Safety: check the official advice for Panama
- The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 9 October 2026) advises that there is a risk of violence in the area east of a line running from Punta Carreto (Guna Yala) through Yaviza (eastern Darien Province) to Punta Piña on the Pacific coast, and that you should only travel east of this line in an organized group.
- The FCDO reports higher crime levels in several Panama City neighborhoods (including San Miguelito, El Chorrillo, Río Abajo, 24 de Diciembre, Santa Ana and Juan Díaz) and advises sensible precautions against mugging in places such as Casco Viejo, Calidonia and Colón city.
- The FCDO also advises considering an experienced guide for hiking: trails may not be well marked and mobile coverage is unreliable.
- Check the current UK FCDO advice and U.S. State Department information before booking and during your trip.
The best time to visit Panama is the dry season, from mid-December to April: on the Pacific side (Panama City, the canal, the Azuero Peninsula, the islands of the Gulf of Chiriquí), almost no rain falls from January to March. February and March are the driest months. The Caribbean side, by contrast, gets rain all year: in Bocas del Toro there is no real dry season.
From May to November the rainy season brings almost daily showers and storms, often in the afternoon, peaking in October and November. Temperatures, meanwhile, vary little: it is hot all year in the lowlands. Here is how to choose your dates, based on the climate normals of the Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá (IMHPA), published by the World Meteorological Organization.
When to go to Panama at a glance
- Best overall mid-December to April, the dry season on the Pacific side
- Driest months February and March (about 10 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 in) of rain a month in Panama City)
- Wettest months October and November (330 mm (13.0 in) in October in Panama City, 400 mm (15.7 in) in David)
- Bocas del Toro (Caribbean coast) rain possible all year; March and October are among the least rainy months
- Temperatures 33 to 35 °C (91 to 95 °F) in the afternoon and 18 to 21 °C (64 to 70 °F) at night in Panama City, with little variation between months
- High season and high prices the year-end holidays, January to Easter and Carnival
When to go to Panama by priority
- Best weather: February and March on the Pacific side (10 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 in) of rain in Panama City); March and October in Bocas del Toro
- Cheapest: May to November, in the rainy season, especially May-June and September
- Fewest crowds: May, June, September and October
- Events: Carnival in February or March (Las Tablas, Panama City), national holidays in November including November 3, humpback whales roughly July to October
- Other destinations: see our ideas for where to go in February
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Panama: the calendar at a glance
✅ Best months: January, February, March, April, December
❌ Period to avoid: October, November
Climate and weather in Panama month by month
The table below gives the normals for Panama City, the capital, on the Pacific coast at the entrance to the canal. It is the arrival point for almost every trip. The Caribbean side, the west of the country and the mountains are covered below.
| Month | Avg. max | Avg. min | Rain | Crowds | Prices | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33.4 °C (92 °F) | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | High | High | ✅ Dry season, clear skies |
| February | 34.2 °C (94 °F) | 18.4 °C (65 °F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | High (Carnival) | High | ✅ Driest month |
| March | 34.8 °C (95 °F) | 18.4 °C (65 °F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | High | High | ✅ Very dry, heat rising |
| April | 35.4 °C (96 °F) | 19.5 °C (67 °F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | Moderate (Easter) | Moderate | ✅ End of the dry season, first showers |
| May | 34.5 °C (94 °F) | 21.1 °C (70 °F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | Low | Low | ⚠️ Start of the rainy season |
| June | 33.8 °C (93 °F) | 21.3 °C (70 °F) | 235 mm (9.3 in) | Low | Low | ⚠️ Frequent afternoon showers |
| July | 33.9 °C (93 °F) | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | Moderate (holidays) | Moderate | ⚠️ Slightly lighter rain |
| August | 33.9 °C (93 °F) | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | Moderate (holidays) | Moderate | ⚠️ Rainy and humid |
| September | 32.9 °C (91 °F) | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 254 mm (10.0 in) | Low | Low | ⚠️ Very rainy |
| October | 32.6 °C (91 °F) | 20.8 °C (69 °F) | 331 mm (13.0 in) | Low | Low | ❌ Wettest month |
| November | 32.9 °C (91 °F) | 20.3 °C (69 °F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | Moderate (national holidays) | Moderate | ❌ Still very rainy |
| December | 33.3 °C (92 °F) | 19.2 °C (67 °F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | High (festive season) | High | ✅ Dry weather returns, especially in the second half |
Worth remembering: in Panama the season depends not on temperature, which is very stable, but on rain. In Panama City there are on average 1 to 3 rainy days a month from January to March, against 15 to 20 days from May to November. In the rainy season, mornings are often sunny and showers fall mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Panama’s seasons: pros and cons
Panama lies between 7° and 10° north latitude. Locally, the dry season is called « summer » (verano) and the rainy season « winter » (invierno), which has nothing to do with the seasons of the northern hemisphere. According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 9 October 2026), hurricanes do not directly affect Panama but often cause heavy rain, which can bring flash floods and landslides, with October and November having the heaviest rainfall.
