Panama
UK Foreign Office travel advice · 10 December 2025
Current safety guidance for Panama from UK Foreign Office travel advice. We cover 1 city in Panama, with reported scams for each.
Source: Panama travel advice — UK Foreign Office travel advice
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
If you are the victim of a crime in Panama and want to report the incident, do so before you leave the country, otherwise the police may not investigate.
Street crime can happen anywhere, but these areas of Panama City have higher levels of crime:
There have been incidents of targeted gang assassinations, some in tourist areas. Most of these crimes are between members of rival drug gangs.
Taxis can be in poor condition and accidents, due to poor maintenance and driving standards, are common. To reduce your risk, use ride-hailing apps or hotel-arranged transport only.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Panama, attacks cannot be ruled out.
On 29 June, the Panamanian government lifted the ‘state of urgency’ in Bocas del Toro that had been in place in response to violent protests in May and June. However, a curfew for unaccompanied minors remains in place between 8pm and 5am. If you are in the province, stay away from protests, pay attention to good local advice and be alert to further announcements by the local authorities.
Protests can be unpredictable, occur at short notice and escalate quickly. Avoid protests and demonstrations, monitor local media and follow advice from local authorities. Avoid travelling around protest-affected areas at night. Protests may be particularly large in Colón City.
Protests often involve informal road blocks and can affect access to the border crossing into Costa Rica at Paso Canoas and international airports. Check your route and alternatives before travelling. If you are unable to reach an airport for a planned flight, contact your airline to make alternative arrangements.
There is a risk of pickpocketing in busy areas, on buses and at bus stations. You can take steps to protect yourself and your belongings, including:
People have been attacked after withdrawing cash from ATMs. Where possible, use an ATM inside a bank or shopping centre.
Take sensible precautions to avoid mugging, particularly in main shopping areas and tourist sites, including:
Be wary if visitors approach you to get access to your accommodation. Criminal gangs have used this method to commit burglaries. If you’re in any doubt, call the police.
There have been violent attacks, including sexual assault, in tourist destinations in Panama City and across the country. Use the same level of caution you would in the UK when travelling at night. Avoid poorly lit areas and do not walk on your own.
See advice for women travelling abroad.
As a foreign national, you must carry ID such as a passport. The police will usually accept a printed copy.
In August 2024, Panama introduced a night-time curfew for unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 in Colón province. Limited exceptions apply. This is part of government efforts to tackle criminal groups and organised crime.
In Colón the curfew is from Sundays to Thursdays from 8pm to 4am and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm to 5am. Unaccompanied minors who do not comply with the curfew face arrest by the police.
It is illegal to smoke in public places. You could be fined 25 to 100 US dollars if you are caught smoking where it’s not allowed. The use of e-cigarettes is also banned in public places.
Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. You can get a prison sentence for possessing even a small quantity of drugs.
The judicial process is slow and sentencing may take up to 2 years, during which you are likely to be detained. Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Panama are often harsh. Most facilities are overcrowded with limited access to healthcare. There have been recent cases of riots resulting in prisoner deaths.
Same-sex civil unions are illegal, but same-sex relationships are legal in Panama. Most Panamanians are generally tolerant of LGBT+ travellers. However, Panamanian law does not ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There have been incidents of police officers detaining LGBT+ couples on the grounds of public indecency. Showing affection in public can lead to unwanted attention. Casco Viejo is considered a safe place for LGBT+ travellers.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Take care when wading, swimming or taking part in water sports on Pacific and Caribbean beaches. Some beaches have strong currents and undertows and there are rarely warning signs. People drown every year.
Do not swim in the Bay of Panama as it is highly polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste.
See advice on safe swimming from ABTA and holiday water safety from the Royal Life Saving Society.
If hiking in the hills around Boquete and the Province of Chiriqui you should consider going with an experienced guide. Trails may not be well marked, and mobile phone coverage is unreliable. Tourists have gone missing and died hiking without a guide. Seek local advice before setting out.
If you are planning on driving in Panama, see information on driving abroad.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Panama for up to 3 months. The Panamanian authorities will not accept a paper licence – you can update it to a photocard licence. Carry a copy of your passport with the dated entry stamp as proof you’re still within the 3 months permitted.
Drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seatbelts. Children aged 4 and under must travel in the back in fitted child seats.
Drink-driving is a serious offence in Panama. If you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system, you may get a fine, have your licence revoked and your car impounded.
Driving standards can be poor. Traffic accidents are common. Roads are often poorly lit and can have potholes and unfinished repairs. Darien Province and other remote rural areas may have very few surfaced roads.
Traffic can be heavy in populated areas especially in and close to Panama City.
Repair work and construction sites are common in these areas.
If you are involved in a traffic accident with another driver, wait inside your vehicle for your insurance representative and the traffic police to arrive. Avoid any type of confrontation with other drivers or passers-by.
See extreme weather and natural hazards for information about how to prepare, and how to react if there is a warning.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Hurricanes do not directly affect Panama but often cause heavy rain. There may be flash floods and landslides. October and November have the heaviest rainfall.
Monitor local news, check World Meteorological Association weather reports for Panama and follow local advice.
Earthquakes are a risk in Panama. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake or tsunami.
This section has safety advice for regions of Panama. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
There is a risk of violence near the Colombia border in an area east of a line drawn between:
You should only travel to the east of this line in an organised group, and make sure local police and security authorities are aware of your visit. Follow local security advice and do not stray from your group.
Colombian criminal violence can spill over into the region of Panama bordering Colombia where there is a threat from Colombian and other armed groups. Foreign nationals and Panamanian citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, kidnapping and murder in this area.
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