Pollera festival dress, Photo: Ayaita, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Panama
Panama, made simple: a canal, two oceans and hundreds of islands, without the worry
Panama packs a glittering skyline, a colonial old town, the world's most famous canal, cool coffee highlands and island chains on both the Caribbean and the Pacific into a narrow strip of land you can cross in an hour. It uses the US dollar, flights connect it to almost everywhere and the food is a happy mix of Afro Caribbean, Indigenous and Spanish cooking. This guide takes the guesswork out of entry, money, safety, getting around and costs, so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, money, health and seasons, answered
- LandingTocumen airport and your first hours in Panama City, explained
- Your days in PanamaThe Canal, islands, highlands and beaches, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Panama should feel like a welcome, not a worry. We answer the questions before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
First trip to Central America, a stopover between continents, or coming home to see family in Colón, Chiriquí or the capital? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your PanamaCity and Canal in Panama City, Caribbean islands in Bocas del Toro, coffee and cloud forest in Boquete, Guna Yala's tiny islands or the surf and festivals of Azuero: start with the destinations.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, money, insurance and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for fondas, rooftop bars, coffee farms, beaches and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to balance buses, short flights, boat transfers and beach days.
Everything your Panama trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Guna Yala and the Azuero Peninsula, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred fondas, cafés, rooftops, trails, islands and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Tocumen and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Panama trip
City and Canal, then mountains, then islands
Most first trips follow a simple shape. Spend a few days in Panama City walking Casco Viejo, watching ships rise through the Miraflores Locks and hiking in rainforest right on the city's edge. Then head west to cool Boquete for coffee farms and cloud forest, and finish on the Caribbean in Bocas del Toro or on a Guna Yala island with nothing but sand, palms and the sea.
- Casco Viejo's plazas and rooftops at sunset
- Ships in the locks of the Panama Canal
- Geisha coffee and cloud forest trails around Boquete
- Snorkelling and island hopping in Bocas del Toro or Guna Yala
Plan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Panama looks small on a map, but the drive from the capital to Boquete takes most of a day and the islands need a boat or a short flight. Our free planner helps you build a realistic route, so you spend your days on the water and in the forest rather than in transit.
- Realistic travel times between regions
- The right season for each coast
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Panama
From the capital and the Canal to coffee highlands and island chains on two oceans.
Panamá Province
Panama City
A skyline capital on the Pacific with a colonial old town, the Panama Canal and rainforest within half an hour.
Read the guidePhoto: Matthew Straubmuller, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Bocas del Toro Province
Bocas del Toro
A Caribbean archipelago of stilt hotels, reefs, red frog beaches and laid-back island life near the Costa Rica border.
Read the guidePhoto: RB Photo, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Chiriquí Province
Boquete
A cool mountain town in Chiriquí, famous for prize coffee, cloud forest hikes and the summit of Volcán Barú.
Read the guidePhoto: FranHogan, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Guna Yala Comarca
Guna Yala (San Blas)
A self-governed Indigenous territory of tiny palm islands on the Caribbean, with simple stays and some of the clearest water in Panama.
Read the guidePhoto: diego_cue, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Herrera and Los Santos Provinces
Azuero Peninsula
Panama's folkloric heartland on the Pacific, with colonial towns, the country's best Carnival, quiet beaches and surf.
Read the guidePhoto: RandyNavarroB, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Panama safe for visitors?
Most visits pass without trouble, and the main tourist areas of Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro and the beaches see millions of visitors. Petty theft and bag snatching are the common risks, some city districts and parts of Colón have higher crime, and governments advise against travel to much of the Darién. Read your government's current travel advice before you go.
Do I need a visa for Panama?
Many nationalities can visit without a visa for a set number of days, but the rules depend on your passport. You usually need a passport valid for your stay, proof of onward travel and proof of funds. Check the Servicio Nacional de Migración site and your nearest Panamanian embassy before you book.
What currency does Panama use?
Panama uses the US dollar for paper money alongside its own balboa coins, which are the same size and value as US coins. You do not need to change money if you carry dollars, and cards work widely in the capital.
When is the best time to visit Panama?
The dry season, roughly mid December to April, is the sunniest on the Pacific side and in the capital. May to November brings heavy afternoon rain, fewer crowds and green landscapes. The Caribbean coast, including Bocas del Toro, follows its own pattern, with September and October often calmer.
How many days do I need in Panama?
A week covers Panama City and the Canal plus one of Boquete, Bocas del Toro or Guna Yala. Ten days to two weeks lets you combine the city, the highlands and an island stay without rushing.
Can I do a stopover in Panama?
Yes. Tocumen is a major connecting hub, and many travellers add a few days in Panama City between flights. Ask your airline about stopover options and check entry rules for your passport first.
Ready to plan your Panama trip?
Use our free trip planner to shape your route, or send us a question through the contact page.