Travel advisory · PanamaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Panama.The warnings cover only these areas: Mosquito Gulf, Colón, Curundú, El Chorrillo, San Miguelito.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Mosquito Gulf · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
- Colón · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Curundú · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- El Chorrillo · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- San Miguelito · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
Also named by one government: Darién border zone with Colombia (France), Darién Gap south of Yaviza (New Zealand), Darién south of Metetí to Colombian border (Canada), Parts of Darién Region (US), Arena (Canada), Arraiján (France), Calidonia (France), Colombian border zones (Spain), Cristobal (France), Darién Province (France), Eastern Darién Province (Italy), Eastern part of Guna Yala (San Blas) (France), El Cacao (Canada), Isla de Cusapín (Spain), Juan Díaz (France), La Chorrera (France), Pedregal (France), Quebro (Canada), San Felipe (France), Santa Ana (France), Tocumen (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Remain vigilant, follow local authorities' advice after earthquake | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution due to crime (regional advisories) | Aug 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Take normal security precautions (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Niveau de sécurité globalement satisfaisant, vigilance renforcée dans certaines zones (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Bocas Town
Bocas Town is the base for the Bocas del Toro islands, where you get around by water taxi and spend days on the beach and in the water.
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Bocas Town is the main town on Isla Colón, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago on Panama's Caribbean coast. Its wooden houses are painted in bright colors and built on stilts over the water, linked by footpaths and boardwalks. The town is small enough to walk in an afternoon, and most visitors reach the surrounding islands by water taxi. Many residents are of Afro-Caribbean descent, and Spanish and English are both widely spoken in daily life.
Most trips center on the water. Day boat tours visit nearby islands, snorkeling spots and the beaches on Isla Bastimentos, including Red Frog Beach and Starfish Beach. Bluff Beach on Isla Colón is reached by road. Rain falls in most months, so plan for the drier stretch in late winter and spring. Allow at least three or four days to see the town and a few islands, and more if you want slow beach time or a stay near the Bastimentos National Marine Park.
Bocas Town in five
- Carry US dollars for small paymentsCards work at the larger hotels and restaurants, but many boat drivers and small shops take only cash. Bring small US dollar bills.Money and costs
- Agree the water taxi fare before boardingWater taxis run between Bocas Town and the nearby islands. Settle the fare with the driver before you step in.Getting around
- Get the flight or the boat from the mainlandFlights from Panama City land at the airport on Isla Colón, where Bocas Town is. The other route is the road to Almirante, then a boat across.Bocas del Toro
- Carry insect repellent for the eveningsMosquitoes are active on the islands, and dengue is reported in Panama. Apply repellent before dusk.
- Set up offline maps and an eSIM before the boatSignal can drop on the outer islands. Load offline maps and set up a data plan before you cross the water.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD); balboa (PAB) coins also circulate
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; many restaurants add a 10% service charge
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain26 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Drier spellsJanuaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 249 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier spells
- FebruaryRain23 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Driest stretchFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Driest stretch
- MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Dry, sunnyMarchRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, hotAprilRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 259 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rain returnsMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 345 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 451 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rainy seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 596 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Wet, greenAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 400 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, green
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rainy seasonSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 295 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Heavy rainOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 396 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Heavy rainNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 530 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- DecemberRain29 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Rain, holidaysDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 398 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, holidays
Average daily high and low in Bocas Town, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bocas Town
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 86%
Isla Colón
04:16 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today28°24°86%Monday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Tue29°24°95%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Wed29°24°72%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Thu28°25°69%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Fri28°24°70%Friday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Sat29°24°76%Saturday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Sun30°24°65%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 65%.
Updated 01:19 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Isla Bastimentosabout 10 to 20 min by water taxiBeaches and snorkeling on the national marine park side of the archipelago.Read the guide
- Isla Careneroabout 10 min by water taxiHotel beaches and a quiet afternoon away from the town.
Before you go to Bocas Town
Rules for Bocas Town, checked
- Many passports need no visa for a short tourist stay in Panama. Check entry rules on the migration service site before you book, since rules change.Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit on arrival or departure. Check the current limit with Panama's customs authority (ANA) before you travel.
- Ask before photographing people, especially in indigenous Ngäbe communities on the islands.
- Check park entry rules before you visit Bastimentos National Marine Park, since fees and rules change.
Plan around Bocas Town
Entry, transport and money for a Panama trip
Read the guideBocas del ToroThe archipelago around Bocas Town and its islands
Read the guideGetting around the islandsFlights, buses and water taxis from Panama City and Almirante
Read the guideMoney and costs in PanamaCash, cards and typical prices for a budget or mid trip
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Panama and how to check
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the town center and the nearby islands
Read the guideBocas Town FAQ
How do you get to Bocas Town?
Fly from Panama City to the airport on Isla Colón, where Bocas Town is. The other option is the road to Almirante, then a boat across to the island.
Is Bocas Town worth visiting?
Yes for water taxi trips, beaches and snorkeling, and a slow pace. It is a small town, so it suits people who want islands and boats more than big-city sights.
How many days do you need in Bocas Town?
Three to four days covers the town and a couple of boat trips. Add more days if you want to stay on the other islands or go on a longer tour.
Where should I stay in Bocas Town?
Stay in the center for restaurants and water taxi docks on foot. Stay on Isla Carenero or Isla Bastimentos if you want quieter nights and water taxi access to the beaches.
When is the best time to visit Bocas Town?
February to April is the driest stretch. Rain falls in most months, and it is heaviest from June to November.