Compared to other Central American Cities, Panama City is very safe. Nevertheless always use your common sense.
Area where the Hostel is located is very safe, even at night. CALIDONIA and OLD TOWN are relatively safe during daytime. Not recomendable after 9 pm.
STAY THE HELL out of EL CHORRILLO and CURUNDÚ-extremely dangerous!!!!!!!!
Post office
Located in PLAZA CONCORDIA right opposite of SUPERMERCADO REY. Enter building where WESTERN UNION has its office and go to back of building! Opening hours from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm. Postcard 35-45 cents! Very slow and bad service. Be prepared that it takes at least 30 minutes – So DON`T write your postcards in the last minutes of your stay!!! If you intend to send a package, you have to wrap it in special paper available at GRAN MORRISON department store located right next to Supermercado Rey. This post office only accepts packages up to 2 kilos, if heavier they tell you to try your luck either in Post office in CALIDONIA (CENTRO COMERCIAL LAS AMERICAS =green building right before EL MACHETAZO (department store) or in CARRASQUILLA (opposite of fire department -see map!) None of the post offices has a sign so use your searching skills!
LAUNDRY
We offer Laundry service in our Hostel!
SHOPPING
PANAMA CITY is a paradise when it comes to shopping. Among the several SHOPPING MALLS ALBROOK MALL right next to ALBROOK BUS TERMINAL is the best. There you can get a wide range of products of good quality for very reasonable prices especially in bigger Department stores like EL COSTO, EL TITAN, etc.. Boutiques there are pricier, but still way cheaper than in Europe or North America. Other shopping malls are a bit more expensive like MULTICENTRO or MULTIPLAZA. Alternatively you get very inexpensive stuff in the SHOPPING STREET called AVENIDA CENTRAL (pedestrian Zone) and CALIDONIA but the quality is not always the best. There is another great place for shopping called LOSPUEBLOS located in Via España close to the INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT but it takes about 45 Minutes to go there by bus.
CAMERAS
If you intend to buy a camera you should know that they are not much cheaper than in North America or Europe. Nevertheless you can try your luck in big Places like PANAFOTO (300metres from here on Calle 50) or AUDIO FOTO (Via España opposite of REY) or MULTIMAX (CORNER CALLE 50/VIA BRASIL). In case you´re an expert it is recommendable to visit the SMALL SHOPS located between PLAZA 5 DE MAYO and AVENIDA CENTRAL. If you are not happy with the price just tell them and they get a calculator to check out how much discount they can give you!
OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT
There is an ARMY STORE in AVENIDA CENTRAL where you can get Backpacks, Tents etc. It is located right next to BANCO ATZTECA in the middle of the first block on your left hand side.
They also sell snorkeling equipment, guitars, strings and other accessories.
There is another Outdoor store located in Shoppingmalls Albrook Mall and Multiplaza. It´s name is Outdoor Colombia.
GUITARS ETC.
ARMY Store in Avenida Central (see above). Department store EL MACHETAZO in Calidonia and at end of Avenida Central). In GRAN MORRISON right before SUPERMERCADO REY. Music store located in Multiplaza shopping Mall.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
*Kuna Indians selling Molas etc. in Via Veneto and Plaza de Francia (Casco Viejo)
*In Gran Morrison right before Supermercado Rey (overpriced!!!).
*In SAN ANDRESITO, a small market in Plaza Concordia right opposite of Supermercado Rey (pedestrian bridge).
*small mercado next to Plaza 5 de Mayo
*small mercado in SALSIPUEDES right at end of Avenida Central, close to old town.
