Panama Travel Guide

• Panama City: Canal viewing at Panama Canal, stroll Casco Viejo, museum visits, cycling the Amador Causeway, day trips to Soberanía National Park.
• Bocas del Toro: Snorkelling and diving, boat-hopping between cays, surfing, wildlife spotting and relaxed beach bars.
• San Blas (Guna Yala): Island-hopping, snorkelling, staying in hammock camps and learning Guna crafts and customs.
• Chiriquí Highlands: Coffee farm tours in Boquete, Chiriquí, hiking Volcán Barú, birdwatching and hot springs.
• Pearl Islands & Pacific Coast: Whale watching (seasonal), island beaches, sport fishing and scuba diving at Coiba.
• Colón, Darién and Caribbean lowlands: Visit Portobelo’s forts, historic sites in Colón, guided jungle trips (not into the Darien Gap) and marine reserves.

Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City is the main international gateway and a major hub for connecting flights across the Americas via Copa Airlines. Visitors also arrive at smaller domestic airports (e.g., David’s Enrique Malek International - DAV) or overland from Costa Rica at border crossings.

Typical daily spend $45-120; Panama City and resort islands are the priciest, rural highlands and small towns are cheaper.

• Hostel dorm bed: 10-20 USD
• Budget private room: 25-50 USD
• Mid-range hotel: 60-120 USD
• Upscale hotel: from 120 USD
• Market or street-stall meal: 4-7 USD
• Bottle of local beer: 2-4 USD
• Organised tour or activity: 40-150 USD
• Taxi across town: 3-10 USD

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s Panama cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use public buses: Long-distance buses are cheap and extensive compared with flights for mainland travel.
• Eat local: Menu del dia and small fondas serve hearty meals at a fraction of tourist restaurant prices.
• Book islands wisely: Combine boat legs or use mainland hubs to avoid expensive last-minute island transfers.

Full trip budgets are in Panama Itineraries.

Panama uses the balboa (PAB) alongside the US dollar (USD) for banknotes-USD is the primary currency in everyday use. Card acceptance is strong in Panama City and tourist areas, though cash is useful in rural regions; ATMs are easy to find in urban centers.

• Tipping: A 10% service charge is often included in restaurants; if not, tipping ~10% is customary; small tips for drivers and porters are normal.
• Cards & Cash: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops; small vendors and some rural services prefer cash. Pricing and cash handling are commonly denominated in USD in many places.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: ATMs are plentiful in cities and towns; banks and ATMs charge fees that vary by provider and your home bank. Apple Pay/Google Pay work at many vendors that support contactless payments.
• Tax: the ITBMS sales tax is 7%, or 10% on hotels and alcohol, and is not always included in menu prices. Check the bill before adding a tip, as the 10% service charge is often already there.

Panamanians are generally polite and relaxed; greetings with a handshake or a light cheek kiss are common in social settings. Dress is casual outside business and formal environments, and show respect when visiting Indigenous communities by asking before photographing and following local rules.

Panama is well connected in Panama City and main urban areas with solid mobile and broadband options, while rural regions see more variable service. Mobile data is the easiest way to stay online when traveling across the country.

• Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz; plug types A, B.

Yes for most visitors in tourist areas, but avoid parts of Colón, San Miguelito and the Darién; petty crime, unsafe roads and the lawless Darién Gap are the main risks.

Staying healthy is straightforward in urban and tourist areas, but vector-borne diseases, traveller’s diarrhea and limited services in remote regions are the main concerns.

Panama is defined by the isthmus and the Canal, with a multicultural society shaped by Indigenous groups, Afro‑Caribbean communities, Spanish heritage and international commerce. Travelers will notice a strong maritime identity, lively festivals, and distinct local crafts like Kuna molas.

For everyday eating, look for a fonda: a simple local restaurant, often with a steam tray of the day’s dishes, where a plate of rice, beans or lentils, a meat or fish stew, salad and fried plantain costs a few dollars. In Panama City the food scene is far broader, from Casco Viejo’s chef-led restaurants to Chinese, Colombian and Peruvian places run by the city’s big immigrant communities.

• Meal times: lunch, around 12-2pm, is the main meal and the time for the cheapest set plates. Dinner is usually 7-9pm, and in small towns kitchens close early.
• Ordering and paying: at a fonda you point at what you want from the counter. In sit-down restaurants ask for “la cuenta” when you’re ready; it won’t come unprompted.
• Tipping: about 10% in restaurants, unless a service charge is already on the bill.
• Water: tap water is fine in Panama City and most towns; stick to bottled water in Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala and remote areas.
• Dietary needs: vegetarians can rely on rice, beans, patacones and salads, but ask whether the beans or rice were cooked with meat.

What to Try

• Sancocho, the national chicken soup with yam and culantro, often eaten for breakfast or to cure a hangover.
• Ceviche from the stalls at Panama City’s fish market (Mercado de Mariscos), in Panama City.
• Hojaldras (fried dough) and tortillas with eggs for breakfast.
• Ropa vieja, arroz con pollo and patacones at any fonda.
• Caribbean rondón, a coconut seafood stew, and coconut rice in Bocas del Toro and around Portobelo.
• Geisha coffee at the farms around Boquete, among the most expensive coffee in the world.
• Drinks: chicha (fresh fruit juice), Balboa and Atlas beers, and seco, the local sugarcane spirit.

