Costa Rica, Nicaragua & Panama

Holidays: Since Nicaragua is predominantly Christian, the Christian festivals like Christmas, Epiphany (January 6) and of course Easter are celebrated everywhere. Furthermore, the country has its own holidays.
Every village and town has its own patron saint, each with its own holiday. These festivals (fiestas Patronales) are often accompanied by various processions and mock battles, where the old Spanish conquistadores (conquerors) are ridiculed. The most famous of these holidays are held in honor of San Sebastian (January 20), Santiago (July 25), Santa Ana (Isla de Ometepe, July 26), Santo Domingo (Managua, August 1 to 10), Virgen La Merced ( Leon, 24 September) and San Jeronimo (Masaya, 30 September). Major holidays in Nicaragua are Independence Day on September 15 and Liberation Day on July 19th (the anniversary of the 1979 revolution).

The post office (Correos de Nicaragua) is usually open during business hours and on Saturdays until noon. In general, the mail is both reliable and effective in Nicaragua. Only the sending or receiving of international parcels (large or small) is slow because the content is always being checked by customs. You are therefore better off using multiple envelopes for larger shipments instead of one package.

The cultural differences between Europeans and people of Central America are so big that you could devote an entire book to the subject. Below are some selected items that will help/be of interest to you during your dealings with the residents.

Behavior: Nicaragua is known for its friendly and talkative people. Despite the misery that they sometimes experience or the dire situation they face, they stay ready prepared with a smile. The people are open and curious and you should expect direct questions about your age, marital status, weight, salary, or your opinion about Nicaragua. Despite their directness, Nicaraguans tend to cumbersome and their behaviour is indirectly associated with the cultural idea of ​​"saving one's face''. If you ask something they do not know the answer to they will make something up or circle around the question to avoid being ashamed (tener pena).

Greetings: In Nicaragua, offering one hand to both men and women in the first encounter is normal. Close friends or relatives will give each other a kiss. Male family members offer each other only one hand, often accompanied by an embrace, an abrazo. If someone appeals, even in situations in a shop or bus, start your conversation with a greeting. A simple buenos días or buenas tardes, accompanied by a smile will do wonders. Your greeting will be matched by a greeting from the counterparty. Then you can enter in to the actual conversation. If you enter a common space, such as a restaurant or waiting room, you should extend a general greeting to everyone in the room. A simple buenos días or buenas tardes will suffice. Politeness is a very important point in the interactions across Central America.

Clothing: Make sure you look clean and cared for the people of Central America is important. Even poor people are doing their best to be groomed. Since you have the money to travel all the way from Europe to Central America you are, in the eyes of local people rich. You win respect if you dress nicely. This does not mean that you should go out to the streets in your most expensive Armani outfit. Jewellery and especially expensive jewellery you had better leave at home. Do not dress too revealing, not everyone will appreciate it. Shorts are for both men and women well suited to the beaches and in some coastal towns. Swimsuits should only be worn in swimming pools and on beaches. Many local women swim with a shirt over their bathing suits (often to reduce male attention). Dress discreetly when you visit churches, out of respect for the local population and its culture. Dress neatly when you visit a church, cover shoulders and knees out of respect for the local population and their religion.

Macho behavior: The myth that characterizes men as strong and women as fragile remains strongly present in Central America. A macho male attitude and pride are often exhibited as a local man tries to get the attention of a woman. Unaccompanied women especially will receive plenty of (unwanted) attention. If you do not appreciate this, it is best simply to ignore it. You can minimize these problems by dressing conservatively. Wearing a wedding ring can also help. Avoid dark places and lonely beaches if you are alone. Obviously there are plenty of 'ordinary' men here too!

Buy: The many local markets in Managua and other cities are very interesting. Markets such as Roberto Huembes market in Managua, have a wide range of artesanía, hammocks, Spanish-language CDs, souvenirs and clothing. Mercado Oriental is also worth visiting, but it is chaotic and there are many relatively deprived people there. Masaya is known as the city of hammocks and has two markets filled with handicrafts from different regions. Typical souvenirs include handicrafts like wooden pots / sculptures, pottery vases, soap stone sculptures from San Juan de Limay, or a real-Masaya hammock.

Bargaining: In Nicaragua, haggling is a social sport. Keep in mind that bargaining must remain pleasant and fun. Maybe you are fooled once or you pay more than the locals, but prices are still considerably lower than in Europe. It is important that you arrange a price in Managua before you get in a taxi. In other cities such as León and Granada rates are reasonable and you may ask the locals what the usual prices are. It is wise to do that anyway. In the shops you can also haggle for items, but prices in supermarkets and buses are fixed.

Begging: In Nicaragua begging for some people is the only way to survive. This is true for old or disabled people to whom you of course can give a donation, especially when you see the locals do so. But there are also those that are begging because they are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. With children it is in principle better not to give money but instead fruit or anything else to eat. If children get their money in this way they are much less motivated to go to school or work.

General: Always remember that you are a guest in a country where one simply has different manners. This is not abnormal, you're just acting differently!

Food: The Nicaraguan cuisine is simple and straightforward. It uses similar ingredients as the Mexican food such as beans, rice, corn, cheese, banana and tortillas, but without the spice and variety. Vegetarians will not have any problems, especially in rural areas where meat is a luxury product anyway. It's best not to say you are a vegetarian because the word often causes confusion and questions. Just indicate that you do not like eating meat and that you are trying to save money.
Pollo (chicken) is very popular among Nicaraguans and that you can also eat in different forms (fried, in soup, breaded, grilled). Famous Nicaraguan dishes are delicious nacatamales (cornmeal dumplings filled with meat, vegetables and rice cooked in banana leaves), gallo pinto, Indio Viejo (purée of beef, corn flour and vegetables), cuajada (white farmer's cheese), vigorón (pork with yucca, cabbage salad served on banana leaf). Snacks such as tostones (thick fried green plantains), tajadas (crispy thin chips of green banana), Maduro (ripe, sweet plantain) and tortilla con queso (tortilla with cheese) are also highly recommended. On the coast, eat mostly fish. In this area, food is prepared differently than the rest of the country. Rice and spicy dishes are often cooked in coconut milk instead of water.

Restaurants: The cheapest way to eat out in Nicaragua is at  the comedor or cafetín. You can usually find them easily and park up alongside them. They serve a set menu (comida corriente) such as gallo pinto, white cabbage salad, white cheese and a choice of fried egg, meat and sometimes fish. Another cheap way to eat out is at the fritanga- restaurants that cook real, home-made Nicaraguan food. More elegant Nicaraguan restaurants all offer a similar range of dishes such as various meats, fish, salads and vegetables.

Drinking: Nicaragua's national drink and pride is their Flor de Caña, or rum. The seven year old Gran Reserva is the best of the best. Other variants such as Ron extra lite are cheaper but also taste very good. Nica's usually drink rum with cola, ice and lime juice. Besides rum there is also a lot of beer drinking, the best known brands are Tona, Victoria, Brava and the more expensive premiums. Wine lovers have to resort to the supermarket where a small selection of wines are for sale (relatively expensive). Besides the usual soft drinks (soda such as Coca Cola and Fanta or Rojita), you can quench your thirst with delicious Refrescos (fresh juices) or batidos (kind of milkshakes). Tap water you should not drink but bottled water is fine and is on sale everywhere.

