Travel Through Central America With A Dog | Panama Border Crossing to David Ep.65

Over a year of travel though Central America and we made it to Panama. This border crossing is rumored to be difficult with a dog, but we've got to get through and get our truck fixed in David so we can get back to adventuring!
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Nesting Pots & Pans: amzn.to/2vq3GAm
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Dutch Oven: amzn.to/2vql3kR
Coffee Maker: amzn.to/2wLPDEW
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Charcoal Filters for Jerry Can: amzn.to/2vIukHl
Camera Equipment: We have purchased some of these things along our journey and you will be getting better film quality as the show progresses through Central America
Canon s95: amzn.to/2vmATOU (used throughout Mexico episodes)
GoPro Hero 4 Silver: amzn.to/2wxmgqk
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Ram Mount for dash recording: amzn.to/2usDsAg
Ram Claw: amzn.to/2fvnH4M
Ram Mounts are great because you can mix and match them to fit your needs for GoPro or a regular camera.
Canon G7X Mark II: amzn.to/2hNooHn ( I love this camera, used after Cancun Mexico)
Sony A600 with Telephoto lens: amzn.to/2usFwrR (used in episodes starting in Costa Rica) (This is an older model but still a fantastic camera. For less than $1000 you get a great camera and great telephoto lens)
Mavic Pro Drone: amzn.to/2vIpGZZ
Things we wish we had more of:
Best sunscreen for water sports/surfing: amzn.to/2vmiTUF
Heavy duty bug spray: amzn.to/2vpJH50
Music:
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Picnic On The Roof by: The Whole Other

[@belizeguy]

Belize was tough for us too with a dog. We came with an International Passport for her, and Health Certificate. Getting back into Mexico was a breeze. We kept running into officials who wanted the Dog! She is a Yorkie and very cute. She has traveled well .

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Haha. that's great. Mexico is the easiest with a dog for sure.

[@belizeguy]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Very True!

[@transcendcapitalism]

I have a passport for my pup too. What happened in your experience that made it tough? Did Belize just try to make you pay more?

[@fredvomlehn8457]

We had all our paperwork exactly correct as we had been told, but come to find out that she had to have New Vaccinations and a Vet Inspection no less than 24 hours before we arrived in Belize with her. So that was problematic. Once we got her there, she got a Belize Pet Passport, that made it all easy. But, getting that was not possible until we got there. That was a fun time. We left Belize in 2009 and live as permanent Residents here in Mexico.

[@ibu27]

Hey guys! With a claro chip, you will be able to use it all across central america if you apply for the roaming plan.. thats around 30$ a month. And with 5$ you have unlimited data for a week. Have a nice one in Panama!!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

good info!

[@panama-canada]

Mechanic prices are good.

[@coryyoung8289]

thanks guys！

[@justincoleman2740]

That was a tough go. You guys roll with the punches. Thinking about finding a beach town in Panama to chill at for a month this winter. No wheels and wanting to camp. Any ideas!? Thanks

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Bocas del Toro was pretty cool, but we were there during the summer which is off-season. not sure how chill it is in the winter. There is some awesome camping on the azuero peninsula, but I think it would be tough without a vehicle.

[@justincoleman2740]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Gracias

[@slynn5138]

Santa Catalina

[@justincoleman2740]

@@slynn5138 Cheers from Ontario Canada brother!

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

What a cuensidencia both countries almost sounds similar 🇵🇦 Panama 🇨🇦 Canada the only difference is the P and The C

[@smartartification]

Brutal!

[@jeanktreintaycinco352]

Yo soy de Costa Rica, vivo como a diez minutos de la frontera de Paso Canoas.

[@dudeleboski2692]

Amy:” Poor little Guy”? That Man has driven the 3 of you, half way around the world. Please show your Husband a little respect.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

😂

[@ADONAIsays-so]

The things we go thru due to our pack! 😁 Great vid. Hey Mat, was that you in a video where you carried Nager on your shoulders up a trail?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Yeah. Jager's mobility was deteriorating but his enthusiasm was still top notch!

