Go, but pay attention.
Panama's sketch score rose to 74 today, and while the US maintains a level 2 advisory, you need to watch for Oropouche and measles alerts currently active in the region.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Panama
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Oropouche in the Americas
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Most of Panama is very safe.
- •One exception is the border region between Panama and Colombia, which is considered extraordinarily dangerous due to Colombian rebel groups and drug traffickers.
- •During the daytime, San Felipe is perfectly safe for foreigners.
Staying healthy
- •Panama is well known for its excellent medical care, making it a hot spot for medical vacations.
- •Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all visitors over 9 months of age travelling to the provinces of Darien, Kunayala (San Blas) and Panama, excluding the Canal Zone.
- •The U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that risk of malaria exists in rural areas of Bocas del Toro, Darién, and San Blas provinces; no risk in Panama City or in the former Canal Zone. N…
- •Dengue fever is endemic, particularly in the province of Darien.
- •Tap water is safe in virtually all cities and towns, with the exception of Bocas del Toro, where bottled water is recommended.
- •The moisture and heat of the tropics can encourage yeast infections.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Panama City is generally navigable, but travelers report that safety perceptions shift rapidly just outside tourist hubs like Casco Viejo. A five-minute walk beyond these established zones can lead to areas where visitors feel unsafe at night. While specific concerns about petty crime exist, the primary advice involves avoiding neighborhoods identified as high-risk by locals and online reviews. Taboga Island carries a reputation for pollution, leading many to seek cleaner alternatives like Contadora for swimming and snorkeling. Ultimately, safety in the city requires staying within patrolled areas and exercising caution when wandering away from well-traveled tourist corridors after dark.
“some people on reddit have said its quite polluted
— r/travel
“some people have left reviews that the area did not feel safe at night, and this was only 5-7 minute walk outside of Casco viejo.
— r/travel
“Safety is a priority. I’m looking for a relaxed, safe environment where I can truly disconnect
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B · 110V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Zoom in
One Panama city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12