FAQ: City Hostels - Mamallena backpackers, Panama City | Panama City Hostels

Q. Are you located downtown?
We are not ‘downtown central’ but panama city is basically one big downtown, we are a 10-15 min walk from most places or a $2 taxi ride. We are cebntrally located between El Cangrejo and Casco Viejo though. Buses to everywhere you want to go are located half a block from the hostel.

Q. How do I get to the hostel?
See this page on our website.

Q. How close is the hostel to…?

Casco Viejo – about a 35 minute walk.
Panama canal(miraflores locks) – about a 15 taxi ride or a 45min bus ride(2 buses)
Supermarkets – one about 7 minute walk, another about 10mins.
Avenida balboa – about a 5 minute walk.
Amador causeway – about a 5-10 minute taxi ride.
Calle Uruguay(The Bar Street) – about a 15 minute walk, 5 min taxi ride.
Metropolitan park– about a 10 minute taxi ride.
Panama Viejo – about a 15 minute taxi ride.

Q. What are your rates?
Dorm beds are $13 per night. Private rooms are $33. We have AC and breakfast as well.

Q. How do I know if you have rooms available?
To reserve a room or a bed in a dorm fill the reservation form.

Q. How many private rooms/beds do you have?
We have 28 dorm beds and 12 double rooms.

Q. Do you charge per person for private rooms?
Our private rooms are $33 for 1 or 2 people only, if you want to squeeze in others we charge a dorm bed rate of $13 per person.

Q. Is there a curfew or lockout?
NEVER, no stupid rules here!

Q. Do you provide bedsheets?
Yes, they´re included in the rate, towels however we rent for $2 each to those staying in the dorms.

Q. Is there an age limit?
Old and young,we accept you all! But if you are not honest… find another hostel.

Q. Do you serve breakfast?
We dont serve breakfast ourselves(I’m not getting up thst early!!), but our pancake mix is available to you, once per day, free 24/7.

Q. What time can I move into my room? You can move into your bed or room whenever it’s been cleaned and is available. Check out is at 11am but it’s not a hard and fast rule. If you go past 11am we’re not going to charge you for another night. Do be reasonable though! Q. Is there a guest kitchen at Mamallena? Yes, our kitchen is fully stocked (in fact amazingly stocked) and open 24/7, obviously though if you are using it late then a little respect for quiet time is in order.
Q. Do I need a visa to visit Panama? Citizens of most countries including the USA, the countries of Western Europe, Australia, NZ, Israel, Colombia do not need a visa. For other countries you should check with the nearest Panamanian embassy. Recently the amount of time you can stay in Panama changed. It’s now 6 months if you don’t need a visa. Entry requirements(such as showing an onward ticket and $500 cash)do apply are more often enforced at land borders. Q. Can I drink the water? Are there any health concerns? Panama is the only country in Latin America where you can drink the tap water. The "Montezumas Revenge" that is so common in the rest of Latin America is almost unheard of in Panama. Sanitary conditions are excellent. There are no other health concerns and no shots or special pills are necessary unless you are going to hike in the Darien jungles or other remote areas.
Q. Why choose Panama over other Latin American and Caribbean destinations? Panama has… The most accessible exotic nature in the world – the "hyper-diverse" Panama Canal Rainforest is 30 minutes from Panama City. Beautiful beaches along 1000 miles on coast on both oceans and on fifteen hundred islands with hardly a soul in sight. Seven living native cultures with their own unique legends and traditions. Forty-eight fascinating historical monuments. 954 bird species in vast National Parks. A fun, sophisticated and safe capital city. An exciting night life with casinos, discotheques, superb restaurants. Q. Is Panama a typical Latin American country? What’s the Ethnic makeup? Panama is not typical at all. Don’t expect to see mainly the typical mestizo (descendants of a combination of Spanish and Indian) population like in the rest of Latin America. There is a saying that Panama was "born globalized." The population of 2.8 million people has diverse origins: Spanish descendants, blacks (brought in from the Caribbean to build the Canal), indigenous cultures, important immigrant populations from North America, Europe, China, India and the Middle East. There are seven living native cultures each with their own language: Kunas in the San Blas Islands on the Caribbean, Embera and Wounaanin the province of Darien, Ngobe Bugle in the provinces of Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro & Veraguas; and Teribes & Bokotas in Bocas del Toro province. Q. What is the currency? The US dollar is the currency. Yes – that’s right-no currency exchange hassles! Indeed, the US dollar is one of Panama’s great tourist conveniences. This is one country where you don’t have to be a mathematical genius to figure out what that meal just cost.