Travel in Panama on a Budget
Are you considering moving to Panama or retiring in Panama? Then it is definitely a good idea to pay a visit first. Budgets are tight for some when it comes to international travel, especially if you want to do and see a lot and Panama is by no means a budget destination. To make the best of your exploration before making your decision to relocate. Panama has a lot to offer, and can be affordable but planning ahead at is important. Fortunately, that is totally doable in Panama. With just a bit of preparation, it can be done without a snag. From excursions, accommodation to transportation, food and entertainment for the whole family, you'll be able to enjoy a perfect trip and stay within a reasonable budget. So how exactly can you pull this off?
Plan a visit during the tourist low season (rainy season)
Panama essentially has two seasons: rainy season and dry season. Wet season falls in late April until January and is the low season for tourism in Panama. This is the perfect time to visit if you are looking to save money on your travel budget. In Panama, prices drop in the wet season, especially September and October. Don't worry about the rain because you'll still have enough sunshine every day to get out and do sightseeing. The weather won't pose an obstacle for getting around and doing research for your big move. Accommodation can be as low as half of what they are in the high season. Plus, there's more availability for other services, including plane tickets, which can save you hundreds of dollars per person.
Use public transportation whenever possible.
Panama has a decent public transportation system of buses and trains. Each ride costs next to nothing ($0.35 in town). Other options like Uber and local taxies are also competitively cheap ($3-$6 a ride). If you're going to do a lot of traveling, using public transportation will save you a considerable amount of money over time. This is especially the case when it comes to domestic travel from town to town, or city to city. For instance, if you're going from Panama City to Coronado, a taxi would cost you $80-$100 while a private shuttle would cost around $30 and taking a bus only costs $3.00.
Riding buses does take time and require a bit of patience. As routes are hard to find online, and you will need to buy tickets the day of your trip, not in advance. Then again, if you look at it as a fun way to learn about local custom, and live as most Panamanians do, it is totally worth it for an overall travel experience.
Head to "Fondas" – the local cafeterias
Panama is now home to some of the best restaurants in Central America thanks to a strong economy and a high volume of tourists. With that said, they can be a bit pricy. If you are on a budget when it comes to food, you cannot find a better place to do it than Fonda. Meals can be as low as $4 for an entire lunch, including beverage! These are very typical, humble, Panamanian restaurants that offer both authentic local plates, and interestingly, Asian fast-food as well. If you stick to these local eateries, not only can you get a taste for how Panamanians eat, and save money in the process. This will also give you more of a budget to spoil yourself in one of Panama's more refined restaurants when the opportunity presents itself.
More Extra Money Saving Tips
- Short, cheap air planes from North America - Sometimes, you can find pretty cheap flights to Panama City's Tocumen Airport that can turn a casual shopping trip into a budget vacation. For example, an eye-popping one-way sale fare of $84 was offered once by American Airlines to Panama City from either Miami or Orlando. That figure jumped to nearly $140 after taxes and fees. But a round trip fare in July came in less than $300 for one person. Typical fares today might cost three times that amount. The deal was one of the rare ones that appeared and vanished in a short time.
- American isn't the only airline to offer deals to Panama, so it pays to aggregate your airfare search by using a tool that reviews at multiple sources.
- Carry small change – Taxi drivers and shop assistants will not accept 20 USD bills to pay for inexpensive items. Be sure to change big notes for smaller ones before going shopping or getting a taxi.
- Stick to beer – Beer is usually 0.50-1 USD during hostel happy hours. Otherwise, a local Panama or Balboa is around 2 USD. Mixed drinks will cost more, so stick to beer. You'll be able to save money without cutting into your good time.
- Refill your water – In most parts of Panama, you can drink the tap water — it won't kill you or make you sick. There's no need to always buy new water bottles so save yourself a few dollars a day and fill up from the tap.
- Avoid hot water – Get rooms with cold water showers as hot water always costs a lot more. It's so hot here you'll hardly ever need warm water, anyway.
- Look for specials, group discounts, and bulk pricing
- Because Panama has a competitive economy, it has some great deals if you know where to look. Many tour companies, hotels, and restaurants have online or in-person specials available, especially if you're in a group, or are planning a multi-stop vacation. Check out as many websites as possible, and don't be afraid to even ask for bulk rates, or off-season specials. You may be able to save or upgrade without much of any work at all!
Panama is definitely worth a visit. Its remarkable culture of myriad colors and engineering wonders, along with the the palm-lined beaches of Bocas del Toro stun us all, quite we are enchanted by its Latin American hospitality with a unique international flair.
Contact us for your lodging needs during your stay in Panama. We are also happy to answer all your questions regarding housing needs if you fall in love with the idea of living in this country. Contact us at Panama: +(507) 264 5302 or USA: +(929) 227 4083.
