Panama Master Thread

[gubevo18]

Please fill out the following, to get the permite to visit the sinagogues

http://www.dsipanama.org/visit

Right. That is what I saw on go kosher panama. I'm wondering if that is required or if I can just show up with my passport. Id rather not fill out all this sensitive info in an online form if I don't have to.

[skyguy918]

Thanks. What about the other shuls? I'm interested in seeing the Jewish culture in Panama so I hope to daven at each of the sfardi shuls there. Do any of those shuls require advance forms? Go kosher panama suggests that they do, but on this thread it seems that you only need to do anything in advance if you plan to visit on shabbos. Otherwise, you can just bring your passport and get in. Is that correct?

All of the shuls share a security service. When I went last year, not for shabbos, I still had to fill out the form and talk to someone the first time coming in.

[Redbull3]

Please fill out the following, to get the permite to visit the sinagogues

http://www.dsipanama.org/visit

Do I need to fill this out to go to Chabad? I booked lunch there next shab and didn't get prompted to fill that out

[cgr]

Do I need to fill this out to go to Chabad? I booked lunch there next shab and didn't get prompted to fill that out

This is only for the Shevet Ahim shuls- not for Chabad.

[Redbull3]

Traveling with my wife and a 3 yr old a little sensitive to motion sickness. Looking for activities that are either relaxing or fun for kids (animals are a huge plus) but no boats and nothing intensely hike-ish. Anyone have any good recommendations?

Also, anyone ever check out the "Biomuseo"?

[Minyan]

Is there a difference of the Monkey Jungle Tour and the Rainforest Tour?  One tour guide told me its the same.

[Minyan]

Can you do the Panama Canal on your own?  My tour guide wants to do it with Monkey Jungle

[cgr]

Can you do the Panama Canal on your own?  My tour guide wants to do it with Monkey Jungle

Yes

[KSMH]

How many days to see basics ?

[gubevo18]

How many days to see basics ?

going for four days next week. I'll lyk if that's enough after my trip...

[deals]

do people use uber eats or order directly from restaurant ?

[Something Fishy]

Can you do the Panama Canal on your own?

Do? No. Unless you're a very good swimmer and can carry the mandatory canal pilot on your back.
See the canal and enjoy the visitor's center? Certainly.

[gubevo18]

Anyone have whatsapp contact info for my friend Mario? Id like to do a half day tour of just monkey island and I emailed the email on his website but thus far have not received a response. TIA

[Yonah]

Traveling with my wife and a 3 yr old a little sensitive to motion sickness. Looking for activities that are either relaxing or fun for kids (animals are a huge plus) but no boats and nothing intensely hike-ish. Anyone have any good recommendations?

Also, anyone ever check out the "Biomuseo"?

I wanted to go to the BioMuseo - it's closed on Mondays. If you are going there, there are some bike rental places on the amador causeway - including Burke's bikes, which rents pedal cabs (not as much motion sickness as a standard bicycle)

There is also Monkey Island and the Sloth Sanctuary

[Yonah]

Can you do the Panama Canal on your own?  My tour guide wants to do it with Monkey Jungle

Yes - but no matter which visitor's center you go to, you need to time it right - it takes ships a while to transit the canal, and at some points during the daytime, they limit traffic to one direction, so there are a couple of hours each day where no ships come through.

[cgr]

Yes - but no matter which visitor's center you go to, you need to time it right - it takes ships a while to transit the canal, and at some points during the daytime, they limit traffic to one direction, so there are a couple of hours each day where no ships come through.

At Miraflores:

Best time is between 9AM-11AM and 3PM-5PM. Between 11AM and 3PM they're pumping the water to change the direction that ships can pass.

[Redbull3]

I wanted to go to the BioMuseo - it's closed on Mondays. If you are going there, there are some bike rental places on the amador causeway - including Burke's bikes, which rents pedal cabs (not as much motion sickness as a standard bicycle)

There is also Monkey Island and the Sloth Sanctuary

Thanks for the reply.
Is pedal cab the 4 seater? This is kind of an odd question but can 1 person steer that with 2 people in back?
Monkey Island is all boat tours right? What is "sloth sanctuary" (i've seen sloths come up in a couple places like metropolitan natural park and panama rainforest discovery center, is this something else?)

[skyguy918]

I wanted to go to the BioMuseo - it's closed on Mondays. If you are going there, there are some bike rental places on the amador causeway - including Burke's bikes, which rents pedal cabs (not as much motion sickness as a standard bicycle)

Thanks for the reply.
Is pedal cab the 4 seater? This is kind of an odd question but can 1 person steer that with 2 people in back?

Pretty sure they have something where the parents can pedal side by side with a kid strapped in toward the front:

There is also Monkey Island and the Sloth Sanctuary

Monkey Island is all boat tours right? What is "sloth sanctuary" (i've seen sloths come up in a couple places like metropolitan natural park and panama rainforest discovery center, is this something else?)

Yes, Monkey Island really just means being brought by boat to various spots on Gatun Lake where there are wild monkeys (and sometimes sloths and other wildlife too). So that's a no go if boats are out. Both Metropolitan Natural Park and Panama Rainforest Discovery Center (Pipeline Road, etc) are essentially just walking/hiking around the rainforest, with the possibility of seeing a wild sloth. Sloth Sanctuary is a place they care for sloths that can't be released back into the wild, so no hiking, and you're guaranteed to see them. That's located in the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve (like a resort in the rainforest - right across from the main docks where many boat tours launch from). There are other activities there as well, though maybe not too many you can do with your 3yo.

[Redbull3]

Pretty sure they have something where the parents can pedal side by side with a kid strapped in toward the front:
Yes, Monkey Island really just means being brought by boat to various spots on Gatun Lake where there are wild monkeys (and sometimes sloths and other wildlife too). So that's a no go if boats are out. Both Metropolitan Natural Park and Panama Rainforest Discovery Center (Pipeline Road, etc) are essentially just walking/hiking around the rainforest, with the possibility of seeing a wild sloth. Sloth Sanctuary is a place they care for sloths that can't be released back into the wild, so no hiking, and you're guaranteed to see them. That's located in the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve (like a resort in the rainforest - right across from the main docks where many boat tours launch from). There are other activities there as well, though maybe not too many you can do with your 3yo.

Appreciate you skyguy! For the 3 person bike, the sloth sanctuary tip, and also for your analysis on renting vs ubering. Budget car is $6/day (~2k chase points for 7 days lolol) so going with that so we don't have to wait for ubers (especially from hard to reach places), can keep the car seat in the whole time, etc.
Why does everything seem so cheap in panama? It's like inflation didn't hit them

[Redbull3]

Can you just show up to Gamboa Rainforest Reserve and see sloths and/or take the air/tram? Or is that only for resort guests.. @skyguy918