Smart tips for a great trip to Panama
Everything you need, and nothing you don't. Curated from Sami's own hard-earned experience.
Golden Rule
Pack light on clothes, heavy on protection. The travellers who enjoy Panama most are the ones who came prepared for all of it.
Documents and essentials
Valid passport, checked well in advance
Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Check it now, not the night before.
Passport copy + digital backup
Carry a photocopy separately from your original. Save a photo on your phone. Panama law requires ID on you at all times.
Digital customs declaration, pre-filled
Complete the Declaración de Viajero up to 72 hours before landing. Screenshot your QR code in case of low battery.
Travel insurance, non-negotiable
Covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation and lost baggage. Panama's private hospitals are excellent but expensive without insurance.
Panama entry requirements
Check your country's specific entry requirements before you fly. US, Canadian, and EU citizens get up to 180 days visa-free, but you must show proof of onward travel. Requirements can change. Verify with your airline and Panama immigration before departure.
Emergency contacts, saved offline
Save Sami's number, your accommodation address, your country's embassy in Panama, and local emergency numbers (911, police 104) directly on your phone, not just in the cloud. If you lose WiFi or data, you'll still have everything you need.
Entertainment & Sleep
Pack a neck pillow, headphones, and an eye mask if you want to sleep. Even short naps can refresh you. For entertainment, pre-downloaded movies or books are your best friend if Wi-Fi isn't working or you want to save your phone battery.
Valuables
Always keep valuables, especially money and documents, hidden and secure. Using a neck wallet or inside-pocket bag lowers the risk for loss. Avoid flashing cash or expensive cards in public. When moving around, keep only what you need for the day. Store the rest in a locked bag or hotel safe. Remember to have the contact info for your banks and insurance carrier in case you lose any cards or documents.
Sun, heat and rain, Panama's holy trinity
High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen
Panama is 622 miles from the equator. The sun is hot and fast. Reapply your sunscreen constantly, especially on the water. Please bring a reef-safe formula to protect the ocean.
Wide-brim hat
Essential protection for your face and neck. Choose one you can put your hair up under.
Quality UV sunglasses
Not just for comfort, UV protection is essential in the Panama climate. Salt, sun and sometimes wind are hard on unprotected eyes.
Reusable water bottle
Stay hydrated. Dehydration and heat exhaustion can hit with no warning.
Lightweight rain poncho or jacket
Afternoon tropical showers appear from nowhere and disappear just as fast. A compact poncho fits in any bag and keeps you dry without the bulk of a full jacket.
Cooling towel
A lifesaver during outdoor excursions, markets and long walks in the city heat. Clip it to your daypack for easy access.
Humidity
You may notice that humidity makes your belongings damp. Using silica gel packs or small moisture absorbers in your bags helps keep electronics and papers dry. Simple plastic zip bags are also helpful to seal away snacks or important items.
Clothing, what actually works in Panama
Lightweight breathable fabrics only
Cotton, linen, bamboo and moisture-wicking synthetics. Avoid heavy fabrics entirely. Panama is hot and humid 365 days a year, even in the mountains at night it rarely gets very cold.
Swimwear (pack more than you think)
You will be in the water more than you expect. Swimsuits take time to dry in high humidity. Bring at least 2 to rotate.
Comfortable supportive shoes
You will walk far more than expected. Cobblestones in Casco Viejo, jungle trails in Boquete, markets, your feet need real support for your comfort.
Water shoes or Chacos
An absolute must. They protect against volcanic rock, hot sand, sea urchins, coral and muddy waterfall trails.
Lightweight long-sleeve UV shirt
Protects against sun and insects simultaneously, smarter than constantly reapplying sunscreen on long outdoor days. Quick-dry synthetic fabric works best.
Light pashmina or scarf
Panama's air conditioning indoors can be shockingly cold. Restaurants, malls, buses and the airport are often freezing. Also useful as a cover-up for religious sites.
Health and safety
Insect repellent
Essential for rainforests, beaches and rural areas. This is not optional. Put on your sunscreen first. Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the sunscreen to soak into your skin. Spray or rub the repellent on top. Pure essential oils like citronella, peppermint, or lemongrass smell nice, however, they evaporate very quickly. They will only protect you for 20 to 40 minutes. Reapply constantly.
Basic first aid kit
Band-aids, antiseptic cream, blister plasters, pain relief, allergy / antihistamine tablets, indigestion pills, cold and flu medications and any personal prescriptions. Keep prescriptions in original pharmacy bottles with a doctor's letter.
Motion sickness tablets
About 1 in 3 people are susceptible to motion sickness, your brain getting mixed signals from your eyes and inner ears. Take your motion sickness tablets before your boat trips to prevent nausea. If you wait until you feel sick, the medicine is often too late.
After-sun lotion or aloe vera
If you get a sunburn, avoid hot showers and harsh soaps until your skin feels better, before you reach for that after-sun lotion or aloe gel.
Stomach remedies
A change in food, water, and climate can catch even experienced travelers off guard. Pack oral rehydration salts, probiotics, and an anti-diarrheal like Imodium. Panama's local pharmacies (farmacias) are well-stocked, but having something on hand for the first 48 hours saves you a ruined day.
Know your nearest pharmacy
Panama's farmacias are excellent, well-stocked, and easy to find in cities and towns. Many are open late or 24 hours. You can get most common medications over the counter without a prescription, pain relief, allergy tablets, stomach remedies, and more.
Technology and money
Fully charged power bank, essential
Charging stations at PTY airport are few and always crowded. You need your phone for Uber, maps and QR customs code. A dead phone will be a real problem.
Local SIM or travel eSIM
Activate data the moment you land. You need it for Uber, maps, your digital customs form and general navigation. Tigo, Claro and Digicel all available at the airport.
Power adapter (if not from USA or Canada)
Panama uses the same Type A/B plugs as the USA and Canada (110V, 60Hz). If you are from elsewhere bring an adapter, they are expensive and hard to find locally.
USD cash in small denominations
$1, $5 and $10 bills are essential. Many vendors outside the capital do not accept cards. Many cannot make change for $50s or $100s. The San Blas Islands have no ATMs at all.
Notify your bank before you travel
A Panama transaction from abroad can trigger a fraud alert and get your card blocked at the worst moment. A quick call or app notification to your bank before departure takes two minutes and saves a lot of stress. Also check your daily ATM withdrawal limit, some banks cap it lower than you'd expect.
ATM fees, withdraw smart
Panama ATMs charge around $5.25 per transaction, plus whatever your home bank charges on top, and most ATMs limit withdrawals to $250 per transaction. That adds up fast if you withdraw small amounts repeatedly. The smart move: use BAC Bank ATMs, which allow up to $500 per withdrawal at a slightly lower fee, and withdraw the maximum each time. A Charles Schwab debit card reimburses all ATM fees worldwide, worth getting before your trip.
Sami's final tip
Pack light on clothes, you can always buy more here, and Panama City shopping is excellent. But never leave without your hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, power bank and USD cash. Those five alone will save your trip more than anything else.
My safety net
Before you fly, know why every experienced Panama traveller buys travel insurance.
Should I buy travel insurance for Panama? →