Panama City Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (43/100)
Is Panama City safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Panama City scores 43/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Panama Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 19 Aug 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories). GDACS lists 1 minor (green) event within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Political instability (score 20)
Government advisory (score 60)
October 14, 2026
Panama City, Panama has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 43 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is government advisory at 60/100; the lowest-rated category is political instability at 20/100; last updated October 14, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Panama travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Panama City to visit in 2026?
Panama City currently sits at 43/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for Panama City is government advisory (60/100), and the lowest is political instability (20/100). This page was last updated on October 14, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (50/100) and natural hazards (56/100).
A score of 43 is higher than the scores of 56% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Panama City maintains a moderate overall risk level with a US State Department Advisory Level 2 and an active US Embassy natural disaster alert following a recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the Pacific Coast. Despite the seismic activity and a Level 1 global dengue health notice from the CDC, the Tourism Authority confirms the city remains open to tourists.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Government advisory (score 60/100): Read your country's current official advisory within 7 days of travel. Register with your embassy on arrival if available.
- Transport safety (score 45/100): Use the safest available transit. For high-risk routes, prefer reputable carriers and avoid late-night driving.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Panama City
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime conditions are generally secure along major corridors and commercial districts. Keep bags zipped and avoid displaying high-value items openly.
Risk levels elevate noticeably after dark outside main central zones. Avoid walking alone through unlit parks, alleys, or quiet transit stations; favor pre-booked door-to-door transport.
Safety by Traveler Type in Panama City
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Business travelers
Digital/money risk is elevated. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive work, use a VPN, watch for card-skimming at ATMs, and carry minimal cash.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Local laws and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ travelers vary widely by country and are not captured in our category scores. The official advisory/political indicators are elevated. Read your government LGBTQ+ travel guidance carefully and weigh trip purpose against current conditions.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Panama City for solo travelers (Crime 45/100 · Transport 45/100), women traveling solo (Crime 45/100), families with children (Health 25/100 · Natural disaster 40/100) and older travelers (Health 25/100 · Transport 45/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | October 14, 2026 |
Live conditions in Panama City
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
⛅ Partly cloudy
Panama City, Panama
| Today's high / low | 32.5°C / 24.4°C | Wind now / max | 11.5 km/h / 14.8 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 90% | Precipitation today | 0.5 mm · 55% chance |
| UV (max today) | 8.7 | Sunrise / Sunset | 06:06 / 18:01 |
- Very high UV
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:02 UTC · cached
Air quality
Air Quality
Moderate
| PM2.5 / PM10 | 8.4 / 11.5 µg/m³ | O₃ / NO₂ | 42 / 10.7 µg/m³ |
|---|
Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:03 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Panama - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green earthquake (Magnitude 6.1M, Depth:10km) in Panama 12/10/2026 23:20 UTC, 1 thousand (in MMI>=VII). GREEN · ~258 km away · 2026-10-12
On 10/12/2026 11:20:36 PM, an earthquake occurred in Panama potentially affecting 1 thousand (in MMI>=VII). The earthquake had Magnitude 6.1M, Depth:10km.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:37:34 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Panama City happened in October (3 of 7 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Panama travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Panama entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Panama City Panama
-
Panama City Remains Open to Tourists Following Earthquakes, Tourism Authority Confirms
TravelPulse Canada · 3d ago
-
Is it safe to travel to Panama? Latest travel advice after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes the Pacific Coast
Time Out Worldwide · 3d ago
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Natural Disaster Alert – U. S. Embassy Panama City, Panama (October 9, 2026)
U.S. Embassy in Panama (.gov) · 6d ago
-
Panama's main airport halts takeoffs, landings amid aftershocks
Xinhua · 5d ago
-
Panama declares a state of emergency as powerful quake aftershocks rattle communities
AP News · 5d ago
-
Tocumen Airport Earthquake: Panama’s Copa Hub Shut by a M7.7 Quake
MiGFlug · 5d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:04 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Panama City
The most weather-stable two-month window for Panama City is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 24°C to 30°C and monthly rain averages 38 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in May–October; hurricane season in June–November. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 20, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Panama City
Panama City has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Clínica Bella Vista
- Hospital: Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid
- Hospital: Hospital Integrado
- Hospital: Hospital Nacional
- Hospital: Hospital Paitilla
- Hospital: Hospital Paitilla
- Hospital: Hospital Santa Fe
- Hospital: Hospital Santo Tomás
- Hospital: Policlínica Pediátrica Manuel Ferrer Valdés
- Hospital: Policlinica Presidente Remon
- Police: Dirección de Investigación Judicial
- Police: Dirección Nacional de Investigación Judicial | División de Vehículos de Hurtados
- Police: Policia Nacional
- Police: Policía Nacional | Puesto Policial de Viejo Veranillo
- Police: Policia Nacional | Zona Metropolitana
- Police: Policía Nacional de Panamá - Sede Principal
- Police: Puesto Policial de Bella Vista
- Police: Sección de Homicidios/Femicidios Ministerio Público
- Police: Subestación de Policía de Calidonia
- Police: Unidad de Policía Comunitaria de Curundú
- Embassy: Consulate of Costa Rica
- Embassy: Delegation of the European Union
- Embassy: Embassy of Cuba
- Embassy: Embassy of India
- Embassy: Embassy of Spain
- Pharmacy: Arrocha
- Pharmacy: Chemsa
- Pharmacy: Farmacia & Novedades "La Castellana"
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Carbono
- Pharmacy: Farmacía Milani
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Moali
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Nva. Roxy
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Pasteur
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Prez Shop
- Pharmacy: FarmaNet
- Fire station: Estación de Bomberos - Comandante Darío Vallarino
- Fire station: Estación de Bomberos No. 1 - Ricardo Arango
- Fire station: Estación de Bomberos No. 4 - David h. Brandon
- Fire station: Estación de Bomberos No. 8 - Segismundo Navarro
- Fire station: Fire Station #2 - Juan A. Guizado
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Panama)
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General | 911 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | low |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | low |
| Emergency response | low |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
The provided sources do not contain specific details on hospital locations, emergency response times, pharmacy availability, or evacuation procedures for travelers in Panama City.
Common scam patterns
- taxi overcharging. Tourists near Casco Viejo often encounter taxi drivers who overcharge or refuse to use the meter, especially after dark. These unlicensed or dishonest drivers may demand cash payments at inflated rates. Tip: Insist on using the official meter or arrange a reputable ride‑hailing service.
- unlicensed money changers. Unregistered currency exchangers in popular tourist areas offer poor exchange rates and may give counterfeit bills. Travelers can lose money quickly if they accept these deals. Tip: Use banks or authorized exchange offices and verify bills before accepting them.
- overpriced boat tours. Some operators sell inflated prices for boat trips to the San Blas Islands or other attractions, often providing sub‑standard services. The tours may not match advertised itineraries or safety standards. Tip: Book tours through reputable agencies or your hotel and compare prices in advance.
Area notes
- Casco Viejo. Historic district popular with visitors, but pickpocketing is common, especially on crowded streets.
- Financial District. Modern business area that is well‑policed and generally secure for tourists and business travelers.
- Calidonia. Neighborhood where travelers should stay alert and avoid walking alone after dark.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Panama for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Run a personalized assessment for Panama City
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2026 | 41 → 43 | moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 42 → 41 | moderate | Data update scoring v2 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 39 → 42 | moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 30 | moderate | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (round 2: Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + GPI + EPI references) |
Every editorial change to Panama City's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Panama City
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Panama City, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.