Panama Packing List (25 Things You Might Forget to Bring)

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Packing for sunny Panama means packing for the tropics, the ocean, volcanoes, adventure, and mishaps.

Mishaps, you ask? Well, let’s just say I had the most excruciating sunburn after visiting the San Blas Islands, was unprepared for the elevation in Boquete, had to make an emergency trip to the mall in Panama City, and almost tossed my cookies on twisty backroads. All of which could have been avoided had I packed better.

Despite my mistakes, I absolutely loved visiting the country. So, to help you have the best experience, I put together this trusty list of exactly what to pack for Panama. 

25 Travel Essentials for Panama

🖨️ Get a free, printable version of this packing list here

Reef Safe Sunscreen

If there’s one item you don’t forget on your trip to Panama, let it be reef-safe sunscreen. The sun is STRONG in Panama, and you should be extra cautious.

I personally use All Good Reef Safe Sunscreen. It’s an SPF 30+ mineral sport sunscreen that’s reef-safe and water resistant.

Waterproof Dry Bag

Plan on doing any water activities in Panama? I thought so. Keep all your day trip belongings dry with a waterproof dry bag.

The Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag is highly rated and is super duper waterproof. Stuff all your things in here on boats and beach days, and you won’t have to worry about anything getting soggy.

Snorkel Set

Panama has some awesome snorkeling sites (Bocas del Toro and Coiba National Park to name a couple), and I recommend having your own set. Sure, you can rent from beach vendors, but having the ability to go snorkeling whenever you want is a true luxury.

This Travel Size Snorkeling Gear Set is a great option for travel. It’s smaller than average so it fits in your bag and the mask is anti-fog.

Day Bag

From wandering around Panama City to summiting Volcan Baru in Boquete, you need a day pack for Panama. The Osprey Daylite Daypack is a tried-and-true Travel Lemming favorite.

Of course, if that’s not quite your style, then check out Osprey’s full Daylite collection. There are totes, duffels, crossbody bags, and more.

Swimsuit

If you go to Panama and don’t hit the beach, can you even say you were in the country? All to say, pack at least a couple of bathing suits for your trip.

I like to get a bit sporty in the water, so I opt for athletic one-pieces when traveling like this Baleaf Women’s Athletic Swimsuit. For the men in the house, check out these highly-rated men’s Silkworld Board Shorts, which come in a ton of colors.

Packable Sunhat

Even if you’re not typically a hat person, you need a hat in Panama. And what better hat to wear in Panama than the Panama Hat?

These hats, also known as Ecuadorian Hats, are tightly-woven fedora-style chapeau’s. They’re really good for giving yourself some face shade.

Cover Up

For a beachy time in Panama, a cover up is as good as gold. Even with sunscreen and hats, keeping your skin shaded from the sun is your best defense against a burn.

This CUPSHE Women Crochet Swim Cover Up is super cute and breezy and comes in a bunch of colors.

Aloe Vera

For when your sunscreen, hat, and beach cover up fail you… make sure you have aloe vera on hand. (I had one of the worst sunburns of my life in Panama, and I cannot scream it from the rafters enough that you need to be careful with the sun).

Aloe Vera Gel for Face is awesome for travel as it comes in pre-portioned packs. It won’t leak in your bag and gives you just the right amount.

Water Sandals

Keep your feet safe from sandburns and gribblies on the ocean floor with a pair of water sandals. 

These REEF Women’s Water Vista Sandals are made from a flexible, water-friendly material and are stylish enough to take you from the boat to town and back.

Portable Power Bank

How sad would it be if your phone died on you while you were out exploring Panama’s many wonders? Not only would you not be able to call an Uber or use maps, but say goodbye to using your phone for photos.

Of course, this won’t be you because you’ll bring along a trusty Portable Charger Power Bank. It’s compatible with various smartphones and won’t take up much room in your day bag.

