Photo: Panama Canal expansion project · Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇵🇦Panama: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Panama
A typical first trip here runs about $750 to $1,025 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Sancocho, chicken soup with yuca and culantro; considered Panama's national dish
- Ropa vieja, shredded beef stew with peppers and tomatoes
- Patacones, fried green plantain chips served with ceviche or guacamole
- Yuca frita and carimañolas (yuca fritters with meat), popular street snacks
- Seco herrerano, Panamanian sugarcane spirit, the traditional local drink
- Carnival (February), Panama City and Las Tablas have spectacular celebrations
- Independence from Colombia (November 3), Panama's national day
- Panama Canal, one of the engineering wonders of the modern world
- Kuna/Guna Yala Indigenous culture, vibrant mola textile art tradition
Spanish is official. English is widely spoken in Panama City and Bocas del Toro, Panama has strong US business and cultural ties.
The country uses the US dollar as its currency. Panamanians are warm and internationally minded.
- Panamanians are friendly and business-oriented, both cultures mix here
- Panama hats actually come from Ecuador, not Panama, don't make that mistake
- Tipping 10% is standard in restaurants
- San Blas Islands require permission and are governed by Guna people, respect their rules
Best Time to Visit
Panama is tropical with a dry season and a rainy season; the dry season is the popular time to visit, while the rainy season brings afternoon showers, heavier on the Caribbean side.
- Peak: December to April
- Shoulder: May, November
- Off season: June to October, the rainy season
Source: imhpa.gob.pa
Getting Around
- Panama City has a metro, and buses and domestic flights reach other regions.
- A car helps for exploring the interior and the coasts.
- Ride-hailing apps operate in the capital.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The dry-season peak and the holidays cost the most, while the rainy season is cheaper.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Panama?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Panama safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Panama
Updates for Panama will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.