Is Panama Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Panama is generally quite safe for solo female travelers. Most areas, especially tourist destinations, have noteworthy safety measures in place. However, like many travel destinations, it is crucial to remain vigilant, avoid isolated areas especially at night, and keep your valuables safe. Street harassment can occasionally occur, but this is not widespread. Regular caution, similar to any new place, is advised.

Safety rating

4.4 /5

Based on 10 experiences

3.5 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

Patrolling is frequent in major cities, and populated places like the downtown districts, and Panama City's Casco Viejo neighborhood. However, solo female travelers need to be aware of their surroundings, stick to well-lit areas, and avoid seedy neighborhoods. The use of taxis or Uber for night transportation is recommended over walking alone.

Public transportation: Safe

Public transportation in Panama generally tends to be safe, with buses, mini-buses and metro serving as common means. However, it might get very crowded during rush hours and instances of pickpocketing are not uncommon. The drivers are also known to drive fast and erratically at times. It is recommended to stay vigilant, especially when the vehicle is crowded.

Street harassment: Low

Panama is generally a safe country for solo female travelers. However, like any other place, street harassment can happen but it's not prevalent. Women may occasionally encounter catcalling or lewd comments, especially in bigger cities like Panama City or Colon. That being said, such incidents tend to be more annoying than threatening. As with any destination, it's recommended to remain aware of your surroundings, avoid less crowded and poorly lit areas especially at night, and dress conservatively to blend in.

Petty crimes:Moderate

The level of petty crime in Panama is moderate. It's common to encounter instances such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially in crowded areas and tourist hubs such as Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Therefore, it's essential to be vigilant, use common sense and keep your belongings close and secure at all times. However, if you take pre-emptive measures and stay alert of your surroundings, you should be able to avoid most potential risky situations.

Tap water:Unsafe

In Panama, it's often best to avoid drinking tap water. While the water may be safe in major cities such as Panama City, in many rural areas, it's not treated and may contain harmful bacteria or other contaminants. For this reason, it's generally recommended to drink bottled, boiled, or filtered water when traveling in Panama.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 10 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.6/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.7/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5

Solo travel experience

I went in May solo and had a wonderful time. Went to Bocas and it was beautiful. Stayed at Skully's. In Panama City stayed in Casco Viejo, a wonderful area. I walked around alone. There were a lot of police guards there and I felt safe.

Posted: October 18, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I went to Panama this summer and felt very safe. I loved the city, culture, and people there. Ubered everywhere and it was cheap and safe.

Posted: October 16, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

I was in Panama for a week in January. The food was incredible and the locals were friendly. I met up with a bunch of friends in Panama City and did excursions with them throughout the week so I didn’t need an Uber or taxi ever but I was told that was the way to go and they are safe to be in solo. They strongly encourage me to not be alone outside after dark no matter what.

Posted: October 16, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I loved Panama. The city is gorgeous and the people are amazing. I went to Bocas Del Toro as well and loved it. Stayed at Selina’s hostel in Panama City and at Skully's Skullys hostel in Bocas del Toro. I definitely recommend seeing the canal.

Posted: October 14, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I spent a week in Panama and I didn't get to see everything, so I plan to come back. I saw the Gamboa rainforest, Taboga Island, and the San Blas islands. I stayed in Panama City and it was easy to get around. I felt safe the whole time and the people were really friendly.

Posted: July 30, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I loved Panama. The food was amazing, everyone was so happy and helpful, and it was absolutely beautiful.

Posted: June 7, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I Loved Panama. I did sleep every night in the city. I took a day trip to San Blas and a Day trip to Tobogá island. I went to watch the locks operate at the canal. I hiked in the city rainforest park and saw a capybara, I went to the Casco and enjoyed great food and a rooftop bar, I loved Mercado De Mariscos and strolling in the waterfront park.

Posted: May 23, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Jackie

Jackie

Guatemala

Group travel experience

Panama is a great country to visit. The weather is nice and the beaches are beautiful. The Panama Canal is a must during your visit. Casco Viejo is also a great place to find something to eat, explore and party, though the drive to get there included passing through some sketchy places. Overall, I felt very safe and at peace during my visit. Would definitely recommend it to anybody who wants to get to know this beautiful country.

Posted: April 23, 2023
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I went to Panama last fall by myself and it was fabulous. Very safe for a solo woman who only knows a few words of Spanish. The biodiversity in the country is insane.

Posted: April 21, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Couple travel experience

Never felt unsafe. Uber was super affordable. We stayed in Central Hotel in the historic Casco Viejo area. Not “cheap” but affordable and it was absolutely gorgeous. We did many islands hoping tours. I fell in love with San Blas Islands. Incredible. Also, monkey island was a super neat experience.

Posted: March 8, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experiences

Panama is a great place to visit. It is a bit expensive depending what you're looking for and language could be a barrier. The best part of the country is visiting the inside of the country where nature is the main character. Beautiful beaches, awesome trails, unbelievable fauna just waiting to be discovered.

Posted: November 2, 2023
Author:Instagram
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Meet locals in Panama

Alison

Alison

Speaking

About Me

Hello Ladies! Visiting different countries, experiencing new cultures and meeting people are my favourite ways to learn and grow and enjoy life! I worked in the Airline industry for many years and was lucky to be able to visit many places but there are so many more on my bucket list. I have also been an Airbnb host for many years so I am familiar with having visitors in my home. I am looking forward to this new experience!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇼 Aruba, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇨🇼 Curacao, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇻🇪 Venezuela

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Jun

Jun

Speaking

About Me

Hi I am Jun, I like to cook panamenian food (especially breakfast). I love dogs, cats and almost any animal 🥺💓. I like plants but I don’t have “the hand” to keep them alive. I love videography/filmmaking also interested in being a digital nomad (working on it), currently erasmus student in Bratislava.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇳 China, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇫🇷 France, 🇧🇸 Bahamas

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Luisa

Luisa

About Me

Hey! I'm Luisa, Colombian, living in Panama :) Sagittarius if that says something to you. I'm all about good vibes and energy.

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Stay with locals in Panama

Luisa

Luisa

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hey! I'm Luisa, Colombian, living in Panama :) Sagittarius if that says something to you. I'm all about good vibes and energy.

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Alison

Alison

Speaking

You can stay for:

2 days

About me

Hello Ladies! Visiting different countries, experiencing new cultures and meeting people are my favourite ways to learn and grow and enjoy life! I worked in the Airline industry for many years and was lucky to be able to visit many places but there are so many more on my bucket list. I have also been an Airbnb host for many years so I am familiar with having visitors in my home. I am looking forward to this new experience!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇼 Aruba, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇨🇼 Curacao, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇻🇪 Venezuela

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Upcoming visitors to Panama

Karkus

Karkus

Speaking

About Me

Hi. I am Liliana (25). I love meeting people and having some fun together. I would like travel more. Now I am planning a trip to Central America. I hope to meet you on my next journey and spend some quality time together. Also if you are visiting to Vienna, do not hesitate to contact me.😊

Countries I’ve Visited

🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇦🇹 Austria

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Safety in Panama