---

Key Takeaways: Is Panama Safe?

• Yes! Panama is known to be one of the safest countries in Latin America. Panama is safe for travelers and it is also safe country to live in/ retire to for Expats.
• Panama’s high level of safety is a product of Panama being both economically and politically stable. Panama has a democratic government with close ties to the United States and the US Dollar is their main form of currency. 
• Panama’s strong economic growth is not equally distributed throughout the entire country. About one-fourth of Panama’s population live in poverty; with many living in was is categorized as extreme poverty.
• The main form of crime that travelers experience in Panama is theft, although more violent crimes also occur.
• Following basic travel safety measures can ensure that you have a safe and crime free time in Panama.

---

In this article, we will uncover if Panama is safe for travel and give you actionable tips on how you can have a safe and crime-free visit to Panama.

We have lived in Bocas del Toro, Panama, since 2015 and have found it to be a beautiful and safe place to live. Our tips on how to stay safe in Panama can be applied to almost all travel destinations and are good to practice for every traveler. Additionally, as Panama recovers from the COVID-19 Pandemic and pushes forward with its 301 million dollar Grand Plan for Tourism through 2025, we believe that the future of safety in Panama is very positive.

Let’s get started and find out if Panama is a safe place to visit!

Check out our Post: 13 Bucket List Things to do in Panama

Is Panama Safe? 

The short answer is… Yes! Panama is known to be one of the safest countries in Latin America. Panama is safe for travelers and it is also safe country to live in/ retire to for Expats.

Panama’s high level of safety is a product of Panama being both economically and politically stable. Panama has a democratic government with close ties to the United States and the US Dollar is their main form of currency. 

However, Panama’s strong economic growth is not equally distributed throughout the entire country. About one-fourth of Panama’s population live in poverty; with many living in was is categorized as extreme poverty.

Note: Travelers to Panama should always consult their home country’s advisories on traveling to Panama.

How Safe is Panama?

Panama is very safe for visiting tourists as well as locals and ex-pats. You should always use common sense when traveling in a foreign country (and at home), but we have lived in Panama since 2015 and can say for ourselves that we feel safer here than in the US.

Quick Facts about Panama:

• Population: 3,894,082 (July 2020 est.)
• Location: Panama is the southernmost country in Central America with Costa Rica to the North and Columbia to the South
• Languages: Spanish, Panamanian Creol English, English, and Indigenous Languages
• Type of Government: Presidential Republic
• Economy: Panama’s Economy is largely based on the services sector: Services include operating the Panama Canal, logistics, banking, the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism and Panama is a center for offshore banking (Source)

The Panama Flag:

Where Panama is Located on the map:

Emergency Contact Numbers and Useful Websites for Safety in Panama

Emergency	911
Police Tourist Police in Panama City	104 511-9260
Ambulance	103
Fire Brigade	103
Customer Protection	+507 316 0080
Red Cross	+507 228 2187

• US Embassy of Panama
• US State Department for Travel to Panama
• CDC Page on Travel to Panama

COVID-19 in Panama

The situation with COVID-19 in Panama continues to evolve. Travelers to Panama should refer to their home country’s advisories on travel to Panama. 

The Ministry of Health of Panama Website also provides constant updates on COVID-19 across Panama. 

The Bocas Breeze Newspaper also provides daily updates in English about COVID-19 in Panama.

Crime in Panama

Is there crime in Panama? Yes. 

Is Panama safe? Yes. 

Panama, like all countries, does experience crime. However, also like all countries, crime rates are not equal in all parts of the country.

There are some parts of Panama that the everyday traveler should absolutely avoid due to the ongoing presence of activities such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, and gang violence. However, most of the country is peaceful and safe, especially the tourist areas.

Areas to avoid while visiting Panama due to higher crime rates are: 

• The Caribbean Coast of the Darien Province (Drug Trafficking Region)
• The Mosquito Gulf coast region (Drug Trafficking Region)
• The Caribbean Port Town of Colon (Poverty Based Street Crime and Gang Activity)

Safety in Panama City

Safety in Panama City varies greatly by location. While many parts of Panama City are completely safe, other parts experience high crime rates and gang activity. Travelers to Panama City should be aware of the areas and neighbors they need to avoid:

The high crime areas in/around Panama City are: El Chorrillo, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Cabo Verde, Curundu, Veracruz Beach, Santa Librada, Rio Abajo, San Miguelito, Juan Diaz, Pedregal (Source)

Safety in Casco Viejo

The most popular tourist destination in Panama City (besides the Panama Canal) is the area known as Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is a small enclave of high-end hotels, residences, stores, and restaurants with beautifully restored colonial architecture that is cut out of the El Chorrillo neighborhood. 

The El Chorrillio neighborhood is poverty-stricken and experiences high crime rates. This crime can sometimes spill over into the Casco Viejo neighborhood and the police presence in Casco Viejo is extremely high for this reason. 

If you stay in Casco Viejo, we recommend staying somewhere closer to the center of the district. We stayed at a place just on the line between Casco and El Chorillo and can see how this area has potential for trouble.

Is Panama Safe for Tourists?

Panama is one of the safest travel destinations for tourists in Latin America. However, it can also be a dangerous if you make it that way. It is absolutely necessary that tourists traveling to Panama practice basic travel safety procedures to ensure a safe and healthy trip to Panama. 

Panama Travel Safety Tips for Tourists:

• Research the neighborhood before booking a hotel/ accommodation
• Avoid taxis unless provided by your hotel/ accommodation 
• Use UBER or other rideshare platforms instead of yellow taxis
• Always agree on a price before accepting a service
• Only use professional tour guide services
• Avoid drug use and do not get involved with street dealers
• Ignore street hustlers (not to be confused with street vendors)
• Show respect at all times to everyone
• Don’t show wealth (limit jewelry, fancy bags/ clothes, watches, ect.)
• Don’t flash large amounts of cash
• Don’t leave bags or valuables unattended
• Travel in a group
• Avoid late night travel and stick to well lit main streets when walking around
• Keep your valuables locked in your accommodation, only bring what is needed with you when you go out
• You get bonus safety points for speaking Spanish (even a little bit)!

Our Experience with Crime Safety in Panama

We have lived in Bocas del Toro, Panama since 2015, but have also spent plenty of time in Panama City and David. We have also visited Santa Catalina, Playa Venao, Boquete and the San Blas Islands. In general, we have always felt safe in Panama and have only experienced minor instances of theft in our time here. 

We believe that if you are a smart and responsible traveler then you should have absolutely no problems in Panama. The Panamanian people are warm and welcoming and in general, they are eager to help!

Check out our post on Bocas del Toro Safety to find out if Bocas del Toro is safe!

General Safety in Panama

Dealing with the Police

It is recommended that you file a police report if you are a victim of a crime in Panama. This process can be a bit of a run-around, especially if you don’t speak Spanish, but it is worth it to help stop future crimes. Ask for a copy of the Police Report and follow up every week to see if any progress has been made.

Many smaller cases are handled by local community leaders called the Juez de Paz (Judge of Peace). The Juez de Paz is often more effective in instances of smaller crimes due to their local knowledge and connection to the community.

Serious cases will be referred to the DOJ, or Department of Justice, who handle investigations.

You should also notify your Embassy if you have been a victim of a crime. The US Embassy of Panama states that they will assist you in the event of a crime by helping you to deal with local authorities.

Public Transportation Safety

The public bus system is widely used by travelers throughout Panama. Overall, it is an effective, dependable, and safe system. It is also very cheap, costing less than $50 to traverse the country from Panama City to Bocas del Toro. Many other destinations within Panama are only accessible by bus or private shuttle, like Playa Venao, Santa Catalina, and San Blas.

Learn How To Get To Panama, Here

Tips for Public Transportation Safety in Panama

• Know where you are going – tell the ticket person when you enter the bus where you need to get off and listen to the announcements of each stop so you do not miss your stop
• Keep your valuables in a backpack and keep that close to you at all times. Do not leave valuables in luggage that you do not have sight or control over.
• Wear your seatbelt if there is one!
• Private shuttles are safer than the public busses
• Do not travel with illegal substances as the Police frequently check passengers and their bags
• Avoid the beggars that are sometimes present at rest stops or have 50 cents ready to give to one so they leave you alone.

Health Care In Panama

The availability of quality health care in Panama also varies widely from location to location. Panama City, for instance, is said to have the best hospital in Latin America at Pacifica Salud. In other places, however, the nearest healthcare professional might be a witch doctor or medicine man. (This is not a joke, I have actually been to the witch doctor in Panama)

There are also several good hospitals located in Panama’s second-largest city, David. However, outside of these two major cities, quality healthcare is very limited. 

Many travelers come to Panama to practice sports such as surfing, scuba diving, sport fishing, spearfishing, and hiking. It is important to understand the risks involved in these sports and that quality health care may be very far away in case of an emergency. 

Health Safety Tips for Panama

• Stay hydrated
• Clean and disinfect all cuts (big or small) as quickly as possible (bacterial infections are very common and will get out of control fast in the hot and humid climate)
• Avoid Rip Tides and listen to warning flags present on beaches 
• Never swim alone or while intoxicated
• Stay on Marked Hiking Trails
• Do Not Hike Alone
• Use the buddy system for any activities
• Ask you accommodation if you can drink the water there
• Eat at popular street food vendors where the food turnover is fast
• Wash your hands
• Have some travelers diarrhea medicine in case the problem arises
• Wear bug spray and don’t scratch your bug bites or they will get infected

The Future of Tourism and Safety in Panama

Due to the Panamanian government’s newest push towards tourism, with 301 million dollars in planned investment through 2025, we believe Panama will continue to be a safe place to travel to for many years to come. The tourism plan specifically focuses on improving the eco-tourism of Panama and by attracting visitors who are eco-conscious travelers, improving existing trails and protected areas, and helping local indigenous communities develop into more tourist-friendly destinations.

By improving the remote tourism destinations and the communities that serve the adventurous travelers (like San Blas, or Bocas del Toro) we can see that crime will go down in these areas and in general, be safer places to visit due to having a more professional and regulated environment. An increase in tourism dollars into these small communities will also improve the well-being of the local people by providing much-needed jobs.

Is Panama Safe? Our Experience with Health Safety in Panama

One of the major downsides of living in Bocas del Toro is that good healthcare is far away. If a serious problem arises our best bet is to fly to Panama City or taxi a few hours over the mountains to David. In the event of an emergency, there is a MEDIVAC helicopter service that will bring you to David where they have good hospitals. 

However, we also find comfort knowing that Pacifica Salud is just a 1-hour flight away. We recently experienced the need to use this hospital on several occasions. We found that flying to Panama City was much easier than driving over the bumpy road to David. It is more expensive to fly to Panama City but our situation necessitated the use of experts at the Pacifica Salud hospital.

Want to Learn More about Panama? Check out our Blog:

Browse the guides below or visit our blog homepage here.