Panama Tourism Overview

Do many tourists visit Panama?
When is the best time to visit Panama?

Do many tourists visit Panama?
More and more foreigners are now considering Panama as a travel destination. Many mainstream publications have recently extolled the virtues of Panama. And more and more baby boomers are thinking of it as a “retirement haven.” In 2003, 865,000 people visited Panama – an 18% increase over 2002. In 2004, tourism numbers increased yet again, by 12.2%. As we go to press, tourism statistics for 2005 were not yet available, although reports are that the increase may be as much as 20% over 2004. Panama still has a long way to go before it can rival its northern neighbors, Mexico and Costa Rica, for example, as a tourist destination. But this is good news if you are looking to buy property here…because although prices are still very low, the upside potential is great.

When is the best time to visit Panama?
There are only two “seasons” in Panama: the “dry season,” from mid-December through May, and the “rainy season,” from June until mid-December. During the rainy season there are regular afternoon rains. The dry season is the most popular time to visit. October and November are the rainiest and, as such, are the least popular months to visit. If you prefer to see the country at its greenest, November and December are the best months.