Panama

Domestic flights (mainly Air Panama) connect Panama City with Bocas del Toro and David quickly -- often the practical choice given how mountainous the country's road network can be.

The Pan-American Highway makes driving between Panama City, the Azuero Peninsula, and Chiriquí straightforward, though it stops entirely at the Darién Gap.

Within Panama City, the Metro (Central America's first subway system) and buses cover the city well, and rideshare apps are widely available.

Panama is one of the more stable and safer countries in Central America to visit, with most visitors experiencing nothing beyond routine city precautions -- though, as with any country, risk varies significantly by neighborhood and region.

• Certain neighborhoods of Panama City, including El Chorrillo and parts of Curundú, see higher crime rates than the tourist areas (Casco Viejo, Bella Vista, the Amador Causeway) -- stick to well-trafficked, well-lit areas at night and take a taxi rather than walking through unfamiliar neighborhoods after dark.
• 
  
• The Darién Gap, on the border with Colombia, is a genuinely dangerous region with an active migration crisis and no meaningful government control -- there is no legitimate reason for a tourist to attempt overland travel through it, and it should be avoided entirely regardless of what independent travel content may suggest.
• 
  
• Petty theft and scams are the most common issues in tourist areas -- keep bags zipped on crowded buses and in markets, and use registered taxis or rideshare apps rather than unmarked cars, especially from the airport.
• 
  
• Ocean safety: rip currents are a real hazard on many Pacific beaches, and lifeguards are uncommon outside a handful of resort areas -- check local conditions before swimming.
• 
  
• Natural hazards: Panama sits outside the main Central American hurricane belt, which is a genuine advantage, but the rainy season (May-November) can bring flash flooding and landslides in mountainous and rural areas.
• 
  
• Emergency number: 911 works nationwide and connects to police, fire, or medical services.