Fruit: The availability of seasonal fruit: oranges, bananas and pineapples are the most popular fruits, but there are also more exotic fruits. To name a few: Chirimoy, carambola, granadilla (a kind of pomegranate), guava, guayaba, cas (a passion fruit) and papaya. The Jugos naturales or juices that are made here are simply wonderful.

Nicaragua is wedged between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea in the east. It is bordered to the north by Honduras and Costa Rica to the south. With an area of ​​129,494 km ² Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. The three main regions of the lowlands of the Pacific with nearly forty volcanoes, the central mountain massif which almost reaches to the border with Costa Rica , and the lowlands of the Caribbean Sea, a sparsely populated area with lots of tropical rainforest. The highest mountain is the Pico Mogotón (2107 m). In the southwest are two large lakes, Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua (148 km long and 55 km wide), also the largest lake in Central America.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest but also nicest countries in the region. The country has in recent decades, had to deal with many disasters and wars. In the early seventies, mainly Managua was hit by a severe earthquake that killed several thousand people. The damage is still visible in the old Cathedral of Managua. After that, a bloody civil war has raged between the Contras and the Sandinistas. For a dozen years now they have yet to bury the hatchet but it goes slowly in the right direction and the country is slowly on the way back. In 1996, Nicaragua was the fastest growing economy in Central America, with a net growth of 5.5 percent. Hurricane Mitch in 1998 was an abrupt end to the progress that had been made in the years before it. It not only destroyed the entire infrastructure but also the hope that people had built. In recent years, Nicaragua has been frequently plagued by natural disasters such as drought or excessive rainfall. All this has major impact on the economy of the country. There are considerable differences in income and stability of the economy is hard to find. Hence the population is very vulnerable to change. However, public investment in sectors like education and health has risen steadily and slowly but surely it seems to get better for Nicaragua. The economy is almost entirely driven by agricultural exports. This particularly applies to coffee, fruit and sugar cane products and meat. Tobacco, melons and onions are now exported.

Managua is the capital of the country. It is a faceless place because they do not have the means to rebuild the center after the earthquake inflicted its damage. Granada is the most authentic town and the land is rich. It lies on the Great Lake of Nicaragua in which hundreds of islands are located. Furthermore, the image of Nicaragua is determined by a large number of still active volcanoes including Masaya volcano, which is the best. Most Nicaraguans (Spanish-Indian descent) are living in central and western Nicaragua. In the eastern coastal area still live very many Indian tribes. This area is still very primitive and very difficult to reach. Animals you may encounter in this country include: jaguars, crocodiles, navel pigs, parrots, pelicans and pumas.

Nicaragua has approximately 4.6 million inhabitants (35 inhabitants per km ²), of which 69% Mestizo, 14% Caucasian, 9% blacks and 4% Indians. The country used to have even more people, but a large number in the eighties fled during the civil war. Nicaragua is known for its friendly and talkative people. Although they have been through much misery they remain full of laughter and are quite friendly. Most people have no training or are poorly trained. Only 28% of school children continue to the sixth grade. The Caribbean coast has its own art forms. Reggae music and poetry are both very popular art forms. 

The bulk of the population of Nicaragua is adherent to the Roman Catholic faith imposed by the Spanish colonists, who used religion as an important instrument of power for the suppression. In Nicaragua, 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. The rest are supporters of the many streams of Protestantism. Moravians, Assemblea de Dios and the Mennonite church are the most established, non-Catholic churches.

Nicaragua has a tropical climate with two seasons. This means that in Nicaragua the year is warm, but also that there is the likelihood of considerable rainfall. This rain falls mainly in the rainy season (invierno, winter) which runs from May to October and then there is around 700 mm rainfall. These deposits consist of short, intense, tropical showers that sometimes flood whole streets. The dry season (verano, summer) is from November to April. In this period falls only rain and it can be stifling hot. On the Caribbean coast (east coast)  the tropical rainforests are constantly damp. It can rain a lot there even during the dry season. This is in contrast to the Pacific coast (west coast) that has a clear separation between the dry and wet seasons.

The best time to visit Nicaragua is in December or January, because it is a lot cooler. With the exception of mid-April to May, when the country is really dry and dusty, there is not really a bad time to visit Nicaragua.
 

Take your first day in Managua easy. Take time to acclimatize. The transition of climate, and time difference can be profound. Let the country make an impression on you, try to pick up some Spanish and .... have fun in Nicaragua!

Electricity is the same as in the United States: 110 volts, 60 hertz alternating current, with corresponding sockets, for which you will need a universal adapter.

Travellers to Central America who pay some attention to hygiene and skincare usually don’t run into health problems. However, we would like you to pay attention to the following health advice.

Sunshine and heat: Sunburn is a frequent cause for health problems. Sunburn and sun/heat strokes are easier caught than you may think. You should therefore avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, always wear a hat and good sunglasses when you are walking, and use a good suntan lotion when sunbathing. The latter can best be brought along from home, where the choice of product is much larger and prices are lower. At high temperatures the body’s need for water increases very rapidly, as does its need for salt. Make sure you drink enough when the heat is extreme and you will simply have to take it very easy during the hottest hours of the day. Make it a habit to treat wounds, however small, with something like iodine. Infections can occur and spread rapidly in the tropics, so take as much care as possible with scratches and insect bites.

Diarrhoea: Next to sunburn, the most common health problem is diarrhoea. Travellers are often hit by it after they have been on holiday for only a few days. In most cases, it is an utterly innocuous phenomenon caused by the change of diet, the heat or harmless bacteria, against which the body will soon develop its defences. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children. It occurs when the body loses more fluid, salt and sugars than it receives. The result is a feeling of listlessness and weakness. It can be prevented by drinking a solution of water and ORS. It is sold in bags at the pharmacies and contains all the minerals and sugars that are evacuated with diarrhoea. Instead of this solution you can also take noncarbonated soft drinks or heavily salted broth. For many people, cola has a constipating effect in the first stages of diarrhoea. When the diarrhoea is accompanied by high fever, bloody defecation or strong qualms, it is sensible to consult a physician. When the diarrhoea lasts for more than a few days without the above-mentioned symptoms or when you have to travel, you may take Imodium or Diacure a couple of times. It is an opium-like preparation that stops the bowels completely for a number of hours.

Insect bites: Mosquitoes are hard to avoid in Central-America. However, the following advice may help reduce the likelihood of being bitten. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes tend to bite after sunset and before sunrise. In the evening, wear long trousers and a long-sleeved roll neck T-shirt that covers well. DEET or other preventive remedies are effective, but do not expect miracles.

Prickly heat: Prickly heat is an inflammation of the pores caused by excessive perspiration. It is common and innocent, but very annoying. The skin grows red and irritated in places. Places where skin touches skin, such as armpits and thighs, are particularly susceptible. The symptoms will decrease when you take a cold shower – without using soap – a few times a day and dry yourself off well. Talcum powder on the affected spots may also help. When it is hot and damp, do not sleep under a sheet but wear a cotton T-shirt. If it troubles you very much, the best thing to do is take an air-conditioned room for a couple of nights.

