursement. If they don’t cover you or if you are only partially covered, consider buying traveler’s insurance that includes coverage for illness, injury, medical services and medical evacuation. The cost of the insurance isn’t that much compared with the out of pocket cost if you need any of these services.

 

 

Trip Cancellation: We mention this here because there are events (public or personal) that are beyond our control.  You might want to investigate Trip-Cancellation Insurance available through many groups.   

 

 

Here are a couple of places to start:

§        AAA Trip Assist Cruise/Travel Protection at 1-800-284-8300 (www.aaa.com)

§        TravelSafe is another company that offers insurance  (http://www.travelsafe.com/)

 

 

Electricity

 

Panama operates at 110-volts AC and uses the same plugs as the U.S. You will not need an adapter or a transformer.

 

 

Clothing – Head to Toe

 

 

Panama has two seasons: a dry summer and a rainy winter. We will be traveling in the dry season. That said, it's likely to be hot and humid. Though the humidity in January is not as bad as the wet season, Panama City still averages about 75% humidity at that time of year. Temperatures will vary according to elevation. Panama City averages about 80 degrees all year round but it does cool off in the evenings.

 

 

In general, fast drying, loose fitting, warm weather clothes are most practical.  Cottons or the new lightweight synthetic fabrics are best. Shirts with a collar are preferable to T-shirts because they protect your neck from the chaffing of the binoculars strap and from the sun.  A scarf can also come in handy for this purpose.  You’ll also want to bring light, long sleeved shirts that can be a protection from the sun and the occasional biting insect.  You can always roll up the sleeves if it gets too hot.   Some of the hotels have a pool, so bring a suit if you want to swim. And don’t forget a hat. 

 

Generally, you want to wear muted, natural colors in the forest (greens, khakis, etc). No whites, no brights, no scary patterns (scary to wildlife) except at the lodges.

 

·        Some places to shop: A-16, REI, LL Bean

·        Some brand names: Ex Officio, Royal Robbins, Patagonia, North Face

·        Some materials: CoolMax, Buzz Off clothing (Permethrin is a man-made form of a natural insect repellent found in the Chrysanthemum plant that bonds with clothing to make it a repellent that doesn't go on your skin)

 

 

Footwear

On our walks, you’ll want a high cut shoe/hiking boot that offers support for a long walk but is not too heavy or too hot.  There will be times when a walking shoe or cross-trainer will be adequate.  Break in new shoes well before the trip.  Bring sandals for lounging around the hotel.  Wear socks that wick away moisture; you don’t want hot wet feet – bring enough pairs for frequent changing.  

 

Keeping dry

 

Although we will be traveling in the “dry” season, you might want to bring a light rain jacket for the possibility - the more breathable the better.  

 

 

*Remember that you know yourself and your comfort best – think of these only as suggestions.

 

 

Laundry service

 

The Albrook Inn has laundry facilities - doubtful at Burbayar.

 

 

Gear

 

Journal or writing paper and pens	Binoculars
Flip-flops/thongs	Field Guide
Extra batteries or charger	Flashlight
Small notebook	Camera and charger
Wide-brimmed hat	Personal first aid kit
Water bottle	Personal medications
Alarm clock	Sun screen & lip balm w/SPF
Sun glasses	Sunscreen shirt
Day pack or fanny pack	Repellent
Spanish dictionary/phrase book	Foot powder/talc
Wash cloth (if you use one)	Lens cleaner

 

Health

 

§        Remember to bring any prescription drugs that you require and to have them in your carry-on luggage. Also bring any over-the-counter medications you think you might use.  Our main goal is to stay healthy and focus on preventative measures. But, like good scouts, we should be prepared.

§        No immunizations are required or recommended, but you may want Hepatitis-A  just as a precaution. Here's a site that has travel medicine information that you might find interesting.  We won't be in any areas mentioned (such as the Caribbean coast and the southwest) that have had cases of malaria or any of the other exotics that are listed on the site.  If you plan to travel to other areas on your own, check this site and the one for the Center for Disease Control:

http://www.travmed.com/

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm