Best time to visit Panama
Panama is a great place to visit all year round. As the country lies close to the equator, it is almost always warm and has only two seasons.
In brief:
- The dry season runs from January to April;
- The rainy season runs from May to December, but don’t let that put you off travelling during this time, as the showers are usually limited to the afternoon.
- The temperature fluctuates between 25 and 30 degrees all year round.
Panama City
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature ˚C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Panama City has a tropical savannah climate and is influenced by its location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, as well as its proximity to the Equator. Temperatures in Panama City remain fairly constant and warm throughout the year. The months from December to April are the dry months, with hardly any rainfall in Panama City. The rainy season runs from May to November; during these months, heavy downpours can occur, particularly in the afternoons and evenings. During the rainy season, humidity is high, making the temperature feel higher and causing the air to feel stifling quite quickly. Due to Panama City’s location between the two oceans, the climate can be affected by hurricanes and tropical storms, particularly during the rainy season. Panama City is rarely hit directly by these natural disasters, but their effects can be felt in the weather conditions.
Boquete
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature ˚C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
The climate in Boquete is a temperate mountain climate, which differs from the tropical climates found in the rest of Panama. As a result, it is often cooler in Boquete than elsewhere in the country. Boquete experiences little variation between the seasons; generally speaking, rainfall occurs throughout the year. The official rainy season runs from May to November, with the heaviest rainfall occurring between June and October. There is less rainfall during the remaining months of the year, although Boquete does not experience a completely dry period. Humidity in Boquete is relatively low, which makes the temperature feel more comfortable.
Bocas del Toro
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature ˚C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
The climate in Bocas del Toro is a tropical rainforest climate, influenced by the Caribbean Sea. Temperatures in Bocas del Toro remain fairly constant and warm throughout the year. The rainy season runs from May to November, with most rain falling in September and October. The downpours can be heavy at times, but are often short-lived. During the remaining months, it is drier in Bocas del Toro, although there is still a chance of a shower. During the drier period, the wind in Bocas del Toro can pick up.
All the information you need about the best time to visit Panama at a glance
- You can visit Panama all year round;
- The country lies close to the equator, which means it is almost always warm there;
- Temperatures fluctuate between 25 and 30 degrees throughout the year;
- It is only in the higher mountain regions that it can cool down considerably in the evening;
- The dry season runs from January to April;
- The rainy season runs from May to December;
- Most of the rain falls in September and October. However, the weather in Panama is good for travelling all year round.
The best time to visit Panama when travelling with children
If you’re travelling with your children, the best time to visit Panama is during the summer holidays. Although this is the rainy season, you’ll find that the weather in Panama is fine for travelling. The rain is mainly limited to the afternoons and you’ll be impressed by the beautiful green countryside. If you’re travelling during the Christmas holidays, you’ll be visiting during the dry season. This is also an excellent time to visit Panama. Please note, however, that the Christmas holidays are also the peak tourist season. So make sure you start planning your unique trip well in advance.
Time difference between Panama and the Netherlands/Belgium
During Dutch/Belgian summer time, it is 7 hours earlier in Panama.
During Dutch/Belgian winter time, it is 6 hours earlier in Panama.
How long is the flight to Panama?
The flight time for a direct flight from Amsterdam to Panama City is approximately 11 hours.
Fancy a trip of Panama?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Panama and are you curious about the options? Then do have a look at the tours we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call us on +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.