Topic Wiki

List of TR's:
Denverite
saw50st8
dvol
dvol Pictures
zow
CGR, CGR #2
itreu001
TripsPls
davidrotts63
yuneeq Contadora (Pearl Islands)
Something Fishy (Cuba)
Something Fishy (Honduras)
Ponash123
PBaruch
Moishes 2/5/24 Panama Extended Weekend



Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
Places to Eat:
Aria
Aroma Café
Darna Dairy/Bakery
Kava
Jeffrey’s Bakery
Pita Pan
Pita Plus
Lula by Darna
Metsuyan
Hilel Sports Bar and Grill- Closed
Darna
La Spezia
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (including 2 at PTY)
Dr. Sandwich
Prime Grill
Forever yogurt in casco viejo- Chalav Yisroel ice cream - Closed down
NEW - Jerusalem Israeli Cuisine by Chabad in Casco Viejo
Supermarkets:
Superkosher
Supermacardo Deli K


Cholov Yisroel:
If you go onto Kosher Panama Website you can search for Cholov Yisroel by entering Jalav Israel in the search, just be aware if the site lists Jalav Israel and Lacteo in the description, the establishment may have both CY and non-CY so be aware and double check with the staff.
SuperKosher also had a nice selection of CY breakfast/snack/frozen items available.

There is a local chalav yisroel that isn't up to everyone's standards. It isn't up to Chabad as they use a lower kasherimg temperature than the alter rebbe holds.
This is what local chabad down there told me. Don't hold me to any of it please.


Synagogue:

The Jewish community in Panama is mainly in Panama City in the Punta Paitilla area.
You must bring your passport with you to enter the shuls. You can bring your passport over during the week if you are not staying in the eruv. They will make a copy of your passport.

Sinagoga Beth El – Orthodox, Ashkenazi. After Shabbat morning services, they have a full sit down Kiddush lunch.
They also serve breakfast after weekday shacharit.
Contact Asistente al Rabino secretaria@centrobethel.com - Déborah Wizel

Shevet Ahim – Sephardic. proper attire required, denied entry for shorts.

Ahavat Sion –

Chabad -  bracha Karniel goldberg  brachagold@gmail.com

Things to Do:
Panama Canal
Amador Causeway
Old City
$30 cabbie for all day
Panama John on FT cab and tour guide
San Blas islands
En Valle Market
Casco Viejo
Barefoot Panama tour company
Boquete
Biosphere
Miraflores Locks
Ancon Hill (tallest point in the City)
Anton Valley (hiking, waterfalls, horseback riding)
Panama Viejo
MultiPlaza (high-end mall)
Parque Natural Metropolitano
Partial canal transit
Monkey Island boat tour
Rainforest Gondola tour
Contadora (Pearl Islands) - whale watching, snorkeling/scuba on Chipera, Mogu Mogu, https://pearlislandsdaytours.com/
Rainbow bass fishing
Ziplining
Rent bikes along the water
Rainforest
Beach- Santa Clara and punta palmar both 1.5+ hours from Panama City
Indigenous tribes
Coffee plantations in the mountains
Whale watching
City tour (includes animals)
Chargres River Tour, hike to waterfall, visit Embrera Indian Village
Hiking Portabello road
Natural Metropolitan Park
www.therealpanamatours.com
Almiza Tours/ My friend mario http://www.bscpma.com/mfm/aboutus.htm (Website not working!)
Colon
Bocas del Toro
Old city/Casco viejo

Hotels:

Getting Around:
Uber is the best way to get around, cheap and reliable (if you go to the rainforest, there might not be any cars available going back, search before)

Notes:


Please Update the Wiki
« Last edited by moishes on February 05, 2024, 05:12:28 PM »

Author Topic: Panama Master Thread  (Read 299913 times)

Offline Luvtotravel

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #40 on: April 15, 2015, 11:56:49 PM »
Panama supposedly has the highest concentration of kosher eateries per capita so I'm sure you won't go hungry.
Don't wait for the perfect moment; take the moment and make it perfect.

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #41 on: April 16, 2015, 12:05:12 AM »
Definitely go to darna and lula. If you can get into the private club there are two great restaurants. One dairy and one meat.

Offline whYME

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #42 on: August 10, 2015, 12:51:11 PM »
Any recommendations for a hotel near the airport? I have a 7:40 am flight and want something convenient.

Offline whYME

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #43 on: August 13, 2015, 05:07:12 PM »
Any recommendations for a hotel near the airport? I have a 7:40 am flight and want something convenient.
Bump

Offline NatiG

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #44 on: October 11, 2015, 02:58:34 PM »
My wife and I will be in Panama City from Wed 12/23 to shabbos 12/26.

Our flight back to the USA leaves PTY on Thursday 12/31, so we have Sunday to Wednesday to explore beyond Panama City.

We'd like to do:
- a rainforest zip line
- secluded beach (privacy is important)
- hikes with beautiful views
- maybe white water rafting

I am struggling to get enough information to put a plan together.

I'd be so grateful if some experienced Panama travelers could weigh in on:
1) Where do you think we should go?
2) Where do you recommend we stay?
3) How should we get around?
4) What will we need guides/operators for, and where do we find them? How far in advance should we book?
5) Will the fact that it's the week between xmas and New Years make things more complicated?

