Sheraton Grand Panama | Panama City, Panama

Logistics and Information Note

Dear Participants,

Welcome to Panama, a country that connects continents, cultures, and opportunities. The XVIII Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted by the Government of Panama with the support of the United Nations Development Programme and other partner institutions, will take place in Panama City on 20–21 October 2026.

Panama City is the country’s capital and its main economic and administrative centre. Alongside its modern urban landscape, the city preserves an important historical and cultural heritage. Its historic district, Casco Antiguo, forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá.”

For additional information on Panama, please visit www.visitpanama.com, the country’s official tourism website.

Thematic Areas and Documentation 

The XVIII Ministerial Forum will be held under the theme “Connecting Policies for Resilient Development.” The Forum will bring together ministers, senior government officials, and other decision-makers from Latin America and the Caribbean responsible for the region's social, economic, productive and environmental policies to exchange experiences, identify innovative responses and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing the economic, social and environmental challenges facing the region.

Since its first edition in 2007, the Forum has provided a regional platform for dialogue on public policies for human and social development. Previous discussions have addressed social management, youth inclusion, responses to global crises, the financing of social policies, and social stratification.

The Forum will take place alongside the Seventh Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), creating an important opportunity to strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation.

The programme, concept notes, logistical information, and supporting documents are available on the Forum’s official website. The meeting rooms will have Wi-Fi access throughout the event. 

Participants

Ministers of Social Development, Environment, Finance, Digital Transformation and other related areas in Latin America and the Caribbean are the main audience of the Forum. In addition, experts from UNDP and ECLAC will also attend. Among the high-level attendees expected are the President of Panama, H.E José Raúl Mulino; UNDP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Michelle Muschett; ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs; as well as other representatives of governments from the region and invited guests.

Working Languages

The Forum sessions and side events will be held in Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation services in English, French, and Portuguese. Official documents will also be available in all four languages.

Media and Communications

Participants are  invited   to   visit  the   Forum   website  for   updates on   event  activities and   announcements:  Forum’s official website. Participants are also invited to follow UNDP’s social media channels:

X: @PNUDLAC 

Facebook: PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe 

LinkedIn: PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe

Instagram: @pnudlac

TikTok: @pnudlac

Media relations and public information will be managed by UNDP jointly with the Government of Panama. Media Contacts:

•  UNDP LAC:  rblac.communications@undp.org 

•  Tilcia Delgado: tilcia.delgado@undp.org

Contact Information: For general enquiries, please contact: xviiiforopanama@undp.org

Venue of the XVIII Ministerial Forum

The event will take place at the Sheraton Grand Panama.

For more information about the hotel, please visit: Sheraton Grand Panama 

Address: Vía Israel, Calle 77, San Francisco, Panama City.

The Sheraton Grand Panama is approximately 25 minutes by car from Tocumen International Airport, depending on traffic.

Entry and Visa Requirements

All visitors to Panama must have a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival and a valid return or onward ticket. Upon arrival, immigration authorities may request the name and address of the visitor's hotel or place of residence.

Visitors from many countries do not need a visa to enter Panama. However, participants are advised to contact the Panamanian Embassy or Consulate in their country or liaise with their local Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify visa requirements before traveling. Additionally, participants may consult the link below to determine the applicable visa and entry requirements:

Panama National Immigration Service – Tourist Entry Requirements 

Panama National Immigration Service – Frequently Asked Questions 

Embassy of Panama – Visa Information 

Participants who require a visa should begin the application process well in advance. Where invitation letters or other supporting documents are provided by the event organizers, participants should request them from the event Secretariat before submitting their visa application.

Immigration

Travelers arriving in Panama may be interviewed by immigration officials. Their personal information and biometric records may be verified, and their baggage and travel documents may be inspected.

Customs

After completing immigration clearance and collecting checked luggage, participants must proceed to customs control.

Transportation to the Sheraton Grand Panama

The United Nations Development Programme has arranged airport transfers for all official delegates and will coordinate transportation closely with the host country and the respective embassies. Upon exiting the Arrivals Hall, delegates will be greeted and escorted by ushers displaying the official Forum signage. To facilitate the necessary transportation arrangements based on arrival times, delegates are kindly requested to share their travel itineraries with the organizing committee through the Forum registration  form.

