Driving in Panama is an adventure, like in most Latin countries! To get a license in Panama you must be 18, pass a written exam, pass a vision and hearing test, present a blood test result and finally pass a driving test with the police.

On the plus side, driving in Panama features good roads in most popular areas. Fortunately, you will still have a great adventure because you will notice that no psychological exam is required for receiving a license. This means that traffic conditions are anarchic. In particular, taxi, truck and bus drivers are really aggressive (locally, buses are nicknamed 'red devils'). In other words, size does matter! Also be careful because road signs are often faulty or non-existent, traffic lights are more like suggestions than hard and fast rules, your fellow drivers love to honk and are very casual about the use of turn signals.

Tourists can drive for 90 days with a license from their home country. Driving in Panama City is not recommended for the inexperienced or faint of heart, but travelling around the country in a rental car is perfectly acceptable and can be a pleasant experience. You might enjoy the convenience of a rental car, but don't discount the excellent bus system and the advantages of leaving the driving to someone else.

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Information courtesy of American-European Real Estate Costa Rica and Rhino Real Estate, Panama. Visit their websites to find prices and photos for 400+ properties in the most popular areas of Costa Rica and Panama.

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