Panama sits close to the equator and has a tropical climate with two seasons: dry (December to April) and wet (May to November). Temperatures in Panama City stay around 28–32°C year-round. There is no real winter.
Dry Season (December–April)
This is the most popular time to visit and for good reason. Days are sunny, roads are reliable, and the beaches are at their best. January and February are the peak months — expect higher prices and more crowds at popular destinations. March and April are hot and dusty by the end of the season.
Wet Season (May–November)
The rains typically come in the afternoon and evening, leaving mornings clear. Outside of the peak wet months (September and October), this is often an excellent time to travel. The countryside is intensely green, waterfalls are running full, and prices are lower. Bird-watching is good year-round but excellent in the wet season highlands.
The Caribbean side of Panama (Bocas del Toro, Colón, Guna Yala) operates on a different weather pattern to the Pacific side — it tends to rain more in July–August and again in November–December, with drier spells in September–October. Be flexible if you're heading that way.
Festivals
If Carnival is on your list, plan for the four days before Ash Wednesday (usually February). Las Tablas on the Azuero Peninsula is the place to see it at its most exuberant.
For the Festival of the Black Christ in Portobelo, go on or around 21 October, when thousands of pilgrims converge on the town.
The highland town of Boquete hosts its popular Flower and Coffee Festival in January.