[@Squeek1227]

Hey a late comment but how did you manage with your dog and all the strays? Did you ever have to deal with any fights/injuries?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Fortunately our big old dog was at a point in his life where he was pretty good at avoiding conflict, but if we were in a city or anywhere with loose dogs we would walk with a stick just incase. Dogs down there are use to people throwing rocks at them, so bending down to pick up a rock (even if there isn't really a rock there) will get most dogs to stop approaching.

[@motoprof3672]

You mentioned an International License for dogs -- but I don't see anything online suggesting that this can be issued in the US for C. and S. America? Am I missing something?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Sorry, We never followed up on this. We met European travelers with pets and they always had a pet passport. It's something that allows them to travel through the countries in the EU with their pets, but it was also asked for twice during our travels though Central America(El Salvador and Panama) and seems like it may have simplified things at the other borders as well. But We can't get an EU pet passport in the USA. The best we can do is a health certificate (like the one we had) that is certified by the USDA. In the end, we made it through every border and I know other Americans have traveled through South America with pets as well. It's just a bit more cumbersome with our paperwork.

[@Sea_Roadkill]

What did you do for a health certificate for your dog to enter into panama? They require it to be within 10 days, and it has to be stamped by the head of the SENASA and then the document has to be authenticated by apostille. At least thats what we are being told by the vet we went to in lake Arenal. We are preparing to drive to panama and are currently in costa rica. The bureaucratic red tape we encountered for this crossing is horrible compared to any of the others we have done, and we have hit every country north of us, so far. Panama is the last. The process we are being told we have to do is going to take more than 2 weeks.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

This was a few years ago, so things may have changed but... We just went to the border crossing (the one on the pacific side). They did want us to have the recent health cert, but we asked around and were pointed to a "vet" a couple blocks away. We showed him our health cert from USA. He copied the info onto his form in spanish, stamped it, and didn't even look at the dog. We took the form back to the border crossing... if i remember correctly we took the form to two different offices to get stamped and then pay. The process took a couple of hours.

[@transcendcapitalism]

I have a passport for my pup. Would you say that would satisfy the need Amie's talking about for an "international license" for Jagger?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

It will probably work for every border we crossed on this trip except entering Belize and Panama. Those are strict about a health certificate within 10 days of arrival.

[@Worldtravellerz_onwheels]

Hey guys I just found your video and i am planning to travel Central America with my dog. Two qs for you: 1) Is it just the yearly rabies vaccine that is accepted at each border (in Europe we have a 3 year option)/2: What was the process with the home quarantine for the dog when you are always on the road? Thank you for the useful info so far 👌

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Hi. We finished our trip a few years ago, so there is a chance things have changed, but I'll answer based on my experience. 1-We got a "health certificate" from our vet in USA. This worked for every border except for when we were entering Belize and entering Panama. I'm pretty sure an equivalent document from europe stating that your dog is healthy will work as long as its in english or spanish and states the rabies vaccine that your dog was given, when the vaccine was administered and when it expires. Technically we were supposed to get a new health certificate before nearly every border crossing because we were traveling so slow, but we just kept using the one from USA even after it was more than a year old. To enter Belize we went to a vet in Mexico near the border and they just looked at our dog and looked at the health certificate from USA and typed up a letter on letterhead stating that the dog was healthy and vaccinated. To enter Panama we tried to use our USA health cert, but were denied. I guess they are known for being sticklers about this. There is a "vet" at the border that didn't even look at the dog, but took our money and gave us a health certificate which was excepted. 2-We never did any quarinite and we were never asked about it.

