Preparing for Your Visit 

Maps, Dictionaries and other travel tools are not easy to find in Panama. I suggest you order these to be delivered to your home prior to departure. Don't wait until you are ready to go. These additional tools will serve you well in your trip planning so order them now.

1. When it comes to Travel Guides only the best will do and that's Lonely Planet!

Start with the best Travel Guide available. Read it cover to cover and take notes - you will then have a list of places to see and things to do.
-Go Here - 30% off Lonely Planet Guidebooks

Next, you'll need a Good Map of Panama. Study it - even though you may choose to go with an organized tour (something I strongly recommend especially on your first visit) it is still fun and helpful to know where you've been, where you are and where you are going.
- Go Here -

Panama Travel Map The Panama Travel Reference Map by ITMB is the most detailed map of Panama published to date. This Panama map is double-sided, fully indexed, and printed on tear-resistant, waterproof paper. This Panama Travel Map includes: - Inset map of Panama City - All roads, highways and railways - International & Provincial borders - National Parks & Indian Reserves - Archaeological and Recreational sites - Points of interest - Hot Springs, View points, ruins, and oil pipelines - Detailed scale of 1:480,000,

Now, don't let all that good research go to waste. Get organized and stay organized with your Travel Journal.
- Go Here - Lonely Planet Travel Journals

Be sure to put these in your carry on so you have them handy upon arrival.

2. Getting There: Shop Around and Save

I wish I could say one of these sites consistently gives the best deals but I haven't found that to be the case. Each time I travel I check them all. Typically these sites all give the same or very similar prices but every now and then a real Hot Deal pops out on one of them. If you've got a little time to surf it's worth making sure you're getting the best deal out there. Check Out these Online Travel Sites for Great Savings:




3. Special Interest and Optional Items for your trip

If you've ever had a GPS system in a rental car you know how helpful this new technology really is. Now take that and put it in your hand - amazing! This new Travel GPS from HP is fast becoming the 'must have' tool for world travelers. Pick one up and your travel adventures will never be the same!



Did you know Panama is the #1 Birding destination in the world? For good reason - there are more recorded species seen in Panama than anywhere else in the world. In fact there are more birds in Panama than all of the countries North of Panama combined - over 900! Birding is a wonderful hobby and a great addition to any travel activity. Try it once and you'll be hooked for life. Start with this indispensible guide -