Thread: Travel during rainy season?

Do you think it can be better to travel during the rainy season, since their will be less tourists. You can usually find more open hotels, less crowded restaurants and such, and cheaper rates during the rainy season.

Originally Posted by themark

Do you think it can be better to travel during the rainy season, since their will be less tourists? Can you usually find more open hotels, less crowded restaurants and such, and cheaper rates during the rainy season? (mod)

I don't notice much of a difference in the # of tourists in either season; Americans tend to travel during Xmas and spring break, during the school vacations. And South Americans tend to travel during their school vacations, Jan.-March, and similar holidays. The surfing hot spots can change coasts with the seasons, but I notice more that ppl go from Darien, with southwest-facing beaches, to the Azueros, with southeast-facing beaches, as the peak breaks move.

Panama is pretty cheap, regardless of the season. I have yet to run into a fully-booked hotel, or a fully-reserved restaurant due to too many tourists. What Panama needs is more tourists!! Right now it just seems like the ppl visiting are there to look for homes and businesses, not beaches and parties.

Cheers.

I would suggest going to Panama when it is convenient for you. It's a great place year-round. Don't come during the rainy season if you hate rain, though.

I never do that unless when i come to that country, that season is change to rainy season. I also don't really like to travel if that day is rainy. Too many trouble if its happen. I already have some expereince about that. Its not like i hate rain, but i'm not really comfortable about thta.

How much beach activity is there during the rainy season? Surfers are a breed of their own. They'll surf anytime, anywhere. Do people hit the beaches when thunderstorms loom on the horizon?

People don't usually go much during actual rain or storms, but they'll go before one.

Exactly. A few of my friends went out surfing on the Caribbean coast immediately after the hurricanes this summer, just to take advantage of the larger swells and rapid waves. Awesome! You experience a lot of that near any beach community where there are a lot of surfers--find the storm surge and you'll find the surfers...

Cheers.

I remember going to a beach after a storm one time, and the waves were huge. In fact, the children weren't even allowed into the water because of it. Those were the biggest waves I've ever seen. I wasn't surfing, but I went out and rode them.

Originally Posted by panamapal

People don't usually go much during actual rain or storms, but they'll go before one.

So, thats why when rainy summer, you need to bring your raining coat and umbrealla. Some old people said, before rain or storm, provide umbrella first..

Is it okay to have an umbrealla in a lightening or thunder storm? Will it attract lightening?

Originally Posted by panman

Is it okay to have an umbrella in a lightening or thunder storm? Will it attract lightening?

Stay away from trees and don't go swimming during the storms; if you are in a city, the height of the buildings will protect you--they all have some form of antenna system on the roofs that will dissipate the strikes (whether its just a satellite dish or an actual lightening rod doesn't matter.) Lightening goes for the tallest target around--not your umbrella, or you--unless you're standing underneath a tree.

Do you use an umbrella during a thunderstorm in your own country? Or do you just not have thunderstorms in you section of the land? It just seems to me that this is a common-sense kind of question, i.e. if a thunderstorm is close-by, then don't go outside, umbrella or not. I wouldn't worry about having to be outside in a thunderstorm w/an umbrella in Manhattan, but I would be plenty freaked out if I were on the Kansas prarie.

Cheers.

Hmm... Question to Lalaguayaba: Earlier in this thread, you referred to the "larger swells and rapid waves" after the hurricanes. From this I gather that the storm surges from hurricanes can travel about 500 miles which I believe would have been the closest edge of the hurricanes thusfar this season. How high would these waves be above normal? Has any hurricane surge caused significant damage in Panama in recorded history?

There really isn't enough development along the Caribbean coast for any storm to damage; aside from Colón (which, as a port, is fairly storm-proofed,) there just isn't much up there. The last info I got on the waves, from my friends surfing up there, were getting 8'-10' swells--which is not that high at all, it is just really high for the Caribbean, and perfect for surfing. Normal wave height along Panama's northern coast is around 2'-3'.

Panama just doesn't really get hit by hurricanes, it is far enough south to be out of the path of a direct hit by a storm. And looking at a map of the region, you can pick out the main hurricane belt--and Panama is no where near it.

