Discover Tailor-Made Panama Vacations

Pre-booking is key during this period, when both prices and demand are at their peak.

Panama’s wet season runs from May to November, with most regions of the country experiencing daily rain. This means that visitor crowds are thinner and prices a bit lower. The country’s interior is also at its greenest at this time of year, while whale watching and surfing are at their finest.

Holiday-wise, Panamanians love to celebrate, marking Christmas and Easter in elaborate fashion and hosting a number of major festivals throughout the year, including Dia de la Independencia in November and Carnival in February/March.

Read our full guide to the Best Time to Visit and let us help you book your perfect Panama journey.

Music from Panama resonates throughout Latin America, and the country is celebrated for its numerous festivals.

The cosmopolitan urban culture around the Panama Canal offers a stark contrast to the Hispanic traditions of the rural savannas, where cattle ranching and horsemanship prevail. Indigenous territories contribute unique elements such as the Kuna people's vibrant molas (handcrafted textiles made largely by Kuna women) and storytelling traditions, enriching Panama's cultural tapestry.

Panama City's historic district, with its colonial architecture dating back to the 17th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the Caribbean coastal fortifications of Portobelo and San Lorenzo.

Numerous cultural festivals take place throughout the year, celebrating Panama’s varied pastimes. The Panama Jazz festival and the National Pollera Festival are popular celebrations, as is the Mejorana Festival and Carnaval.

Talk to one of Goway’s Destination Specialists today and immerse yourself in Panama’s diverse culture.

Begin your tasting journey with ceviche, a refreshing blend of citrus-cured fish often served seaside with a view of the Pacific or Caribbean. For a comforting taste of home-style cooking, sancocho offers a rich chicken broth with culantro, yam, and plantains, warming both body and spirit. The influence of Panama’s diverse roots shines through in ropa vieja, tender shredded beef in a tomato-based sauce, and arroz con pollo, a spiced, colourful dish often found at celebrations.

Street food adds another dimension. Savour tamales wrapped in banana leaves, patacones fried until golden and crisp, and empanadas filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables—perfect companions for city wanderings or beach excursions. In the highlands of Chiriquí, coffee enthusiasts can sample some of the world’s most coveted beans, particularly the floral and aromatic Geisha variety.

For those seeking a local drink, Seco Herrerano and Chicha Fuerte reveal Panama’s traditional spirit, while Ron Abuelo offers a smooth, aged rum ideal for slow tropical evenings. Together, these flavours capture the essence of Panama—diverse, inviting, and steeped in stories worth savouring.

A passport is required to visit Panama and must be valid for at least six months. A visa is generally not required for most visitors staying up to 30 days.

Tap water is safe in Panama City but not always in rural areas. Travel around the country can be done via domestic flight, private car hire and boat, all of which are quite reliable.

ATMs are widely available in cities but less so on islands, which also may have limited connectivity.

For more practical tips on visiting Panama, consult our guide on Things to Know Before You Go.