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 300036 times)

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #240 on: July 12, 2018, 08:02:26 AM »
If your kids like searching for animals, hike up Ancon Hill. It's a steep climb but we saw a ton of wildlife! Toucans, Sloths, poisonous frogs....and there's a great view at the top. You are relatively close to Amador Causeway from there and you can rent bikes. There's also a nice playground at the end (we didn't do those two because we went without kids but noticed them). The Bio Museum is also there, which is fun to look at from the outside but I haven't been inside. .

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #241 on: July 12, 2018, 09:36:14 AM »
If your kids like searching for animals, hike up Ancon Hill. It's a steep climb but we saw a ton of wildlife! Toucans, Sloths, poisonous frogs....and there's a great view at the top. You are relatively close to Amador Causeway from there and you can rent bikes. There's also a nice playground at the end (we didn't do those two because we went without kids but noticed them). The Bio Museum is also there, which is fun to look at from the outside but I haven't been inside. .
Hit or miss. I have been there and spent quite a while there, and didn't even see 1 animal.

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #242 on: July 12, 2018, 09:54:48 AM »
Hit or miss. I have been there and spent quite a while there, and didn't even see 1 animal.

Interesting! It was teeming with wildlife when we went. It was right after some rain.

I think the view is worthwhile anyway, but little kids may not think so!

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #243 on: July 12, 2018, 10:20:31 AM »
Hit or miss. I have been there and spent quite a while there, and didn't even see 1 animal.

Interesting! It was teeming with wildlife when we went. It was right after some rain.

I think the view is worthwhile anyway, but little kids may not think so!

I was there after a rain as well and I barely saw any wildlife.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #244 on: July 13, 2018, 01:14:08 PM »
Anyone have info on Zika other than what Google has (i.e. no updates really since 2016 and nothing that specifies regions to avoid really, just lumps in the whole country)?

Offline GAM Z.

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #245 on: July 13, 2018, 01:46:49 PM »
Anyone have info on Zika other than what Google has (i.e. no updates really since 2016 and nothing that specifies regions to avoid really, just lumps in the whole country)?
It's still on the CDC's list of countries not to travel to.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #246 on: July 13, 2018, 02:14:12 PM »
It's still on the CDC's list of countries not to travel to.
Right, but the CDC red marks the whole country for every country except for USA. Looking for something that breaks Panama down into regions. The only info I got like that so far is from locals on Trip Advisor in 2016.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #247 on: July 15, 2018, 09:11:58 PM »
@Denverite Thank you for all your info. I'm going in 2 weeks with my family with 5 kids ages 1-9. We are also staying at Sortis, I booked 2 regular rooms, I called up to pay for an upgrade to 2 suites, and they told me you don't need to upgrade we will put a note and upgrade you when you come. I called again and got the same response. Did you book a suite, or got upgraded?

We are planing on doing the following:
1) Canal and Monkey Island
2) Embera Village
3) Islas Las Perlas...

Anything else you suggest for a family with young kids?

Thank you again.

I used my Marriott Cert and have no status so just asked upon check-in how much it would be to upgrade to a 1brm, 2bath suite (plenty of room for our family of 5 and had room for both the sofa bed and additional roll away). She said $80 a night and I gladly took it. Others have gotten status upgrades for free.  I’m also sure others could negotiate less for the upgrade fee but I didn’t have the koach. For a family of 7 you should be fine with upgrading to a one brm plus and additional room with two doubles.
I think those three things you listed for your family is the perfect itinerary for your kids. Hope you have a great time!

Offline Menachem613

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #248 on: July 16, 2018, 07:00:48 PM »
My wife and I will be in Panama City in August and have 3 full days for touring (excluding day of arrival and departure).  I am a considering using The Real Panama Tours for the following three trips:
1) Private boat at the Canal - Monkey Island Tour
2) San Blas Islands
3) Embera Village

Should I be considering something else instead?


Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #249 on: July 16, 2018, 10:32:14 PM »
Just collected all the activities listed throughout the thread and added them to the wiki.

Offline GAM Z.

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #250 on: July 16, 2018, 10:35:16 PM »
Just collected all the activities listed throughout the thread and added them to the wiki.
Thanks! Huge time saver!

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #251 on: July 18, 2018, 02:34:19 PM »
Planning a trip now to PTY, not sure how long to go for. What's the minimum recommended stay?
« Last Edit: July 18, 2018, 03:02:40 PM by davidrotts63 »
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline elya

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #252 on: July 18, 2018, 04:27:05 PM »
Planning a trip now to PTY, not sure how long to go for. What's the minimum recommended stay?
2 weeks at least.  ;)

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #253 on: July 18, 2018, 04:29:24 PM »
2 weeks at least.  ;)
Can't overlap yours ::)
The question is if a 3 day trip (including travel days) even makes sense.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #254 on: July 19, 2018, 01:09:41 AM »
Can't overlap yours ::)
The question is if a 3 day trip (including travel days) even makes sense.

No

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #255 on: July 19, 2018, 01:10:56 AM »
My wife and I will be in Panama City in August and have 3 full days for touring (excluding day of arrival and departure).  I am a considering using The Real Panama Tours for the following three trips:
1) Private boat at the Canal - Monkey Island Tour
2) San Blas Islands
3) Embera Village

Should I be considering something else instead?

I’d go to Islas Las Perlas (take a ferry) instead of San Blas. Or if looking for private beaches do the Portobello islands on a tour.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #256 on: July 19, 2018, 01:18:04 AM »
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Menachem613

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #257 on: July 19, 2018, 08:42:52 PM »
I’d go to Islas Las Perlas (take a ferry) instead of San Blas. Or if looking for private beaches do the Portobello islands on a tour.
Isn't that a bunch of islands? Anyone in particular?

Offline Denverite

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #258 on: July 19, 2018, 09:44:25 PM »
Isn't that a bunch of islands? Anyone in particular?

I went to Contadora

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #259 on: July 19, 2018, 09:45:56 PM »
Anyone rent a car there? Pros/cons?
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch