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Best time to visit Panama: month by month
Short answer
Mid-December to April is the dry season on the Pacific side, with highs of about 30-32°C and only 8-20 rainy days a month in Panama City; it is also the busiest time. From May to November, heavy afternoon rain falls on 28-31 days a month but prices drop. Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean, is often driest in September-October and February-March, and Boquete stays at 18-25°C by day all year.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°C | 23°C | 10 | high |
| Feb | 32°C | 24°C | 8 | very high |
| Mar | 32°C | 24°C | 16 | high |
| Apr | 31°C | 24°C | 20 | medium |
| May | 30°C | 24°C | 30 | low |
| Jun | 29°C | 24°C | 29 | low |
| Jul | 29°C | 24°C | 30 | medium |
| Aug | 29°C | 24°C | 30 | medium |
| Sep | 29°C | 24°C | 30 | low |
| Oct | 29°C | 24°C | 31 | low |
| Nov | 28°C | 24°C | 28 | medium |
| Dec | 30°C | 24°C | 18 | high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
March (32°C, about 16 rainy days) is still dry season; the rains start in April and May (about 30 rainy days in May).
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Rainy season, highs of 29°C and lows of 24°C, with rain on most days, usually in the afternoon.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
The wettest stretch on the Pacific side (about 28-31 rainy days), but often a drier window in Bocas del Toro in September and October.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
The dry season begins mid-December, with highs of 30-32°C, 8-18 rainy days and steady breezes; the most popular time.
Events worth planning around
- Carnival, the four days before Ash Wednesday (February or March), biggest in Las Tablas
- Independence celebrations in November (3, 10 and 28 November), with parades
- Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair, usually in January
- Panama Jazz Festival, usually in January
When to avoid
October and November are the wettest months on the Pacific side, and Carnival week fills transport and hotels nationwide.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Panama?
January to March, the heart of the dry season on the Pacific side.
Is the rainy season a bad time to go?
Not necessarily: rain usually falls in the afternoon, prices are lower and Bocas can be dry in September and October.
When can I see quetzals in Boquete?
Most often from February to May, early in the morning in the cloud forest.