Visiting Panama with kids: a complete guide

Compact, and serving a thrilling mix of tropical beaches, wildlife-rich rainforests and national parks (think sloths, monkeys, toucans, and turtles), excellent hikes, and fascinating history, Panama can make a wonderful family vacation destination. Thinking of visiting? Read our complete guide to visiting Panama with kids to find out everything you need to know about the best time to visit, how to get around, and the best things to do with kids.

The best times to visit Panama with kids

When it comes to working out the best time to visit Panama, as a rule, the full-on rainy season is best avoided if you want to maximise your chance of enjoying the biggest range of experiences. Otherwise, Panama is great to visit with kids around the year!

Here's an overview of the best (and worst!) times to visit Panama with kids.

December-April dry season: best time to visit Panama

Offering warm sunny weather that’s ideal for beach time on islands and the coast, outdoor activities and wildlife watching in the rainforest, the December-April dry season is the best time to visit Panama. 

This is also high season, though, so book early.

May and November: second best times to visit Panama

The shoulder season months of May and November are also a pretty good time to visit Panama, with a mix of decent weather, lower prices and smaller crowds.

While you can expect some rain, this falls mainly in the afternoon in the form of short, heavy showers, and afternoon are mostly dry.

June-October rainy season: worst time to visit Panama!

Characterised by heavy rain, high humidity and a risk of flooding — especially in September and October — some national parks and roads may be inaccessible in the June-October rainy season, and rough seas aren’t ideal for island boat trips.

If you have to visit in this period, it’s best to stick to Panama City and the Pacific Coast, where conditions are drier.

Editor's tip: while working our your Panama itinerary, read our guide to how to plan a trip to Panama.

Staying safe and healthy in Panama

While Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America, as with any destination, taking precautions is key, especially when traveling with children 

Read on for a few ways to stay safe and healthy when visiting Panama with kids.

Healthcare and emergency information

Panama has excellent private hospitals in major cities, but this is expensive, so come armed with travel insurance.

Should you need emergency assistance, call 911 for ambulance, fire and police services. 

You should also bring any prescription medicine from home , and come armed with a basic first aid kit. Talking of which…

Prevent mosquito bites and sunburn

To deter mosquitos, bring repellent (DEET or Picaridin) from home, especially if you're staying near jungles and beaches.

You should also wear light, long-sleeved clothing in mosquito-prone areas, such as Bocas del Toro, and always use sunscreen (SPF 50+), hats and sunglasses — Panama’s sun is intense around the year.

How to get around Panama with kids

Getting around Panama has its challenges. While some areas are easy to navigate, others require considerable advance planning, especially when traveling with young children.

Here’s an overview of options, and tips for traveling around Panama with kids.

Domestic flights 

Being long and narrow, flying is the quickest and easiest way to reach popular destinations in Panama, such as Bocas del Toro and the Pearl Islands.

For example, you can fly from Panama City to Bocas del Toro in one hour, as opposed to enduring a 10-hour bus-and-boat trip.

David (Boquete) can also be reached by plane in an hour from the capital — a good alternative to the 7-hour drive.

If the idyllic, culture-rich San Blas islands are on your radar, better to take a 45-minute flight to avoid rough boat rides that might leave you kids feeling sick.

Just note that luggage limits are strict on small planes (check baggage rules before booking, and heading to the airport), and note that while delays on such planes are common, you should arrive early to be ready to fly. 

Private transfers

Many families hire private drivers to travel between cities. For example, it’s the most comfortable way to get from Panama City to Playa Blanca and Santa Clara — a 1.5-hour drive along a good highway.

Meanwhile, it takes just 45 minutes to drive from David to Boquete (on very winding roads!), and 7 hours to drive from Panama City to Boquete — think of it as a scenic road trip during which the journey through mountains becomes an adventure in itself. 

Only rent a car only if you’ll be comfortable with Panama’s traffic — driving in Panama City is chaotic, and poor lighting and unexpected speed bumps impact driving at night.

