Casco Viejo · Panama City, Panama
Panama Travel Guide
A modern capital city, an indigenous island archipelago, a cloud forest full of quetzals, and a working canal. Panama fits more into one trip than most countries fit in a lifetime.
A morning in Casco Viejo feels nothing like an afternoon on a San Blas island, which feels nothing like a week in the cloud forest above Boquete. The canal connects two oceans from the middle of a city. The highlands produce some of the world’s best coffee. The Caribbean coast belongs to an indigenous nation that has kept resort developers out for a century. No two days in Panama feel like the same country.
Kevin and Melina have personally traveled Panama, spending time in Panama City, the San Blas Islands, Boquete, Bocas del Toro, Valle de Antón, Portobelo, and Santa Catalina. Every itinerary and recommendation on this page comes from traveling within those regions. This guide covers where to go, how long to spend, what to know before you arrive, and how to navigate Panama once you are there.
Panama at a glance
Language
Spanish
Capital City
Panama City
Currency
US Dollar
Budget Range
price
Best time to visit
January to April is dry season and the most reliable across most regions. The Caribbean coast (Bocas del Toro, San Blas) runs on its own rhythm, drier in February to April and September to October. More detail in the Planning Your Trip section below
Typical Trip Length
Three to five days is enough for one focused region. Nine days opens up two to three regions properly. Fifteen days covers the full country without rushing.
US and Canadian passport holders enter visa-free for up to 180 days. Most other nationalities receive 90 days. Some passport holders require a visa in advance so check your country's visa requirements before booking.
Regions of Panama
Panama City
The capital and the country's entry point. A modern skyline, a UNESCO colonial quarter, and the famous canal all within the same city limits.
Entry point for most trip
San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)
An archipelago of more than 300 islands governed autonomously by the Guna people. White sand, clear water, and no resort hotels anywhere in sight.
~3 hr drive + boat from Panama City
Boquete
Panama's highland town, surrounded by cloud forest and coffee farms. The base for hiking Volcán Barú, walking the Quetzal Trail, and rafting the Chiriquí river.
~1 hr flight from Panama City
Bocas del Toro
An archipelago of Caribbean islands in the northwest. Panama's most visited beach destination, known for snorkeling, surfing, sloths, and a relaxed island-hopping pace.
~1 hr flight from Panama City
Santa Catalina + Coiba
A small Pacific fishing village that became a magnet for surfers and divers. The gateway to Coiba National Park, a UNESCO marine reserve with world-class diving.
~5 hr drive from Panama City
Valle de Antón
A small town sitting inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Hot springs, waterfalls, and cloud forest birding all within two hours of the capital.
~2 hr drive from Panama City
Portobelo + Isla Grande
A Spanish fort town on the Caribbean coast paired with a quiet island just offshore. Historically rich and largely off the international tourist trail.
~2 hr drive from Panama City
Featured destinations
Panama City
The only city in the world where you can watch ocean freighters pass through a canal from the colonial quarter. Casco Viejo, the Miraflores Locks, the fish market, and a food scene that punches well above its size.
San Blas Islands
One of the most extraordinary places in Central America. The Guna people govern the archipelago independently, accommodations are simple and intentional, and the islands themselves (white sand, turquoise water, no development) live up to every photograph.
Boquete
The highland town that surprises most visitors. Coffee farms producing world-famous Geisha beans, cloud forest trails with resplendent quetzals, Volcán Barú looming over everything, and cool mountain air that feels like a different country from the coast.
Bocas del Toro
Panama's most well-known island destination. A cluster of Caribbean islands where the main activities are snorkeling over coral gardens, spotting sloths in the mangroves, and island-hopping at whatever pace suits you.
Planning your trip to Panama
When is the best time to visit Panama?
January through April is the most reliable window for Panama City, Boquete, and the Pacific coast: dry skies, lower humidity, and cool nights in the highlands. The Caribbean coast runs on its own calendar. Bocas del Toro is driest in February to April and again in September to October.
Panama City | D D D S - - - - - - S S Bocas del Toro | S D D D - - - - D D - - San Blas Islands | S D D D - - - - S S - - Boquete & Highlands | D D D S - - - - - - S S Valle de Anton | D D D S - - - - - - S D Santa Catalina & Coiba | D D D S - - - - - - S S Portobelo & Isla Grande | S D D D - - - - D D - -
The wet season is not a reason to avoid Panama entirely. Mornings often stay dry and prices drop noticeably.
How many days do you need in Panama?
Nine days (one week between two weekends) is the format most first-time visitors choose. Here is what each trip length covers:
5 days
Panama City and San Blas or Bocas del Toro on its own
Best for one region
9 days
City, highlands, and islands without feeling rushed
Best for first-timers
15 days
A few different regions, with enough time in each to move slowly
Best for seeing it all
Good to Know
Flights between regions are rarely more than an hour, so the limit is depth, not distance. If your trip covers more than one region, allow yourself a day to decompress between each.
