Panama Forum

Alameda
Joined 2020
Posts: 33

3 years ago

Tips on Arrival into Panama

3 years ago

Like many of you who were out of Panama for the past many months, I am sure you are hoping to get back soon.

I just arrived on 5 November.

Here are a few tips:

- Get your PCR Antigen test before traveling. I spent $150 and got the results the same day I took it.
- DO NOT GET AN ANTIBODY TEST. Panama requires the PCR / Antigen test.
- Be sure the provider knows you need the PCR / Antigen. They can be confused easily with the similar language.
- The results must be dated 48 hours prior to your arrival into Panama
- My results were from the test on 3 November at 1030 am.
- I arrived into Panama on 5 November at 3:30 pm and they were accepted.
- It seems that 48 hours really means 2 days- mas or menos..
- Be sure to bring (2) printed COLOR copies of the results with you; and, have (1) readily available. As we know, Latins love official-looking documents...
- The biggest single challenge was departing my home city on United. The ticket agent was clumsily reading his computer screen and had no clue understanding what was going on in Panama.
- I graciously explained to him that I am resident there and was fully aware of the scene. This reassurance gave me the green light.
- REMEMBER, THE AIRLINE CAN STOP YOU FROM TAKING YOUR FLIGHT. So, be extra nice to the ticketing agent at your departure.
- In Houston, the connecting city, I had to queue up and show my test results, passport, boarding pass and get a new form. It is a Panamanian government document concerning COVID.
- The form is only in Spanish.
- Take your time filling it out. No rush. You will only need it upon arrival into Panama.
- At arrival into PTY, I proceeded as normal to Immigration. There, tables we staffed with medical folks to check my test results. Again, be nice to these folks. They have a tough job and many don't speak English.
- After the green light I went through immigration and customs as usual and entered the county.

NOTE: PTY airport is offering a PCR / Antigen test for $50 upon arrival. You can take that option. It is cheaper and easier. Still, given the high rate of inaccuracy and false positives with the test, I chose comfort and security over price and ease.

Finally, having been gone 8 months, I find Panama is a very different place. It is much cleaner: cleaner than anytime in memory.

Yet, many of the people look like they are suffering from a form of PTSD. Being some of the most social, gregarious, and party people in the world has worked against them during the extreme lockdown.

God Bless Us, Everyone.

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