THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 131

DIRECTORY
Embassies and consulates Australia (Honorary Consul), Importadora Ricamar, C 16, Río
Abajo ( 305 5001); Canada, C 53 Este, Torres de las Americas, Tower A, Piso 11,
Punta Pacífica ( 264 9731, canadainternational.gc.ca/panama ) ; Colombia, Condominio
Posada del Rey, Planta Baja, Vía Italia, Punta Paitilla ( 392 5586,
panama.embajada.gov.co ) ; Costa Rica, Av Samuel Lewis, Plaza Omega by the Santuario
Nacional ( 264 2980, embajadacostaricaenpanama.com ) ; Ireland, Torre Delta, 14th
floor, Vía España ( 264 6633, [e-mail] ) ; South Africa, C 50 at C 69,
Edif Plaza Guadalupe, Oficina 404, San Francisco ( 226 2559, [e-mail] );
UK, C 53, Torre MMG, Marbella ( 269 0866, gov.uk/world/panama ) ; US, Av Demetrio
Basilio Lakas, Clayton ( 207 7000, panama.usembassy.gov ) .
Health Excellent medical care is available in the city in both the public and private sector,
with many US-trained and English-speaking staff. Recommended public hospitals include
Hospital Santo Tomás, C 34 Este at Av Balboa ( 227 4122, emergencies 507 5600), and
Hospital Santa Fé, Vía Simón Bolívar at Av Frangipani ( 227 4733, hsantafe.com ). Re-
commended private medical care is available at Clínica Hospital San Fernando, Vía España,
Las Sabanas, next to McDonald's ( 305 6300, hospitalsanfernando.com ); and Centro
Medico Paitilla, Av Balboa at C 53 ( 265 8800, centromedicopaitilla.com ). The Centro
de Medicina Natural on C 42 Este at Av Mejico, Edif Guadalupe ( 225 0867) offers natural
and traditional methods of treatment. If you need to see a dentist, try Clínica Dental Fábre-
gas ( 399 4251) in Hospital Punta Pacífica or the Eisenmann Dental Clinic ( 269 2750),

C 53 at Av Samuel Lewis. Staff in both speak English.
Immigration The immigration office ( Migracíon ) is at Av Ricardo J. Alfaro, Tumba Muerto
(Mon-Fri 8.30am-3.30pm; 507 1800, migracion.gob.pa ) .
Internet Many public places are free wi-fi hotspots, provided you register your laptop. Most
hotels and hostels also offer free wi-fi, at least in the foyer. They also often have a PC or
laptop for guest use. Internet cafés are also fairly widespread, noticeably along Vía Veneto
in El Cangrejo and Parque Santa Ana, close to Casco Viejo. Rates are usually $1/hr.
Money exchange If you need to change currency, head for Panacambios (Mon-Sat
9am-6pm; 223 1800) on the ground floor of the Edif Plaza Regency on Vía España.
Pharmacies Farmacias Arrocha is the largest chain, often open 24hr with a huge branch on
Vía España, in front of the Hotel El Panamá . The large 24hr supermarkets also have phar-
macy counters.
Police Policía de Turismo, Vía España opposite the Riande Hotel Continental (

269 8011)

and Av Central at C 3, Casco Viejo ( 511 9261).