Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Q. What is the currency of Panama?
A. The U.S. dollar. In Panama the dollar is called a "Balboa". Coins are in the same denominations as in the United States. The easiest way to handle cash in Panama is by using ATMs. There are two ATMs in Bocas del Toro.

Q. What is the mailing address for the Bocas del Toro Biological Station? How long does it take for mail to be delivered?
A.
Person's Name/ITEC
Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón
Prov. Bocas del Toro Republica de Panamá

All mail is be picked up at the Bocas Post Office. A letter will require $ .65 to 1.00 in postage from the U.S., larger items such as greeting cards will require more. It takes two to three weeks for a letter from the U.S. to arrive at the Bocas del Toro Post Office and a bit longer to go from Bocas to addresses in the U.S. Packages can take considerably longer and sometimes are lost completely. We advise against mailing valuables to or from Bocas del Toro. Fed Ex now ships to Bocas, but packages may be hung up in Panama City's customs if anything other than documents are sent.

Q. What is the phone number at the field station? How can I make and receive calls?
A. The Station phone is 507-6624-9246. This number should only be used for important calls and emergencies. Panama's country code is "011". Outgoing calls can be made from the public phone at the station or from town on the weekends.

Q. Is E-mail available?
A. Yes, there are three cyber cafes in Bocas del Toro. Students have an opportunity to send and receive e-mail during our weekly visits to town and while in Boquete. The station has one computer that can access the internet. Students have limited use of this computer.

Q. When should I arrive in Bocas del Toro?
A. Plan to arrive in Bocas on the first day of the session your are attending. Because it is generally necessary to spend a night in Panama City, plan to arrive in Panama City the day before courses begin. ITEC personnel will meet every arriving flight in Bocas on the first day of each session. It is okay to arrive earlier, but this means that you will have to arrange a room in town for the night(s) before your session begins. There are numerous small hotels in Bocas within walking distance of the airport or water taxi and prices start around 7$. If you arrive in Bocas early, go to the airport to meet ITEC personnel on the first day of the session. See the calendar.

Q. When should I plan to leave Bocas del Toro?
A. Plan to leave Bocas del Toro on the day after the last day of your session. For example, Summer Session A ends on June 9. In this case plan to leave Bocas on June 10 and then depart Panama City on June 11. (Of course, this is nullified if you plan to travel around or remain in Bocas after the course).

Q. Should I take malaria medicine before coming to Panama?
A. Only your physician can advise you about your medical needs. However, malaria or dengue fever is extremely rare in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. ITEC faculty and staff do not take malarial preventatives and none of the locals do. Some types of malarial medicines have severe side effects such as depression and fatigue which may adversely affect your performance in the course and diminish your overall experience in Bocas. However, if you plan to attend the travel course (Tropical Ecosystems and Indigenous cultures of Panama), then you will need take anti-malarial medicine.

Q. Are the mosquitoes and other biting insects bad at the station?
A. Like most things biological, the abundance of mosquitoes varies with the season. Generally they are not bad (not nearly as bad as say Gainesville, Florida or Minnesota in summer!), but they can be a nuisance at times. No-see-ums, a very small biting fly, are also present at the station. Thus, it is important to bring insect repellent and a no-see-um proof net for your bed.

Q. How much extra spending money should I bring to Bocas?
A. This depends on your spending habits and what you plan to do before, during, or after the course. You should bring at least $50 for possible medical needs, and another $60-$80 for the cloud forest trip. In the past, students spent as little as $35 and as much as $500 during the four week course. The average spent was just over $200.

E-mail: FAQs@itec-edu.org

Updated 7 January, 2008