Capital: Panama City

Language: Spanish

Currency: US Dollar and Panamanian Balboa

Do Indians need visa pre-arrival: Yes But substituted with a valid multiple entry visa issued by US UK, Canada, Australia or a Schengen visa, which has been used at least once to enter those countries.

Places I Visited:
• Panama City- Capital of Panama has a good skyline, right for nightlife, need to visit Panama Canal, walk in the old town.
• Bocas del toro- Excellent beaches, good seafood, good nightlife.

My real solo traveling started here in Panama. On the last class of my Master's degree, I flew from Philadelphia to Panama. As I entered into the immigration of Panama out of curiosity I asked immigration officer how long I can stay here; she replied: “6 months dear”.

I took a taxi to the hostel, alighted and stepped into my first hostel in the Panama City.

On the first day, I walked around the neighborhood, I had no idea where to go next and what to do, and it was one of the boring daytime in my travel. I proceeded back to the hostel and asked people in the hostel, what to do around the city, so they suggested a day tour the city. I booked a ticket for the next day.

In the evening as the sun went down, I had a chance to meet my first Italian friend and an American as well, and after a long conversation of our cultures and food (I was amazed when he told me there is no pizza hut or dominos in Italy), the day was ended.

The next morning was the day for our city tour. I and my Italian friend and a few other persons from the hostel toured for almost 4 hours. We then came back to the hostel after which I spoke to some people working there. Then, I decided my next destination will be “Bocas Del Toro” Island.

I went out for dinner and met a stranger who was traveling from Germany but staying in the other hostel close to mine. He was searching for something, and I helped him out with it.

The next day, I boarded a bus going to Almirante, and we had a pit-stop, and I quickly ceased that opportunity to have something ingested. I then saw this german guy whom I had met a day before; luckily, he too was heading the same direction with me. At 5 in the morning, we were in Almirante usually boats to Bocas Del Toro resumes by 6 in the morning; we took a boat to Bocas.

On getting to my destination, i realized I am yet to make a hostel reservation. I immediately make some little arrangements. My German friend and I stayed in the same hostel where we met a bunch of Canadians and hanged out. The next day we had to change our hostel to one where we could have a wonderful view from the hostel. The hostel we moved into was by the beach, and for few days that we stayed, we visited various islands and also attended parties organized in my hostel, and other places on the island.

One morning, I went out on an adventure alone. I was about to start my Open water Scuba diving course in bocas at the time. This was the craziest day of my travel; I needed to swim 200 meters long and float for like 10 min in the ocean to qualify for a course. After some struggles and sessions which lasted for 5 days, I was open water certified.

I was walking on the island one day when someone from behind whispered to my ear saying “aap India se hein kya” meaning are you from India in Hindi? That was how I met an Indian friend in my Travel.

I spent around 2 weeks in Bocas del Toro.

Now it was time for me to say adios to German, Canadians and Indian friends and pack-up to get a bus to Panama-Costa Rica border.