Travellers’ health kit: A health kit for the tropics should contain adhesive bandages, bandages, cotton wool, scissors, thermometer, iodine, painkillers, malaria tablets, O.R.S.-packages (Oral Rehydration Solution), loperamide (against diarrhoea), sunscreen, pair of tweezers, insect-repellents such as DEET and a soothing ointment for persistent itching. If you are on medication, make sure you have a precise description available in English (no brand name, but composition and doses are important). Bring along a double quantity for the duration of travel and keep it separated from the other luggage.

Medical passport: If you are on prescription medicine, bring an extra supply and keep it separated. This way you will always have a spare stock. Ask your pharmacy to draw up a medical passport for you. This includes names of the substances and the exact composition of the medication that you use. Keep this document and your medication in your hand luggage. If you have a chronic illness, ask your GP for a written explanation of your disease and its treatment (in English).

Vaccinations: Please click on the following link for information regarding vaccinations and malaria requirements. Moreover, your needs depend on whether you have had previous vaccinations, whether you are allergic to certain medicine, if you are pregnant, your age, and so on. ALWAYS contact your GP or some other healthcare authority for advice. The complete vaccination package includes DTP, hepatitis A, and malaria. There are no compulsory vaccinations, except for those who have been to regions with yellow fever or cholera within two weeks before arrival in Nicaragua.

Some additional recommendations for an enjoyable stay: Allow your body and mind some time to adapt to the new time zone and location. Avoid stress; do not plan to do too much at once. At least take it easy on the first day. It is a good habit to get up early; in hot climates the morning temperature is often the most agreeable. Besides, the people in the countries you visit are also used to rising early. When you adapt to their rhythm you will make the most of your trip. When you are well rested you are best able to deal with all the new impressions and will have the energy to undertake more activities.
 

Ensure that those at home know in which country you are and how long you are planning to stay away. You should fix a date when you will contact them. Making telephone calls from Nicaragua is no problem. You can make collect calls and Internet cafes are everywhere. Provide the people who will pick you up from the airport with your flight times and numbers. Shoestring will not provide flight and/or travel information, hotel names and telephone numbers to third parties. Any information on delays may be retrieved via the airport information number or Teletext.

Contact person
In case of an emergency, it is important for us to have details of someone we can contact on your behalf. You have entered a name on the booking form. It is possible that this person is unavailable or on holiday during your trip. If so, enter a second person so that we are sure to be able to get in touch with somebody.

This tour leads us through tropical lowland as well as some higher mountainous areas, the latter enjoying a moderate climate, which may include cold nights. Therefore, bring along thin, cotton clothes. For the evening, a closed neck long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll neck sweater is recommended to protect against mosquitoes. Also, bring along a jersey or sweater and a rain jacket. Nights in Nicaragua can be chilly! Do not forget an umbrella as protection against rain and too much sun. Bring along a pair of good-quality, worn-in walking shoes and flip-flops or sandals. You should consider bringing along the following: sunglasses, sunscreen, toiletries, a traveller’s health kit, a hat/scarf, a photo/film camera, spare batteries, a pocket knife, a lighter, a small stock of non-perishable snacks and sweets, an alarm clock, writing materials, books, passport, sufficient money, photocopies of your passport and travel insurance, your flight ticket(s), travel insurance-pass including alarm number, important addresses and a good travel guide, toilet paper, towel and a reading lamp. If you bring along electrical equipment, you will need an adaptor. During this trip, you won’t need a mosquito net or sleeping bag. We prefer that you pack everything into a weekend bag or backpack, rather than a solid suitcase, which would take up too much space and can be hard to carry in some circumstances. A small backpack or shoulder bag comes in handy for hand luggage. Valuable papers are best kept in a thin cotton money belt, to be carried underneath your clothes. Take care to have an extra, clean set of clothes in your hand luggage, so that you can do without the other luggage for 48 hours, just in case it arrives later than you do. For example, make sure to put any important medication and a toothbrush etc in your hand luggage and that your luggage is not too heavy.

The currency in Nicaragua is the Córdoba (C $), divided into 100 centavos. In everyday life, the Córdoba is also known as the peso. There are banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 CORDOBA and coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos and 1 and 5 of Córdoba. For the current exchange rate: www.oanda.com.

It is useful to have at least some U.S. dollars because you can change them in almost every bank, while the euro is rarely accepted. Major credit cards are widely accepted. There are ATMs in most tourist areas. Within some hotels and restaurants you can pay like this but in smaller venues often you can not. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 16.00 pm and Saturday from 08.30 to 11.30.

Pocket Money: The allowance recommended by us a minimum amount for your meals, drinks, optional excursions, entrance fees, local airport taxes and gratuities payable. The amount you actually spend will depend a great deal of your own habits and souvenirs are also therefore not included.

Good-quality film rolls can be bought everywhere in the larger cities. Check the best-before date and only buy from stores where the materials are kept in cold storage. The best thing to do, by the way, is to bring enough film from home. Never leave films or cameras in the locked-up coach. The quickly rising temperature will soon affect the quality of the photographic materials. Not all types of camera batteries are on sale. Therefore be sure to take batteries that will last the entire holiday. People do not always like being photographed. When in doubt you had better ask first. Sometimes they will say no, every now and then they will ask for money. At a number of sites you are not allowed to take photographs.

In the cities sometimes pickpockets are at work. A simple method keeps them away from you: stash your big money and valuables underneath your clothing, in a non-visible manner. Keep some ready money apart, so that you do not have to search for it in the middle of the street. Carry your backpack on your stomach if it contains valuables. Also, carry your camera in front, tied to a solid belt. Take these precautions, especially when visiting markets. Few robberies occur, but when this happens, it is on desolate places you would normally avoid, such as dark, quiet alleys. Your luggage will be reasonably safe in your hotel rooms, however, do not leave money or valuables lying about. Put them in a locked bag or even better, keep them with you or hand it over to the staff of the hotel lobby to go in the safe.

In Nicaragua it is 6 hours earlier than in the UK (during summertime 7 hours). For Western Europe: 7 hours (during summertime 8 hours) earlier.

Restaurant and hotel employees are not well paid. You may not have a ready solution for the country’s poverty, but the least you can do is to tip the ones working for you. The guideline is (provided you are satisfied with the service) about € 1 tip per room per day for hotel employees. The same amount goes for the bus drivers, hired by Shoestring, per person per day. A tip box is useful in this case, for which the passengers will take turns in administering, in consultation with the travel guide. Moreover, while the group is on the road, snacks can be purchased from this money. You do not need to tip taxi drivers. In general, the fare tourists are charged exceeds by far the amount locals pay. The travel guide also expects a tip by the end of the trip; provided she/he has done her/his job well. Our guideline is € 1 per passenger per day.

Public holidays: Because we will be travelling in a Christian country, so Christmas, Three Kings Day (January 6) and Easter are celebrated across the country.
During the Holy Week (Semana Santa) almost everything will be closed in Costa Rica. The days between Christmas and New Year are considered an unofficial holiday, especially in San José. Then there are the festivals honouring the patron saints. San José’s festival (Saint Joseph) is on March 19 and the day of the Virgin de Los Angeles (Costa Rica’s patron saint) is on August 2. Día de Juan Santamaria on April 11 commemorates the national hero and Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) on October 12, is a national holiday all over Central America.

