While cabs in Panama are fairly cheap, the ride to and from the airport is a massive exception. Although the Tocumen Airport is only a mere 20-30 minutes from anywhere in the city, the price does not reflect this distance. To the dismay of the citizens, somehow all the cab drivers in Panama City came together and decided to make the standard cab to or from the airport a whopping $25. Even the most legendary haggler on the planet will have a tough time getting this price reduced, so unless you enjoy forking unreasonable bundles of cash to cab drivers this can be a huge hassle. Some people spend copious amounts of time trying to save money on their flights Read more
Tips for Getting the Right Taxi Price in Panama!
If you have spent any time in Panama City then you are aware of a phenomenon I like to call “Getting Gringoed.” This term refers to situations when because of your physical appearance or inability to speak Spanish you are automatically charged a higher price for the good or service you intend to purchase. Being a Blond Haired, Blue Eyed, Poor Spanish Speaking “Super-Gringo” the phenomenon of “Getting Gringoed” happens to me on a daily basis.
In Panama City this phenomenon is not limited to certain places or things, but it seems that it’s fair game to charge extra to Gringos for virtually everything, whether you are in an established bar or a street market. One place you are guaranteed Read more
Save the Diablo Rojo!
Watch this funny video about the Diablo Rojo buses.
A Day in the Life of an ESL Teacher in Panama
When you’re sitting at home dreaming of adventures trying to scheme up a way to travel and make money, ESL jobs often come to mind. Choosing the country, finding a job and getting hired are the first massive hurdles, but once you have successfully completed these, what is it really like? Do you really just play with kids and speak English for a couple of hours a day then use your money to lounge in paradise?
If you haven’t read my article on how I randomly ended up as an ESL teacher in Panama City, please read this article so you better understand my story. The school that has chosen this gringo as their English language educator is Read more
Calling all ESL Teachers: Finding a job Teaching English in Panama is NOT as Difficult as it Seems!
In all honestly I scoured the internet for weeks looking for an article with this title. I knew I wanted to go to Panama but there seemed to be so little information about jobs on the net I nearly gave up and considered heading to South Korea for the top dollars and plentiful job offers on the net. How does one find a job teaching English in a country of their choice when programs are not offered to make the process a piece of cake beforehand? I learned purely through experimentation, but managed to land a gig teaching elementary school English at one of the highest paying schools in Panama (I’m making $1,500 a month teaching 3-5th grade English). Read more
There’s a New Panamanian Gringo Author in Town!
The names Al Explorer and I Like Going Places. I recently up and quit my job, left my entire life in the United States behind and moved to Panama. Despite my lack of Spanish I managed to land a job as an English Teacher and now I live in El Cangrejo one of the best neighborhoods of Panama City. I’m an avid adventurer who’s had the opportunity to set foot in 41 different countries thus far, but the more I travel the more itchy my feet become for more! A hybrid of English and American descent, I was born in London, but raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain’s in the great Boulder, Colorado of the USA. My shiny Read more
A Brief History of the Panama Hat
Did you know that the hat that most of us know as the ‘Panama hat’ didn’t actually originate in Panama? Until recently I had no idea that the hat that most of us recall when we hear the term is actually an Ecuadorian imposter. The ‘Panama hat’ is made from the leaves of the toquilla straw plant. The leaves are used to make the material the hats are woven from. The hats received the name because in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the hats were shipped from Ecuador they made a pit stop in Panama before reaching the rest of the world. The hats were then named after the major shipping port that most other countries received Read more
Looking for Property in David? Check Out This Steal
The housing market in Panama never ceases to amaze me. While browsing some real estate listings for a friend I discovered this seemingly great deal on a home in David, Panama. This 3 bedroom 4 bath home located in a safe and comfortable neighborhood is only listed for $100,000. You’d be hard pressed to find a home in Panama City or anywhere in the US with this much space for that price. The home is fairly new and boasts landscaping and private terraces. And, ou wouldn’t have to worry about driving too far for any conveniences as it’s located close to a new shopping center, plenty of restaurants and stores.
If I were looking for a place in David, Read more
How to Pack and Dress in Panama
If you are planning to take a trip to Panama, it’s important to know what to pack. Some of the larger hotels like Veneto Panama which cater to travelers offer a lot of information on their website about the weather in Panama which will certainly help you to determine what you will need but, in general, it’s always best to pack a variety of clothing options since where you are and what you plan to do can greatly influence what type of clothing you will need to bring.
Panama’s daytime temperatures usually range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s F year round. Therefore, if you are traveling to Panama during the peak tourist Read more
The Best Hostel in David City, Panama
Backpacking Central America? Make sure you put Bambu Hostel on your list of places to stop. It’s a backpackers resort with a deluxe in-ground pool and Mayan-Style rancho bar and landscaped garden. The perfect kind of place to relax for cheap after trudging through the country. Plus, it is perfectly safe, located in a middle class neighborhood in the San Mateo District of David-City, Panama.
Over the course of the year Bambu sees all kinds of backpackers and international travelers from all corners of the world. Gregg Lapkin and Mike Esterson, seasoned travelers and hostel owners like to meet everyone passing through the hostel, and make you feel right at home.
Don’t believe everything you read in the Read more
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