BASICS - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 42

costs vary greatly among providers, so shop around and note that rates fluctuate according
to season and demand. Virtually all rental vehicles have air conditioning. A manual economy
car is the cheapest option (approximately $35-40/day, $200-250/week, including taxes and
basic insurance cover). For a 4WD, which is probably only necessary if you want to get off
the beaten track and into the national parks, bank on paying almost double that. Fuel is just
over $4 a gallon and petrol stations (often 24hr) are liberally sprinkled along the main roads.
You'll find all the usual international car rental firms in Panama. The larger firms have
their head offices at Tocumen International Airport, with many running a downtown office
and sometimes branches at Albrook and David airports. Some operators have offices in other
major cities and tourist towns.
Rates are sometimes cheaper if booked online in advance and fluctuate according to the
season. The minimum age for most car rental companies is 25 but 23 will suffice for some
firms provided a credit card is produced as security. A driving licence - international or from
your country of origin - as well as a passport will need to be shown.
By taxi
A convenient and relatively cheap way to whizz round the capital - traffic permitting, taxis
are widely available in most of Panama's urban centres, ostensibly charging fixed rates ac-
cording to zones (which are rarely adhered to) or generally agreed prices for particular routes.
This means that most trips within the capital should not exceed $4; in other cities and towns
it should not exceed a couple of dollars. A small surcharge is added for more than two pas-
sengers and prices are higher at night. While most Panamanian taxi drivers are very honest
and adhere to standard rates, in Panama City and tourist areas like Boquete, the chances of
a driver taking advantage of the uninformed increases so you should make local enquiries
about likely charges and then agree on a price before getting into a cab.
Taxis, generally in the form of a 4WD twin cab, are also a practical way of reaching more
rural locations that are poorly served by public transport. Official cabs should be yellow with
their licence number on the door, though in the country you are more likely to come across
unofficial drivers whose service is generally just as reliable. Taxi drivers can also be hired
as tourist guides though most will only guide in Spanish - ask your accommodation for a
recommended driver. There is no set hourly charge, but around $15 an hour is the going rate
in Panama City, though petrol costs also need to be factored in.
By boat
Panama boasts over 1500 islands and it's almost inevitable you'll require water transport at
some stage on your trip, be it smooth sightseeing in a canal transit or a bumpy water-taxi ride
in Bocas. Fairly robust ferries equipped with life jackets and radio transmitters leave Panama
City for Isla Taboga, and the Archipiélago de las Perlas, according to regular timetables,