If youre concerned about staying in touch while traveling throughout Panama, dont be. The country is well connected, and there are plenty of internet cafes where you can get online or call back home at fairly reasonable rates. Of course, if you are taking an extended trip, you might want to look into getting your own cell phone.
Getting a cell in Panama is extremely simple. You can basically walk into any phone shop (which you can distinguish from the rest by the cell phones they display in their windows), purchase a phone and have it connected. From there you have to make quite possibly the
biggest decision of all
prepaid phone card or a monthly plan complete with a year-long contract.
Both have their plus-sides: use a prepaid if you are out of the country more than in, just make sure you buy the more expensive cards; they come with a better per-minute rate. Per minute rates and services offered are always cheaper with a plan, but if youre not there to use it, are you really saving any money?
Another cool thing: in Panama you dont pay for incoming calls, only outgoing, so no need to worry about wasting your minutes when your newest Panamanian friend calls to practice their English! Be a good Gringo and help em out!