I had friends in Honduras--which is several hundred miles north of Panama (on Roatan island,) who sat out the last big storm of the season (I believe it was H. Dean,) and they gave a fairly mellow report. As long as the homes/businesses are built to withstand the winds, everything just chugs along as normal.

Cheers.

Surely there are some buildings along the coast that can get hurt, even if not many. Aren't there any beach houses or anything?

There are beach houses, there are beach developments, just not a lot of them; and if you noticed that I mentioned 10' waves--not 100' waves then you would understand. We're not talking tsunami waves, we're not talking hurricane force winds, we're just talking about good surfing. All the hurricanes for the past few hundred years of recorded storm history haven't hit Panama...

The latter mention of hurricane-proof property was in Honduras--a country several hundred miles to the northwest.

Cheers.

Does Hounduras get a lot of hurricanes?

i always wanted to spend my winter holidays somewhere where it's hot... relaxing on a beach or something. in my country we've got -20 degrees celsius every winter... so i'm really tired of cold weather. what temperatures are in Panama in December-January?

The good news is that we have temperatures from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius (77 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) during the whole year! We really only have two seasons: The "rainy" season from May to November and the "dry season" from December to April. I always like to spend my Christmas and New Year's Eve in Panama.. and I'm always having a good time!

Originally Posted by panman

Does Honduras get a lot of hurricanes?

Everything you wanted to know about Honduras: :: Lets Go Honduras ::
Honduras - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Does the U.S. get a lot of hurricanes? Does Mexico get a lot of hurricanes? Does Venezuela? If it is a country along the hurricane belt, then--yes, it has hurricanes. This belt is ~10 degrees north and south on either side of the equator; Panama, @ 8 N, is within this belt, and thus, free of hurricanes.

Tropical cyclogenesis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...acks-edit2.jpg


As always, the Wikipedia is an absolute glut of free information.

Cheers.

Well, i don't prefer to travel Panama in rainy days... i don't think we can enjoy that much in rainy days than sunny.......However this is my view,can differ from person to person...

I just drove around the country at the end of October and the rain actually added to the enjoyment. There were usually sunny mornings and rainy afternoons. If you are along the coast the rain is pretty warm so I did not care that I got wet sometimes. Think of Florida during hurricane season. You are able to get a hotel room anywhere in the interior during the week most of the year. If you rent a good 4x4, purchase a cooler, fill it with ice, food, beer, and rum. Then all you have to do is start driving, no beforehand plans needed. I really cannot recommend any better way to discover and explore Panama. Makes no difference what season.

Mr WooHoo, you appear to be an authority here. I am having a most difficult time finding any info on driving to Panama. I'm reading every trip report I can find, but there is SO much conflicting information. I've even had a hard time finding driving distances, times and road conditions, particularly south of the States.

From what I have found it appears to be about 8900 km from where I am in BC, Canada, to Boquete. I have driven to Ontario, in Eastern Canada, a couple of times through the US. This is about 4500 km and it took me three days, driving straight and only pulling off the major highway for a couple of hours of sleep. I don't think I can use this as a guideline for travel to Panama though, because it would appear the road conditions are a lot worse. My research of the PanAmerican highway shows a lot of sections that are no expressway by any means.

All the reports I read say NOT to drive at night, partly because of road conditions and partly because of "banditos", although I don't know how much of this to believe.

I am really struggling with which way to go here and would appreciate any help.

Thank you.

I can give you some advice about driving around the country of Panama but actually driving down from BC the only advice I can give you is head south on I-5. The only other thing that I have heard (and this is a BIG MAYBE), is there might be a ferry at the bottom of the Baja Peninsula that will take you over to the mainland of Mexico. If you are going to make this trip just be prepared. If you are planning to move to Panama sell your car before you go down.

Hi ChecMark; Now this is VERY ANCIENT history, but I drove with a couple of buddies from Edmonton to Panama City 41 YEARS ago. The actual time on the road was 7 days including stops for food, gas, bit of sightseeing. Our greatest obstacles to night driving were burros asleep on the road at night. (Very important reason NOT to drive at night!) I would assume that after the passage of so much time the road will be better by now = faster and easier Our total driving time from Mexico City to Panama city was 4 days, leaving out the stops we made for visiting friends en route. So if you can get travel times / distances from BC to Mexico City that should still give you about 4 - 8 hour days from Mexico City to Panama city. When you do go, I'm sure that not only myself but everyone would enjoy hearing your land travel experiences. If and when my wife and I move there, I plan on driving it - just for the shear sightseeing fun of it. I would plan on allowing about 3 weeks to allow for the stops and visiting.