Panama combines huge biodiversity with important indigenous territories, so choose community‑led and licensed operators, respect local rules and avoid unregulated access to fragile areas.

• Respect Indigenous Territories: When visiting Guna Yala (San Blas) and other indigenous areas ask permission before photographing people, follow local dress and landing rules, and pay community fees where required to support local governance.
• Protect Sensitive Wilderness: The Darién and other rainforest areas are ecologically and socially sensitive-travel only with reputable operators and avoid encouraging trail cutting or unregulated access that can harm habitats.
• Visit Coiba & Marine Parks Responsibly: Coiba National Park is a UNESCO marine site-book licensed boat operators and avoid bringing invasive species on gear; see management advice at the park’s UNESCO listing: Coiba National Park.
• Choose Community-Based Ecotourism: Support locally run ecolodges and certified guides in Boquete, Bocas del Toro and indigenous communities to channel tourism income to small enterprises and conservation projects.

Long-term living in Panama attracts retirees, professionals, and entrepreneurs drawn by stable banking, a dollarized economy, and varied climates. Expats favor Panama City for services and flights, or smaller mountain and beach towns for a slower pace and lower costs. Spanish helps but many services available in English in major expat hubs.

Long-Term Visas: Friendly Nations visa and Pensionado retiree program are common routes to long-term residency.

Working There: Foreigners need work permits or residency to work legally; many remote workers use tourist stays initially.

Cost of Living: Panama City costs are mid-to-high for the region; smaller towns and highlands are significantly cheaper.

Health & Wellness: Private hospitals in Panama City provide international-standard care; public system available but variable outside cities.

Banking & Finance: Currency is the US dollar (Balboa coins); international banks present, account opening often requires ID and proof of address.

Taxes: Panama taxes on Panama-source income (territorial system); foreign-sourced income generally not taxed in Panama.

Popular Places to Live in Panama

The choice comes down to whether you want a big-city base, mountain calm, or island/beach life. For international flights and services pick Panama City; for cooler climates choose Boquete; for island beaches head to Bocas del Toro or coastal Coronado, trading convenience for slower-paced life and seasonal tourism.

• Panama City - Large metropolitan hub, international flights, best healthcare, tradeoff higher rents and traffic.
• Boquete - Cool mountain town, hiking and expat community, tradeoff smaller healthcare and fewer big-city services.
• Bocas del Toro - Caribbean islands, surf and relaxed pace, tradeoff seasonal crowds and limited infrastructure off-season.
• Pedasí / Azuero Peninsula - Fishing and surf culture, quiet beach villages, tradeoff fewer international flights and slower services.

Panama appeals to digital nomads who want reliable international flights, dollarized convenience, and a mix of city and nature options. Most nomads base in Panama City for infrastructure or choose mountain/beach towns (Boquete, Bocas, Coronado) for lifestyle tradeoffs. Spanish is useful; many services available in English in major hubs.

Nomad Visa: No dedicated nomad visa - most use tourist stamp (30-90 days) or pursue Friendly Nations/Pensionado residency.

Long Term Rentals: 1BR long-term rentals: Panama City $700-1,500, mountain towns $600-1,200, island/seasonal higher.

Internet: Fiber available in Panama City (50-200 Mbps), 4G LTE broadly available, rural/island speeds variable.

Monthly Cost: Monthly cost: Panama City $1,200-2,500 for comfortable living; smaller towns $800-1,400.

Coworking: Coworking available in Panama City and Selina hostels on islands, meeting rooms common, day passes widely sold.

Fitness & Wellness: Gyms and yoga studios common in cities, outdoor lifestyle in mountain and coastal communities.

Community: Active expat communities in Boquete and Coronado, smaller nomad scenes in Bocas and mountain towns.

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5), no daylight saving time, convenient overlap with North American mornings.

Panama Digital Nomad Visa (Short-Stay Remote Worker)

• Stay Duration: 9 months, renewable once for another 9 months.
• Validity: Up to 18 months.
• Eligibility: Remote workers for foreign companies earning ~US$36,000/year, with health insurance.
• Application: Apply through Panama’s National Immigration Service (usually via a local attorney).

Popular Nomad Hubs in Panama

Where you live depends on whether you prioritise city convenience, mountain coolness, or beach lifestyle. Panama City is the hub for flights, banking, and healthcare; Boquete offers expat communities and cooler weather; Bocas del Toro and Pacific beach towns trade convenience for lifestyle and seasonal tourism.

• Panama City - International hub, professionals and families, best healthcare and nightlife, tradeoff higher rents and traffic.
• Boquete - Mountain town, retirees and outdoorsy expats, cooler climate, tradeoff quieter and smaller service selection.
• Bocas del Toro - Caribbean islands, surfers and relaxed pace, strong expat-tourist mix, tradeoff limited infrastructure off-season.
• Coronado - Popular Pacific beach expat community, family-friendly amenities, tradeoff commuter distance to Panama City for big services.