Subscribe to the Guide: The Panama-Guide.com email group is a broadcast service you can use to have articles delivered to your inbox daily. This is not a discussion group but rather a one-way broadcast service only.
The following are groups, clubs, and organizations in the Republic of Panama open to membership by English speaking members of the expatriate community.
Note: If your group or club is not listed here please send me an email with a graphic and a link to your website, and I'll add you to the list. Thanks!
Panama-Guide.com Top Level Category - Getting Around Panama
Transportation is a critical, especially for someone trying to find their way around a new place. Most people see Panama for the first time from the window of an airplane. After clearing immigration, collecting your luggage and passing through customs you emerge onto the curb and need - a ride. All of the articles in this section of the Panama-Guide.com website have "getting around" or some kind of transportation as a common thread. Here you will find articles on the joys of catching a taxi in Panama, colorfully painted Diablo Rojo buses, the passenger train that can take you from one ocean to another in about an hour, and more mundane challenges like finding a good mechanic for your Hummer. If you require additional information about this or any other category of information regarding the Republic of Panama please take advantage of our powerful in-house search engine. And if you still can't find what you're looking for try sending in a request for information. If you like what you see please consider recommending Panama-Guide.com to your friends. Our dedicated readers make us the #1 English Language Website about the Republic of Panama. Salud.
Monday, May 05 2008 @ 11:12 AM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 171
The FINANCIAL -- Iberia is strengthening its presence in Guatemala and Panama. Today, May 5th, it is launching a fourth weekly flight from Madrid to the capital cities of the two Central American nations. The flights depart from Madrid at 12:30 h. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Timetables facilitate connections with another 34 Spanish cities, Iberia’s 41 European destinations, and 10 cities in Africa and the Middle East. The aircraft used on the route will be Airbus A-340s, both the 260-seat 300 and the 352-seat 600 model, equipped with Iberia’s lavish Business Plus class, with more room, more comfort, and a gourmet meal service deigned by the renowned chef Sergi Arola, Business Plus passengers also get free VIP parking at the airports of Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia for seven days, special check-in facilities, and use of the fully equipped Velázquez VIP lounge at Terminal 4 at Madrid-Barajas, among many other advantages. The fourth weekly flight was added to meet demand which has grown steadily since the route was launched in October 2004. Leader in Central America - This fourth flight to Guatemala and Panama strengthens Iberia’s leadership position in the Central American market, which it has served uninterruptedly since 1971. Iberia also operates direct daily flights to Costa Rica, and connections to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua under code sharing with local airlines. In 2007, Iberia carried 253,000 passengers to Central America, with an average cabin occupancy rate of 89.5%. In 2008, it expects to carry some 315,000 people, which would represent an 11% increase.
Sunday, May 04 2008 @ 11:32 AM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 524
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - In Panama the public transportation system is based primarily on recycled school buses from the United States. By law those buses can only serve for so many years before they have to be retired, and many of them end up in service on the streets of Panama (where they are driven until the wheels fall off.) They don't have air conditioning, a major drawback in a hot tropical country where the temperatures average around 90 degrees during the day with 60% humidity or more. But, they are cheap and efficient and you can use them to get around the city. A video of a ride on a Diablo Rojo follows. (more)
Thursday, May 01 2008 @ 06:02 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 230
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Last night the Panamanian National Police were out in force with their breathalysers in several checkpoints all over town. At least 35 vehicles were impounded and their drivers sanctioned for drunk driving. A lot of people were out partying last night because today, 1 May 2008, is Panamanian Labor Day and a national holiday.
Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
Thursday, May 01 2008 @ 05:53 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 244
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - For the most part I tend to ignore the daily "car crash" reports that come from the Panamanian media in a steady stream. I have said before and will repeat again - the most dangerous thing you will probably do in Panama is drive. So far in 2008 (in only 121 days) 153 people have died in traffic accidents in Panama. It's dangerous to drive here, especially on the highways when speeds get above the traffic-jam level.
Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
Tuesday, April 29 2008 @ 10:12 AM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 184
By Hilda Estrada Baso for El Siglo - Denying a rumor about a supposed shortage of fuel supplies in Panama, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) clarified inventories of petroleum derivatives, for consumption in the national market, are above security levels demanded by the government. Through an official press release the MICI indicated supplies of diesel, 95 and 91 octane gas, aviation fuel, bunker C, as well as liquefied petroleum gas, among others, are guaranteed by the National Strategic reserve for seven days, required of the five importation and distribution companies operating in the national market, according to Cabinet Decree Number 36 of 17 September 2003. With the purpose of verifying the faithful fulfillment of these requirements, the reserve is monitored daily by the National Direction of Hydrocarbons and Alternative Energies. Further denying the rumor, in their official notice the Hydrocarbon Direction confirmed that on 25 April 2008 two tankers unloaded a total of 100,000 barrels of light light diesel engine fuel.