Thanks, Mr WooHoo, but I am confused about part of your answer - the part about selling "before I go down". I'm buying the car to make the trip from BC to Boquete instead of flying and because my research on buying a car in Boquete shows they are all very expensive. Is your answer because a Honda Civic DX is no good for driving around Boquete, or some other reason?

If you are on a tight budget my personal recommendation would be to fly to Panama and dont purchase a car. You can get a bus to almost anywhere throughout the country very easily. If you really want to explore the country it really, really helps to have a 4x4.

Thanks, GordonS. At least I know someone did the trip and survived. If I end up driving I did plan on keeping some sort of trip report each day, and if I have internet access along my route I'll post the log on here.

Although it's helpful to read all the various posts on various sites, it only adds to the confusion when people raise fears about being robbed or attacked. For someone travelling alone in unfamiliar countries this makes for possibly unjustified fears. Hopefully I won't add to these fears if I make the trip.

I honestly don't understand all the paranoia about 'banditos' and other hazards of the road. All the countries along the road are currently in peaceful gov't vs. the ppl mode, and extremist groups are not being freaky--like my previous post on the other thread... plan to spend some time just exploring. It is beautiful country, and I think you'd being cheating yourself if you just drove straight through, but, then again...this is your plan, not mine. If you want to drive down to Panama in order to have a vehicle, that is just not a good plan. Renting one is a much, much better plan. If renting one is just not possible, try the hostel route. Read the Lonely Planet boards to find a possible ride, they list all types of non-commercial transport.

You may catch a ferry from Las Palmas (on the Baja Peninsula) to Mazatlan, that will cut a lot of time off your route. Just see Google Maps, it is still on Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and wends through Tijuana, Ensenada, Loreto, and La Paz, Mexico...
It is slightly depressing once you leave the US...

I've done a version of the 'circle'--from San Diego, down, over and back up into the US a few times on surfing/camping excursions. You will be searched by the police. You may be searched by the military--maintain a good humor, smile, and let them do what they want, and all will be well. That said, do not have any 'oddities*' in your vehicle, and make sure that you have purchased Mexican insurance. This is not a joke...you must buy Mexican road insurance for the duration of your trip.

I've done a bit around Mexico, but not the whole way though...just the Pacific/Sea of Cortez bit, and then again from 'the DF' (el departemente federale de la ciudad de mexico)--Mexico City to Chiapas on the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is a very do-able route--most just choose to fly.

*Oddities include random bullets--a single bullet will put you in a Mexican jail (even if it is on a necklace)--and no open bottles of liquor. If you open a bottle of tequila to end the night, plan on finishing it with new-made friends. Have a car that will pass the inspection of a Mormon mother and your state inspection authority, and you will have no worries.

Cheers.

Wow! Thank you. Thank you. Great info. You've helped to put my mind at ease a lot.

One quick question, about the ferry. I read somewhere that someone said not to do this because the salt sea air will destroy my car. Is this true or ridiculous?

I do hear you about enjoying the trip. I am not planning to panic drive down, nor am I on holidays, so I'll try to get to Boquete in a reasonable time, but also enjoy the road on the way down. Not sure about the time of year, as far as finding somewhere to stay without having anything prebooked. I do know I'm not crazy about sleeping in the car, so hopefully places that are reasonable cost will be available. If anyone has travelled in any of the countries I am going through and has any recommendations on where to stay, that would be great.

Originally Posted by ChecMark

One quick question, about the ferry. I read somewhere that someone said not to do this because the salt sea air will destroy my car. Is this true or ridiculous?

If you hose your car off after the trip, that should appease any fears you have about the paint melting off and the body corroding! Constant, local exposure to salt water is not a good thing--but you're not driving through the ocean, you are sitting on top of it.

Don't y'all have a lot of ferry service around the Vancouver area? Isn't that over salt water? Anyone worry about it in B.C.?

Cheers.