Want to visit nature-rich locations? Book a 40-minute door-to-door service from Panama City to Gamboa Rainforest Lodge, while it takes just two hours to get to El Valle de Antón for volcano adventures.

To book a driver, ask your hotel for trusted transport services, or check out reputable services like Caribe Shuttle or Hello Panama Shuttle.

Boasts and ferries

As Panama has many islands, ferries and boats are often needed. The following are among the country's best family-friendly routes:

• Panama City to Taboga Island: a 30-minute ride to a relaxing beach escape.
• Almirante to Bocas del Toro: this 30-minute boat ride is the main route to Panama’s Caribbean islands.
• Panama City to San Blas: this takes 2-3 hours by boat, but note that it’s often rough and not ideal for young children.

How to get around cities

On foot

Panama’s major cities are largely walkable, with Panama City’s Amador Causeway a great place for kids, thanks to its parks and bike paths. 

Casco Viejo in Panama City is also a lovely place to walk, but there are some cobblestones, while Boquete’s town center is stroller-friendly.

Our advice is to use a baby carrier instead of a stroller on cobblestone streets, watch out for uneven sidewalks in older parts of cities, and avoid walking alone at night in non-touristy areas.

Metro

Panama City has the only metro system in Central America.

Modern, clean, safe, cheap — and an efficient way to avoid traffic — stops to have on your radar include Albrook Mall (the biggest mall in Central America), and 5 de Mayo, which is close to Casco Viejo and the fish market.

Public Buses — best avoided!

While old school Diablo Rojo buses are unsafe and uncomfortable, city buses require a MetroCard and are often very crowded.

Better to use Uber or private transport for convenience and safety.

10 tips for traveling to Panama with kids

In addition to following the health and safety advice shared above, here are our top ten tips for traveling to Panama with kids.

1. Focus on family-friendly destinations

To keep you and your family safe, happy and fulfilled — and save time while you research the best places to visit in Panama with kids — here are some places to consider including in your Panama vacation.

• Panama City: while you most likely won’t want to spend that much time in the city when all those beautiful beaches, islands and rainforests are waiting, Panama City is well worth visiting with kids for its history, city parks and the Panama Canal.
• San Blas Islands: loaded with sublime white-sand beaches fronted by calm waters, the San Blas Islands also invite cultural exploration through experiences with the Guna people who call this archipelago home, as revealed in our guide to visiting Panama’s San Blas Islands
• Bocas del Toro: located on the Costa Rican border between the Caribbean and the forested slopes of the Cordillera Talamanca, this is one of the most beautiful areas in Panama, and perfect for beach vacations (the snorkeling is great) and community tourism experiences.
• Boquete: the best place to visit in Panama with kids for outdoor experiences — think cloud forests, waterfalls and coffee farms — and a much easier option than trying to explore more remote jungle regions (like Darién) with young kids.

2. Book child-friendly hotels and resorts

When planning your itinerary, be sure to take the time to thoroughly research facilites in the Panama accommodation you’re considering. 

While this might sound obvious, it’s easy to forget to check (and get confirmation) that places have exactly what you expect and need.

For example, check if hotels offer cribs and kids' menus before booking.

3. Pack for different temperatures and activities

Planning to travel around and cover more ground? Be aware that temperatures vary a fair bit around the country.

For Panama City and beach breaks, you’ll want light clothes, swimsuits and lots of sunscreen.

Visiting Boquete and the Highlands? Bring light jackets as it’s much cooler around these parts at night, while long pants, long sleeves, water shoes and mosquito repellent are needed in the jungle.

4. Pre-book transfers and plan how you’ll get around 

When traveling with kids it’s especially useful to have pre-arranged all your transfers and big internal journeys, whether that’s through booking domestic flights and ferries, or having engaged a private driver.

Don’t leave this to the last minute, or you might find yourselves left with less desirable options, or held up, and somewhat frustrated!

