Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Most visitors head to Panama City, the Pacific beaches around Coronado, and the Bocas del Toro islands on the Caribbean side. These areas see heavy tourism and have a regular police presence. Petty theft, bag snatching and pickpocketing happen in busy parts of Panama City, including Casco Viejo at night and on the Cinta Costera. Watch out for taxi scams at Tocumen Airport and use the booth or a ride app instead. The Darién province on the Colombian border carries the strongest warnings from both governments. The official advisory guidance flags it as Do Not Travel, naming Lajas Blancas, El Salto and all land south of Jaque. Smuggling routes, armed groups and human trafficking run through the jungle here. The official Pan-American Highway stops well before the border for a reason. The Mosquito Gulf on the Caribbean coast is the second flagged zone. The US warns against going within 10 miles of the shoreline between Boca de Rio in Chiriqui and Cocle del Norte. Drug trafficking dominates these waters. Boquete, El Valle and the San Blas (Guna Yala) islands sit outside the flagged areas and remain popular. Though San Blas trips should go through licensed Guna operators.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Panama page on 10 December 2025. The change covered dual nationals returning to the UK and was added to the Entry requirements section. The official advisory guidance does not place Panama under any blanket warning. It does keep regional risk notes for the Darién and parts of the Caribbean coast. And points readers to its general crime and personal safety guidance. The official advisory guidance reissued its Panama advisory on 23 September 2024 at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. The Level 2 rating has stayed in place through early 2026. Within that, two zones sit at Level 4, Do Not Travel: the Darién region near the Colombian border and the Mosquito Gulf coastline. Neither government has ordered the departure of staff or dependants. Both note that emergency consular help is very limited in the flagged jungle and coastal zones. So travellers in those areas are largely on their own.
What travellers should know
Carry a copy of your passport rather than the original when moving around cities, and keep the original in a hotel low-risk. Card skimming happens at independent ATMs, so use machines inside bank branches when you can. Withdraw smaller amounts more often. Avoid wearing visible jewellery or watches in crowded markets and on public buses, especially the Diablo Rojo routes outside the metro network. Travel insurance should cover medical evacuation. Public hospitals in Panama City are reasonable, but care in Bocas del Toro and remote provinces is basic. And serious cases are flown to the capital. The rainy season runs May to November and brings flash floods and landslides on roads into Chiriqui and the highlands. Check road conditions before driving up to Boquete or Volcan. Do not attempt to cross the Darién Gap on foot under any circumstances, even with a guide. If you plan to visit Guna Yala. Book through a recognised community operator and bring cash in small US dollar notes. As card payment is rare on the islands.