BASICS - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 68

If you are arriving from one of the WHO-listed yellow fever countries you may be asked to
produce your vaccination certificate .
As regards tourist visa extensions , there is disagreement even among immigration offices
and officials as to whether you are now allowed a ninety-day tourist visa extension ( prórroga
de turista or extensión de visa ). We suggest you make enquiries at immigration in Panama in
advance of your visa expiry; if the answer is no, you can always pop over to Costa Rica for a
couple of days before returning.

EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES ABROAD
Australia C/- RSM Bird Cameron, Level 12, 60 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW 2001

02

9150 8409, [e-mail] .
Canada 130 Albert St, Suite 300, K1P 5G4, Ottawa

613 236 7177, embassy-

ofpanama.ca .
New Zealand 300 Queen St, Auckland Central 09 379 8550, [e-mail] .

South Africa Kloof Ave, Waterkloof, Pretoria 012 346 0703, ambassad-

[e-mail] .
UK Panama House, 40 Hertford St, London W1J 7SH 020 7493 4646, panamacon-

sul.co.uk .
US 2862 McGill Terrace, NW Washington, DC 20008 202 387 5601, embassy-

ofpanama.org .
Gay and lesbian travellers
Homosexuality was only decriminalized in Panama in 2008, which is illustrative of the coun-
try's prevailing social conservatism but also of the fact that things are beginning to change.
The Asociación de Hombres y Mujeres Nuevos de Panamá (AHMN; facebook.com/
AHMNP ) is active in campaigning for LGBT rights and low-key Gay Pride marches have
been held since 2005. The LGBT scene is discreet in Panama; the clutch of nightclubs is
not widely advertised (see farraurbana.com ). However, on the Panama pages of LGBT
travel websites (see for example purpleroofs.com/centralamerica/panama.html , gay-
journey.com/hotels/panama.htm and globalgayz.com ) the number of openly “gay-
friendly” accommodation listings, though small, is gradually increasing. In general, hotels in
Panama City and North American- and European-run establishments are likely to be more
tolerant.
Insurance
It would be unwise to head for Panama without insurance that covers theft, loss, illness,
injury and flight cancellation. Before you take out a new policy, make sure that you aren't