Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) Panama
Timetable
Stores andmalls are generally open every day, from 10am to 8pm or 9pm on weekdays, from 11am to 7pm or 8pm on Sundays and holidays. Supermarkets are open from 7am to 9 or 10pm. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, some were open 24 hours a day, but this no longer appears to be the case in early 2023.
Neighborhood grocery stores (" chinos") have very variable hours, but generally from 6:30 a.m. until about 10 p.m., continuously.
Budget & Tips
You can get some good deals in Panama, in terms of clothing or electronics for example, but don't expect exceptional prices, even in the Zona Libre de Colón, known for its tax-free products of all brands! Indeed, in the ZLC, many stores sell only wholesale and the prices are hardly more interesting than in the stores of Panamá Ciudad. Another disadvantage is that you can't go out directly with your purchases: they have to be sent to the airport of Tocumen, where you will have to get them back before leaving the country..
Payment by credit card is widespread in the stores of the capital, but more rarely in the artisanal markets and in the small villages, so bring cash, in small denominations.
Sales
Rebajas (sales) are frequent at any time of the year, but especially during the famous Black Friday, which takes place on the last Friday of November (and the following weekend): it has been all the rage in Panama for many years, due to North American influence.
What's very local
You should know that many drugstores, the most famous of which is called Arrocha, sell, in addition to medicines, a whole bunch of products such as stationery, perfumery, household appliances, and even chips, sodas and alcoholic drinks!
Among the products to buy in Panama, coffee from the highlands, rum for the amateurs, why not an artisanal hot sauce based onAji Chombo, and of course handicrafts: mola, sculptures in tagua or cocobolo, traditional hats and basketry made of vegetable fibers... It is recommended to buy these products directly from the artisans, in the indigenous communities for example, who will often show you how they work. Bargaining is not a common practice in Panama. Compare quality and prices but avoid asking for a descuento (discount), except in tourist markets if you are buying a lot of items.
Tourist traps
You can find beautiful panama hats in handicraft stores, but remember that they are not made locally, but imported from Ecuador, where they originate.
There are many counterfeit clothes and perfumes in the stores on Avenida Central in Panama, so beware of the high prices!