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Travel Related
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INFORMATION |
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The best source of information in Panamá is the Panamanian Tourist
Institute, IPAT ( www.ipat.gob.pa ), which has its main office in Panamá
City and several provincial branch offices. Though the government is
keen to promote tourism, the idea that some foreign visitors prefer
independent travel to package tours is still a novelty to most IPAT
workers. You can get some useful information at the Panamá City office -
advice, free maps, leaflets - but unless you go there with some fairly
specific questions you may end up with little more than glossy brochures.
The provincial offices are more variable, though even in the most
rudimentary of them you should be able to find some useful information -
a local map or brochures - and there is usually someone who speaks
English. The Visitor/El Visitante , a free monthly tourist promotion
magazine in English and Spanish available at IPAT offices, hotels and
restaurants throughout Panamá, lists Panamá's attractions and upcoming
events.
Panamá's national parks and other protected natural areas are
administered by the National Environment Agency, ANAM ( www.anam.gob.pa
). The main office in Panamá City is in theory keen to promote
ecotourism, though in practice they offer almost no information on
visiting the parks. The ANAM regional offices, which administer the
national parks directly, are generally more helpful and an essential
stop before visiting parks where permission is needed or if you want to
spend the night in a refuge. Once again they are often unaccustomed to
the idea of travellers visiting national parks independently, but are
usually very helpful. Several tour operators based in Panamá City can
also give you advice and information on visiting the rest of the
country, though of course they will do so in the hope of selling you a
tour.
The best map of Panamá (1:800,000; available in specialist map shops) is
produced by International Travel Maps (345 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC,
Canada V5Y 1P8). In Panamá , large-scale maps are available at the
Instituto Geográfico Nacional Tommy Guardia (Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm) on Via
Simon Bolívar, opposite the entrance to the university in Panamá City.
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