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 299863 times)

Offline zow

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #140 on: June 06, 2017, 03:32:29 PM »
Their food is some of the best I have ever tasted. I'm interested in good, simple food, not exotic.

Their burger is the best I've ever had.

Have you been to Amsterdam Burger Co in NYC?


Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #141 on: June 06, 2017, 04:00:46 PM »
Have you been to Amsterdam Burger Co in NYC?

I have. I'd rate their breakfast burger as my second best.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #142 on: June 06, 2017, 06:47:49 PM »
I hope you get to keep your food. Enjoy the burger. We loved the schwarma there and the yucca fries were definitely fun.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #143 on: June 08, 2017, 11:31:53 PM »
Does anyone have contact information for a driver/tour guide they recommend for Panama layover?

Thanks

www.therealpanamatours.com

She has a specific link for people on layovers of 4-6 hours and I can't recommend her enough.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #144 on: June 08, 2017, 11:32:55 PM »
Has anyone been there over sukkot and know if a lot of the restaurants have sukkahs open?  Does the Chabad have an open sukkah for people to use on Chag?

Offline Srsy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #145 on: June 09, 2017, 12:24:54 AM »
Which SPG hotel is closest to the shul?  How bad is the rain in the beginning of July?
Do you recommend renting a car or hiring a driver?

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #146 on: June 09, 2017, 12:44:53 AM »
Which SPG hotel is closest to the shul?  How bad is the rain in the beginning of July?
Do you recommend renting a car or hiring a driver?

Le Meridian is very close to Shevet Achim shul and only 7k a night.  Totally recommend getting a driver.

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #147 on: June 09, 2017, 08:50:59 AM »
Which SPG hotel is closest to the shul?  How bad is the rain in the beginning of July?
Do you recommend renting a car or hiring a driver?

I don't recommend driving in Panama City it all. Drivers are crazy. Stop signs are (literally) suggestions. Pedestrians just walk off the streets wherever they want. There is no place to park.

If you want to drive to El Valle, the drive isn't bad (we hired a driver). 

We use Almiza Tours/ My friend mario http://www.bscpma.com/mfm/aboutus.htm and they were great. We negotiated for round trip transportation to/from the airport since we took multiple tours with them.

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #148 on: June 09, 2017, 10:10:19 AM »
we actually loved driving in panama city. the drivers ARE crazy but a certain point we just said if you cant beam em join em, and joined the fun.

Offline Srsy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #149 on: June 09, 2017, 12:20:39 PM »
I don't recommend driving in Panama City it all. Drivers are crazy. Stop signs are (literally) suggestions. Pedestrians just walk off the streets wherever they want. There is no place to park.

If you want to drive to El Valle, the drive isn't bad (we hired a driver). 

We use Almiza Tours/ My friend mario http://www.bscpma.com/mfm/aboutus.htm and they were great. We negotiated for round trip transportation to/from the airport since we took multiple tours with them.
How expensive are drivers?

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #150 on: June 09, 2017, 12:35:51 PM »
How expensive are drivers?

We did day trips over a specific driver, so I can't really give you a quote for that. But our tour to El Valle was $80/pp, to Colon area was $70/pp to give you an idea. 

Offline Dan

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #151 on: June 17, 2017, 10:47:57 PM »
Anyone want to adopt this wiki?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #152 on: June 17, 2017, 11:03:46 PM »
Anyone want to adopt this wiki?

What does that mean?

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #153 on: July 06, 2017, 12:45:59 PM »
What does that mean?
it means to complete it with the local info that can help others.

I just got back this week and it was so amazing I literally want to move there! ;) We all agreed we want to go back since we purposely took the week easy but then didn't do everything we wanted to and need to return! All my kids had a blast, there are over 20 EXCELLENT kosher restaurants (that cost less than the US) and since Panama is so physically small we were able to have breakfast in the kosher Coffee Bean next to our hotel (there were also a number of bakeries and cafes close by) and later come home from our tour or excursion and have the driver just drop us at a new kosher restaurant to try.  It is the full package of the convenience of vacationing in Miami but can do a lot of of the cool stuff that you'd want to do in Costa Rica, the Carribean or even the rainforest in Brazil.  I don't want to promise but hopefully I'll start to write it up on Sunday.  Also, if you have any specific questions just let me know and I'll try to answer.
Did you end up posting a TR anywhere? would love to see it.

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #154 on: July 06, 2017, 08:48:29 PM »
I can't figure out how to post a hyperlink with a name. Can anyone point me to some directions? I can link to Denverite's TR then. Once I write mine, I'll add that too.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #155 on: July 06, 2017, 09:09:25 PM »
I can't figure out how to post a hyperlink with a name. Can anyone point me to some directions? I can link to Denverite's TR then. Once I write mine, I'll add that too.

Code: [Select]
[url=www.google.com]Google[/url]
Makes this:

Google

Modify as needed.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #156 on: July 06, 2017, 09:12:35 PM »
Code: [Select]
[url=www.google.com]Google[/url]
Makes this:

Google

Modify as needed.


Thank you.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #157 on: July 14, 2017, 12:20:06 PM »
I can't figure out how to post a hyperlink with a name. Can anyone point me to some directions? I can link to Denverite's TR then. Once I write mine, I'll add that too.

Here is my TR:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=75186.0

And I'd love to see yours too as I'm planning to go back and I know there was tons we didn't do!

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #158 on: July 17, 2017, 07:37:45 AM »
Here is my TR:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=75186.0

And I'd love to see yours too as I'm planning to go back and I know there was tons we didn't do!

Now that I know someone actually wants to read it, I'll get moving. I finally sorted my pictures and ordered a photobook, so it shouldn't be too bad!

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #159 on: July 17, 2017, 09:55:11 PM »
Now that I know someone actually wants to read it, I'll get moving. I finally sorted my pictures and ordered a photobook, so it shouldn't be too bad!

People for sure want to read your Trip Report!