Overland Panama Travel
Pan American Highway > Panama
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Panama
- 2 Entering Panama with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Panama
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in Panama
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Panama
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Panama
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Panama
Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.
Entering Panama with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: November 2014
Required Paperwork
- Passport of registered owner (original and 2 copies).
- Drivers license of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
- Vehicle registration (original and 1 copy).
- Copy of Vehicle insurance (required for both Immigration & Customs)
Entering via Ferry Express
Report from November 2014
Turn up to ferry (Cruise ship) terminal in Cartagena at recommended time. Gentleman at the gate will let you know what is going on, make sure he is aware you are going with car on ferry Xpress
PROCEDURE At Cartagena:
- Wait for shipping agent to turn up - go in shipping agents car to their office 3 kms away - you will need passport, car ownership, SOAT (Colombian Car insurance) and $25.00 USD or equivalent in Colombian Pesos. - very straight forward, 3 people took 30 mins.
- Shipping agent organizes car fumigation (inside and out) at ferry (cruise ship) terminal car park. $35.00 USD or equivalent in Colombian pesos.
- Wait until ferry is ready and then drive through to customs holding point, (at this point it may be driver only - ask at the gate) you will be directed here. Park the car here and it will be THOROUGHLY SEARCHED by the military. Fishing rods pulled apart to be inspected, roof tent poles inspected and some air let out of tires. Sniffer dogs used.
- Drive as directed to second customs holding point. Park here.
- Walk to personal immigration and customs building where everybody going on Ferry Xpress clears.
- Once cleared personal customs and immigration go to car, when directed drive on ship.
ON BOARD:
- You can use VISA or American Dollars NOT Colombian pesos.
- You can't access the car without authority.
- We were told we had to buy Panama Car insurance on the boat, otherwise we were not able to disembark the car. It cost $75.00 USD. You will need car ownership and owners passport be photocopied. - they gave a ferry express receipt (not the insurance)
PROCEDURE AT COLON:
- Drive the car to customs holding point.
- Go and clear personal immigration and customs in terminal like other passengers.
- Next step is importing your vehicle into Panama. (Getting your temp importation license and an authority to drive(?) This is done in the building on the left hand side of the carpark when you leave the building. You need to show your Panama car insurance to clear customs
- (Hopefully this step will have been sorted out compared from our experience.) FOR US:
- Arrived at car customs building, told we needed car insurance to start process, the office did not know what the ferry Xpress receipt we were given meant. We waited.
- Eventually we were told to go to a blue building outside the dock compound to the left - a car insurance company. We waited.
- A fixer from the port turned up at office who got the insurance completed for us.
It took us 4 hours from leaving the boat to leaving the port - it took a long time but everything always went forward.
- Once you have the insurance, hand over your passport, car registration, car insurance to the man in the window on the left hand side. (If hot you could ask to wait in the air conditioned room) he will issue you with two documents and stamp the owners/drivers passport. Pay him $15.00 USD
- Make sure to get the car/bike looked over with a sniffer dog before you leave the compound.
You arrive in Panama!!
Process at border
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Panama, application instructions and fees see: Panama Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
- The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (migración), including a stamp in their Passport.
- Insurance for the vehicle must be purchased. (see below)
- The owner must show the new passport stamp, the original vehicle registration and vehicle insurance to customs (aduana).
- The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.
A detailed border process has been written up which includes the Costa Rica exit, Panama Entry, GPS coordinates and an overview map etc http://myoverlandadventure.com/costa-rica-panama-border-cossing-paso-canoas-quebrada-grande/
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: If you plan to ship your vehicle out of Panama, make absolutely certain that everything written on your temporary import permit is correct. A single digit wrong in your VIN number or date of vehicle manufacture will be a problem later when you try to ship the vehicle. DO NOT let the customs people convince you it will be OK. It won't.
NOTE: You may encounter locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See Border Crossing Helpers for advice.
Cost of entry
Free.
Permitted length of stay
90 days for people, the vehicle only receives 30 days, though.
Extension of stay
Renew Vehicle Papers in Panama City
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Vehicles can be stored in a government bonded facility while the owner leaves the country. The import papers are suspended while the vehicle is stored for as long as you like. When you return, the import papers simply resume. Options include
- Panama City at the Panama Central Terminal. Ave. Ascanio Villalaz, Curundu. Apdo. 0843-00405 Panama, Rep. de Panama Tel: (507)232-6915 http://www.pct.com.pa for approx $8.00 USD per day.
- Chiriqui, David for approx $1.00 USD per day.
Exiting with a vehicle
By land to Costa Rica
- The registered owner is stamped out of Panama at immigration.
- The registered owner presents the temporary import paper to customs, where it is cancelled.
By Ship, probably to Colombia
See Crossing The Darien Gap for details.
Driving in Panama
Recommended books for Overlanding in Panama
Insurance requirements
Insurance is mandatory in Panama and you will be forced to buy it at the border before you are allowed to enter. There are always agents at the border to buy from.
Cost of insurance
$15.00 USD for 1 month for a 4x4.
Where to purchase insurance
Right at the border. The customs guys will tell you exactly where to go.
Driving license
Technically an International Driving Permit is required.
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.
Driving side of road
Right.
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.
Mandatory items in vehicle
None.
Roads
General Road quality
Roads in Panama are generally of good quality, except in some of the smaller towns where the pavement is cracked and broken. Lesser roads are gravel and can be mud pits in the rainy season.
