Best time to go to Panama for a perfect weather and where to go?
Get the most favorable time to go to Panama from seasonal averages in many locations like Bocas Del Toro or Hicaco Island, on this page.
When is the best time to go to Panama?
The best time to travel to Panama is most definitely the dry season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April. Heat is on the program and although rain does appear, it also quickly dissipate. The rest of the day is often sunny and allows for walking around, especially when wanting to cross the Isthmus of Darien. The high season corresponds to the period between January and April, when the rains are relatively low. This period is also favorable to cultural discoveries and relaxation, especially for fans of the Carnival, which is particularly lively in the peninsula Azuero and Panama City. On the other hand, if you are an amateur of animal observation, the humid season may prove to be rather interesting. Humpback whales choose Panama's shores to calve. It is also possible to admire the leatherback turtles who come to lay their eggs. With the relatively less human traffic than compared to that of the peak tourist season, one can enjoy their time away from the crowds.
So, when is the best time to go to Panama? Here's some more information to help you in your decision:
- In Panama, the weather is good everywhere in January and February
- The best months to go to Panama City are January, February and March
- On average, it is hot all year round in Panama City
- The rainiest months in this city are May, June, July and August
- The cities with the best climate are Chitré, Colón, David, Penonomé, Anton, Boquete, Los Santos (Las Tablas), Aguadulce, Buabidi and Chiriqui, with good weather at least 5 months a year
- The sea temperature is suitable for swimming all year round in Panama City
Annual weather in Panama
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Panama for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68°F to 90°F | good weather* | |||
| February | 68°F to 92°F | good weather* | |||
| March | 70°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| April | 72°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| May | 74°F to 90°F | very bad weather* | |||
| June | 72°F to 88°F | bad weather* | |||
| July | 72°F to 86°F | bad weather* | |||
| August | 72°F to 86°F | very bad weather* | |||
| September | 72°F to 86°F | bad weather* | |||
| October | 72°F to 86°F | bad weather* | |||
| November | 70°F to 86°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| December | 70°F to 86°F | good weather* |
Best time to travel to Panama by cities
Panama City
The best months to go to Panama City are january, february and march.
Bocas Del Toro
The best months to go to Bocas Del Toro are february, march, april and september.
Chitré
The best months to go to Chitré are january, february, march, april and december.
Climate and Weather in Panama
Between Costa Rica and Colombia, in the heart of Central America, Panama is a territory that has a tropical climate that is greatly similar to its neighbors. The mountain range that crosses the country causes the differences in climates, ranging from tropical humid to tropical Pacific and passing through a rather temperate climate. Near the equator, Panama has two seasons: a dry one from December to May and a humid one from April to December. Although there have been reports of particularly violent storms here, Panama actually still remains outside the cyclonic corridors.
Climate on the Coast of the Caribbean Sea
The climate in Panama on the coast of the Caribbean Sea is humid tropical, resembling an Atlantic type. This high humidity is particularly linked to the presence of the northern and northeast winds, that bring rainfall in this part of the country throughout the year. The heat is present all year, just as is the precipitation.
Climate in Central Panama
Central Panama experiences a more temperate weather on the coast, following the example of its neighbor San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Panama City, in particular the capital, has pleasant temperatures that range generally between 24 and 35° C. In the more mountainous areas, such as towards Boquete, the climate is mild with slightly cooler temperatures. Precipitation is quite present for a major part of the year, making this a particularly fertile area. The central Panama, also known as the “Central Valley”, has a climate that is close to that of the eternal springs in Costa Rica. This part of Panama is protected from the winds of the Pacific southwest and southern rains by the Azuero Peninsula.
Pacific Coastal Climate in Panama
The coast of the Pacific Ocean of Panama is known for a tropical climate and is characterized by particularly hot summers and the seasons are accentuated by much humidity. The mountains of the center region of the country naturally protects the lowlands from rainfall on the Pacific coast of the Caribbean Sea. In fact, one can count two times less precipitation on the Pacific coast than on the Caribbean coast, such as on the island of Taboga.
Temperatures and rainfall in Panama
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Panama and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Panama City, Bocas Del Toro, Chitré, Colón and David, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Panama
Find out when Panama has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Panama
The months with low numbers of tourists are: April, May, June, July, August, September and October. The number of visitors to Panama is high in: January, February, March, November and December.
- Very low season in Panama: May, June and September.
- Low season in Panama: April, July, August and October.
- High season in Panama: January, February, March and November.
- Peak season in Panama: December.
Figure: Visitor index for Panama month by month
Average price for flights to Panama
A return flight between New York City and Panama City is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 440 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 339 more for your airline ticket to Panama City if you go in december.
Where to go in Panama?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Panama City | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F |
| Bocas Del Toro | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Chitré | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F |
| Colón | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| David | 88°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Mulatupo | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Penonomé | 88°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Playón Chico | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| San Blas Islands | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Anton | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F |
| Boquete | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F |
| Contadora island | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| El Porvenir | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Gamboa | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F |
| Hicacos Peninsula | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Los Santos (Las Tablas) | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F |
| Taboga island | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Aguadulce | 88°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Arraijan | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Buabidi | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Panama
What can I do in Panama?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Panama reliable?
Climate data for Panama has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Panama allows us to determine the average for each month in Panama City, Bocas Del Toro, Chitré, Colón, David, Mulatupo, Penonomé, Playón Chico, and 19 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.