5. Make visiting the Panama Canal more fun!

As you will, in all likelihood, visit the Panama Canal during your trip, be sure to head to the Miraflores Lock so kids can see ships pass through — they’re most active in the morning.

Also, look to book a guided boat ride on the canal. Gatun Lake, for example, has monkeys and crocodiles

6. Visit plenty of parks and nature reserves 

One of the joys of visiting Panama is discovering its outdoor spaces, national parks and jungles.

Even in Panama City, you and your kids can explore jungle trails in Metropolitan Natural Park.

Another great place is Soberanía National Park, which plays host to stacks of sloths, monkeys and tropical birds, and it’s just 45 minutes from Panama City.

Into the idea of exploring Panama's awe-inspiring nature? Read our beginners guide to the Panama rainforest.

7. Try tasty child-friendly food

While we suggest bringing your own snacks for picky eaters — you won’t find many U.S. or European brands in Panama — kids will (hopefully!) be pleased by plenty of local food offerings.

Fresh fruits are everywhere, and menus are usually loaded with rice dishes and mild flavors.

Look out for arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), patacones (fried plantains, a tastier version of French fries), empanadas, and hojaldres (fried dough, much like a donut).

While tap water is safe to drink in Panama City, you should stick to bottled or filtered water in rural areas.

8. Beach and water safety

While Panama has lots of safe beaches, always stick to lifeguard-patrolled beaches, as some have strong currents.

It’s also a good idea to bring water shoes as some have rocky areas and sharp coral on the shore. 

As a general rule, Pacific beaches (including the likes of Playa Blanca and Santa Clara) are calmer than many Caribbean beaches. 

Check your specific locations, though, as some Pacific beaches have strong waves.

9. Enjoy hands-on cultural activities

Panama has lots of hands-on attractions and experiences, which are great fun for all ages, and great for educating your littles one about local culture by stealth!

For example, Biomuseo in Panama City presents information on Panama’s biodiversity in bright, interactive fashion, while the sloth sanctuary in Gamboa Rainforest enables kids to see rescued sloths up close.

10. Don’t over-pack your itinerary

Out last tip applies to pretty much every trip — don’t be tempted to stuff too much into your itinerary, and think carefully about travel times so you don’t end up spending too much time on the road, ocean, or in the air, in relation to how much time you spend enjoying Panama with your family.

It’s best to give proper thought to the things you most want to see and do before building a trip plan around those highlights. 

Things to do in Panama with kids 

Following on from our advice to focus on your top must-dos and must-sees, here are some of the best things to do in Panama with kids. 

Best nature, wildlife and adventure experiences

• Monkey Island and Gamboa rainforest: here kids can spot sloths, crocodiles and exotic birds in the jungle, visit the sloth sanctuary, and take a ride on Gatun Lake, where monkeys might just jump onto the boat!
• Explore Metropolitan Natural Park: Panama City’s magnificent Metropolitan Natural Park is the only rainforest inside a city in Latin America, with easy hiking trails for young kids, stunning views of the Panama skyline, and stunning views of toucans, too.
• Zipline forests in Boquete: if your kids are 5+ (depending on the operator’s guielines), they can glide over cloud forests and waterfalls on cool zipline tours.

Best beaches and islands

• Taboga Island: known as the “Island of Flowers” this is an easy day trip from Panama City (30-minute ferry), and has child friendly beaches with calm water.
• Starfish Beach, Bocas del Toro: here, clear shallow waters are filled with enormous starfish! Just teach kids not to touch them — they need to stay underwater to survive.
• San Blas Islands: a Caribbean Paradise, here you can stay on tiny islands, splash around in crystal-clear waters that are all-but wave-less, and visit Guna Yala villages to learn about indigenous culture. Just be aware that most accommodation around these parts is of the more basic variety.

