Chapter 1

Before you come

A long stay needs a little more preparation than a holiday. Here is what to think about before you book your flight.

When to come

There is no bad month in Boquete, but the two seasons are quite different, and a long stay will probably include both.

Dry season (about mid-December to April)

Sunny days, cool nights and a strong north-east wind, especially in January and February. In the higher parts of the valley the wind carries a fine mist, the bajareque, which keeps the hills green and produces rainbows almost every afternoon. This is high season: Panamanians come up from the lowlands for the holidays and the famous Flower and Coffee Fair in January, and visitors from the north escape their winter. Monthly rentals for this period are often booked months in advance.

Rainy or "green" season (May to November)

The typical day starts sunny. Clouds gather around noon, and it rains in the afternoon or evening, sometimes hard. September and October are the wettest months. There are fewer visitors, rentals are easier to find and often cheaper, and the landscape is at its most lush. If you can get used to planning your outings for the morning, this is a very pleasant time to live here.

How long you can stay as a tourist

How long you may stay depends on your passport. At the time of writing:

• Citizens of the United States and Canada can stay up to 180 days as tourists, without a visa.
• Citizens of most European and many Latin American countries can stay up to 90 days without a visa.
• Some nationalities need a visa before arrival or are limited to shorter stays.

When you arrive you need a passport valid for the length of your stay, proof of onward or return travel, and you may be asked to show that you have enough money for your stay. These rules change from time to time, so always confirm them with the Servicio Nacional de Migración or the nearest Panamanian consulate before you travel.

Leaving the country and coming back to start a new tourist period over and over ("border runs") is frowned upon. Immigration officers can refuse entry to someone who is obviously living in Panama as a permanent tourist. If you know you want to stay longer, look into a residence permit instead. The remote work chapter covers the visa for people working online.

Driving

A foreign driver's licence is accepted in Panama for up to 90 days from your arrival, even if you are allowed to stay longer as a tourist. After that you need a Panamanian licence, which in practice requires a residence permit. Many long-stay visitors in Boquete manage perfectly well without a car (see Daily life) and rent one for occasional trips.

Health insurance

Medical care in Panama is good and private care is reasonably priced by North American standards, but you pay as you go. Check whether your insurance at home covers you abroad for the whole length of your stay. If it doesn't, buy travel or international health insurance. Make sure it covers treatment in private hospitals and emergency transport.

Money

• Panama uses the US dollar. Your change will include Panamanian balboa coins. They have the same sizes and value as US coins and circulate alongside them.
• There are several bank ATMs in Bajo Boquete. Expect a fee of $5.25 to $7.20 per withdrawal and a limit of $250 per transaction ($500 at some ATMs). Your home bank may add its own international or out-of-network fee, or a foreign-transaction percentage, unless you use a travel-friendly card (Charles Schwab, for example, reimburses ATM fees worldwide).
• Cards are accepted in supermarkets, larger shops and most restaurants and hotels. Taxis, markets and small shops want cash, preferably small bills. Change for a $50 or $100 note can be hard to find.
• Opening a Panamanian bank account as a tourist is difficult and not necessary for a stay of a few months.

What to pack

• Clothes in layers: T-shirts for warm afternoons, a fleece or light jacket for the evenings, long trousers.
• A good rain jacket and an umbrella, whatever the season.
• Walking shoes with grip; trails and side roads are muddy after rain.
• Sunscreen and a hat: the sun at this altitude is strong even when it feels cool.
• Prescription medicines for the first weeks, with the prescription. Most common drugs are available in Panama's pharmacies, sometimes under different brand names.
• A power bank for your phone, which doubles as your backup internet (see Working remotely).

Phone and SIM card

An international SIM card is useful, but you can also buy a local SIM card and airtime (in Spanish: chip and recarga) in most supermarkets once you have arrived. A SIM card costs around $2.00–5.00, and airtime is sold in amounts from $3.00 to $15.00, plus 7% sales tax. A month of "unlimited" data costs about $25.00. WhatsApp is the main way people in Panama call and text each other, and for that this is more than enough.

The main mobile carriers are +Móvil ("Más Móvil") and Tigo.

Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and prices in Panama change; please check official sources before you act on anything here.