Country Information

Capital: Panama City

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 507
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 104, Fire – 103, Ambulance – 225 1436 / 228 2187.

Tourist information: Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT), Apartado, 4421, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Via Israel, Panamá 5, Republic of Panama Tel: 226 3167 or 226 4614 or 226 7000 Fax: 226 3483.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Regulations are expected to change at short notice. Contact the consular authority before finalising travel arrangements. Panamanian immigration procedures are rigidly enforced and non-compliance will result in transportation at the visitors expense to their country of origin

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended (for Typhoid).
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety throughout the year in certain areas. The Falciparum variety is also present in certain areas and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended for travellers planning to travel outside the urban areas. A vaccination certificate is recommended for those planning to visit the province of Darien.
Other Health Risks: Rabies. Dengue Fever.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

Currency: Balboa (Ba) = 100 centesimos Exchange: Banks and Gambios All major credit cards are accepted. Only US dollar travellers cheques are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 150 locations

Cost of living: Caters for all travellers and budgets.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Hot all year with rains from May – Sept especially on the Pacific coast

Electricity: 120 Volts AC, 60 Hz. Plugs are flat 2 pin American type

Post: 5 – 10 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: Internal air services are operated by local companies which Panama City with all centres in the Interior. ROAD: BUS: Services between most large towns although they are very slow. TAXI: Fares are often not metered so agree fare in advance. CAR HIRE: Available in city centres and airports. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence will be sufficient

Special information: Crime is rife in areas of the city. In the San Felipe district most of the cheap accommodation can be found, but it is not safe to venture out at night in this area. Colon is renowned for danger. Common sense precautions should be taken, deposit valuables in the hotel safe. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against travelling to, or transiting in the Darien as there are risks of violence and kidnapping.

Capital: Lima

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 51
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 011 / 5114.

Tourist information: Fondo de Promoción Turística (PROMPERU) Calle Uno Oeste, s/n Urb, Edificio Mitinci, 14th Floor, Corpac, Lima 27, Peru Tel: (1) 224 3142 or 224 3133 Fax: (1) 224 3408 or 224 3396. e-mail postmaster@promperu.gob.peru

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Refer to the embassy for the latest list of exceptions to those nationalities, which require visas.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in rural areas below 1500m in the Vivax variety. The Falciparum variety exists sporadically near national borders and where petroleum is being exploited. Resistance to chloroquine for the Falciparum variety has been reported.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by visitors over 6 months of age travelling from infected areas. Vaccination is strongly recommended to all travellers who plan to journey out of the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. – NOTE: Street vendor food is not recommended

Currency: Nuevo Sol = 100 centimos Exchange: Changing currency other than US$ can be difficult Credit cards have limited acceptance outside Lima. Exchanging travellers cheques can prove a complex process outside of Lima. US dollar cheques are recommended
ATM availability: Over 430 locations

Cost of living: Costs have increased dramatically in the last few years. Budget travellers can still find cheap accommodation, although the cities are much more expensive than rural areas.

Languages: Spanish and Quechua. English may also be spoken

Weather: Coastal areas: Summer is Oct – Apr which is the rainy season in the mountainous regions. May Sept is regarded as the best time to visit the mountains.

Electricity: 200 Volts AC 60 Hz

Post: Up to 2 weeks. Postal facilities are limited outside Lima.

Transport: RAIL: Can provide a scenic view of the landscape and sections are of the highest railway in the world. Connections however are limited. ROAD: A recently built highway connects Lima with other cities. NOTE: Landslides are common in the rainy season making for slow travel. A ‘Customs Duty Payment’ badge must be displayed at all times. BUS: ‘Greyhound’ type buses operate along the Pan-American highway TAXIS: Do not use meters so agree fare in advance. CAR HIRE: International companies have outlets in the major cities and Airport. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Register with your Embassy when you arrive in Lima. Terrorist action may occur. Travel in groups is recommended. Street crime is common.

Capital: Port Moresby

Time zone: GMT + 10

Telephone services: Country Code: 675
Outgoing Code: 05

Emergency telephone numbers: Police, Fire and Ambulance = 000. (NOTE: this is not accessible in some areas)

Tourist information: Tourism Promotion Authority, P.O.Box 1291, 2nd floor, Niugini Insurance Haus, Boroko, Papua New Guinea Tel: 320 0211 or 327 2521 Fax: 320 0223 or 325 9119.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Passports should be valid for one year after entry. Return Ticket Required. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required. May change at short notice contact the High Commission. NOTE: On receipt of a stamped addressed envelope the high commission can supply information sheets on how to apply for visas for Papua New Guinea.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country below 1800m. Falciparum is the dominant variety and reported to b highly resistant to chloroquine
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera – serious risk. Hepatitis A and B are endemic.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Kina (PGK). NOTE: Export of local currency is prohibited.
Amex is widely accepted. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in shops and hotels. Australian dollar cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Although accommodation varies from international hotels to basic huts, everything is very expensive

Languages: English. 700 local dialects are also spoken

Weather: Tropical climate which cools with increases in altitude. Most rain falls between Dec and Mar.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC 50 Hz. Australian style 3 pin plugs are in use

Post: 7 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Services which operate are expensive. Internal services should be booked between November and February. ROAD: Limited. Public motor vehicles (PMV) are very efficient and provide a good way of meeting the locals. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is sufficient. RIVERS: Commonly used as a thoroughfare.

