When I need to ship something to Panama I always use Mail Boxes Etc. It is the UPS store, making it a US based Postal and Business service. MBE. has 16 stores in Panama and over 6,000 around the world.
One of the most convenient and priceless services offered by Mail Boxes Etc. is mail forwarding from Miami Florida. You are given a US based address that can be used for any kind of mailing – magazine subscriptions, online purchases, and even good old fashioned letters. Mail that is sent to the address given you by MBE is then forwarded to the corresponding office in Panama, according to your wishes, where you can pick it up.
To set up a mailbox with Mail Bozes Etc. in Panama go to www.mbe.com. At the top of the main page you will see a link to “Locate a Store Globally.” Select Panama from the pull down menu, and then fill in your location and you will be given the information for the closest store. There are locations in the Panama City, Coronado, Boquete and Bocas del Toro area.
After you find the store location nearest you, all you need to do is call or email and someone will be able to help you get your mailbox set up. Generally it only takes one working day to get a new address activated and ready for use. And, unlike many companies in Panama, email is an effective way to get in touch with them.
It is easy to rack up one or two hundred dollars of monthly charges because of weight overages and customs charges. Be sure to fully understand these charges. The learning curve is steep!
The service has been reliable, but as Tom said, packages can be a bit pricey, and my experience has shown a timely layover somewhere between arrival at the Miami P.O. box and its final arrival at Mail Boxes Etc. And yes, I’ve considered the customs process, however the delay is a bit much. Regardless, this is the most inexpensive and reliable means of sending packages from The States to Panama City.
For more info on my experiences here in Central America’s hub, check out my blog at Kalu Yala.
It’s a reliable source but not the cheapest. I used to use Miami Express, but the monthly charge and overages would rack up quickly as well. Then I used MBE, and I finally found two services that, 1 – don’t charge a monthly membership fee and give you just a few lb. of shipping per month and don’t roll over, and 2 – which only charge you per usage by weight and a handling charge. So if in one month you don’t ship anything, you don’t have to pay for something you don’t use, and both give you a Miami PO Box. One is called Air Facility (264-0785, Via Brasil & Coste del Este) and the other is Priority Express (390-4060, Via Porras by Metro pharmacy). AF = $2.65/lb + handling fees, PE = $3/lb 10 lb. or less, and $1.75/lb =>11+ lb. Check’em out! Hope that helps you guys!