How much does a trip to Panama cost?
A comfortable mid-range trip runs $150 to $250 USD per person per day, including good accommodation, meals at local restaurants, and activities. Panama City and boutique lodges in Boquete sit at the higher end. Bocas del Toro and Santa Catalina have options at every level, from backpacker to boutique.
Is Panama safe to visit?
Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America. But the answer shifts considerably depending on where you are going.
Do you need vaccines for Panama?
Panama requires no vaccinations for US travelers, and no malaria prophylaxis is needed for Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Boquete, and San Blas. If you have any questions, consult your doctor.
Tap water is safe to drink in Panama City and most larger towns. In rural areas, Bocas del Toro, and San Blas, stick to bottled or filtered water.
How to get to Panama
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City is the main hub for international arrivals. Copa Airlines, Panama's national carrier, operates the most frequent schedules from the US and an extensive network across Latin America, which makes Tocumen a common connecting hub.
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Getting There
Direct flights from Miami, New York, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago. About 3 hours from the US East Coast and about 6 hours from the West Coast.
Getting Around Panama
Panama's domestic distances are short. There are five main ways to move between regions, and each one suits a different part of the trip.
Option 1
Domestic flights
Best for Bocas del Toro and Boquete
Air Panama is the fastest way between regions. Panama City to Bocas del Toro is under an hour, and the David airport serving Boquete is similarly short.
Option 2
Private shuttle transfers
Best for two or more travelers
The most comfortable overland option, and only marginally more expensive than public buses when shared.
Option 3
4WD and boat
Best for San Blas
A 4WD transfer on a rough mountain road, then a boat to your island. Most visitors book this as part of a guided package.
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Option 4
Uber
Best for Panama City
Works reliably inside the city and is the recommended option over taxis.
Option 5
Water taxis
Best for island-hopping in bocas
The primary way to move between islands in Bocas del Toro, running frequently throughout the day.
Heads Up
Book domestic flights early. Capacity is limited and prices rise significantly closer to the date.
Panama Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go
Spanish phrases to know in Panama
Spanish is the official language throughout Panama. English is widely spoken in Panama City, Bocas del Toro, and Boquete, less so in rural areas. In San Blas, the Guna people primarily speak their own language (Dulegaya), with some Spanish.
hola
OH-la
hello
gracias
GRAH-see-ahs
thank you
no entiendo
NOH ehn-tyEN-doh
I don't understand
por favor
POHR FAH-vohr
please
¿hablas inglés?
hah-BLAHS een-GLEHS
do you speak English?
¡chau!
CHOW
bye
¿dónde está el baño?
DOH-ndeh ehs-TAH EHL BAH-nyoh
where is the bathroom?
¿cuánto cuesta?
KWAHN-toh KWES-tah
how much does it cost?
Money, cards, and tipping in Panama
Panama uses the US dollar, called the balboa locally. Cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and larger businesses in Panama City and tourist areas. In San Blas, Santa Catalina, and smaller rural towns, cash is essential, so bring enough before you leave Panama City.
Tipping in Panama
Restaurants
10 percent, if no service charge is on the bill
Guides
$5 to $10 USD per person per day
Hotel porters
$1 to $2 USD per bag
Free walking tours
$10 to $20 USD per person, paid to the guide
Good to Know
A canal visit belongs on every Panama City itinerary, regardless of travel style. Miraflores Locks is the most accessible viewing point, with a museum, observation deck, and restaurant. Morning visits tend to see the most ship traffic. Read how to visit the Panama Canal for tours and timing.
All Panama travel guides
Panama City
Panama City Travel Guide: What to Do, See and Eat
Your complete guide to Panama City, from Casco Viejo and the Canal to day trips, food, and where to stay.
San Blas Islands
San Blas Islands: the Complete Guide for Visitors
The San Blas Islands are unlike anywhere else in Panama. They reward the traveler who wants immersion over comfort. Written from first-hand experience.
Valle de Antón
Valle de Anton, Panama: Things To Do in the Volcano Crater Town
Your complete guide to El Valle de Anton: hot springs, hiking, wildlife, and why this crater town rewards more than a day trip.
Boquete
Boquete Travel Guide: Hiking, Coffee and Cloud Forest
Panama's highland escape where cloud forest trails lead to volcano summits, world-famous coffee, and three hidden waterfalls.
Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina, Panama: Where to Surf and How to Visit Coiba
You do not come to Santa Catalina for the beaches. You come for the wave and what lies beyond it.
Portobelo + Isla Grande
Portobelo and Isla Grande: Panama’s Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean coast sits two hours east of Panama City, and most visitors never make it here. The ones who do tend to stay longer than they planned.
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro: The Complete Island Guide
Plan your trip to Bocas del Toro with our honest island-by-island guide: where to stay by vibe, how to get around, the best beaches, and when to go.
