First time in Medellin... Need help!

jaramillo says on Feb 18, 2005, 15:00:

No problem I can see... Typically, when you are “in transit”, as you will be in Panamá, you do not need anything. You will simply be confined to a certain area in the airport which you cannot leave. I do not know about Panamá, but I don’t think you have a problem. Enjoy my hometown!

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vladimiro says on Feb 18, 2005, 15:11:

Panama City to Medellin I often take that flight to Medellin (houston to panama to medellin). The airline will tell you that you need to pay turist tax to enter Panama, but tell them you are not staying in Panama and don't buy it.

Also, most nationalities don't need a visa or even a "transit visa" if going to Panama. European, American, COlombian nationals, for instance don't need a visa for Panama.

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lili says on Feb 18, 2005, 15:36:

Thank you for your replies! I'm so relieved now. Jaramillo, I sure will enjoy being in Medellin! I've been waiting to go there for almost two years now!

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poco says on Feb 18, 2005, 15:42:

Nothing needed - NOTHING I fly Continental to Panama. Change to Copa in Panama and fly into Cali. Nothing is required if you are connecting. You stay in the same terminal when you connect,, the terminal is small by US standards.

Look at your ticket and listen,, they announce the connecting flight gates during your flight into Panama,, if you don't hear,, then ask someone when you arrive in Panama City or wander around and look lost.

Your ticket is required for entry into the connecting flight gate,,

Going in I don't remember much of a check,, but they do have a table for a baggage search. Going out,, yep,, everytime,, something about leaving Colombia?

Exit tax when leaving Colombia,, $48 USD for over a month,, well,, three months for sure,, less than that if you were in colombia for 30 days or less,, good place to get rid of those pesos,, they accept both and payment is NOW made at the ticket counter.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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dwmte says on Feb 18, 2005, 15:44:

lili... with a one hour lay-over, you wont have time to go into town and then get back to the airport...hardly. you'll have to stay at the airport so the issue of visa is really moot. plus, if you're a u.s. citizen, no visa is required.

enjoy yourself in medellin, it's one of the world's great cities. nothing like it anywhere in my book. be sure and visit the pueblos up around the airport. rio negro, el retiro, la ceja, maranilla, llano grande, san antonio, carmen de viboral...it's there, that you'll come to understand/feel/know colombia. although medellin, in my humble--albiet experienced--opinion, is colombia's nicest city, it's still a city. get out in the country, see colombia, fall in love.

be wise, proactive and safe.

enjoy your vacation.
dw martin

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magicheater says on Feb 18, 2005, 16:52:

exit tax I was just in colombia for five days and the exit tax was 30 dollars. there is an extensive duty free shopping zone in panama that would keep you occupied for longer than an hour.

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bbattiste says on Feb 18, 2005, 22:20:

It costs five dollars Even as an American you need to pay $5 dollars to leave the airport. It doesn't matter if you go for the day or for 3 months, but you must pay the $5. It is worth going into the city if you have time, but you do not have time...it takes at least 35 minutes to get into the city and the beaches are an hour from the airport. Panama city is similiar to the states with a Latin American flare. Have a good trip, but you'll need more than an hour.

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viewpoint says on Feb 19, 2005, 11:44:

Panama City Intransito Bbattiste is correct it costs $5.00 to purchase a Tourist Card to clear immigration and leave the controlled area of the airport. As the other posters have said your one hour between flights is barely enought time to exit the terminal and reenter it to board your flight to MBE. The best way to visit PTY for a day is fly a morning COPA flight arriving at about 9:30am spend the day and catch the 7:40pm evening flight to MDE or catch an evening flight from PTY to your destination on the return leg of your flight. I do this all the time out of SJU.

If you have an hour or two between flight and make a trip to Panama City you might as well spend the night because you won't make your connection to MDE.

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