TravPa

Panama

Ships passing through the Miraflores Locks, Casco Antiguo's colonial squares and rooftops, then a short flight to Bocas del Toro for island beaches, snorkeling and Caribbean food.

Best timeDec to AprMoneyPanamanian balboa (PAB) and US dollar (USD)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportPanama City (PTY)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips spend three days in Panama City: Casco Antiguo's squares and museums, the Miraflores Locks and the Amador Causeway, and the ruins of Panama Viejo. A domestic flight of about 45 minutes then reaches Bocas del Toro, an island archipelago where water taxis link the beaches, the reefs of Bastimentos National Marine Park and the Afro-Caribbean village of Old Bank.

Panama has two seasons: a dry season from December to April and a green season the rest of the year. Bocas del Toro follows a different pattern, with March and September to October the driest months and November and December the rainiest. Days are warm all year.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janBestfebBestmarBestaprBestmayRainyjunRainyjulRainyaugRainysepMildoctMildnovRainydecBusy

Humpback whales from both hemispheres arrive in the Pacific off Panama City from July to October to breed and raise their calves.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Bocas del Toro]
Bocas del Toro in 2 daysBoca del Drago, Playa Estrella, Isla Carenero, Zapatilla Cays, Cayo Coral, Old Bank, Red Frog Beach, Bocas TownBalanced pace
[Photo: Panama City]
Panama City in 3 daysCasco Antiguo, Panama Canal Museum, Mola Museum, Miraflores Visitor Center, Biomuseo, Amador Causeway, Panama Viejo, Metropolitan Natural ParkBalanced pace
[Photo: Panama]
Panama in 7 daysCasco Antiguo, Miraflores Locks, Biomuseo, Panama Viejo, Metropolitan Natural Park, Bluff Beach, Zapatilla Cays, Playa Estrella, Old BankBalanced pace

Where to stay

Bocas del ToroBocas Town for restaurants, tours and nightlife; Isla Carenero for a quieter base two minutes by water taxi; Isla Bastimentos for Old Bank and the wilder beaches.Best areas to stay in Bocas del ToroHotels in Bocas del Toro
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Panama CityCasco Antiguo for old-town squares and restaurants on foot; the Cinta Costera for the waterfront path; the Amador Causeway for sea breezes and the Biomuseo.Best areas to stay in Panama CityHotels in Panama City
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Getting around

  • Flights: Domestic flights from the Albrook airport (PAC) reach Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro in about 45 minutes.
  • In Panama City: Buy a MiBus card at the airport or an official sales point to use the buses and the Metro, which also stops at Tocumen airport.
  • Taxis and apps: White tourist taxis wait at Tocumen airport and near big hotels, and ride-hailing apps work well in the city but less so outside it.
  • Long-distance buses: Buses leave from the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte in Albrook; for Bocas del Toro by land, change in David and take a 35-minute boat from Puerto Almirante.
  • In Bocas del Toro: Water taxis link Isla Colón with Isla Carenero, Isla Bastimentos and the beaches, and Isla Colón has the only paved roads.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates. Panama's free tourist insurance covers only the first 10 days if you fly in, so compare cover for longer trips and for diving or boat tours.
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Phone dataMobile data keeps the MiBus app, ride-hailing and the Miraflores ship schedule at hand in Panama City.How a travel eSIM works
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