Geographically SpeakingPanama is best known as the isthmus connecting the Americas, but it befalls in such a way that even the earliest explorers documented directional confusions. While North and South America extend in the directions their names suggest, Panama abruptly snakes from west to east with Pacific Ocean to the south, and Caribbean Sea, (locally referred to as the Atlantic), to the north. Nothing in Panama seems to extend with any true objective course in favor of angling towards the country's irregular shape. Beginning from the arrival aerial tour on, my trusty inner-tracking device never reset causing frequent disorientations.
Bring
a compass; especially if planning to hike without a local guide. Immenseness of mountains and jungles swallows hikers into trails which weave just as precariously. Provided bearings were on-point to begin with, positioning of the sun may be the only indicator of which way you're headed, and that alternative vanishes on cloudy days. While most trails are well-marked, provided information along the way proves itself contradictory and unreliable.
In Panama City, growth of the capital has conformed to sweeping arc of the bay.
Cerro Ancón and the skyline loose any usefulness as visible reference points thanks to the complex infrastructure of thoroughfares, which become even more confusing with how they circle and double-back for major intersections.
Getting turned-around was unforgivably easy, including boarding buses headed the wrong way. Until gathering some wits about lay-out of the city, avoid trying to catch frequent buses which pass through
Plaza Cinco de Mayo, as Lonely Planet suggests. There's nothing to indicate which way any of them are headed.
Seasonal DelugesRidged by the Continental Divide, Panama has two sets of climates based on which side of the mountains you find yourself. On the northern Caribbean side, rain is prevalent year-round. For the southern Pacific side, precipitation levels are much lower but don't be fooled by parched landscapes. Drenchings can occur at anytime.
High-season travel coincides with the dry season along Pacific-side areas south of the mountain chain. Rainfall is less frequent during the months of January-April, and only three times did it rain during almost three weeks there. But when it did, torrential rains lasting a couple of hours, were more than enough to confirm that travel during the wet season could be absolutely miserable!
Panamanians refer to the 8-month rainy season as "winter", and think nothing of going about their business amid ongoing downpours. Absence of umbrellas on the streets suggests their uselessness. At the very least, travelers should carry a
rain poncho with them at all times. Once skies started darkening within any direction, there was about a 90-minute opportunity for returning to hotels or finding a spot to take elongated cover.
Even when sunshine was piercing through rainforest canopies, breezes shook-down light showers from moisture collected during overnight rainfall. Dry-season hikers will still find rainforest and mountain trails somewhat muddy; appropriate
trail mudders indispensable during the wet season.
Environmental DiversitiesWith scores of beach, mountain, rainforest, waterway, and city encounters waiting to be had, travel itineraries largely dictate the types of clothing needed. Extreme heat warrants the tropical-influenced wardrobe expected when in coastal areas and the canal valley, but head inland towards the mountains, and temperatures can rapidly taper-off.
Panama's most dramatic stretches of mountains extend from the canal, west to the Costa Rican border. Highland villages of
El Valle, Santa Fe, and Boquete are destinations which shouldn't be missed. How long you plan to stay in any of these places determines what to bring. For day trips, a
light jacket, (preferably waterproof), is a welcomed accessory for cloudy or rainy days. Those planning to hunker-down for awhile will need better preparations. Elevations reach 3478-meters/11,500-feet, and night-time temperatures can drop to near-freezing; especially during extended rainy periods with absence of sunshine.
Sweat-top hoodies and cottons, including jeans, lose effectiveness when absorbing moisture. Mountainous areas are predisposed towards heavy, late-afternoon drizzle.
Long-sleeved shirts are conveniently layered with t-shirts for additional warmth, and zippable
cargo pants help curb packing with two clothing options in one, and are usually made from water resistant material. Flannel
pajama bottoms should also be considered, though cold-natured people may prefer
sweatpants. While highland accommodations most generally have hot-water showers, there's no such thing as heat, and flimsy blankets are more like bedspreads.
Step-by-StepSelecting appropriate footwear is probably the most important packing decision since versatility of selections prevents having to overload luggage. 6-months before leaving, I began breaking-in a pair of Nike Air Austera WS
cross-country training shoes, that I highly recommend. Ankle-high support certainly helped when falters along trails simply rolled ankles, and the water-proof shell zips over laces to further block moisture. For seasonal hiking when rain and mud-depths are minimal, these stayed dry. They also wipe-clean as a casual-dress alternative, and were quite comfortable while pounding city pavements.
The only foot problems were not because of shoes, but from the standard athletic socks worn with them. Trekking more than 25km on some days, it didn't take long for discomfort and small blisters to develop in the bends of toes. Avid hikers are probably already aware of this but for greenhorns that aren't, there are specially-designed
hiking socks, with reinforced toe-lines which help prevent this problem, and certainly worth any investment.
For beaches and coastal areas, standard flip-flops suffice unless there's any amount of exploring to be done beyond the sands.
Water-proof sandals, that strap around back of the foot or ankle, are certainly more practical. Otherwise, feet slide right out of treadless-topped flip-flops when there's any grade to walking Not only is this unnecessarily risky, it could also strand someone barefoot from a broken thong.
Especially when hiking through National Parks which border the Canal, it never hurts to have the sandals attached to, or inside backpacks. Crossing through rivers and streams is frequently necessary. Otherwise, sogginess and potential ruin of other types of footwear is to be expected.
While not a user of sunscreen, I was into a second stick of lip balm with a high SPF-factor. Sun exposure was minimal on hiking trails, but winds quickly dry-out lips and skin. In coastal areas, off-shore islands and cities, roasting is inevitable. Even with a month's worth of daily fake-bakes before leaving, expect facial peelings, and on shoulders from where backpack weight further irritates skin.
Airlines have finally gotten serious about enforcing carry-on luggage sizes and limits. The standard collapsible duffel, that I've carried-on for years, was no longer acceptable and had to be checked. It also didn't arrive until two flights after I did for the overnight layover in Miami; not what any traveler needs when preparing to leave the country on the following day! Smaller luggage that can be carried-on, and packing less is the only way to avoid this potential nightmare.
Overpacking can be prevented by using laundry service; especially if planning to travel for extended periods. In Panama, some accommodations had on-site washer and dryer available for guests, or offered inexpensive laundry service. Otherwise, a lavandería laundromat was never hard to find.
It is against the law for a male to go shirtless in Panama's streets, including beach communities.As a general rule, Panamanian styles of dress lean towards the conservative, but shorts and tank-tops are becoming more acceptable as everyday-wear for men, and weren't taboo for travelers entering official buildings or houses of worship. Willing women are not only encouraged, but applauded for dressing slinky; the sure-fire way for female travelers to warrant attention, regardless of intention.
Obvious name-brand clothing, or items emblazoned with logos or professional sports teams, not only labels nationality but may also target individuals for unnecessary harassments, if not theft. Dressing-down to the extreme of sloppiness will get you noticed just as quickly. Comfortable but neat attire on the generic side, is the best approach for trying to blend-in. And as always when traveling—if you can't afford to loose it, leave it at home!