Portable Door Lock

Overall, Panama is a safe country for tourism. The industry is a big deal in Panama, and you’ll find that you’ll be comfortable walking around in travel hotspots. Still, if peace of mind could have a price tag, it would be the amount of this Addalock – The Original Portable Door Lock.

The lock keeps your door locked from the inside so you never have to worry about someone accidentally coming into your room while you’re in there.

Water Purifier

Is the water safe to drink in Panama? Well, that depends where you are. The water is generally safe to drink in population-dense areas like Panama City, but you probably won’t want to chance it on islands such as Bocas del Toro or San Blas.

I purified my water everywhere I went in Panama just to be on the safe side. I brought along my GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle and filled up my day bottle every time I left my hotel.

Personal Alarm

You’ll likely have an incident-free trip to Panama, but in rare event you get in a sticky situation or just need to alert someone of your whereabouts, I recommend bringing an alarm.

The She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm is one of the most popular options. To activate it, you just pull the pin on the top. It creates a loud siren accompanied by a flashing strobe light.

Travel Laundry Bag

Dirty clothes comingling with clean ones in your suitcase is simply no bueno. Especially in a country like Panama where you’ll be at the beach and generally be a sweaty betty, making sure you have fresh duds is a must.

The Kikkerland Travel-Size Laundry Bag is a good size, durable, and has a fun travel design. It’s also easy to carry to a laundromat if you decide to wash on the go.

Toiletry Bag

Having a really good toiletry bag while traveling is such an underrated item. A good one organizes your items with compartments, hangs up in the bathroom, has a clear removable bag for airport security, and is lightweight to boot.

This Toiletry Bag Kit Set hits all those marks and a great size, whether you’re checking a bag or going carry-on only.

Mosquito Repellent

Not to scare you, but mosquito-borne illnesses present in Panama include malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus. There’s also Yellow Fever in some areas. Now, if you get vaccinated and are mosquito safe, chances are you’ll be alright. Still, bug spray is a must.

Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Balm is a DEET-free balm that works by masking your scent with natural fragrances. It has a ton of good reviews (not every natural option does).

First Aid Kit

Regardless of your travel destination, you gotta expect the unexpected while on the road and bring a first aid kit. 

This Band-Aid Travel Ready Portable Emergency First Aid Kit is a great little travel companion. It has 80+ pieces, including bandages, ointments, gauze, and more. 

Compression Packing Cubes

On the road, packing cubes can literally save the day. Plus, they keep you organized and squish your clothes down small so you can optimize space in your bag.

I’ve used these Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes for 3+ years and counting and they’re still as good as new. Other packing cubes would fray and the zippers would bust, but not these bad boys. 

Action Camera

Taking photos above ground in Panama is epic. But underwater? It’s a whole new world, baby. 

I always bring my action cam with me while traveling, and this GoPro Hero 13 Black is a tried-and-true favorite. Whether you’re climbing a volcano or snorkeling the ocean blue, it will capture your favorite Panama memories.

Leave-in Conditioner

Have long hair? Then you know how crunchy it can get after taking a dip in the salty ocean. 

To keep your locks from tangling into one giant ball, I recommend OUAI Coconut Whipped Creme Leave-In Conditioner. It’s a really good detangler and even protects from heat.

Beach Towel

I mean, if you’re going to visit Panama’s beaches then you need a beach towel, pretty simple. But leave your chunky shower towel at home and try the Dock & Bay Beach Towel in particular.

This stylish towel wicks away water and packs up super small, so it’s perfect for travel. Plus, it doesn’t totally feel like a microfiber towel (they feel weird, or am I the only one?).

Cooling Towel Set

Once I found out about cooling towels I never looked back. This lightweight and packable towel offers a cooling effect, which is perfect for hot countries like Panama. All you do is dip it in water, give it a shake, and then enjoy a nice cool towel on your face or shoulders.

The FROGG TOGGS Chilly Pad Instant Cooling Towel is the best. Say goodbye to overheating and say hello to staying cool as a cucumber.