[@Worldtravellerz_onwheels]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Aweosme thank you for the details. From what I know, Panama are still as strict as ever, so I'll make sure to be prepared. We have the EU passport for our dog which has all his vaccines etc in it, so im sure this is equivalent to the HC from the USA. It may be a while ago, but I hope you guys and your dog had an awesome trip

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks@@Worldtravellerz_onwheels It was an awesome trip. Good luck on your travels. I'm sure you'll have a great time as well

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

Hello There Aimee And Matt

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

hi Emmanuel

[@wilfredoperez6755]

one star hotel

[@krlosbago1]

The true price of going cheap

[@1aerbu]

A vaccum leak could possibly be causing your high idle

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Thanks Jimmy. I eventually figured it out. The bearing or bushing (not sure what it is) on the shaft that attaches the throttle linkage to the butterfly valve inside the throttle body had worn, allowing the assembly to move a millimeter or 2 and the valve was making contact with the inner wall of the throttle body. If I let off the throttle slowly the extra friction would stop the valve from closing all of the way. I used a thin fender washer to space the assembly back into position and as long as I keep it lubed it works acceptably well.

[@alwaysforsail4071]

Hola! Love your channel! I'm thinking about driving my truck (F150) straight through to Panama from Florida. Question, how long, on average, do you think it would take me to get from the Texas border to the Panamanian border? I'd be stopping every night and sleeping in a motel or wherever. Thanks for your time. Say hi to Jager :)

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

You could probably get it done in a week.

[@alwaysforsail4071]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal Cool. That's what I was hoping. Thanks

[@hurricanealley8602]

Another great video ! What's wrong with letting jag sleep in the truck one night ?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

We tried that, but the hotels wouldn't let him be in the truck in their parking lots and I (Matt) wasn't OK with leaving the truck parked on the street overnight.

[@hurricanealley8602]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal that explains it. Thanks Matt !

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

Hello And Good Afternoon Mat Great Video A Question When You Was At The Border Between 🇨🇷 Costa Rica and 🇵🇦 Panama did you see the flags of both countries?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I don't think either country had a flag outside their border office.

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal ok but they suppose too because like that is letting the public know what country is what and is forbidden to cross like that for like that without passports documents you name it.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@emmanuelcaceres3360 It's a legal border crossing with immigration and customs offices. The just weren't flying flags that I remember.

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

@@TheTravelingTogetherJournal well then is not suppose to allow it the immigration office because then it is putting on risk people's safety

[@rising_waves]

Any tips on cats? If I will cross border with a cat?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I believe the rules are the same for dogs or cats. You basically just need an up to date health certificate showing that the animal has it rabies vaccination and then fill out the paperwork and pay the border fee if there is one for the country you are entering.

[@erichughes9098]

😎🌮👍

[@EcoMouseChannel]

Note to self... don't travel internationally with an animal.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

We never claim to make good decisions ;)

[@guyscratton6749]

Amy, have you met Europeans with their dogs? We must have dog passports to cross borders.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Yeah. We learned about them while on the road and will definitely be looking to get one for the pup before we do any more travel outside of North America.

[@mrsmahern]

Why Panama so hard on dogs?!

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Don't know

[@ThePanred]

Lord its all about making money down there :/ poor puppy.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

They gotta pay for all those ink pads and stamps somehow ;)

[@omarpineda625]

WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO PANAMA YOU GOING TO HAVE LOT OF 💰 MONEY

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

it was a relatively expensive border

[@chrisnelson5877]

LOL any cockroaches?

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

of coarse 😅

[@panama-canada]

She’s not a happy camper.

[@omarpineda625]

NEXT TIME WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA TRY TO LEARN SPANISH FOR EASY TRAVEL BE SMART OK

[@omarpineda625]

IT LOOKS TO ME THAT AMIE DONT 👙 SWIM IN THE BEACH I WONDER WHY????

[@omarpineda625]

Need a lot of money to pay fees,and us dollars

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

that's true

[@okthennone]

Learn Spanish and get rid of the dog when on trips. Many problems solved.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

That's definitely true. Our Spanish did get quite a bit better during our trip, but never as good as we wanted it to be. Partially because of laziness and partially because we were constantly trying to keep up with new accents and colloquialisms. As far as the dog... Not all decisions are logical ones. If we were "smart" we would have kept our jobs and planned for the future instead of galavanting around Central America, but hey, we're not smart