|
CURRENCY: Balboa (B/) Equivalent to the american dollar, which is widely used in the country. There are not balboa bills, only coins, that are equal to the american dollar in size and value. The american dollar is also a legal currency.
CLIMATE
Yearly average temperature: 27 Centigrades or 82 grades Farenheit. Rainy seasons from may to august and from november to january. Dry seasons from february to april and september/october.
LANGUAGE The official language in Panama is spanish but english is widely spoken in Bocas del Toro province.
AIRLINES Changuinola city is served by AEROPERLAS and TURISMO AEREO, with flights to and from Panama City, David and Bocas Isla. Offices in the Airport, phone: 758-7521 (Aeroperlas) and 758-9841 (Turismo Aereo). Schedule in Services.
MARINE TAXIS Connect Changuinola with Bocas del Toro islands. The company is Bocas Marine Tours that leaves from the terminal at Finca 60. Schedule is flexible. Cost of the ticket $ 5.00 (one way).
BANKS There are several banks in Changuinola City, branches of Caja de Ahorros, Banco Nacional de Panama, Banistmo, Global Bank and Multicredit Bank. The banks open mondays to fridays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 md.
CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELLER CHECKS Some shops and service stores don't accept credit cards. Travellers checks can be cashed in the different banks. Money from credit cards can be get at the bank´s ATMs in town.
ELECTRICITY 110 VAC/50 cycles. Some places have also 220 VAC/60 cycles.
GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCE HOURS Many stores open monday to saturday, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sundays close. Most of the restaurants serve dinner only up to 10:00 pm. Government offices open monday to friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Post Office also opens on saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 md.
POPULATION 45,000 inhabitants (2000 census) is the population of the district.
MIGRATION The Migrations main office is in the Ave 17 de Abril. All foreigner visitors must have a valid passport and visa to enter or leave Bocas del Toro province.
PUBLIC PHONES There are many public telephones in Changuinola city that accept coins or phone cards. Phone company is Cable and Wireless, located in Ave 17 de Abril.
VISITS TO THE PROTECTED AREAS To visit the reserves, tourists must show up in the Admnistrative Offices at Wekso or ANAM. Fee for nationals and Panama residents is $ 1.00 per visit. Foreigners pay $ 3.00 per visit.
TOURISM INFORMATIONS (TOURISM BOARD) The office of IPAT (Panamanian Tourist Board) is also the Tourism Visitors Center, located in Bocas del Toro town, at 1st. street, besides the Police station. Phone/fax: 757-9642.
IMPORTANT PHONES Police: 104; Fire Department: 103; Hospital: 758-8232; Information: 123; Phone company national operator: 101, international operator: 106.
LOCAL EVENTS New Year: January 1; Carnival: February or March; Eastern: March or April; Changuinola Fair: first week of October; Independence from Columbia: November 3; National Flag Day: November 4; Bocas del Toro Day: November 16; Independence from Spain: November 28; Mothers day: December 8; Christmas: December 25.
|