Checklist of Other Panama Essentials to Pack

• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Toiletries
• Dramamine
• Vaccinations
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Razors
• Sunglasses
• Phone charger
• Small lock for hostels
• Cable lock for hotels
• Laptop
• Device chargers
• Passport
• Hand sanitizer
• Kindle
• Ibuprofen
• Contact Lens Solution
• Feminine hygiene products

Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories to Pack for Panama

But there’s more to it! Here are some of my clothing recommendations for Panama:

Light Jacket

I’ve waxed on in this article about how hot Panama can be. And while that’s certainly true, there are cool places, too. For example, I seriously layered up to summit Volcan Baru in Boquete. 

The Outdoor Ventures Women’s Softshell Jacket with Hood is the perfect light jacket for Panama. It’s wind-resistant, lightly-lined, water-resistant, and packs down.

Hiking Shoes

If you plan on hiking, then I recommend wearing some real hiking shoes. There are creepy-crawly critters in Panama, and wearing open-toed shoes is something I personally don’t feel super comfortable with.

Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoes are worth the spend. They won’t take up a ton of space in your bag and they have good grip for rough terrain.

Hiking Pants

As with the light jacket, I recommend wearing full-length hiking pants if you’ll be hiking in elevated parts of Panama. It does get chilly and you don’t want to leave your legs exposed.

I recommend Baleaf Women’s Joggers for the gals and Baleaf Men’s Hiking Pants for the guys. They’re both highly rated and economical for the quality. 

Other Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories to Pack for Panama

So what clothing, shoes, and accessories should you pack for Panama? Here is a quick clothing checklist for Panama: 

• 2-3 pairs of shorts
• 1 pair of active shorts
• 1 light jacket
• 1 pair of hiking pants
• 1 pair of sweatpants
• 3-5 tops or T-shirts
• 1 dressier outfit
• 2-3 bathing suits 
• 1 swim coverup
• 1 ball cap or sunhat
• 5-6 pairs of socks (1-2 pairs of hiking socks)
• 6-7 pairs of underwear
• 3-4 bras 
• 1 sports bra
• 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 pair of outdoor sandals
• Headphones

Panama Packing Tips

Wear Light Colors & Breezy Fabrics

Panama is a tropical country and, overall, you’re going to want to pack light-colored breezy clothing. I came straight to Panama from Colombia (here’s my Colombia packing list if you’re interested), and found that I severely miscalculated my clothes from one country to the next.

Much of Colombia is cooler than Panama, and so I made an emergency trip to the Panama City mall to purchase some linen and sundresses.

Pack For the Climate

As I mentioned above, not all climates in Panama are created equal. While you’ll generally want to wear breezy beachy clothes, there are cooler-weather activities as well.

If I would have worn a tank top and shorts to summit Volcan Baru in Chiriquí, I would have frozen my tush off. I layered up for that experience, and even then I was a little chilly.

All to say, research the exact experiences you want to do in Panama and pack appropriately for them.

Leave the Flashy Items at Home

While it’s not totally wrong to wear nice clothes and fine jewelry in Panama, you may just not want to. Like I said, Panama is a fairly safe country and you’re not going to stick out like a sore thumb if you bring some flashy items. Still, it’s a hot country and the style is pretty laid back.

You can dress clean and nice, but keep it beachy overall.

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Besides one or two warmer items, you’ll generally be packing clothes for a hot climate in Panama. So, I suggest creating a capsule wardrobe to save space in your bag. 

I recommend this for pretty much every trip, but a capsule wardrobe essentially means bringing pieces of clothing that match. All your tops will “go” with the bottoms and vice versa.

This is a great way to have a bunch of outfits at the ready without packing heaping suitcases.

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🖨️ Get a free, printable version of this packing list here

Thanks for reading my guide to packing for Panama! Planning to stick to the beach in Panama? Check out Vanessa’s beach packing list next.