Dry season (mid-December to April): the most popular
Across the whole Pacific side, rain becomes rare: 10 mm (0.4 in) in February in Panama City, less than 1 mm (0.0 in) in Los Santos, on the Azuero Peninsula. Trade winds often blow from the north and make the heat more bearable. It is the best time for the Panama Canal, the capital, the Pacific beaches, the Pearl Islands and hiking in the mountains around Boquete.
- Pros: often clear skies, passable roads and trails, calmer sea on the Pacific, good conditions for excursions
- Cons: higher prices, accommodation to book early (especially at the holidays and Carnival), drier landscapes in Azuero; the Caribbean coast remains exposed to showers
- Our tip: plan serious sun protection, as the heat exceeds 34 °C (93 °F) in the afternoon in March and April
Rainy season (May to November): the green season
The rains set in during May and increase until October and November. They are heavier in the west than in the capital: 400 mm (15.7 in) in October in David and 395 mm (15.6 in) in Santiago, against 331 mm (13.0 in) in Panama City. It does not rain all day: the classic pattern is a sunny morning and afternoon storms. July is often a little less wet than June and August.
- Pros: very green forests and landscapes, fewer visitors, gentler prices, a good season for humpback whale watching on the Pacific coast
- Cons: high humidity, muddy trails, boat excursions sometimes cancelled
- Watch out: the UK FCDO advises considering an experienced guide for hiking: tourists have gone missing and died hiking without a guide
When to go to Panama by region
The country is narrow, but it is split in two by a central mountain range. The Pacific side has a clearly marked dry season; the Caribbean side is wet all year. Comparison of the normals for four stations:
| Month | Panama City (Pacific) | Bocas del Toro (Caribbean) | David (Chiriquí) | Los Santos (Azuero) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33.4 °C (92 °F) / 29 mm (1.1 in) | 30.8 °C (87 °F) / 124 mm (4.9 in) | 34.5 °C (94 °F) / 33 mm (1.3 in) | 33.6 °C (92 °F) / 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| February | 34.2 °C (94 °F) / 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30.7 °C (87 °F) / 266 mm (10.5 in) | 35.6 °C (96 °F) / 19 mm (0.7 in) | 34.1 °C (93 °F) / 1 mm (0.0 in) |
| March | 34.8 °C (95 °F) / 13 mm (0.5 in) | 31.0 °C (88 °F) / 84 mm (3.3 in) | 36.3 °C (97 °F) / 36 mm (1.4 in) | 34.8 °C (95 °F) / 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| April | 35.4 °C (96 °F) / 65 mm (2.6 in) | 31.4 °C (89 °F) / 369 mm (14.5 in) | 36.3 °C (97 °F) / 103 mm (4.1 in) | 35.4 °C (96 °F) / 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| May | 34.5 °C (94 °F) / 225 mm (8.9 in) | 31.9 °C (89 °F) / 178 mm (7.0 in) | 33.8 °C (93 °F) / 297 mm (11.7 in) | 35.4 °C (96 °F) / 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| June | 33.8 °C (93 °F) / 235 mm (9.3 in) | 32.0 °C (90 °F) / 259 mm (10.2 in) | 32.5 °C (91 °F) / 323 mm (12.7 in) | 34.4 °C (94 °F) / 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| July | 33.9 °C (93 °F) / 169 mm (6.7 in) | 31.5 °C (89 °F) / 420 mm (16.5 in) | 32.7 °C (91 °F) / 290 mm (11.4 in) | 34.0 °C (93 °F) / 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| August | 33.9 °C (93 °F) / 220 mm (8.7 in) | 31.8 °C (89 °F) / 441 mm (17.4 in) | 32.4 °C (90 °F) / 340 mm (13.4 in) | 34.3 °C (94 °F) / 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| September | 32.9 °C (91 °F) / 254 mm (10.0 in) | 31.9 °C (89 °F) / 311 mm (12.2 in) | 32.0 °C (90 °F) / 407 mm (16.0 in) | 34.0 °C (93 °F) / 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| October | 32.6 °C (91 °F) / 331 mm (13.0 in) | 31.7 °C (89 °F) / 151 mm (5.9 in) | 31.7 °C (89 °F) / 401 mm (15.8 in) | 33.8 °C (93 °F) / 225 mm (8.9 in) |
| November | 32.9 °C (91 °F) / 252 mm (9.9 in) | 31.6 °C (89 °F) / 292 mm (11.5 in) | 31.9 °C (89 °F) / 295 mm (11.6 in) | 33.5 °C (92 °F) / 127 mm (5.0 in) |
| December | 33.3 °C (92 °F) / 105 mm (4.1 in) | 31.0 °C (88 °F) / 564 mm (22.2 in) | 33.1 °C (92 °F) / 77 mm (3.0 in) | 33.3 °C (92 °F) / 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Panama City and the canal
The capital follows the Pacific rhythm: a clear dry season from January to March, rains from May to November. For the Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo and the Metropolitan Park, the dry season is the most pleasant. In the rainy season, plan your visits for the morning. Keep in mind the FCDO’s advice on mugging precautions in several neighborhoods, especially at night.
Bocas del Toro and the Caribbean coast
The Bocas del Toro archipelago, near the Costa Rica border, has no dry season: the normals give from 84 mm (3.3 in) (March) to 564 mm (22.2 in) (December) of rain a month, with 15 to 21 rainy days a month. The least rainy months are March and October, against the trend in the rest of the country. Temperatures stay stable, around 31 °C (88 °F) in the afternoon. If you combine the Pacific and the Caribbean, February-March or September-October offer the best compromise.
The west: David, Boquete and the Chiriquí highlands
David, in the Chiriquí lowlands, is the hottest of the selected stations (more than 36 °C (97 °F) in March and April) and one of the wettest in the rainy season (more than 400 mm (15.7 in) in September and October). Boquete and the slopes of Barú Volcano are higher up: it is much cooler there, especially at night, but no official station is published there by the WMO. The dry season, from January to April, is the most favorable for hiking and for climbing Barú.
The Azuero Peninsula and the Gulf of Chiriquí
Los Santos, on the Azuero Peninsula, is the driest station in the country: less than 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain from February to March and a little over 100 mm (3.9 in) a month at the peak of the rainy season. It is the region of traditional festivals, the Las Tablas carnival and the surf beaches around Pedasí. Further west, the islands of the Gulf of Chiriquí and Coiba National Park are best visited in the dry season, when the sea is calmer.
The San Blas archipelago (Guna Yala)
On the Caribbean coast, east of Panama City, this archipelago is an autonomous territory run by the Guna people. No official normals are published for it; in general, the sea is often rougher from December to March with the trade winds, and rain is frequent the rest of the year. Visit through organized excursions and check current official travel advice first.
