Exercise increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest.
Updated to reflect information on areas of civil unrest.
Exercise increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire travel advisory.
Do not travel to:
- Parts of the Mosquito Gulf due to crime.
- Parts of the Darién Region due to crime.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Panama.
Country Summary: Crime occurs in Panama, including theft and residential break-ins. Crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen in tourist areas. The Embassy receives occasional reports of residential break-ins, especially during the holiday season.
Demonstrations periodically occur due to local issues and have disrupted some normal travel patterns in the past, including the flow of goods and services to some parts of the country.
If you decide to travel to Panama:
- Avoid demonstrations and large crowds.
- Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans
- Be aware of your surroundings especially when traveling to remote areas.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter.
- Review the Country Security Report for Panama.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
- Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the below regions as U.S. government personnel must obtain approval before traveling there and face additional restrictions before such travel is approved.
Parts of the "Mosquito Gulf" – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The “Mosquito Gulf” is an extremely remote and inaccessible area along part of the north (Caribbean) coast.
Do not travel within 10 miles of the coastline, from Boca de Rio, Chiriqui to Cocle del Norte. Drug trafficking and other illicit activities occur in this area.
Parts of the Darién Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to the following areas of the Darien:
- All areas south of Jaque to Manene to Yaviza to Lajas Blancas cities to the Colombian border
- The city of Lajas Blancas
- The city of El Salto
Criminal activity and human trafficking networks operate in these areas. Police presence and emergency response are extremely limited.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.