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 298131 times)

Offline Smirk

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Panama Master Thread
« on: March 15, 2010, 11:21:37 PM »
I'm planning a trip to Panama, most probably Bocas del Toro. As far as I can tell there's no Jews in that area. I would fly into Panama City and would like to figure something out with food for the Bocas and maybe staying there for shabbos.
Has anyone been there? any advice?
« Last Edit: June 08, 2010, 05:23:18 PM by Dan »

Offline E

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upcoming trip EWR-MEX-PTY-GUA-SJO-EWR
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2011, 11:26:51 PM »
going over shavous will be spending yuntiff in Panama, any hotel recomendations near shul/jewish area.

Offline E

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2011, 05:08:13 PM »
Quick trip report:
went to Panama this past shavout stayed at the intercontinental which is relatively close to the jewish community of Punta Paitilla, whether there was supper hot and muggy.  There are now two massive kosher supermarkets fully stocked (comparable to New york) there are also many good restaurants in the paitilla area. I had one day of touring went to the Canal, Amador Causeway, and old city took a cab initially to the canal and was so cheap and gave us a good price so he took us around everywhere for around $30 for the whole day..

Offline sdh

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Panama
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2012, 09:22:19 PM »
We are considering going to Panama in August, does anyone have any tips/ recommendations, etc.? Has anyone stayed in the Starwoods hotels there? Are they close to any shuls for Shabbat?

Offline E

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2012, 07:03:30 PM »
the le meridian ( i think) is directly across from the Intercontinental and a 10-15 minute walk to shul..

Offline sdh

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2012, 07:44:16 PM »
Is the le meridien nice? I know the westin is in playa Bonita, should be a 25 minute drive from shuls and kosher restaurants. Do you recommend any restaurants? Do you recommend Panama as a vacation destination in August?

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2012, 12:20:42 AM »
I know this is tight and perhaps rushed but wondering if this is doable. I land at PTY at 6:32 am and depart at noon. Wish to see the canal of course and do not mind paying a cab etc to drive and wait for us. I can have my bags checked straight from Brazil to Trinidad I am sure and if will help can upgrade to biz. Is this crazy or I should be fine?

Offline bruceba

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2012, 01:55:58 PM »
It is very tight.  The drive may take 45 minutes or more each direction(without frequent traffic jams) and you have to check-in again which may take an hour or so plus exit immigration. I would not chance it myself.  The airport is nice.

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2012, 02:17:05 PM »
It is very tight.  The drive may take 45 minutes or more each direction(without frequent traffic jams) and you have to check-in again which may take an hour or so plus exit immigration. I would not chance it myself.  The airport is nice.
I found this drive on FT named John who said that he could pick me up at 7 am get me over to the canal by 8 spend till 930 am there and be back for the flight. This way I have one guy waiting for me etc who is a tour guide and he would also bring me back. I would have already been checked in as it is a connecting flight and likewise would not have any luggage. Any better?

Offline bruceba

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2012, 06:58:34 PM »
I hope it works for you. :)  I am OCD so usually very cautious. Is your trip on a weekend.(less traffic)?
Let us know how it goes.  I have heard good things about Panama John on FT.  Panama is great especially outside of PC.
Bruce

Offline docbjg

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2012, 11:53:37 PM »
Does anyone know if the above-mentioned hotels (Intercontinental, Le Meridien) are in the eruv? If not, are there any?

Thanks.

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2012, 12:39:59 AM »
I hope it works for you. :)  I am OCD so usually very cautious. Is your trip on a weekend.(less traffic)?
Let us know how it goes.  I have heard good things about Panama John on FT.  Panama is great especially outside of PC.
Bruce
In the end it worked out very well. We landed at 630 am and it took us 2 hours to get to the canal due to morning rush hour. We spent about an hour at the canal watching a few boats go through and it took just a half hour to get back to the airport. We made our flight with some time to spare in the Copa lounge. Not bad for a 5 and a half hour layover.

Offline wierdal832

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2013, 07:58:35 PM »
anyone know abt the  hechshers there?

Offline ORD747

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2013, 10:38:56 PM »
Went to panama last summer. Stayed at the Westin Playa Bonita during the week and the Four Points Sheraton for Shabbat. Westin was nice and about a 25 minute drive from the city. Four Points was a little tired but about a 25 minute walk from a shul claiming to be Ashkenazi that was actually Chabad. About 10 kosher restaurants and 2 supermarkets. The food is phenomenal. At playa Bonita we mostly used food brought from home and got cereal, milk, fruit and juice locally and are out at night. The Four Points breakfast was free (not sure if it was included in room or because of status). In terms of kosher food, there was coffee, fruit, yogurt and fruit juice.

Offline cherylnlajolla

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2014, 02:23:50 PM »
Does anyone have contact information for a driver/tour guide they recommend for Panama layover?

Thanks

Offline Frostboot

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2014, 12:49:22 AM »
Went to panama last summer. Stayed at the Westin Playa Bonita during the week and the Four Points Sheraton for Shabbat. Westin was nice and about a 25 minute drive from the city. Four Points was a little tired but about a 25 minute walk from a shul claiming to be Ashkenazi that was actually Chabad. About 10 kosher restaurants and 2 supermarkets. The food is phenomenal. At playa Bonita we mostly used food brought from home and got cereal, milk, fruit and juice locally and are out at night. The Four Points breakfast was free (not sure if it was included in room or because of status). In terms of kosher food, there was coffee, fruit, yogurt and fruit juice.

How was the Westin? How far is the Westin from Kosher food?

Offline bluiemonster1

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2014, 12:17:17 AM »
Ihave this conception that the culture in panama is much louder and more effervescent than in America. Am i correct? :-\

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2014, 02:57:06 AM »
Does anyone have contact information for a driver/tour guide they recommend for Panama layover?

Thanks
Still  need info on a driver? I you want I can try to find the contact info of the guy I used.

Offline Jlgldbrgr

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2014, 09:24:02 PM »
I would also appreciate if anyone has a write-up on panama
Vacation looking to spend a few days there.

Also what's the deal with kosher food there???

Offline ethana

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Re: Panama Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: January 31, 2014, 01:22:21 PM »
tons of food there. We spent a week there. There are 2 huge supermarkets and loads of restaurants. If you go to shul make sure to show your passport or have someone from the community vouch for you.
There is tons of stuff to do there and its a beautiful country.