Region-by-region summary: the right month depending on the side you are visiting (IMHPA normals cited above).
| Month | Pacific (Panama City, canal, Azuero) | Caribbean (Bocas del Toro) | West (David, Boquete, Barú Volcano) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | ✅ Dry season | ⚠️ Rainy (124 mm (4.9 in)) | ✅ Dry season |
| February | ✅ Driest | ⚠️ Rainy (266 mm (10.5 in)) | ✅ Dry season |
| March | ✅ Very dry | ✅ Least rainy (84 mm (3.3 in)) | ✅ Dry season, very hot |
| April | ✅ End of the dry season | ❌ Very rainy | ✅ End of the dry season |
| May | ⚠️ Start of the rains | ⚠️ Rainy | ⚠️ Rains |
| June | ⚠️ Afternoon showers | ⚠️ Rainy | ⚠️ Rains |
| July | ⚠️ Slightly lighter rain | ❌ Very rainy (420 mm (16.5 in)) | ⚠️ Rains |
| August | ⚠️ Rainy | ❌ Very rainy (441 mm (17.4 in)) | ⚠️ Rains |
| September | ⚠️ Very rainy | ⚠️ Rainy (311 mm (12.2 in)) | ❌ More than 400 mm (15.7 in) |
| October | ❌ Wettest | ✅ Among the least rainy (151 mm (5.9 in)) | ❌ More than 400 mm (15.7 in) |
| November | ❌ Very rainy | ⚠️ Rainy | ⚠️ Rainy |
| December | ✅ Dry weather returns at the end of the month | ❌ Wettest (564 mm (22.2 in)) | ⚠️ Dry weather returns |
✅ favorable conditions, ⚠️ possible with caveats, ❌ best avoided. Summary based on the normals cited on this page and the regional advice above.
When to go to Panama by trip type
| Trip | Best time | Where? |
|---|---|---|
| First trip (capital, canal, beaches) | January to March | Panama City, canal, Pearl Islands, Bocas del Toro |
| Pacific beaches | January to April | Azuero (Pedasí), Gulf of Chiriquí |
| Caribbean beaches | March, or September-October | Bocas del Toro, western San Blas |
| Mountain hiking | January to April | Boquete, Barú Volcano, Chiriquí highlands |
| Humpback whale watching | Roughly July to October | Pearl Islands, Gulf of Chiriquí, Coiba |
| Diving and snorkeling | Dry season on the Pacific; depends on visibility in the Caribbean | Coiba, Bocas del Toro |
| Avoiding crowds and cutting costs | May to June, or September | Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro |
| Festivals and traditions | Carnival (February or March); November for the national holidays | Las Tablas, Panama City |
Weighing a neighboring country? Compare with the best time to visit Costa Rica, which shares the same pattern of a dry season on the Pacific side and more regular rain on the Caribbean side.
Major events to plan your trip around
| When | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February or March (four days before Ash Wednesday) | Carnival, one of the country’s biggest festivals | Nationwide, especially Las Tablas and Panama City |
| March or April | Holy Week: high demand in vacation spots | Beaches, Boquete, Azuero |
| November 3 | Separation from Colombia (national holiday) | Nationwide, parades in Panama City |
| November | Month of patriotic holidays, several public holidays | Nationwide |
| Late December – early January | Year-end festivities and local school holidays | Beaches, Bocas del Toro |
Panama month by month: what to expect
January: Full dry season on the Pacific: 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain and 3 rainy days on average in Panama City, 33 °C (91 °F) in the afternoon. High crowds, especially in the first half. In Bocas del Toro, expect still about 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain.
February: The driest month in Panama City (10 mm (0.4 in)) and almost no rain in Azuero (1 mm (0.0 in) in Los Santos). Carnival often falls in February: book early if your stay coincides with its dates.
March: Still very dry on the Pacific (13 mm (0.5 in) in Panama City) and the least rainy month in Bocas del Toro (84 mm (3.3 in)). The heat builds: close to 35 °C (95 °F) in the afternoon in the capital and more than 36 °C (97 °F) in David. A very good month to combine both coasts.
April: The hottest month (35.4 °C (96 °F) average high in Panama City). The first showers arrive at the end of the month. Holy Week, if it falls in April, pushes demand up.
May: The rainy season sets in: 225 mm (8.9 in) in Panama City, close to 300 mm (11.8 in) in David. Landscapes turn green again, prices fall.
June: Almost daily afternoon showers (16 rainy days in Panama City). Few tourists: a good month for a budget trip if you accept the rain.
July: Slightly less rainy in Panama City (169 mm (6.7 in)). Humpback whales begin to visit the Pacific coast. On the other hand, it is one of the wettest months in Bocas del Toro (420 mm (16.5 in)).