The cultural differences between Europe and Central America are huge, one could write a very large book on the subject. Below you will find some useful hints that we have picked up along the way to make your stay more pleasant and enable you to get along with the local inhabitants.

Bargaining: Bargaining in Costa Rica is only customary when buying souvenirs or objects of art. In markets and shops food is bought at fixed prices.

Politeness: Politeness plays an important role in communication all over Central America. When addressing somebody, in a shop or bus, say hello first. A simple "buenos días" or "buenas tardes", accompanied by a smile, works miracles. Likewise, a greeting will gain a return greeting, then, the actual interaction begins. Upon entering a communal space, such as a restaurant or waiting room, it is also very polite to say hello to everybody present.

Clothing: Make sure you look well dressed and clean. This is an important issue to the people of Central America. Even poor people do their utmost to look well kept. As you seem to have the money to travel all the way from Europe to Central America, you are bound to be a rich person in the locals’ eyes. You will gain respect if you dress properly. Of course, this does not imply you have to wear your best Armani outfit when wandering the streets. Best leave jewels and valuables at home. Do not put on revealing clothes, as it is not always appreciated. Shorts are allowed, for men and women, but only on beaches and in some coastal resorts. Bathing clothes are only allowed in swimming pools and on beaches. Many local women wear a T-shirt on top of their bathing suit (in order to avoid male attention). Dress properly when visiting churches, out of respect for the locals and their culture.

Macho behaviour: The myth that characterizes men as being strong and women as fragile and dependent has not been dispelled in Central America. Macho attitude and male pride are widely evident. Here men still whistle to attract the attention of a woman.
Solo women travellers tend to receive plenty of (unwanted) attention. If you do not like this, it is best to ignore them. Minimise the problem by dressing conservatively. Carrying a wedding ring may help. Avoid dark places and lonely beaches if you travel by yourself. Of course, there are more than sufficient ‘normal’ men around.

In general: Be constantly aware of the fact that you are a guest in a country, which has a different etiquette. They do not behave differently, you do.

Costa Rican food is quite unpretentious. There are plenty of restaurants, but you might want to visit a small 'soda' (restaurant with local dishes). Preferably visit busy restaurants or eating-houses. They are busy for good reason and therefore guarantee a faster turnover rate of the food prepared. Wash your hands thoroughly before dinner.

Breakfast (desayuno): You will most likely be served a solid breakfast including tortillas or bread, eggs (huevos) prepared by choice with bacon or sausages and bean sauce (frijoles). Typically Costa Rican is the so-called 'gallo pinto', a mixture of rice and beans, possibly served with eggs. If this is too much for you, you may opt for toast, jam and sweet rolls. An absolute must is Costa Rican coffee as Costa Rica produces the world’s best coffee beans. Furthermore, fresh fruit juices (fresco natural) with milk (leche) or water (agua) are always available.

Lunch (almuerzo), dinner (cena) and snacks: For Costa Ricans lunch is the most important meal of the day. However, this is not the case for visitors being on the road a lot of the time. Meat (carne), fish (pescado) or chicken (pollo) form the main part of the meal and come in larger quantities than Europeans are accustomed to, particularly in the pricier tourist restaurants. Delicious salads usually feature on the menu. Casado is a very complete dish including rice, beans, salad and meat, fish or chicken by choice. Most dishes are not terribly spicy. You’ll find bottles containing local variations of Tabasco on your table. In the pricier restaurants in the cities you can treat yourself to excellent fish (especially ceviche, fish marinated in lemon). City restaurants offer pastas, pizzas and Chinese food as well.

Fruit: Availability depends on the season: oranges, bananas and pineapples are most popular, but also more exotic fruits. To name a few: Chirimoy, carambola, granadilla (a passion fruit), guave, guayaba, cas (some sort of pomegranate) and papaya. The jugos naturales or fruit juices made from these fruits is delicious.

Drink: Costa Rican drinking water, especially in the Central Valley, has an acceptable quality. Outside the region hotels often use filtering installations to purify water for drinking. If you don’t want to run any risk, you are best to buy bottled water, on sale practically everywhere. Generally, meals are accompanied by beer. However, wine is available almost everywhere. Beer is for sale in all sorts and sizes. Stronger brews include rum, gin and the local guaro (firewater). Fresh fruit juices are available, everywhere.

Costa Rica covers 51,100 sq. km and is about nine times smaller than the UK. It borders both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The coastal plains are low, contrasting with the tall volcanic mountain ranges that lie between them. The country’s highest peak, Cerro Chirripó, has an altitude of 3,819 m. Costa Rica has two neighbours: Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. A large part of Costa Rica has been declared a protected reserve for good reason. Despite having been colonized by Spain, it was largely left to develop on its own due to its lack of treasures such as gold. For such a relatively small country, it is enormously diverse biologically and includes 200 species of mammals, 350 species of reptiles and amphibians, 850 bird species, 10.000 different plants and some 40.000 types of insect. Costa Rica has rainforests, cloud forests, active volcanoes, savannahs, mangrove forests, high mountains, palm beaches and coral reefs. Costa Rica is relatively sparsely populated and counts just four million inhabitants. Most economic, cultural and political activities are confined to the capital, San José. The city is in the central highlands, surrounded by ever-present volcanoes. But as soon as you leave San José, you feel as if you are travelling back in time surrounded by peace and nature. The eastern part of Costa Rica is mainly known for its banana plantations yet also houses the world’s most important turtle breading grounds in the Tortuguero National Park. The west side boasts the most stunning beaches and a chain of idyllic bays.

Flora and fauna
Costa Rica’s flora and fauna is abundant. The region is characterized by large differences in climate. A mountain range, consisting mainly of volcanoes, divides the country in two. The western coastal area has special flora, mainly semi-tropical rainforests due to the rainy season here. These largely unaffected forests are still home for special animal species such as poison-arrow frogs, jaguars and white-faced capuchin monkeys. The mountain chain is completely different, mainly rain and cloud forest. A notable example is the Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to the magnificent quetzal, a bird honoured by the Maya’s. An extraordinary number of hummingbird species are seen here to. The eastern lowland was once a tropical jungle, but has become a plantation area. There are many beautiful spots, where howler monkeys wake you up in the morning. A special feature in this region is the Tortuguero National Park, where between July and October, green turtles come ashore in great numbers (arribadas) to lay their eggs.

Costa Rica’s 4 million inhabitants (71 per sq. km.), called 'Tico's' or 'Tica's', are predominantly (95%) descended from Spaniards and, for the most part, Catholic. During colonization, European illnesses wiped out the larger part of the indigenous population. Less than two percent descend from Jamaican Negro slaves who were put to work on banana plantations during the 19th century. They live mainly in Limón province along the Caribbean coast. The original Indian population nowadays represents slightly more than one percent of the total population. Given the small cultural influence left by the Indians and the large European contribution, most visitors prefer Costa Rica for its nature and scenery rather than its culture.