Accommodation

The official accommodation for the Forum’s participants will be the Aloft by Marriott Panama Hotel, located adjacent to the Sheraton Grand Panama, where all Forum activities will take place. Given its convenient proximity to the venue, official delegations are strongly encouraged to stay at the designated hotel.

Participants will be responsible for making their own room reservations using the designated booking link. Book your group rate for UNDP

Aloft by Marriott Panama Hotel special room rate is 115.00 USD - 120.00 USD per night

Each delegate will be responsible for any additional or incidental expenses incurred during their stay. Upon check-in, participants will be required to provide a credit or debit card in accordance with the hotel’s standard policies.

 Participants who choose to stay at accommodations other than the Aloft Panama should note that all associated arrangements, including transportation to and from the Sheraton Grand Panama, will be their own responsibility.

Other Health Information

Yellow fever vaccination requirements may depend on the traveler’s country of origin and transit itinerary. Participants should verify the applicable requirements with the Panamanian consulate or their airline before traveling and carry the corresponding certificate when required. Given the tropical climate, mosquito-borne diseases are present, and delegates are requested to take the necessary precautionary measures as appropriate.

Security

 As is customary when traveling, delegates are advised to observe standard safety and security precautions. Valuables should be stored in the safe or in a locked suitcase; room doors and windows should be kept locked at all times; and delegates should not enter their room if the door is unlocked or if they believe they are being followed. 

Emergency Numbers in Panama:

•   Police – 104

•   Fire – 103

•   Ambulance – 911

Registration and Accreditation

Kindly be informed that participation in this meeting is by invitation only.

• All Member State and country delegates, as well as UNDP staff, should register promptly using the registration form in this Registry.
• At the venue, a registration/information desk will be set up to provide logistical and administrative support to participants during the meeting. 

Meals

All meals will be provided during the Forum days.

Emergency Medical Services

Hospitals

• Hospital Paitilla – +507 269-5222, 263-7977
• Hospital Nacional – +507 207-8100
• Hospital Punta Pacífica – +507 204-8000

• Hospital San Fernando – +507 305-6301, 305-6350

   

UN-designated physicians are available in Panama:

• Dr. Percy Nuñez – Paitilla Medical Clinic – +507 269-4368, 263-7977 
• Dr. Edgardo Gaitán – America Medical Clinic – +507 229-5455
• Dr. Guillermo García López – Paitilla Medical Clinic – +507 6613-5057 

Pharmacies

Major pharmacies offer a wide variety of prescription products, toiletries, and over-the-counter products.

• Farmacias Arrocha: https://arrocha.com/; Phone: + (507) 360-4124.
• Farmacias Metro: https://metroplus.com.pa/; Phone: +(507) 226-6527
• Farma Value: https://www.farmavalue.com/; Phone: +(507) 306-0101
• Farmacias Saba: https://www.farmacia-saba.com/; Phone: +(507) 7655-6945 

Currency

Panama uses the Panamanian balboa and the United States dollar. The currencies circulate at parity, with B/.1 equal to US$1. US dollar banknotes are used as paper currency, while balboa and US coins circulate locally. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Panama City and other major hubs, including hotels, restaurants, and malls, often with contactless terminals, though smaller businesses, taxis, and rural areas may only take cash.

Weather Conditions and Dress Code

Panama enjoys warm, tropical weather year-round, with daytime temperatures typically ranging from around 26–31°C (79–88°F). October falls within Panama’s rainy season and is characterized by frequent heavy showers, thunderstorms, and high humidity.

October also falls during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Panama has a relatively low risk of direct hurricane impacts; however, tropical systems may still cause heavy rainfall, flooding and travel disruptions.

Light clothing is recommended when venturing outside. The meeting at Sheraton Grand will be held in air-conditioned rooms, so you may wish to have a blazer/jacket to remain comfortable.

Code for International Calling

The international dial code for Panama is +507.

Electricity Specifications

Panama operates using a 110–120 V supply voltage and a frequency of 60 Hz — the same standard as the United States.

There are two plug types used in Panama: Type A and Type B (see images below), also identical to US plugs. If you're traveling from the US or another country using Type A/B plugs at this voltage, you generally won't need a travel adaptor. If your device does not conform to these two options, you will need a travel adaptor to charge it.

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