{"id":45038,"date":"2024-01-08T10:45:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T14:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/?p=45038"},"modified":"2025-08-31T16:10:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T21:10:45","slug":"ce-quil-faut-faire-et-ne-pas-faire-au-panama","status":"publish","type":"travel-guide","link":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/guide-de-voyage\/ce-quil-faut-faire-et-ne-pas-faire-au-panama\/","title":{"rendered":"Ce qu'il faut faire et ne pas faire au Panama"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Social Etiquette &amp; Daily Interactions<\/h2>\n<h3>Salutations et politesse<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Greet people with a friendly &#8220;Buenos d\u00edas&#8221; (good morning), &#8220;Buenas tardes&#8221; (good afternoon), or &#8220;Buenas noches&#8221; (good evening\/night) when entering shops, elevators, or meeting someone. This is a common courtesy and is expected in daily interactions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Use formal titles like <i>Monsieur<\/i> (Mr.), <i>Madame<\/i> (Mrs.), or <i>Mademoiselle<\/i> (Miss) when addressing people you don&#8217;t know, especially elders.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Be overly direct or rush into business. A little small talk before getting to the point is appreciated and considered polite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Code vestimentaire<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Dress &#8220;city-smart&#8221; in Panama City. Locals tend to dress well, and you will feel more comfortable fitting in. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended for nicer restaurants and clubs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Wear beachwear (shorts, tank tops, flip-flops) when visiting government buildings, banks, or upscale establishments. You may be denied entry as a matter of dress code.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Wear any camouflage-patterned clothing. It is illegal for civilians to wear military-style attire in Panama.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Punctuality (&#8220;Panamanian Time&#8221;)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Arrive on time for scheduled tours, official appointments, and dinner reservations. Punctuality is expected in these formal settings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Be surprised if social gatherings start 15-30 minutes later than the stated time. This is common and known as &#8220;Panamanian time.&#8221; For clarity, formal appointments are punctual, while casual social events are more relaxed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Sant\u00e9, s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et s\u00fbret\u00e9<\/h2>\n<h3>S\u00e9curit\u00e9 personnelle<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas like markets, bus terminals, and on public transport to avoid pickpockets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Flaunt expensive jewelry, large amounts of cash, or high-end electronics. It is wiser to keep valuables out of sight.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Use ride-sharing apps (like Uber or Didi) or official, registered taxis, which can be identified by their yellow color and unique number plate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Walk alone at night in unlit or unfamiliar areas, particularly in certain parts of Panama City (e.g., Calidonia, El Chorrillo) and the city of Col\u00f3n. We advise sticking to well-populated, tourist-friendly areas after dark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sant\u00e9 et Environnement<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Drink bottled or filtered water. While tap water is generally considered safe in Panama City, it&#8217;s best to be cautious, especially in rural areas and on the islands.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Use insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk, to protect against mosquitoes that can carry Dengue or Zika.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Forget to apply high-SPF sunscreen. The tropical sun is extremely strong, even on overcast days.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Respect wildlife. Observe animals from a distance and never feed them, as it can disrupt their natural behaviors and diet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Argent, Pourboires et N\u00e9gociation<\/h2>\n<h3>Devises &amp; Paiements<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Carry small US dollar bills ($1, $5, $10, $20). The US dollar is an official currency, but many smaller shops, vendors, and taxis will not have change for a $50 or $100 bill.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Be surprised to receive change in Panamanian Balboa coins. The Balboa is pegged 1:1 with the USD and exists only as coins, which are used interchangeably with US coins.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Culture du pourboire<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Check your bill at restaurants for an included service charge, often listed as <i>servicio<\/i> or <i>pourboire<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Tip 10-15% for good service in restaurants if a service charge is not already included.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Tip tour guides ($5-$10 per person for a half-day tour) and private drivers as a sign of appreciation for their service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>N\u00e9gociation<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Feel free to negotiate politely at artisan markets, such as the Mercado Nacional de Artesan\u00edas. A 10-20% discount is often achievable with a friendly approach.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Attempt to bargain in supermarkets, department stores, or upscale boutiques where prices are fixed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Sensibilit\u00e9 culturelle et respect<\/h2>\n<h3>Interagir avec les communaut\u00e9s autochtones<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Always ask for permission before taking photographs of people, especially in Guna Yala (San Blas Islands) or Ember\u00e1 communities. Some individuals may request a small payment ($1-$2). This is a crucial way to show respect for their privacy and culture.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Support local communities by purchasing authentic handicrafts directly from the artisans.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Treat a visit to an indigenous village like a human zoo. Engage respectfully, listen to their stories, and follow the lead of your guide to ensure a meaningful interaction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Photographie &amp; Drones<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Take photos of government buildings, military installations, or police officers, as this is often prohibited.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Check and respect drone regulations. Flying drones is restricted near the Panama Canal, airports, and in many national parks to protect security and wildlife.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sujets sensibles<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>DO:<\/strong> Refer to indigenous peoples by their specific group name (e.g., Guna, Ember\u00e1) rather than using the general term &#8220;indios,&#8221; which can be considered pejorative.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DON&#8217;T:<\/strong> Bring up sensitive political history, such as the 1989 US invasion, unless a local initiates the conversation and seems comfortable discussing it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ma\u00eetrisez l'\u00e9tiquette du Panama : Apprenez les principales choses \u00e0 faire et \u00e0 ne pas faire pour que votre visite se d\u00e9roule sans encombre.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":45503,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Do&#8217;s and Don&#8217;t in Panama","_seopress_titles_desc":"Master Panama etiquette: Learn key cultural dos and don'ts for a seamless visit.","_seopress_robots_index":""},"tags":[561,23],"article-type":[24794],"collection":[27040],"continent":[24764],"country":[20],"class_list":["post-45038","travel-guide","type-travel-guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-panama","tag-practical-information","article-type-practical-information","collection-repull","continent-central-america","country-panama"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travel-guide\/45038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travel-guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/travel-guide"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45038"},{"taxonomy":"article-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-type?post=45038"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=45038"},{"taxonomy":"continent","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/continent?post=45038"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=45038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}