The larger part of the population is Roman-Catholic, introduced and enforced by the Spanish colonialists, who used religion as a control mechanism. Now 85% are Roman Catholic, and 15% Protestant.

Climate: Costa Rica enjoys a tropical climate and temperatures depend more on differences in height than the time of the year, varying between twenty degrees Celcius in the highlands up to thirty degrees at the coasts. The area bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Central Valley has two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The dry season (or summer) runs from the end of December through April, and the rainy season (or winter) runs from April through November. During the rainy season everything blossoms beautifully and the scenery is much greener. That is why the Costa Ricans call it the ‘green season’. The mornings usually are very sunny, and are followed by cooling afternoon showers.

Best travelling time: You can visit Costa Rica throughout the year. The Caribbean region enjoys a more humid climate and showers occur throughout the year. However, this won’t spoil your holiday.

On your first day in San José, take it easy. Take time to adapt and acclimatize. The change of climate and time difference can be quite challenging. Setting off to explore San José is like a smooth landing, the city being up to date in many aspects. Later on you will come across less developed regions. Let the country sink in, try to pick up some Spanish and have fun in central America.

Electricity is the same as in the United States: 110-125 volt, 60 hertz, with matching (plug) sockets, so you need an adaptor. There are power failures in Costa Rica so it is wise to bring along a pocket lamp.

Travellers to Central America who pay some attention to hygiene and skincare usually don’t run into health problems. However, we would like you to pay attention to the following health advice.

Sunshine and heat: Sunburn is a frequent cause for health problems. Sunburn and sun/heat strokes are easier caught than you may think. You should therefore avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, always wear a hat and good sunglasses when you are walking, and use a good suntan lotion when sunbathing. The latter can best be brought along from home, where the choice of product is much larger and prices are lower. At high temperatures the body’s need for water increases very rapidly, as does its need for salt. Make sure you drink enough when the heat is extreme and you will simply have to take it very easy during the hottest hours of the day. Make it a habit to treat wounds, however small, with something like iodine. Infections can occur and spread rapidly in the tropics, so take as much care as possible with scratches and insect bites.

Diarrhoea: Next to sunburn, the most common health problem is diarrhoea. Travellers are often hit by it after they have been on holiday for only a few days. In most cases, it is an utterly innocuous phenomenon caused by the change of diet, the heat or harmless bacteria, against which the body will soon develop its defences. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children. It occurs when the body loses more fluid, salt and sugars than it receives. The result is a feeling of listlessness and weakness. It can be prevented by drinking a solution of water and ORS. It is sold in bags at the pharmacies and contains all the minerals and sugars that are evacuated with diarrhoea. Instead of this solution you can also take noncarbonated soft drinks or heavily salted broth. For many people, cola has a constipating effect in the first stages of diarrhoea. When the diarrhoea is accompanied by high fever, bloody defecation or strong qualms, it is sensible to consult a physician. When the diarrhoea lasts for more than a few days without the above-mentioned symptoms or when you have to travel, you may take Imodium or Diacure a couple of times. It is an opium-like preparation that stops the bowels completely for a number of hours.

Insect bites: Mosquitoes are hard to avoid in Central-America. However, the following advice may help reduce the likelihood of being bitten. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes tend to bite after sunset and before sunrise. In the evening, wear long trousers and a long-sleeved roll neck T-shirt that covers well. DEET or other preventive remedies are effective, but do not expect miracles.

Prickly heat: Prickly heat is an inflammation of the pores caused by excessive perspiration. It is common and innocent, but very annoying. The skin grows red and irritated in places. Places where skin touches skin, such as armpits and thighs, are particularly susceptible. The symptoms will decrease when you take a cold shower – without using soap – a few times a day and dry yourself off well. Talcum powder on the affected spots may also help. When it is hot and damp, do not sleep under a sheet but wear a cotton T-shirt. If it troubles you very much, the best thing to do is take an air-conditioned room for a couple of nights.

Travellers’ health kit: A health kit for the tropics should contain adhesive bandages, bandages, cotton wool, scissors, thermometer, iodine, painkillers, malaria tablets, O.R.S.-packages (Oral Rehydration Solution), loperamide (against diarrhoea), sunscreen, pair of tweezers, insect-repellents such as DEET and a soothing ointment for persistent itching. If you are on medication, make sure you have a precise description available in English (no brand name, but composition and doses are important). Bring along a double quantity for the duration of travel and keep it separated from the other luggage.

Medical passport: If you are on prescription medicine, bring an extra supply and keep it separated. This way you will always have a spare stock. Ask your pharmacy to draw up a medical passport for you. This includes names of the substances and the exact composition of the medication that you use. Keep this document and your medication in your hand luggage. If you have a chronic illness, ask your GP for a written explanation of your disease and its treatment (in English).

Vaccinations: Please click on the following link for information regarding vaccinations and malaria requirements. Moreover, your needs depend on whether you have had previous vaccinations, whether you are allergic to certain medicine, if you are pregnant, your age, and so on. ALWAYS contact your GP or some other healthcare authority for advice. The complete vaccination package includes DTP, hepatitis A, and malaria. There are no compulsory vaccinations, except for those who have been to regions with yellow fever or cholera within two weeks before arrival in Costa Rica.

Some additional recommendations for an enjoyable stay: Allow your body and mind some time to adapt to the new time zone and location. Avoid stress; do not plan to do too much at once. At least take it easy on the first day. It is a good habit to get up early; in hot climates the morning temperature is often the most agreeable. Besides, the people in the countries you visit are also used to rising early. When you adapt to their rhythm you will make the most of your trip. When you are well rested you are best able to deal with all the new impressions and will have the energy to undertake more activities.

Ensure that those at home know in which country you are and how long you are planning to stay away. You should fix a date when you will contact them. Making telephone calls from Costa Rica is no problem. You can make collect calls and Internet cafes are everywhere. Provide the people who will pick you up from the airport with your flight times and numbers. Shoestring will not provide flight and/or travel information, hotel names and telephone numbers to third parties. Any information on delays may be retrieved via the airport information number or Teletext.

Contact person
In case of an emergency, it is important for us to have details of someone we can contact on your behalf. You have entered a name on the booking form. It is possible that this person is unavailable or on holiday during your trip. If so, enter a second person so that we are sure to be able to get in touch with somebody.

This tour leads us through tropical lowland as well as high mountainous areas, the latter enjoying a moderate climate, which may include cold nights. Therefore, bring along thin, cotton clothes. For the evening, a closed neck long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll neck sweater is recommended to protect against mosquitoes. Also, bring along a jersey or sweater and a rain jacket. Nights in Costa Rica can be quite cold! Do not forget an umbrella as protection against rain and too much sun. Bring along a pair of good-quality, worn-in walking shoes and flip-flops or sandals. You should consider bringing along the following: sunglasses, sunscreen, toiletries, a traveller’s health kit, a hat/scarf, a photo/film camera, spare batteries, a pocket knife, a lighter, a small stock of non-perishable snacks and sweets, an alarm clock, writing materials, books, passport, sufficient money, photocopies of your passport and travel insurance, your flight ticket(s), travel insurance-pass including alarm number, important addresses and a good travel guide, toilet paper, towel and a reading lamp. If you bring along electrical equipment, you will need an adaptor. During this trip, you won’t need a mosquito net or sleeping bag. We prefer that you pack everything into a weekend bag or backpack, rather than a solid suitcase, which would take up too much space and can be hard to carry in some circumstances. A small backpack or shoulder bag comes in handy for hand luggage. Valuable papers are best kept in a thin cotton money belt, to be carried underneath your clothes. Take care to have an extra, clean set of clothes in your hand luggage, so that you can do without the other luggage for 48 hours, just in case it arrives later than you do. For example, make sure to put any important medication and a toothbrush etc in your hand luggage and that your luggage is not too heavy.