Special information: Law and order remains poor. Incidents of rioting, looting and shooting occur without warning in major towns. Increase in violent crime requires extra care to be taken. There is continuing volcanic activity near Rabual in East New Britain Province and on Manam Island in Madang Province. Do not use public transport. Travellers should be met at Port Moresby upon arrival.

Capital: Vilnius

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 370 (2 for Vilnius, 5 for Kaunas, 6 for Klaipeda)
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 03, Fire – 01, Police – 02

Tourist information: Lithuanian Tourist Board, Ukmeriges 20, 2600 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel (2) 622 610 Fax (2) 226 819

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Regulations are in a state of change. Contact the Embassy for an up to date list

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies, Tick Bourne Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Diphtheria are present.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food

Currency: The Litas = 100 centas. Exchange: Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange bureaux
NOTE: The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared on arrival
All major credit cards are accepted in large hotels, shops and restaurants. Most banks will cash travellers cheques, but commission rates are high. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATM availability: Over 10 locations.

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay higher prices than the locals

Languages: Lithuanian and a large number of dialects.

Weather: Temperate climate but with considerable temperature variations. Summers are warm and spring and autumn are usually mild. Winters can be very cold.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. European 2 pin plugs are used

Post: To Western Europe takes up to 6 days

Transport: RAIL: There are good connections from Vilnius to the other main cities. ROAD: There is a good network of roads. BUS: Generally more frequent and quicker than domestic trains and serve almost every town and village. CAR HIRE: Several local firms provide car hire services. DOCUMENTATION: European nationals should be in possession of the new European driving licence. Otherwise, a national driving licence is sufficient

Special information: Robbery and Car theft are rife. Avoid poorly lit areas after dark. Petty crime is rife on public transport. Do not accept food or drink from strangers, as these are sometimes ‘spiked’. Lithuanians appreciate a show of respect for their culture and national heritage.

Capital: Riga

Time zone: GMT + 2 ( GMT + 3 in summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 371
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 03, Police – 02, Fire – 01

Tourist information: National Tourism Board of Latvia, Pils laukums 4, Riga LV 1050, Latvia Tel: 722 9945 Fax: 722 9945.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid for 2 months after period of stay. NOTE: Palestinian passports are not recognised. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Holders of British passports. Nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Republic of Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, the Slovak Republic, the USA and the Vatican city for a maximum stay of 90 days, and nationals of Hungary for a maximum stay of 30 days. Nationals of those countries may also travel to Lithuania and Estonia. Other nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Chile, Cyprus, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela are entitled to apply for visas on arrival.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, and Hepatitis.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

Currency: 1 Latvian Lat (Ls) = 100 santims
Exchange: the banking system is still being developed but there are bureaux de change in most post offices, hotels and railway stations.
Credit cards and travellers cheques are only accepted on a limited basis. The preferred foreign currencies are US dollars and the German Deutschemark.
ATM availability: Over 10 locations

Cost of living: Generally less expensive than Western Europe

Languages: Latvian. Russian is increasing. English, German and Swedish may also be spoken

Weather: Temperate climate but with considerable temperature fluctuations. The Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn. Winters can be very cold

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European style 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes 3 – 4 days.

Transport: RAIL: Reasonably developed network connects Riga with the other main towns. ROAD: There are good connections from Riga to all other parts of the country. BUS: A better form of transport than trains in Latvia. CAR HIRE: Available through hotels. Reservations are recommended.

Special information: Latvians can appear rather reserved and formal, but very welcoming to foreign visitors. Tourists should exercise caution as petty crime is a problem. Carry a copy of your passport as ID.

Capital: Tripoli

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 218
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Department of Tourism and Fairs, PO Box 891, Sharia Omar Mukhtar, Tripoli, Libya Tel: (21) 333 2255 Telex: 20179

Passport information: Valid passport required by all, except holders of Palestinian identity documents or ID issued to nationals of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa Required by all except nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen who must hold a ‘No Objection’ certificate or return tickets. NOTE: Very difficult to obtain tourist visas.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: A small risk exists in certain areas.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for visitors arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and Rabies are present.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Take locals advice.

Currency: Libyan Dinar (LD) = 100 Dirhams NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
Visa and Diners Club have a limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in US dollars are widely accepted
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Libya has great internal wealth, but due to it’s foreign policy can not form constructive trade links with U.N. states.

Languages: Arabic, some English and Italian.

Weather: The climate is warm all year round. It can be cool in the evenings. Some rainfall Nov – Feb

Electricity: 150/220 Volts AC, 50 Hz. There are many power cuts.

Post: Takes approximately 2 weeks to Europe, can be erratic and unreliable.

Transport: ROAD: Petrol is available but spare parts are difficult to obtain. Driving standards are poor. TAXI: Fares should be agreed in advance. CAR HIRE: Available in Tripoli and Benghazi.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that diplomatic relations are slowly being restored with Libya and the international community. Travellers can expect travel arrangements to be a little slow. Great care should be exercised in using cameras.