Watch ships transit the Miraflores Locks
A visitor center beside the Panama Canal lets you watch massive container ships rise and lower through the locks just metres away, with exhibits explaining the engineering.
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Central America
Things to do in Panama
A canal that reshaped global trade, rainforest thick with wildlife on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and a capital skyline that looks more like Miami than Central America.
Explore Panama on the map →Budget$$
Best for7-10 days
CapitalPanama City
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 180 days for US, Canadian, and most EU passport holders; UK and Australian citizens also enter visa-free.
CurrencyUS dollar (USD, called the balboa locally, used interchangeably)
LanguagesSpanish
InternetGood in Panama City, more limited in rural and island areas
Typical lodging$25–$80/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage120V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC-6
Emergency number911
Dialing code+507
★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Beaches
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or filtered water recommended. 10% at restaurants is common.
The Panama Canal remains one of the great feats of engineering, and watching a massive container ship rise through its locks is still genuinely mesmerizing more than a century after it opened. Panama is also one of the few places on Earth where you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific and set over the Atlantic from certain points, thanks to the country's S-shaped geography.
When to go
Dry seasonDecember–April
The most reliable window nationwide, with minimal rain and the best conditions for the Caribbean islands and hiking.
Early wet seasonMay–July
Rain increases but tends to fall in predictable afternoon bursts, still workable for most itineraries.
Mid wet seasonAugust–October
The wettest stretch, with more consistent rain, though Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side often stays drier than the Pacific side.
Late wet seasonNovember
Transitional month with decreasing rain as the dry season approaches.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
5Explore Casco Viejo, Panama City's colonial old town$17–20
A UNESCO-listed neighborhood of restored Spanish colonial buildings, rooftop bars, and street art, with the modern skyline visible across the bay.
Visit an Emberá Indigenous village by dugout canoe
River journeys into the rainforest lead to Emberá communities that host respectful cultural visits, including traditional food and craft demonstrations.
Explore the ruins of Panama Viejo$17–20
The original Panama City, founded in 1519 and destroyed by pirate attack in 1671, with cathedral and tower ruins still standing along the bay.
Visit the BioMuseo in Panama City$17–20
A Frank Gehry-designed museum on the isthmus's role connecting North and South America's ecosystems, colorful both inside and out.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Hike to the top of Volcán Barú
Panama's highest peak and only volcano, climbable overnight for a sunrise view that, on the clearest days, takes in both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
Snorkel or dive Coiba National Park
A remote former penal colony island turned protected marine park, with some of the healthiest reef and shark diving on the Pacific side of Central America.
Zipline through the cloud forest canopy near El Valle
A highland volcanic crater town with zipline courses through cloud forest, plus hot springs and a Sunday Indigenous crafts market.
Kayak the mangroves near the Pearl Islands
An archipelago southeast of Panama City with clear water, mangrove channels, and (in past decades) a stint as a reality TV filming location.
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Beaches
2Island-hop the San Blas archipelago
Nearly 400 palm-fringed islands governed by the Indigenous Guna people, reachable by boat from the mainland with basic island-cabin accommodation.
Surf or relax in Bocas del Toro
A Caribbean archipelago of laid-back islands with reliable surf breaks, mangrove channels, and a slower pace than the Pacific coast resorts.
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Nature & scenery
5Hike in Soberanía National Park's rainforest
Lowland tropical rainforest within an hour of Panama City, with birdwatching (including toucans and trogons) along the historic Pipeline Road trail.
Explore the highland town of Boquete
A cool-climate coffee-growing region near Volcán Barú, popular for hiking, birdwatching, and touring small-batch coffee farms.
Ride the Panama Canal Railway$17–20
A historic rail line paralleling the canal between Panama City and Colón, offering water and jungle views the highway route doesn't provide.
Go birdwatching in the Darién rainforest
One of the most biodiverse and least-developed rainforests in the Americas, home to species found almost nowhere else, though remote logistics require a specialist guide.
Whale-watch off the Pacific coast near Isla Iguana
Humpback whales migrate along Panama's Pacific coast to breed, with boat tours running from nearby beach towns during the season.
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Food & drink
3Eat ceviche and sancocho at a Panama City market$17–20
Fresh-caught fish ceviche and a hearty chicken-and-root-vegetable soup (sancocho) count among Panama's most representative dishes.
Tour a Boquete coffee farm
Panama's Geisha coffee variety fetches some of the highest prices in the world at auction, and highland farms near Boquete offer tastings direct from the source.
Sample Panamanian seco with a local mixer
A sugarcane-distilled spirit typically mixed with milk or fruit juice, distinct from rum and a genuine local favorite over imported liquor.
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Photography
1Watch the Panama City skyline light up from Amador Causeway$17–20
A breakwater walkway connecting several small islands to the mainland, with the best evening view of the modern skyline across the bay.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Panama?
Most Western passport holders, including US, Canadian, most EU, UK, and Australian citizens, can enter visa-free, with the US and Canada receiving up to 180 days.
▾Is the Panama Canal worth visiting if I'm not a ship enthusiast?
Yes. The Miraflores Locks visitor center explains the engineering clearly and watching a massive ship rise or lower through the locks a few metres away is genuinely impressive regardless of prior interest.
▾Bocas del Toro or San Blas Islands, which for a beach trip?
Bocas del Toro is more developed with easier logistics and a laid-back backpacker scene; the San Blas Islands, home to the Indigenous Guna people, are more remote, less developed, and offer a genuinely different cultural experience alongside picture-perfect islands.
▾Does Panama use the US dollar?
Yes, effectively: the balboa is pegged 1:1 to the dollar and US bills circulate as everyday currency, simplifying budgeting for American travelers.
▾Is Panama City safe to explore on foot?
Casco Viejo (the old town) and the modern financial district are generally safe with normal precautions; as in most Latin American capitals, avoid poorly lit or unfamiliar areas at night.
▾How much does it cost to visit the Panama Canal?
The Miraflores Visitor Center charges foreign adults around $17-20 USD, including access to the observation deck and museum exhibits timed to watch ships transit the locks. It's worth checking the ship-transit schedule in advance, since the experience is far more dramatic when a vessel is actually passing through.