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #45 on: October 11, 2015, 03:24:22 PM »
We went ziplining in el Valle. Around 2 hrs from pty  we also got a basically private island in San blas. We hired a guide for the day to take us to one of the islands. There were around 5 other ppl. So we just chose an area with no other ppl.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #46 on: October 15, 2015, 11:54:25 PM »
We went ziplining in el Valle. Around 2 hrs from pty  we also got a basically private island in San blas. We hired a guide for the day to take us to one of the islands. There were around 5 other ppl. So we just chose an area with no other ppl.

We're planning to go next mid-winter break and I'd love to do the ziplining and island tour.  Did you just get your tour and guide referrals through your hotel?  If not, how did you find them?  I have Diamond status and since it is a brand new hotel that has suites with kitchens and looks to be right near all the Jewish stuff, we have reservations at the Hilton.

Offline yakrot

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #47 on: October 16, 2015, 12:05:39 AM »
My wife and I will be in Panama City from Wed 12/23 to shabbos 12/26.

Our flight back to the USA leaves PTY on Thursday 12/31, so we have Sunday to Wednesday to explore beyond Panama City.

We'd like to do:
- a rainforest zip line
- secluded beach (privacy is important)
- hikes with beautiful views
- maybe white water rafting

I am struggling to get enough information to put a plan together.

I'd be so grateful if some experienced Panama travelers could weigh in on:
1) Where do you think we should go?
2) Where do you recommend we stay?
3) How should we get around?
4) What will we need guides/operators for, and where do we find them? How far in advance should we book?
5) Will the fact that it's the week between xmas and New Years make things more complicated?
I stayed in a Radisson that was about a five minute walk from the maon shul and right across the street from the big grocery store.

When I was there we took taxis everywhere they where relatively cheap. (i may still have the number of a taxi driver from there, speaks English and doubles as a bodyguard, carrys a gun upon request, I don't think he is the cheapest around though)
« Last Edit: October 16, 2015, 12:10:30 AM by yakrot »

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #48 on: October 16, 2015, 04:45:58 PM »
We took a tour with a company called Barefoot Panama who told us about El Valle. We rented a car and went on our own. The island was set up by someone we knew in the Jewish community. To go through the hotel would probably be pricey.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #49 on: October 16, 2015, 07:16:32 PM »
We took a tour with a company called Barefoot Panama who told us about El Valle. We rented a car and went on our own. The island was set up by someone we knew in the Jewish community. To go through the hotel would probably be pricey.

Thanks for that company name.  Just went to their website and they have lots of cool different tours.  NatiG, they actually offer all the different stuff you were looking to do when you go in Dec. although the tours are definitely not cheap.  For me personally I'd rather pay to go on a guided tour and if I got my hotel and flight free I'm ok to pay for the tours. ;)

Offline NatiG

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #50 on: October 20, 2015, 08:53:21 AM »
I only have budget for splurging on maybe one organized tour.

I'd prefer to figure out how to do things independently.

Can you send info on the guide of the day-trip to San Blas?

I'd love to do a day trip to San Blas on Sunday, then Monday-Wednesday in Boquete, and then back to Panama City Wednesday night.

Is San Blas private enough to swim and expect no one will be able to see?

Offline incendia

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #51 on: December 17, 2015, 12:14:49 PM »
Im going to be in Panama City for a week in mid-Jan anyone have suggestions on what I should,shouldn't do.

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #52 on: December 17, 2015, 12:29:55 PM »
definitely do the canal.
barefoot panama tours
el valle ziplining
san blas islands
there's a new biosphere that opened
great kosher restaurants

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #53 on: December 17, 2015, 09:27:54 PM »
definitely do the canal.
barefoot panama tours
el valle ziplining
san blas islands
there's a new biosphere that opened
great kosher restaurants

Thanks for the comprehensive list!

Offline incendia

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #54 on: December 18, 2015, 12:13:38 PM »
definitely do the canal.
barefoot panama tours
el valle ziplining
san blas islands
there's a new biosphere that opened
great kosher restaurants

Im looking for in Panama city specifically, or day trps from Panama city

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #55 on: December 18, 2015, 12:19:07 PM »
Aside from San blas. Those are all day trips.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #56 on: December 18, 2015, 12:28:59 PM »
Miraflores Locks
Ancon Hill
Panama Viejo
MultiPlaza (high-end mall)
Parque Natural Metropolitano

You could also do a partial canal transit.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline mgarfin

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #57 on: January 03, 2016, 01:54:56 PM »
I have an option for a 12 hour stop (day time) on the way to Brazil, is it worth the hassle and if yes what should I look at?

Offline oiseli48

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #58 on: January 03, 2016, 03:27:21 PM »

I have an option for a 12 hour stop (day time) on the way to Brazil, is it worth the hassle and if yes what should I look at?

If you're by yourself, sure it's worth it. Go see the Panama Canal, and there are a few restaurants to eat at.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #59 on: January 03, 2016, 03:43:06 PM »
If you're by yourself, sure it's worth it. Go see the Panama Canal, and there are a few restaurants to eat at.

That's what we did. Miraflores Locks and an great restaurant (can't remember the name - maybe whYME could chime in).

We also went to Ancon Hill, which was a bust due to weather but a good place to go otherwise.
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