Best Time to Visit Panama
Dry season, green season, festivals and prices: when to visit Panama and what changes between December and November.
Panama has two seasons rather than four, and the difference between them matters more for what you can do than for how hot it is. The temperature barely moves all year â daytime highs sit around 30 to 32 degrees Celsius, nights around 24.
Dry season: December to April
The high season, and the reason most people come. Clear skies, steady trade winds, very little rain. It is the best window for beaches, islands and hiking, and the most comfortable for walking around Panama City.
It is also the busiest and the most expensive. Hotels in Casco Antiguo book up, and carnival â in February or March â sells out months ahead.
Green season: May to November
Locals call it the green season rather than the rainy season, and the name is fair. It does not rain all day: a heavy shower falls in the afternoon, usually lasting under an hour, and the rest of the day is fine. Mornings are frequently bright.
Prices drop, the countryside turns spectacularly green, and the city is far less crowded. If your trip is mostly urban, this is genuinely good value. Bring a light rain jacket rather than an umbrella â the showers come with wind.
The dates worth planning around
- Carnival (February or March) â four days of parades and water trucks. Panama City empties as people head to the interior; Las Tablas is the epicentre.
- Independence holidays (November) â five separate national days, parades almost daily, folk dress and drumming. The best month to understand the country.
- Christmas and New Year â family season, tamales everywhere, and restaurants booked well ahead.
- Holy Week â quiet in the city, busy on the coast; some places close.
What never changes
Panama sits below the hurricane belt, so there is no storm season to plan around. The currency is the US dollar. And the city is on the same schedule year-round: kitchens open late, dinner is at half past eight.
Whatever month you land in, Casco Antiguo is where the food is. Aya la Vida, on Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, serves Panamanian cooking with an open-air terrace and live music Thursday to Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
When is the rainy season in Panama?
May to November, and it usually means one heavy afternoon shower rather than all-day rain.
Is there a hurricane season?
No. Panama lies below the hurricane belt.
What is the cheapest time to visit?
The green season, from May to November, excluding the November holidays.
What should I pack?
Light clothing, flat shoes for the cobbles of Casco Viejo, and a light rain jacket in green season.
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities do not for short stays, but rules change; check before travelling.
Keep reading
- Where to Eat in Panama City: A Local Guide
- Panamanian Food: What to Eat in Panama City
- Tamal de olla panameno: que lo diferencia del tamal
Aya la Vida is in Edificio La Cuadra, Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, Casco Antiguo, Panama City. Menu and opening hours on its official site; book a table here, see the menu, or plan a Copa stopover.
Reserva tu mesa en Aya la Vida
Cocina panameña de autor en el Casco Antiguo de Ciudad de Panamá, Edificio La Cuadra, Avenida A y Calle 12 Oeste. Terraza al aire libre y música en vivo de jueves a sábado.