Friday, April 25 2008 @ 09:38 AM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 436
By Meredith Serracin for the Panama America - At this moment a woman is trapped inside the wreckage of a Jeep Cherokee after the car was crushed by a "Diablo Rojo" (bus) on the route from Los Andes to Tumba Muerto. The bus rolled over onto the Jeep near the Villa de las Fuentes neighborhood, crushing it completely. Several witnesses who saw the accident said the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle when he had to swerve to avoid hitting several pedestrians who were crossing the street. Firemen are now working to free the woman who is still trapped inside of the Jeep. Meanwhile, the driver of the Jeep has already been freed from the wreckage and has been transported to the hospital for treatment.
Wednesday, April 23 2008 @ 02:59 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 333
By Alexis Graell for El Siglo - Without a doubt, rice is the weakness of Panamanians, as demonstrated yesterday morning when a truck transporting thousands of pounds of rice turned over at the start of the highway at the Perurena bridge in Arraiján. Hundreds of people arrived on the scene of the accident to gather up the load that was scattered on the road. The accident, the cause of which is still unknown, happened at approximately 10:00 in the morning. The truck had been loaded just one hour before with 50,000 pounds of unshelled rice in the Balboa port, and was traveling towards the province of Veraguas where the rice was to be processed. What is known is that the rice came from the United States where it was to be processed and packed as "Arroz Compita" in Panama. (more)
Wednesday, April 23 2008 @ 02:42 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 299
By Jaime A. Saldaña for La Critica - About 35 passengers who were riding in bus number 116 of "Tica Bus" were injured yesterday when the bus flipped over near Palmar Norte in Costa Rica, some 50 kilometers from the border with Panama. Those injured were taken to the regional hospital in David. Most were not seriously injured and had bumps and contusions, with the exception of an Italian who had a trauma to the skull and a Panamanian with a blow to the collar bone. Traveling in the bus were Americans, a Korean, Costa Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, an Argentine, a Russian, a Mexican, and a Latvian.
Wednesday, April 16 2008 @ 03:39 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 293
By José Arcia for La Prensa - Officials from the Ministry of Health tested 18 bus drivers of the 250 who serve the Veranillo bus terminal for drugs yesterday. The surprise testing commenced at 7:30 a.m. and the results will be known within 48 hours. Mariano González, a spokesman for the bus drivers who work out of the Veranillo terminal, was satisfied with the operation, but suggested they should also be done at night. He requested that the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) reinforce nocturnal monitoring. So far four drivers of the 216 tested in two other bus terminals as part of the same program came back positive for drugs. (Photo Credit: LA PRENSA/Víctor Arosemena)
Monday, April 14 2008 @ 02:43 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
Views: 427
By Meredith Serracin for the Panama America - Taxi drivers who try to charge the new higher tariff before they are officially authorized will be fined. Those taxi drivers caught charging the new higher rates for the changes in taxi zones before the authorized time will be sanctioned, according to Heraclio Batista the Director of the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT). Batista made his statements after a group of taxi drivers announced they intended to begin to charge the new tariffs as of today. Batista said ATTT units will be in the streets making sure taxi drivers are charging the correct rates.
The FINANCIAL -- Iberia is strengthening its presence in Guatemala and Panama. Today, May 5th, it is launching a fourth weekly flight from Madrid to the capital cities of the two Central American nations. The flights depart from Madrid at 12:30 h. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Timetables facilitate connections with another 34 Spanish cities, Iberia’s 41 European destinations, and 10 cities in Africa and the Middle East. The aircraft used on the route will be Airbus A-340s, both the 260-seat 300 and the 352-seat 600 model, equipped with Iberia’s lavish Business Plus class, with more room, more comfort, and a gourmet meal service deigned by the renowned chef Sergi Arola, Business Plus passengers also get free VIP parking at the airports of Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia for seven days, special check-in facilities, and use of the fully equipped Velázquez VIP lounge at Terminal 4 at Madrid-Barajas, among many other advantages. The fourth weekly flight was added to meet demand which has grown steadily since the route was launched in October 2004. Leader in Central America - This fourth flight to Guatemala and Panama strengthens Iberia’s leadership position in the Central American market, which it has served uninterruptedly since 1971. Iberia also operates direct daily flights to Costa Rica, and connections to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua under code sharing with local airlines. In 2007, Iberia carried 253,000 passengers to Central America, with an average cabin occupancy rate of 89.5%. In 2008, it expects to carry some 315,000 people, which would represent an 11% increase.
By Hilda Estrada Baso for 
By Alexis Graell for 
By Jaime A. Saldaña for 
By José Arcia for 
