Eruv, mikvah and minyan in Panama City: the basics for visitors

What does the Panama City eruv cover?

The community’s map, titled “Eruv Panama” and published by Shevet Ahim, describes its area as La Cresta, Bella Vista, Marbella, Paitilla and Punta Pacífica, drawn as a single line around the neighborhoods.¹ Chabad of Panama City lists the covered areas as Punta Pacífica, Punta Paitilla and parts of Marbella, Bella Vista, Avenida Balboa and the Cinta Costera, and links the same map.²

Marbella and Bella Vista are only partly inside, and Shevet Ahim’s main synagogue sits near the western edge of the line. Open the map before Shabbat and check both your hotel and the route you’ll walk.

Outside Panama City: Chabad of Bocas del Toro says there is no eruv in Bocas, and we found no eruv information for Boquete.³ More on our eruv page.

Where are the mikvaot, and how do I book?

According to Chabad, Mikveh Rachel is under Orthodox rabbinic supervision and acceptable for Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Chabad practice.⁵ Two different phone numbers are published for it, so book through Beth El’s own site where you can.⁶ Our mikvaot page lists each mikvah’s published contacts.

Where can I find a minyan?

Chabad of Panama City in Paitilla has the most reliable published schedule, with a guaranteed minyan year-round:⁷

• Weekdays: Shacharit 7:30 and 8:40 AM, Mincha 5:55 PM, Arvit 6:45 PM.
• Sundays and national holidays: Shacharit 8:50 AM.
• Shabbat: Friday Mincha 6:00 PM and Kabbalat Shabbat 6:45 PM; Shacharit 10:00 AM; Mincha 5:45 PM.

Chabad’s Shabbat page gives slightly different times for Friday and for Shabbat Mincha, and Mincha moves with sunset, so confirm the week you’re there.

Ahavat Sion and Ateret Yosef, the Shevet Ahim complex on Calle Juan XXIII in Punta Paitilla, has many minyanim through the day. Shevet Ahim’s own schedule page is for members only. The community gave our team its November 2026 times, and they are on our Ahavat Sion page: weekday Shacharit every half hour from 6:30 to 9:00 AM, Mincha at 5:40 PM, and Arvit at 6:00, 7:15 and 10:00 PM. Mincha and Arvit move with sunset through the year, so confirm locally.

Shevet Ahim’s main synagogue in Bella Vista has weekday Shacharit at 6:30 and 7:30 AM, with Mincha and Arvit at the same times as Paitilla (November 2026, from the community). Beth El doesn’t publish its times; ask its office (+507 392-0618). Kol Shearith Israel, the Reform congregation in Costa del Este, holds Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays at 6:30 PM, Shabbat morning services at 9:00 AM and a Thursday Shacharit at 7:00 AM.⁸

At the beach, Shevet Ahim says it also runs synagogues in Coronado and Santa Clara.⁹ We couldn’t confirm their schedules, so write ahead before planning a Shabbat around them. In Boquete and Bocas del Toro, the Chabad houses hold Shabbat services. See synagogues in Panama City and zmanim for the times of day.

Do I need permission to visit a shul?

Yes, for every synagogue and the Chabad house. The community’s security department, DSI, approves visitors in advance:¹⁰

1. Register and pay online at least 72 hours before you arrive,¹⁰ using the official DSI form (linked from the Shevet Ahim, Beth El and Chabad sites). One form covers the parents and children who live together.¹¹
2. Pay the fee: $20 for the person registering and $10 for each extra visitor aged 13 or older; under-13s are free.
3. Upload a passport scan for each person and a photo, and give your home synagogue and rabbi. A letter from your home community helps.
4. DSI emails you a QR code. Entry is authorized only after a security interview at a synagogue, unless DSI pre-approves you by email. Interviews run on weekdays from 7:00 to 9:00 AM and 5:30 to 7:00 PM, and during Shabbat services; in January, at Ahavat Sion from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
5. Bring the QR code and your original passport to the interview and to shul, including on Shabbat. Modest dress is expected.

Chabad says it can’t answer questions about DSI registration; write to info@dsipanama.org. Our visitor registration page explains each step and links to DSI’s official form.

In an emergency

• Emergency (police, ambulance, fire): 911, Panama’s unified emergency line.¹²
• Hatzalah Panamá, the community’s volunteer emergency medical service: 294-5000, or +507 294-5000 from a foreign phone.¹³
• Community security (DSI): +507 203-1000.

Hospitals and the other numbers to save are in our safety and medical guide.