Best cultural experiences

• Miraflores Locks and Panama Canal Museum: head to the Miraflores Locks in the morning to see ships pass through the canal before enjoying the museum's interactive exhibits.
• Ride the Panama Canal Railway: running from Panama City once a day, this one-hour train ride takes you through jungle landscapes and offers wild views of the canal.
• Explore Panama City’s Casco Viejo: loaded with colorful streets, plazas, rooftop cafes, street performers and souvenir shops, Panama City’s colonial Old Town is a fun place to wander with kids, not least if you stop for ice cream at Granclement!
• Make chocolate in Bocas del Toro: here kids can learn how cacao beans are transformed into tasty chocolate and make their own treats.
• Visit Guna Yala villages: older kids will get a lot from cultural experiences with indigenous communities on the San Blas Islands

Panama itinerary with kids

Covering a satisfying blend of beaches, wildlife, nature and culture across seven days, here’s a suggested family-friendly Panama itinerary to kick-start your vacation-planning process. 

Day 1: Arrive in Panama City and explore

After arriving in Panama City, take your pre-booked transfer to your accommodation — we suggest finding a family-friendly hotel in Casco Viejo or the Amador Causeway.

After resting up and getting something to eat, head to the pretty Casco Viejo old town, where you can wander colonial plazas, see street performers and eat your fill of delicious ice cream.

Come the afternoon, visit Cinta Costera Park to enjoy its playgrounds ahead of an early dinner.

Day 2: Visit the Panama Canal and Monkey Island

Rise early on day two to see huge ships pass through the locks at Miraflores Locks before hitting the Panama Canal Museum.

A change of pace and scenery awaits in the afternoon, courtesy of taking a fun boat tour Monkey Island to see (you guessed it) monkeys, along with lots of sloths and crocs.

Day 3: Take a day trio to Taboga Island

Ocean and island wonders await on day three, thanks to a full day-trip to Taboga Island.

While the 30-minute ferry ride is fun it itself, on arrival kids can play and swim safely in super-clear, super-calm waters.

When hunger strikes, take your pick from lots of family-friendly beach-front restaurants to enjoy fresh seafood dishes, and familiar international foods. 

You could also hike a short trail to a rather lovely viewpoint before returning to the city. Don’t leave it too late, though — you’ll need to prepare for tomorrow’s transfer.

Day 4: Travel to Bocas del Toro to hit the beach

Day four will see you take an early one-hour flight from Panama City to beautiful Bocas del Toro.

Check into your accommodation (we suggest finding a beachfront resort) ahead of spending the rest of the day on a beach, either the one right on your doorstep, or else consider heading to Playa Bluff or Starfish Beach.

Day 5: Watch wildlife and make chocolate in Bocas del Toro

The pace picks up on day five with a morning boat tour that’ll have kids delighting at the sight of playful dolphins.

A stop on Isla Bastimentos offers the chance to enjoy a jungle walk, and see red frogs on the aptly named Red Frog Beach.

In the afternoon, return to town to enjoy a chocolate-making workshop before relaxing in a beachfront café.

Day 6: Return to Panama City; visit the rainforest

It’s time to return to Panama City on day six. Take an early flight so you have time for a last adventure when you arrive (assuming everyone has the stamina!)

Namely, you could visit the Rainforest Discovery Center, where a short jungle hike affords thrilling sightings of toucans, hummingbirds and monkeys. Located on the edge of Soberanía National Park, it’s a mere 40-minute drive from Panama City.

Day 7: Ride the Panama Canal Railway; get ready to depart

On the morning of your last day in Panama, you could ride the Panama Canal Railway, or perhaps do some last-minute shopping at Albrook Mall.

Be sure to leave plenty of time to transfer to the airport. 

Inspired to take a trip to Panama with your kids? You’ll find more food for thought in our run-down of things you didn’t know you could do in Panama, and in our suggested Panama itineraries. 

Want to stay longer than a week? Browse our 10 days Panama itinerary, or contact our local Panama travel experts — they can curate your perfect family vacation for any duration.