InsidePanama
FRENES

Daily life · 6 min · EN

Your first 72 hours in Panama City: step-by-step checklist

Landing at Tocumen with two suitcases and an Airbnb booking is easy. Doing the right things in the next 72 hours, so you don't waste 2 weeks struggling, is what decides your first month.

Inside Panama2026-05-09✓ field-verified

Cobblestone street in Casco Viejo Panama City
Cobblestone street in Casco Viejo Panama City

Disclaimer — This article is a practical checklist, to print or open on your phone at the airport. For heavier processes (visa, banking, schools), see the dedicated Inside Panama guides.

Before leaving — small things to do the morning of your flight

H+0 → H+2: getting off the plane

At Tocumen (PTY)

  1. Immigration — line up for non-residents. Show passport + Airbnb address. The officer asks the duration of your stay (“30 days” or “60 days”, no more for the first time) and the purpose (“tourism”). 90-day stamp on your passport.

  2. Baggage claim — carousel toward “International arrivals”. Plan 15-25 min.

  3. Customs — go through “Nothing to declare” unless you’re carrying more than $10,000 cash, goods to declare, or your dog (see the dog import guide).

  4. Exit + ATM or currency kiosk:

    • Banco General ATM right after customs (fees ~$5/withdrawal, max $200-500 depending on your card)
    • Exchange kiosks: rate 5-10% worse than an ATM. Avoid.

  5. +Movil or Más Móvil kiosk: buy a prepaid SIM. “30 días” plan at ~$15-20 USD (8-10 GB data + national calls). Activate on the spot with their help (5 min).

H+2 → H+4: transport to your Airbnb

Avoid these mistakes

❌ Airport taxis: inflated prices ($60-80 to Costa del Este vs $35 via Uber)

❌ “Hello amigo” touts: unless you already know the person

❌ Unofficial collective vans

Do this

✅ Uber or inDrive from your phone (the Panamanian SIM lets you receive the OTP code). Typical fares May 2026:

Trip 30-45 min depending on traffic. AC works in 95% of Ubers.

H+4 → H+12: check-in + sleep

On arrival at the Airbnb:

Jet lag tip: warm shower + 30-45 min walk in the neighborhood (just to move), back, light dinner, bed at 9-10pm local time. You’ll sync by morning.

Day 1 (H+24): groceries + light immersion

First outing — supermarket

Go to the closest Rey or Super 99 (typical 800m radius). Basic first basket for 5-7 days:

Item Typical price May 2026
Eggs (12) $3-4
Milk 1L $1.50-2
Bread (bolillo or baguette) $1.50-3
Local coffee 250g $4-6
Bottled water 6L $4-5
Fresh fruit (mango, banana, papaya) $5-8
Mixed vegetables $8-12
Chicken 1 kg $5-8
Rice 1 kg $1.50
Total first-week basket ~$50-80

Worth knowing: Panama City tap water is technically drinkable but many expats prefer bottled the first weeks (stomach adjusting).

First restaurant — local fonda

Try a popular fonda near you for lunch. “Comida corriente” plate: meat/chicken + rice + beans + plantain + salad for $5-8 USD. First contact with Panamanian cuisine.

Evening — neighborhood walk

Walk your neighborhood early evening (5-7pm, cooler). Note:

⚠️ Reflex to unlearn if you come from Europe — Panama traffic lights follow the American convention: they sit after the crosswalk (on the far side of the intersection), not before like in Europe. As a pedestrian: look UP and ACROSS the intersection to see if the light is red, not at the curb level. As a driver: stop at the white line BEFORE the crosswalk, not at the light itself. First reflex to reprogram.

Day 2 (H+48): concrete steps

Lawyer appointment (if visa already signed)

If you arrived with a pre-arranged Friendly Nations Visa, this is the moment to meet your lawyer (usually scheduled before departure). First in-person meeting for:

Bank — first appointment

If you haven’t yet opened a Tower Bank or Banco General account, schedule the appointment now. Plan 2-3 visits over 1-2 weeks before the account is functional. See Tower Bank vs Banco General.

Doctor — local test (if visa)

For Friendly Nations / Pensionado processes, a local Panamanian medical test is required. Approved clinic by your lawyer, around $80 USD, blood + urine + chest X-ray. Results in 2-3 days.

Day 3 (H+72): social + first adjustments

First expat meet-up

Sign up for an InterNations meet-up (monthly afterwork at Costa del Este, ~150 attendees). First IRL meet with other expats on the ground.

Useful sign-ups

First adjustment

You’ll probably notice:

Don’t change everything at once. Give yourself 2-3 weeks to soak in the rhythm before making real decisions (neighborhood, school, car).

Classic mistakes to avoid in the 72h

  1. Buying a car on day 2 — wait 2-3 months without one to validate you actually need it (Uber is very cheap).
  2. Signing a long lease before testing 4 neighborhoods — Airbnb 30-60 days first.
  3. Putting all your eggs in a single Panamanian account — keep Wise active in parallel for 6 months minimum.
  4. Letting one French/English-speaking expat “guide” you on everything — multiple sources, cross-check.
  5. Drinking tap water on day 1 — your stomach adjusts but over 1-2 weeks, not a day. Bottled or filter.

The week-1 survival kit (buy in the first week)

Going further

— Inside Panama editorial team, from Bella Vista, Panama City