The amount of pocket money we advise, is the minimum you spend on meals, drinks, optional excursions, entrance fees, local airport tax and tips. The amount of money you will finally be spending obviously depends on your personal habits. Therefore, souvenirs are not included. We suggest an amount of € 250-300 per week.
The examples of extra costs to be expected on this journey are only an indication and can vary depending on your requirements.

Good-quality film rolls can be bought everywhere in the larger cities. Check the best-before date and only buy from stores where the materials are kept in cold storage. The best thing to do, by the way, is to bring enough film from home. Never leave films or cameras in the locked-up coach. The quickly rising temperature will soon affect the quality of the photographic materials. Not all types of camera batteries are on sale. Therefore be sure to take batteries that will last the entire holiday. People do not always like being photographed. When in doubt you had better ask first. Sometimes they will say no, every now and then they will ask for money. At a number of sites you are not allowed to take photographs.

In the cities sometimes pickpockets are at work. A simple method keeps them away from you: stash your big money and valuables underneath your clothing, in a non-visible manner. Keep some ready money apart, so that you do not have to search for it in the middle of the street. Carry your backpack on your stomach if it contains valuables. Also, carry your camera in front, tied to a solid belt. Take these precautions, especially when visiting markets. Few robberies occur, but when this happens, it is on desolate places you would normally avoid, such as dark, quiet alleys. Your luggage will be reasonably safe in your hotel rooms, however, do not leave money or valuables lying about. Put them in a locked bag or even better, keep them with you or hand it over to the staff of the hotel lobby to go in the safe.

In Costa Rica it is 6 hours earlier than in the UK (during summertime 7 hours). For Western Europe: 7 hours (during summertime 8 hours) earlier.

Restaurant and hotel employees are not well paid. You may not have a ready solution for the country’s poverty, but the least you can do is to tip the ones working for you. The guideline is (provided you are satisfied with the service) about € 1 tip per room per day for hotel employees. The same amount goes for the bus drivers, hired by Shoestring, per person per day. A tip box is useful in this case, for which the passengers will take turns in administering, in consultation with the travel guide. Moreover, while the group is on the road, snacks can be purchased from this money. You do not need to tip taxi drivers. In general, the fare tourists are charged exceeds by far the amount locals pay. The travel guide also expects a tip by the end of the trip; provided she/he has done her/his job well. Our guideline is € 1 per passenger per day.

The taxes you will encounter are:
Sales tax ( impuestos de ventas ) This is a 13% tax added to sales of goods.
Service tax. This is a 10% tax applicable only to restaurant bills. It corresponds to the tip to the waiter or waitress and is already added to the total. If not, this will be specified on the menu.
Approximate prices for moderate meals, dinner / lunch at hotels and restaurants in Costa Rica are mostly around $ 10.00 per person. At lodges mostly a little bit higher. Taxes are not included and consist of 23%;
- Service tax. This is a 10% tax applicable only to restaurant bills. It corresponds to the tip to the waiter or waitress.
- Sales tax. This is a 13% tax added to sales or goods.
Restaurant bills will add a 13% sales tax and a 10% service tax; total tax to be added will be 23% to the price listed on the menu.

Holidays: As Panama is a predominantly Christian country, the Christian festivals like Christmas, Epiphany (January 6) and of course Easter is celebrated everywhere. Panama has many religious festivals anyway and is rich in folklore and folk traditions.
Public holidays in Panama include: 1 January (New Year), January 9 (Martelaarsdag), August 15 (the Association of Old Panama), All Souls' Day (November 2), Nov. 3 (Independence of Colombia in 1903), November 28 ( independence from Spain in 1821), December 8 (Mother). Carnival and Semana Santa is also widely celebrated in Panama. The Carnival of Las Tablas, every year the weekend before Ash Wednesday draws crowds.

The cultural differences between Europeans and people of Central America are so big that you could write an entire book on them. Below are a few choice items:

Politeness: This is a very important point in the interactions across Central America. In Panama, when meeting either a man or woman for the first time, offer them a handshake (one hand). Close friends or relatives give each other a kiss. Male family members give each other only one hand, often accompanied by an embrace, an abrazo.
If someone appeals, even in situations in a shop or bus, start your conversation with a greeting. A simple buenos días or buenas tardes, accompanied by a smile, does wonders. Your greeting will be matched by a greeting from the counterparty. Then begins the actual conversation as normal. If you enter a common space, such as a restaurant or waiting room, it also common practice to offer a general greeting to everyone in the room. A simple buenos días or buenas tardes is ok.

Macho behavior: Although women hold increasingly important positions in politics and business the Latin American machismo culture is still pervasive. This is the myth that characterizes men as strong and women as fragile. A macho male attitude and pride are often exhibited as a local man trying to gain the attention of a woman. Unaccompanied women often get plenty of (unwanted) attention. If you DOdo not appreciate this, it is best simply to ignore it. You can minimize these problems by dressing conservatively. Wearing a wedding ring can also help. Avoid dark places and lonely beaches if you are alone. Obviously there are enough 'ordinary' men here too!

Clothing: Make sure you look clean and well groomed for the people of Central America. This is important. Even poor people are doing their best to look good. Since you have the money to travel all the way from Europe to Central America you are in the eyes of local people rich. You win respect if you dress nicely. This does not mean that you should wear your most expensive Armani outfit to go onto the streets. Jewellery and expensive jewellery you better leave at home. Do not dress too revealing, not everyone is appreciative of this. Shorts are for both men and women, well suited to the beaches and in some coastal towns. Swimsuits should only be worn in swimming pools and on beaches. Many local women swim with a shirt over their bathing suits (often to reduce male attention). Dress discreetly when you visit churches, out of respect for the local population and its culture.

Shopping: Traditional Panamanian crafts are the cheapest at art markets. In Panama City is the market Balbao. The market Panama Viejo is also recommended. The most famous article is of course the mola, a complex piece of textile work made by the Kuna Indians of the tribe. Molas are, except in those markets, also available from vendors at the wall along the sea in Casco Viejo. Besides molas you can buy carved stone nuts, animals made from coconut and palm baskets made of woven fibers. El Valle is a small market with many smaller art soapstone sculptures. In Panama is the world's largest free trade zone, the Colon Free Trade Zone. In addition, a number of malls - American style, including Multi Centro, Albrook Mall and Multi Plaza Pacific. Prices vary from mall to mall. Albrook is relatively inexpensive, Multi Plaza with its clothing designer boutiques is on the pricey side. In general, Panama is a good country for clothing, cosmetics and consumer purchasing.

Bargaining: Bargaining is customary in Panama but only when buying souvenirs and art objects. Food from the market and shops have a fixed price.

