The best time to visit Panama is the dry season, from about mid-December to April, when the Pacific side, including Panama City, the Canal, Boquete and the Pacific beaches, gets the most sunshine. The Caribbean side follows its own pattern: Bocas del Toro and San Blas can get rain any time, and their drier spells usually come around September to October and February to March. The rainy season (May to November) brings afternoon downpours, but also green landscapes, fewer crowds, lower prices and humpback whales on the Pacific coast.
Panama is warm all year. In the lowlands, temperatures stay around 75 to 90°F (24 to 32°C) in every month, so “season” here mostly means rain, not temperature. Here’s how to choose your month.
Dry season vs. rainy season
| Dry season (“verano”) | Rainy season (“invierno” or green season) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Mid-December to April | May to November |
| Weather (Pacific side) | Sunny, little rain, often windy from January to March | Sunny mornings, heavy afternoon or evening storms; wettest in October and November |
| Landscape | Drier, browner on the Pacific lowlands | Lush and green, full waterfalls |
| Crowds and prices | Highest, especially Christmas, Carnaval and Easter | Lower; easier to book |
| Best for | Beaches, hiking, Volcán Barú views, road trips, birding | Whale watching, surfing (Pacific), budget travel, rainforest |
Panamanians call the dry season verano (summer) and the rainy season invierno (winter), even though the temperature barely changes. Even in the rainy season, it rarely rains all day. A typical pattern is a clear morning, clouds by early afternoon and a heavy storm for an hour or two.
Panama weather month by month
| Month | Pacific side (Panama City, beaches, Boquete) | Caribbean side (Bocas, San Blas) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny, windy | Changeable, can be wet | Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair, Panama Jazz Festival |
| February | Dry and sunny | Often drier | Carnaval (in some years in early March) |
| March | Driest and hottest | Often drier | Holy Week in some years; quetzal nesting season |
| April | Hot, mostly dry; rains start late in the month | Mixed | Holy Week in some years |
| May | Rainy season begins | Mixed | Green landscapes return, lower prices |
| June | Afternoon rain | Can be wet | Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos |
| July | Rainy, often a short drier spell (“veranillo”) | Can be wet | Humpback whales arrive on the Pacific |
| August | Rainy | Mixed | Whale watching |
| September | Rainy | Often one of the driest months | Peak whale watching, Mejorana festival in Guararé |
| October | Very rainy | Often one of the driest months | Last whales; Black Christ festival in Portobelo (Oct. 21) |
| November | Wettest month | Wet | Independence holidays all month |
| December | Rains fade, dry season starts mid-month | Wet | Christmas, New Year; high season begins |
Weather varies from year to year. El Niño years tend to be drier on the Pacific side; La Niña years tend to be wetter.
Best time to visit Panama City and the Canal
January to April is the most comfortable time to walk around Panama City: sunny, a little less humid, and with a breeze. The Canal works every day of the year, so you can visit the locks in any month. In the rainy season, go in the morning, before the afternoon storms.
Best time to visit Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro doesn’t really have a dry season. It can rain at any time, often at night. The calmest, sunniest spells usually come in September and October, and again in February and March, which are the best months for snorkeling and island-hopping. December and January and the middle of the year can be wetter, but those are also the best surf months. More in our Bocas del Toro guide.
Best time to visit San Blas
The dry season, from about mid-December to April, has the most sunshine, but stronger trade winds can make the boat ride choppy. From May to November there’s more rain, usually in short storms, and often calmer water and fewer visitors. San Blas is outside the hurricane belt, so you can go any month. See our San Blas guide.
Best time for Boquete and the highlands
December to April gives you the best chance of clear views from Volcán Barú, though January to March can be windy with a misty drizzle called bajareque. The rainy season brings sunny mornings and wet afternoons, so start hikes early. Coffee harvest runs roughly from November to March. More in our Boquete guide.
Best time for whale watching
Humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere come to Panama’s Pacific waters to breed and give birth from about July to October, with the best sightings usually in August and September. The top places are the Pearl Islands, the Gulf of Chiriquí, Coiba and around Taboga. Some whales from the Northern Hemisphere also pass by from about December to March, but in smaller numbers.
Best time for surfing
- Pacific coast (Santa Catalina, Playa Venao, Morro Negrito): the biggest, most consistent swells usually come during the rainy season, about April to October.
- Caribbean coast (Bocas del Toro): best from about December to March, with a second, smaller season around June to August.
Best time for birding and wildlife
- Migratory birds: about October to April, when North American species spend the winter in Panama. The Canal area sees huge raptor migrations in October and November.
- Resplendent quetzals: easiest to see during nesting season, about February to May, in the Chiriquí highlands.
- Sea turtles: nesting seasons vary by species and beach. Many Pacific beaches see olive ridleys from about July to November; Caribbean beaches see leatherbacks earlier in the year.
More in our guide to Panama wildlife.
Carnaval and festivals calendar
- Carnaval: the four days before Ash Wednesday, in February or early March. In 2027 it runs from Saturday, February 6, to Tuesday, February 9. The biggest party is in Las Tablas.
- Holy Week (Semana Santa): March or April. Many Panamanians head to the beach and the interior. In 2027, Easter Sunday is March 28.
- Corpus Christi: May or June, with masked dancers in La Villa de Los Santos.
- Festival de la Mejorana: September, in Guararé, a big folk music and dance festival.
- Black Christ festival: October 21, in Portobelo, with pilgrims walking from across the country.
- November national holidays: November 3 (separation from Colombia), November 4 (Flag Day), November 5 (Colón Day), November 10 (the cry of independence in La Villa de Los Santos) and November 28 (independence from Spain), with parades and marching bands.
- Christmas and New Year: big family celebrations and fireworks in Panama City.
During national holidays, Panamanians travel in large family groups. Beaches and buses fill up, and hotel prices in popular areas can double. Book well ahead if your trip overlaps with Carnaval, Holy Week, Christmas, New Year or the November holidays.
Cheapest time to visit Panama
The rainy season, especially May to June and September to November (outside the holiday weekends), is usually the cheapest time for hotels and tours, and flights from the US are often cheaper too. The most expensive times are Christmas through New Year, Carnaval and Holy Week. If you want good weather and fair prices, look at late April or early December.
When not to go
There’s no truly bad month. If you’re set on sunny beach days on the Pacific side, avoid October and November, the wettest months. If you hate crowds, avoid Carnaval and Holy Week at the beaches.
Best time to visit Panama FAQ
What is the best month to visit Panama?
For most first-time visitors, February or March: dry and sunny on the Pacific side, often good in Bocas del Toro too, and after the Christmas rush. Avoid Carnaval week if you don’t want crowds.
Is it worth visiting Panama in the rainy season?
Yes. Rain usually comes in afternoon bursts, the country is green, prices are lower, and it’s whale season. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and pack a rain jacket.
Does Panama get hurricanes?
Very rarely. Panama is south of the main hurricane belt, though tropical storms passing to the north can bring heavy rain, especially in October and November.
How hot is Panama?
The lowlands are hot and humid all year, usually around 75 to 90°F (24 to 32°C). The highlands, like Boquete and El Valle, are cooler, with nights in the 50s and 60s °F.
Ready to plan? See our Panama itinerary and the things to know before you visit Panama.