August: Rainy across the country (220 mm (8.7 in) in Panama City, 441 mm (17.4 in) in Bocas del Toro). A good period for whale watching. Northern-hemisphere summer holidays push flight prices up.
September: Very rainy on the Pacific (254 mm (10.0 in) in Panama City, 407 mm (16.0 in) in David). Crowds at their lowest, attractive prices.
October: The wettest month in Panama City (331 mm (13.0 in), 20 rainy days) and in the west. Paradoxically, it is one of the least rainy months in Bocas del Toro (151 mm (5.9 in)): an option for a stay focused on the Caribbean coast.
November: Still very rainy (252 mm (9.9 in) in Panama City). The month of patriotic holidays: parades and public holidays, with services sometimes disrupted.
December: Gradual return of dry weather on the Pacific (105 mm (4.1 in) in Panama City), especially after mid-December. In Bocas del Toro, December is on the contrary the wettest month (564 mm (22.2 in)). High demand for the holidays.
When to book your trip to Panama
For a stay in the dry season, especially over the year-end holidays, Carnival or Holy Week, book your flights 4 to 6 months ahead and your accommodation in Bocas del Toro, on the islands and in Boquete at least 2 to 3 months ahead. In the rainy season, 1 to 2 months is generally enough. International flights arrive at Tocumen airport, east of Panama City. To place Tocumen, the capital and the canal, open our map of Panama.
Planning your trip to Panama
- Entry requirements: see the entry requirements for Panama in our complete travel guide to Panama.
- Time difference: Panama is UTC-5 all year and does not change its clocks: 5 hours behind London in winter and 4 in summer; the same time as New York in winter and 1 hour behind in summer.
- Currency: the balboa (PAB), used alongside the US dollar. Use our currency converter to estimate your budget.
For more, see our complete travel guide to Panama.
Also read: when to go to Colombia and when to go to Guatemala.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Panama?
February and March are the driest months on the Pacific side: 10 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 in) of rain on average in Panama City. March is also one of the least rainy months in Bocas del Toro, which makes it a good choice for combining both coasts.
Can you visit Panama in the rainy season?
Yes. Showers fall mostly in the afternoon and mornings are often sunny. Landscapes are green, prices lower and it is humpback whale season on the Pacific. Avoid October and November if possible, the wettest months, and skip forest hikes without a guide.
When is the best time to go to Bocas del Toro?
It rains all year in Bocas del Toro, but March and October are the least rainy months according to the IMHPA normals (84 mm (3.3 in) and 151 mm (5.9 in)). December, July and August are the wettest.
Are there hurricanes in Panama?
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 9 October 2026), hurricanes do not directly affect Panama but often cause heavy rain. The heavy rains of the wet season can bring flash floods and landslides, especially in October and November.
What is the cheapest time to go to Panama?
The rainy season, from May to November, outside the northern-hemisphere summer holidays: May, June and September often offer the best rates for flights and accommodation.
When can you see whales in Panama?
Humpback whales visit the Pacific coast roughly from July to October, notably around the Pearl Islands and the Gulf of Chiriquí. Dates vary from year to year: ask local operators.
What is the weather like in Panama in August?
It is the rainy season: 220 mm (8.7 in) on average in Panama City and 441 mm (17.4 in) in Bocas del Toro, with 33.9 °C (93 °F) in the afternoon and 20.9 °C (70 °F) at night in the capital. It is also a good time to watch humpback whales on the Pacific side.
What is the climate in Panama?
Tropical, hot all year (33 to 35 °C (91 to 95 °F) in the afternoon in Panama City). On the Pacific side, the dry season runs from mid-December to April and the rainy season from May to November. The Caribbean side (Bocas del Toro) gets rain all year.
Our sources
- World Meteorological Organization (World Weather Information Service): 1971-2000 normals from the Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá (IMHPA) for the Panama (Panama City), Bocas del Toro, David, Santiago, Los Santos and Antón stations. Date of the November 3 holiday: Telemetro (Panama), checked November 11, 2026
- Safety and weather information read on November 11, 2026: UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Panama (GOV.UK, updated 9 October 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