Music: Salsa (a mix of folk, r & b, rock and jazz), the Panamanian specialty. The best known performer is Ruben Blades. Salsa music can be heard around most of the country. In Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast you can hear reggae with Spanish lyrics. Calle Uruguay in Panama City is the place if you want to dance or something to drink.

General: Always remember that you are a guest in a country where one simply has different manners. This is not abnormal, you're just acting differently!

Food: Panama has an international cuisine. There are Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Arab and Indian restaurants. The food in Indian restaurants is tough and sometimes really hot, especially when you have their "picante de la casa 'order. Panama is a bean country less than the other Central American countries. Instead of beans, you see more of the Caribbean plantains. Many dishes are seasoned with coriander (cilantro) or the related, but stronger culantro. The most common meat in the meal is chicken. In Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean Sea, they really eat Caribbean style, so in almost every dish they have processed coconut. A number of delicious dishes and drinks are: ceviche, raw fish in spicy lemon sauce, arroz con pollo, with rice mixed with chopped vegetables, arroz con piña, a drink consisting of rice and pineapple, chicheme, a drink of grain that tastes like porridge , patacones: fried bananas, tortillas, cereal, hojaldra: baked rolls.

Drinking: Tap water is not suitable for consumption in Panama. Mineral water is available everywhere. There are about five Panamanian beers (Balbao, Atlas, Calafate, Gold Top, Panamá). The quality of the imported beer is better. Of indigenous beers Balbao is the best. Where the spirits are concerned, there is the self-produced rum Carta Vieja. The national liquor is Seco, a crisp white rum. In the countryside Seco con leche (with milk seco) is widely consumed. Fresh fruit juices are available everywhere.

Fruit: The availability of seasonal fruit: oranges, bananas and pineapples are the most popular fruits, but there are also more exotic fruits. To name a few: Chirimoy, carambola, granadilla (a kind of pomegranate), guava, guayaba, cas (a passion fruit) and papaya. The Jugos naturales or juices made ​​here are wonderful.

Panama has an area of ​​78,200 km ² and lengthways is crossed by two mountain ranges. The high Serrania de Panama Tabasara comes from the west. The highest peak is Baru, a dormant volcano with an altitude of 3475 m. The Cordillera de San Blas and the Sierra del Darien form the mountains of the interior. The region between the two mountain ranges consists of fertile hills, valleys and plains and is overgrown with forests. Within the two mountain ranges there are at least 325 rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean and another 150 that flow into the Caribbean Sea. The largest and most important river, the Chagres, occurs in the middle of Panama and is dammed at Gatun into an artificial lake.
Both coasts of Panama are rich in lagoons, bays and waves. The Gulf of Panama is located on the Pacific side and includes the Archipelago de las Perlas (Pearls of the Archipelago) comprising more than one hundred islands with a total area of 1165 km ². The Pacific side is covered with relatively dry crops. The Caribbean side of Panama is covered with tropical rainforest, rich in tropical plants and flowers.

Panama is populated by just 3.2 million people. The country is Carabisch Spanish, both in terms of culture, language and customs and habits. Ethnically, the majority of the population is mestizo, a mix of Spanish, indigenous, Chinese and West Indies. One of the main indigenous peoples are the Kuna. The majority of the Kuna Indians are now living on the islands of San Blas Archipelago (Kuna Yala) on the northeast coast. Smaller groups are scattered in the Kuna Darien province, bordering Colombia. The Kuna took refuge here after escaping the Spanish colonizers. They wanted to preserve their traditional lifestyle and did not wish to assimilate. Their attempt was successful, the Kuna are to this day a proud group of people with a strong sense of unity.

The majority of the population of Panama is a supporter of the Roman Catholic faith, imposed by the Spanish colonists, who used religion as an important instrument of power for the suppression. In Panama, 85% of the population is Roman Catholic, Protestant 10% and 5% profess Islam.

Climate: Panama has a pleasant tropical climate. In the winter, which lasts from May to January, the weather is wet, hot and sunny. The invierno is a long rainy period. The (shorter) summer, verano, from January to May, dry and sunny. Be prepared for rain in the winter and take an umbrella. In general it is very hot everywhere, but in some places (Boquete, Cerro Punta, El Valle) it's pretty cool in the evening. If you are Barú climbing (over 3000 meters) then be sure to bring a good weather-defensive jacket with you. Unlike other Central American countries, Panama is not plagued by hurricanes. However there may be severe storms and forest fires in the remote Darien region (our journey does not go here).

Best time: You can visit Panama throughout the year. The Caribbean side is wetter and storms come here all year round. They will in no way affect your holiday enjoyment. The best time to go to Panama is in December and January. There is little rain and the temperature is pleasant.

Take the first day in Panama City easy. Take time to acclimatize. The transition from the climate and time difference can be profound. Let the country quietly impress upon you, try to pick up some Spanish and .... have fun in Central America!

The line voltage is 110 volts in Panama. The sockets are not the same as in Europe, an adapter is recommended. There are frequently power outages. Spare batteries and a flashlight are especially useful to take along. For more information about voltage and plugs used on site: www.kropla.com.

Travellers to Central America who pay some attention to hygiene and skincare usually don’t run into health problems. However, we would like you to pay attention to the following health advice.

Sunshine and heat: Sunburn is a frequent cause for health problems. Sunburn and sun/heat strokes are easier caught than you may think. You should therefore avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, always wear a hat and good sunglasses when you are walking, and use a good suntan lotion when sunbathing. The latter can best be brought along from home, where the choice of product is much larger and prices are lower. At high temperatures the body’s need for water increases very rapidly, as does its need for salt. Make sure you drink enough when the heat is extreme and you will simply have to take it very easy during the hottest hours of the day. Make it a habit to treat wounds, however small, with something like iodine. Infections can occur and spread rapidly in the tropics, so take as much care as possible with scratches and insect bites.

Diarrhoea: Next to sunburn, the most common health problem is diarrhoea. Travellers are often hit by it after they have been on holiday for only a few days. In most cases, it is an utterly innocuous phenomenon caused by the change of diet, the heat or harmless bacteria, against which the body will soon develop its defences. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children. It occurs when the body loses more fluid, salt and sugars than it receives. The result is a feeling of listlessness and weakness. It can be prevented by drinking a solution of water and ORS. It is sold in bags at the pharmacies and contains all the minerals and sugars that are evacuated with diarrhoea. Instead of this solution you can also take noncarbonated soft drinks or heavily salted broth. For many people, cola has a constipating effect in the first stages of diarrhoea. When the diarrhoea is accompanied by high fever, bloody defecation or strong qualms, it is sensible to consult a physician. When the diarrhoea lasts for more than a few days without the above-mentioned symptoms or when you have to travel, you may take Imodium or Diacure a couple of times. It is an opium-like preparation that stops the bowels completely for a number of hours.

Insect bites: Mosquitoes are hard to avoid in Central-America. However, the following advice may help reduce the likelihood of being bitten. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes tend to bite after sunset and before sunrise. In the evening, wear long trousers and a long-sleeved roll neck T-shirt that covers well. DEET or other preventive remedies are effective, but do not expect miracles.

