Situated in the middle of Central America at one of the thinnest points of America’s land mass, Panama has long been a destination of one form or another.

While it’s a tourist location and midway point for traveling to South America or vice versa, North America, Panama is also famous for its international canal passageway, making it easier to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean directly versus going around the tip of Argentina far to the south.

However, for a number of years, Panama had been effectively turned upside down by a military dictatorship under Manuel Noriega that was ultimately overthrown by a U.S. military invasion to restore the safe operation of the Panama Canal. That incident, and a number of issues after, brought into question the safety of the country for a number of years afterward.

However, 2023 is more than two decades since that history, and the country is once again attracting tourists and visitors en masse looking for something different than Mexico but not willing to go further south on a longer trip.

Suggested: Is Dominican Republic safe to visit?

How safe is Panama in 2023?

On a standard general tourist safety spectrum, Panama is a mid-range risk location. Much of the issue has to do with personal theft and safety after dark. Like many Central American countries, Panama has a large number of poor, and street crime is rampant.

The worst part of the element comes out at night, and anyone looking out of place is very much a target for a quick grab or a mugging to get some fast cash. Simply practicing some personal safety, like staying in well-lit areas, avoiding alleys and grittier parts of town at night, and not walking long distances at night can pretty much reduce most instances of personal crime for a visitor.

Which areas in Panama are considered dangerous?

On October 22, 2022, the U.S. Department Of State issued a level 4 travel warning for these areas in Panama:

Daytime risks are in public transit and ATMs

During the day, Panama is a different world. Business life comes out, and much of the public transit is busy, packed during commuting hours. The primary risk during daytime tends to be pickpockets who love big crowds and distractions. Bus stops are a big target location.

Tourists are well-advised to use taxis instead and avoid crowding or jostling at the bus stops, train stations or on the vehicles themselves.

Banking outside is simply a bad idea. Downtown ATMs are watched extensively by pickpockets and fast-grab thieves. They are simply prime opportunities for quick cash and distracted victims. It’s better to go inside a bank during business hours for cash than to take a withdrawal on the street. And definitely don’t do so after hours.

Mother nature is more of an issue

Panama doesn’t have a big risk for organized crime or terrorism, but it can be subject to natural disasters.

Being in a regional area prone to earthquakes and volcanoes, unexpected temblors and flooding can definitely happen in Panama itself. In these cases, focus on getting to safety, securing clean bottled water, and then exit the country as soon as possible.

Travel nuances and basic health safety

For women in particular, traveling alone in Panama has, interestingly, very low risk compared to many other countries. However, the same rules above still apply. Don’t put yourself in a bad location at a bad time when it can be prevented. Avoid getting drunk and losing control, as these present viable opportunities for thieves and scammers looking for unwary tourists.

The rural areas tend to be friendlier than in the cities, where things are congested and petty crime is higher. The southern part of the country adjacent to Columbia should pretty much be avoided due to drug trafficking and cartel activity in that zone.

Finally, being in the tropics, one of the most overlooked safety issues in Panama is the weather and mosquitos. Make sure you can handle high humidity and hot weather well. Unprepared tourists fall victim to heat exhaustion a lot in the region. Being up to date on your malaria shots is also smart as well. While Panama has done a tremendous job on mosquito abatement, the bug still survives, and malaria can be a horrible way to end a vacation.

The post Is Panama Safe? Travel Advisory 2023 appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

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By: Viktor Vincej
Title: Is Panama Safe? Travel Advisory 2023
Sourced From: www.travelinglifestyle.net/is-panama-safe-travel-advisory-2023/
Published Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:29:49 +0000

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