Road signs
The only country in whole Central America that hardly has any road signs. Be ready to ask around or have a GPS.
Toll roads
The major highway from Panama City to Colón is tolled. Also the major highways around Panama City are toll roads and you need to buy the toll road card, you can't just pay cash. You still can try, but be prepared for some discussions with them!
Bribery in Panama
Police bribery is not common in Panama, but it certainly does happen.
See the bribery tips page for advice.
Checkpoints
Police checkpoints are not common in Panama, though you may encounter them. You'll be asked to show your Passport, Vehicle registration, drivers license, vehicle insurance and the temporary import permit you were issued at the border.
Traveling with pets
According to travelers in 2012, you need: [1]
Travelers in 2013 wrote this when traveling from Costa Rica to Panama: [2]
- A Health Certificate for the animal in Spanish (updated at least every four months)
- An up to date vaccination record (the European Pet Passport works well)
- You will likely have to pay around $15.00 USD
Gas and Diesel price in Panama
Last updated: June 2012 (Diesel November 2014)
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Regular | €0.80 EUR per Liter |
| Super (90) | ?? |
| Premium (95) | $4.40 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Ultra (97) | ?? |
| Normal Diesel | $0.86 USD per Liter |
| Diesel (low sulfur) | ?? |
- Price Information: gasoline-germany.com - International Gas / Petrol / Diesel prices - Panama
Gas and Diesel / Frequency
Gasoline shortages in Panama are not a problem.
Typically gas stations are not more than 100 - 200km apart.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Accepted to be good quality.
Sulfur content of diesel is unknown.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Driving at night is not considered a huge problem in Panama, though it's not recommended due to road hazards that can not be seen in the dark.
Vehicle parking
Parking vehicles on the street in smaller towns during the day is typically OK. Find a secure parking lot in big cities and at night.
Special driving considerations
None.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Panama - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Panama
Camping is becoming more popular with local Panamanians and hostels in touristy areas have camping to cater for backpackers.
Being far away from major roads is preferable for wild camping.
Camping guide books
No specific book exists, though the usual backpacker guide books mention when a hostel has camping facilities.
Drinking water
Tap water in most of Panama is not safe to drink, though many hotels and hostels in Panama City advertise that it is safe. Every corner store sells 1 and 2 liter bottles, and 20 liter bottles can be bought at most large grocery stores.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Panama
Purchase maps before arriving in Panama.
GPS Maps of Panama
- Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.[3]
- Cenrut: Free Open Source GPS map of Central America. Coverage is occasionally better than OSM. [4]
- Garmin: Apparently no map of Panama.
- TomTom: No map of Panama. [5]
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Panama
- Places in Panama - Camping Places & Sights in Panama from Pawsontour
- Panama Campgrounds and Hostels - List of campgrounds and hostels with photos, GPS co-ordinates, descriptions and amenities from 2012
- Camping and Hotels in Panama - DTA
- Camping Sites: Panama - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
- Central America Camping Locations - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.
- Camping Log 1: Central America - List of campsites, shopping, fuel, propane and border crossings with excellent descriptions and GPS co-ordinates.
- White Acorn camping log page - GPS co-ordinates and excellent description of campsites]
Special Overland Travel interests
- See Crossing The Darien Gap for those details.
- Touring the Darien Jungle on foot and in boats http://trans-americas.com/blog/2014/09/darien-jungle-panama/
- Driving to the very end of the road http://trans-americas.com/blog/2014/10/end-road-yaviza-darien-panama/
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
For helpful information while in Panama, ask on Club 4x4 Panama forum. They can recommend good mechanics, places to find parts, and even places to camp or find camping supplies. They have been known to help out overland travelers.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Panama
Buy
Unknown.
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Selling a car in Panama is relatively easy assuming you can find a buyer.
We were able to conclude the sale in a day.
You will need:
- A bill of sale or transfer of the car, (you can type one up yourself). It should include the make, model, year of the car, the VIN and the buyer and seller's full name and address and ID numbers
- Original title of the vehicle and the 'rodaje' or temporary import permit that was given to you at the border by customs
- Notarized copies of the seller's passport, the buyer's passport or ID, the vehicle title and the bill of sale and the 'rodaje'
- Once you have agreed on a price and gotten all the documents written up and notarized you then drop the car off at a bond warehouse where it awaits customs valuation. They will keep the car title at the bond warehouse and give you a document stating that the car has been consigned to the bond.
- You then go to the customs office where the Gerencia or Administration department will review your paperwork to make sure it is all in order before directing you to the Vehicular Control department where you can get your passport stamped allowing you to leave the country.
- You should probably arrange to receive the cash payment for the car before dropping off the car at the bond warehouse.
- The buyer of the car then has to work with a corredor de aduana to get the customs paperwork and legalize it in Panama. This can take up to 20 days. The buyer assumes all responsibility for paying the customs duties and taxes which will be a minimum of $1,500.00 USD no matter the value of the car (as of 2012)
References
- ↑ Central American Borders and dogs
- ↑ Traveling with dogs from Canada to Argentina. Experiences and Infos.
- ↑ OpenStreetMap Panama
- ↑ Cenrut Mapping Project
- ↑ TomTom Map availability
Helpful External links
- Panama: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Panama - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Panama travel guides at wikivoyage
- Panama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
