Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hikers have been known to get lost in rainforests, even seemingly user-friendly ones
such as Parque Nacional Volcán Barú and the Sendero Los Quetzales. Landslides,
storms and vegetation growth can make trails difficult to follow. In some cases, even ac-
cess roads can deteriorate enough for transport to leave you a few miles before your in-
tended drop-off point. This is just the reality of the jungle. Many hikers have gotten lost
and there is no official rescue organization to help. If you are heading out without a guide,
let your plans be known at your hotel and tell them the number of days you will be gone.
Never walk in unmarked rainforest; if there's no trail going in, you can assume that
there won't be one when you decide to turn around and come back out. Always plan your
transportation in advance - know where and when the last bus will pass your terminus, or
arrange for a taxi pickup with a responsible, recommended transporter.
Police
Police corruption is not as big a problem in Panama as it is in some other Latin American
countries. However, it's not unheard of for a Panamanian police officer to stop a motorist
for no obvious reason, accuse him or her of violating a law, and levy a fine to be paid on
the spot. If there are people around, making a big scene will sometimes fluster the officer
into letting you go. Most of the time, however, you become an unwilling participant in a
waiting game.
Your best option, unless you want to try to wait out the officer, is to negotiate the fine
down. Failure to pay anything can result in your being led to jail with the officer insisting
you really did break some law.
Some cities in Panama have tourist police - a division created to deal specifically with
travelers. Identifiable by armbands on their uniform, officers in this division may be more
helpful.
Swimming Safety
In recent years there have been several deaths in Bocas del Toro Province and on other
beaches around the country owing to strong currents. Tourist brochures do not mention
the drownings that occur every year in Panamanian waters. Of these, about 80% are
caused by rip currents. A rip current is a strong current that pulls the swimmer out to sea.
It occurs when two currents that move parallel to the shore meet, causing the opposing
waters to choose the path of least resistance, which is a path out to sea. It is most import-
ant to remember that rip currents will pull you
out
but not
under
.
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore to
get out of it - rip currents dissipate quickly. When the current dissipates, swim back in at a
45° angle to the shore to avoid being caught by the current again. Do not try to swim dir-
ectly back in, as you would be swimming against the rip current and would only exhaust
yourself.
