Panama in December

Dry season arrives mid-month; Christmas demand.

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

• JanuaryGreatDry and windy on the Pacific; peak season; Boquete flower fair (check).
• FebruaryGreatDry; Carnival may fall here (check) — Panama City and Las Tablas full.
• MarchGreatDry and hot; Caribbean calm; Semana Santa possible (check).

• Pacific side · Panama City, Canal, Pearl Islands, Azuerofine

  Dry, breezy mid-December to April; the rest of the year brings heavy afternoon storms.

• Chiriquí highlands · Boquete, Volcán, Cerro Puntafine

  Cool (15–25 °C (59–77 °F)); the bajareque drizzle blows through Dec–Feb.Cool (59–77 °F (15–25 °C)); the bajareque drizzle blows through Dec–Feb.

• Caribbean · Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala, Portobelorainy

  Rain possible any month; September–October and February–March are the driest spells; outside the hurricane belt.

• Caribbean West: Bocas del Toro and the islands · Caribbean coast and archipelagobest weather

  Rain is possible all year; the driest stretch is roughly February to April and again in September–October. The heaviest rain and the highest humidity fall from May to August, and the Caribbean side can be wet when the Pacific side is dry.

• Central Panama: Panama City and the Pacific side · city, Canal, Coronadobest weather

  Dry season roughly mid-December to April; May–November is wet, with heavy afternoon showers and the highest humidity in September–October.

• Central Panama: El Valle and the interior · mountain crater, 600 mbest weather

  Cooler than the city by several degrees; mornings clear, cloud builds after midday.

• Central Panama: Portobelo and the Caribbean side · Colón coastrainy

  Rainier than the Pacific side and can rain in any month; the calmest, driest window is February–April.

• Eastern Panama: Guna Yala coast and islands · Caribbean side, San Blas archipelagocheck

  Seasonal conditions: check. Rain is possible any month, and boat rides can be choppy when the trade winds are strong.

• Eastern Panama: Darién interior · Inland rainforest east of Yavizacheck

  Hot and humid year-round; trail and river conditions: check.

• Pacific West: Chiriquí lowlands and coast · David, Boca Chica, Pedregalbest weather

  Dry December–April; rainy May–November with sunny mornings and afternoon showers. No hurricanes.

• Pacific West: Chiriquí highlands · Boquete, Volcán, Cerro Puntabest weather

  Noticeably cooler than the coast, especially at night; bring a layer. Rain is common in the green season.

• Pacific West: Azuero (Herrera, Los Santos) · Pedasí, Chitrébest weather

  Hot and dry December–April; festival season peaks around Carnival.

• Panama City31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Aguadulce30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
• Balboa30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Bastimentos30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 9 rain days
• Boca Brava33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Boca Chica30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
• Bocas del Toro31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 22 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 22 rain days
• Boquete24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 10 rain days
• Cambutal30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Cerro Punta22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Changuinola30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
• Colón30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 11 rain days
• Coronado30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
• David30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
• El Valle de Antón29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Gamboa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Gualaca30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Isla Carenero30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Isla Palenque32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 3 rain days
• Islas Ladrones31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Islas Paridas31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
• Islas Secas32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 6 rain days
• Las Lajas32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Mulatupo o Sasardi28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Pedasi30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Portobelo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
• Puerto Obaldia31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• San Blas Islands31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• San Francisco31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Santa Catalina30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Santa Fe30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Santiago de Veraguas30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Taboga31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Volcán30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Mother's Day

  8 Dec

  Public holiday.

• Christmas

  25 Dec

  Family holiday.

• Christmas and New Year

  Dec 25 and Dec 31 to Jan 1 · Panama City

  Fireworks and traffic; book rooms and cars early.

• New Year

  Dec 31–Jan 1 · Panama City

  Fireworks and traffic; book rooms and cars early.

Crowds · Panama

High

Prices · Panama

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Panama, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Panama City

  Rains ease; Christmas season busy.

• Balboa

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Boca Brava

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

• Boca Chica

  Best months: Dec–Apr, Sep–Oct

• Cambutal

  Best months: Dry season Dec–Apr for calm beach, rainy season May–Nov for big surf, whales July–Oct

• Cerro Punta

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• David

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• El Valle de Antón

  Best months: Dec–Apr (drier)

• Gamboa

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Isla Palenque

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season, 90 °F day / 70 °F night)

• Islas Paridas

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season, calm seas)

• Islas Secas

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season), Jul–Oct (whale watching)