Panama
Republic of Panama
Central America · PAN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Panama
Panama works well for travelers who want a practical split between a modern capital, canal history, and one clear beach or mountain extension rather than a sprawling overland trip. It is strongest as Panama City plus either Bocas del Toro, Boquete, or the San Blas Islands, because the country pays off more from contrast than from trying to touch every region.
Popular For
Things To See
- Panama City
- Casco Viejo
- Panama Canal
- Bocas del Toro
- Boquete
- San Blas Islands
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January through April is the easiest broad season for a first trip.
- Panama is at its best when paired as city plus one contrasting region, not as a countrywide loop.
- Choose your extension early, because Bocas del Toro, Boquete, and San Blas each create a different version of the trip.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Panama.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Panama Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Panama.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Panama City
- Population
- 4,064,780
- Area
- 75,417 km²
- Region
- Central America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Panamanian balboa (B/.)
PAB
United States dollar ($)
USD
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
46.3
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 51.3
- Restaurants
- 42.9
- Rent
- 23.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Panama City (8.97°N, 79.53°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
27/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 41/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.839
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.019
- 10-year change
- +0.040
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.014
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.374
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.643
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (5)
- 🏛️
The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá
Inscribed 2025
- 🌿
Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection
Inscribed 2005
- 🌿
Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park
Inscribed 1983
- 🌿
Darien National Park
Inscribed 1981
- 🏛️
Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo
Inscribed 1980
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 31.4%
- Forest cover
- 56.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 18
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 19
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
49/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
85/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect information on areas of civil unrest. Exercise increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire travel advisory. Do not travel to: Parts of the Mosquito Gulf due to crime. Parts of the Darién Region due to crime. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Panama. Country Summary: Crime occurs in Panama, including theft and residential break-ins. Crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen in tourist areas. The Embassy receives occasional reports of residential break-ins, especially during the holiday season. Demonstrations periodically occur due to local issues and have disrupted some normal travel patterns in the past, including the flow of goods and services to some parts of the country. If you decide to travel to Panama: Avoid demonstrations and large crowds. Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans Be aware of your surroundings especially when traveling to remote areas. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Panama. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the below regions as U.S. government personnel must obtain approval before traveling there and face additional restrictions before such travel is approved. Parts of the "Mosquito Gulf" – Level 4: Do Not Travel The “Mosquito Gulf” is an extremely remote and inaccessible area along part of the north (Caribbean) coast. Do not travel within 10 miles of the coastline, from Boca de Rio, Chiriqui to Cocle del Norte. Drug trafficking and other illicit activities occur in this area. Parts of the Darién Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to the following areas of the Darien: All areas south of Jaque to Manene to Yaviza to Lajas Blancas cities to the Colombian border The city of Lajas Blancas The city of El Salto Criminal activity and human trafficking networks operate in these areas. Police presence and emergency response are extremely limited. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data