Weather in Panama

The best time to visit Panama is during the dry season, which runs from mid-December through April. During these months, skies over the Pacific coast and Panama City are reliably clear, making outdoor activities, canal watching, and island hopping at their most pleasant. January through March are the driest and most comfortable months, with low humidity and brilliant sunshine ideal for hiking Boquete's cloud forest trails, white-water rafting on the Chiriquí Viejo River, or relaxing on the beaches of the Azuero Peninsula during the peninsula's spectacular local festivals.

The wet season, from May through November, should not necessarily deter visitors. The Caribbean coast of Bocas del Toro actually has its own dry micro-season from September to October, when the rain relents and the sea calms — offering excellent snorkeling, surfing, and island exploration. The rainforest is at its most lush and wildlife-rich during the wet months, and the famous bird migration corridor along the Pipeline Road near the Canal reaches its peak in October and November. Travel is less crowded, prices drop noticeably, and the countryside glows vivid green.