Prickly heat: Prickly heat is an inflammation of the pores caused by excessive perspiration. It is common and innocent, but very annoying. The skin grows red and irritated in places. Places where skin touches skin, such as armpits and thighs, are particularly susceptible. The symptoms will decrease when you take a cold shower – without using soap – a few times a day and dry yourself off well. Talcum powder on the affected spots may also help. When it is hot and damp, do not sleep under a sheet but wear a cotton T-shirt. If it troubles you very much, the best thing to do is take an air-conditioned room for a couple of nights.

Travellers’ health kit: A health kit for the tropics should contain adhesive bandages, bandages, cotton wool, scissors, thermometer, iodine, painkillers, malaria tablets, O.R.S.-packages (Oral Rehydration Solution), loperamide (against diarrhoea), sunscreen, pair of tweezers, insect-repellents such as DEET and a soothing ointment for persistent itching. If you are on medication, make sure you have a precise description available in English (no brand name, but composition and doses are important). Bring along a double quantity for the duration of travel and keep it separated from the other luggage.

Medical passport: If you are on prescription medicine, bring an extra supply and keep it separated. This way you will always have a spare stock. Ask your pharmacy to draw up a medical passport for you. This includes names of the substances and the exact composition of the medication that you use. Keep this document and your medication in your hand luggage. If you have a chronic illness, ask your GP for a written explanation of your disease and its treatment (in English).

Vaccinations: Please click on the following link for information regarding vaccinations and malaria requirements. Moreover, your needs depend on whether you have had previous vaccinations, whether you are allergic to certain medicine, if you are pregnant, your age, and so on. ALWAYS contact your GP or some other healthcare authority for advice. The complete vaccination package includes DTP, hepatitis A, and malaria. There are no compulsory vaccinations, except for those who have been to regions with yellow fever or cholera within two weeks before arrival in Panama.

Some additional recommendations for an enjoyable stay: Allow your body and mind some time to adapt to the new time zone and location. Avoid stress; do not plan to do too much at once. At least take it easy on the first day. It is a good habit to get up early; in hot climates the morning temperature is often the most agreeable. Besides, the people in the countries you visit are also used to rising early. When you adapt to their rhythm you will make the most of your trip. When you are well rested you are best able to deal with all the new impressions and will have the energy to undertake more activities.
 

Ensure that those at home know in which country you are and how long you are planning to stay away. You should fix a date when you will contact them. Making telephone calls from Panama is no problem. You can make collect calls and Internet cafes are everywhere. Provide the people who will pick you up from the airport with your flight times and numbers. Shoestring will not provide flight and/or travel information, hotel names and telephone numbers to third parties. Any information on delays may be retrieved via the airport information number or Teletext.

Contact person
In case of an emergency, it is important for us to have details of someone we can contact on your behalf. You have entered a name on the booking form. It is possible that this person is unavailable or on holiday during your trip. If so, enter a second person so that we are sure to be able to get in touch with somebody.

This tour leads us through tropical lowland as well as high mountainous areas, the latter enjoying a moderate climate, which may include cold nights. Therefore, bring along thin, cotton clothes. For the evening, a closed neck long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll neck sweater is recommended to protect against mosquitoes. Also, bring along a jersey or sweater and a rain jacket. Nights in Panama can be quite cold! Do not forget an umbrella as protection against rain and too much sun. Bring along a pair of good-quality, worn-in walking shoes and flip-flops or sandals. You should consider bringing along the following: sunglasses, sunscreen, toiletries, a traveller’s health kit, a hat/scarf, a photo/film camera, spare batteries, a pocket knife, a lighter, a small stock of non-perishable snacks and sweets, an alarm clock, writing materials, books, passport, sufficient money, photocopies of your passport and travel insurance, your flight ticket(s), travel insurance-pass including alarm number, important addresses and a good travel guide, toilet paper, towel and a reading lamp. If you bring along electrical equipment, you will need an adaptor. During this trip, you won’t need a mosquito net or sleeping bag. We prefer that you pack everything into a weekend bag or backpack, rather than a solid suitcase, which would take up too much space and can be hard to carry in some circumstances. A small backpack or shoulder bag comes in handy for hand luggage. Valuable papers are best kept in a thin cotton money belt, to be carried underneath your clothes. Take care to have an extra, clean set of clothes in your hand luggage, so that you can do without the other luggage for 48 hours, just in case it arrives later than you do. For example, make sure to put any important medication and a toothbrush etc in your hand luggage and that your luggage is not too heavy.

The currency of Panama is the balboa (PAB), divided into 100 centavos. The value of the balbao is equal to the U.S. dollar. Panamanian and U.S. coins are used interchangeably. Panamanian money coins have the same weight and size as that of American coins, they just have a different image. Panama also has half-dollar coins, these half-dollars are designated as pesos. The currency in Panama is not stable. It is best to consult a financial newspaper one week before departure. On the internet you can look at www.oanda.com.

The hotels of the capital and larger cities accept credit cards, as do supermarkets and department stores. Make sure you have enough small bills with you, 50 or 100 notes balbao / dollar are not always accepted.

 We advise you to travel with your bankcard and U.S. Dollars. The safest way to stow money and documents during the journey is in a cotton money belt worn under the clothing.

Good-quality film rolls can be bought everywhere in the larger cities. Check the best-before date and only buy from stores where the materials are kept in cold storage. The best thing to do, by the way, is to bring enough film from home. Never leave films or cameras in the locked-up coach. The quickly rising temperature will soon affect the quality of the photographic materials. Not all types of camera batteries are on sale. Therefore be sure to take batteries that will last the entire holiday. People do not always like being photographed. When in doubt you had better ask first. Sometimes they will say no, every now and then they will ask for money. At a number of sites you are not allowed to take photographs.

In the cities sometimes pickpockets are at work. A simple method keeps them away from you: stash your big money and valuables underneath your clothing, in a non-visible manner. Keep some ready money apart, so that you do not have to search for it in the middle of the street. Carry your backpack on your stomach if it contains valuables. Also, carry your camera in front, tied to a solid belt. Take these precautions, especially when visiting markets. Few robberies occur, but when this happens, it is on desolate places you would normally avoid, such as dark, quiet alleys. Your luggage will be reasonably safe in your hotel rooms, however, do not leave money or valuables lying about. Put them in a locked bag or even better, keep them with you or hand it over to the staff of the hotel lobby to go in the safe.

In Panama it is 5 hours earlier than in the UK (during summertime 6 hours). For Western Europe: 6 hours (during summertime 7 hours) earlier.

Restaurant and hotel employees are not well paid. You may not have a ready solution for the country’s poverty, but the least you can do is to tip the ones working for you. The guideline is (provided you are satisfied with the service) about € 1 tip per room per day for hotel employees. The same amount goes for the bus drivers, hired by Shoestring, per person per day. A tip box is useful in this case, for which the passengers will take turns in administering, in consultation with the travel guide. Moreover, while the group is on the road, snacks can be purchased from this money. You do not need to tip taxi drivers. In general, the fare tourists are charged exceeds by far the amount locals pay. The travel guide also expects a tip by the end of the trip; provided she/he has done her/his job well. Our guideline is € 1 per passenger per day.