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Safety and the police
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PanamA? has something of a reputation as a dangerous place to travel, but though
violent crime
is a problem - most shops, banks and hotels have private armed guards - outside certain areas PanamA? is really no worse than anywhere else in Central America. You should take special care in
ColA?n
and in
PanamA? City
(particularly in the San Felipe, El Chorillo and Calidonia districts), where
mugging
is a real threat, and always ask local advice about the relative safety of different areas. Other than your
passport
, which you are required to carry at all times, leave your valuables in your hotel when you can, keep them close to your body when you can't, and carry a few dollars separately so that muggers do not search you for more (or become violent with disappointment). Late at night or when carrying luggage, it's a good idea to take a taxi - think of it as a cheap insurance policy. If you are
driving
, never leave your car unattended and, in PanamA? City and ColA?n, keep your doors locked and windows closed to avoid being hijacked.
Outside ColA?n and PanamA? City, the only area where there is any particular danger is DariAŠn and the easternmost part of Kuna Yala . This wilderness frontier with Colombia has long been frequented by Colombian Marxist guerrillas, bandits and cocaine traffickers, but since 1996 the situation has deteriorated dramatically, and several travellers attempting to cross overland to Colombia have been kidnapped, killed or have simply disappeared. It is still possible to visit DariAŠn, including parts of the national park, and the situation may well get better, but at present we do not recommend travel in this area . Even when the situation has improved, you should check with the ANAM office in DariAŠn by phone and in the press in PanamA? City before going, and register with the police in every town. And if you are planning to travel to Colombia by sea, you should be aware that many of the boats that ply the coast are involved in smuggling.
If you are robbed or otherwise become the victim of a crime, you should report it immediately to the local
police
station, particularly if you will later be making an insurance claim. If treated respectfully, Panamanian police are generally honest and helpful. In PanamA? City the
tourist police
(
policia de turismo
) are better prepared to deal with foreign travellers and more likely to speak English - they wear white armbands and are often mounted on bicycles. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Panama,
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