Most trips to Panama start in Panama City, with its skyline, the restored Casco Viejo and the locks of the Panama Canal, and then head for the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro, the Guna Yala islands of San Blas or the cool highlands around Boquete. Panama lies outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so roaming on a European plan is normally charged per day.
Key facts for Panama
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: +Móvil (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911; police 104
- Embassies: in Panama City
Panama City and the canal
Coverage is strong across Panama City. The Metro and the Metrobus network run on a rechargeable transport card, and ride apps such as Uber work well for the trip out to the Miraflores Locks, where you can watch ships pass through the canal.
Bocas del Toro
In Bocas Town and on the main islands the signal is good, but it weakens on remote beaches and during boat trips between the islands. Water taxis are the main way to get around, so keep your phone in a waterproof pouch.
San Blas (Guna Yala)
The San Blas islands are run by the Guna people as an autonomous territory. Visitors pay an entry fee at the checkpoint, most islands have little or no coverage, and almost everything is paid in cash. Follow the community's rules, including on photography, and treat a few days there as time offline.
Boquete and the highlands
Boquete has good coverage, but the trail up Volcán Barú, usually climbed overnight to see the sunrise, has long stretches without signal and gets cold near the top. Tell your hostel when you set off.
The Darién
The Darién, the roadless jungle along the border with Colombia, is not a place for independent travel: US government staff need special authorisation to go there because of the safety risks.
Paying
Panama uses the US dollar alongside its own coins. Cards are widely accepted in the capital, but carry cash for the islands, small towns and water taxis.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM, added to your phone at home, picks up a Panamanian network as you land at Tocumen, so you can book a ride before leaving the terminal; your own number remains reachable for texts and bank security codes. Combining Panama with Costa Rica or Colombia? An Americas plan covers the region.
Local prepaid SIMs from +Móvil or Tigo can be bought at the airport or in town with your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Panama
- 911 reaches the police, ambulance and fire service; 104 is the national police line.
- Embassies are in Panama City. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Panama, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- If your Spanish is rusty, the app has emergency phrases in Spanish that you can show to whoever is helping you.
Questions travellers ask about Panama
Does my EU plan work in Panama?
Only through your operator's own roaming offer: Roam Like at Home does not apply in Panama.
Is there signal in San Blas?
On most islands, little or none. Plan to be offline and carry cash.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Panama?
+Móvil, with 4G and 5G where available.
Which number should I save?
911, which dispatches the police, an ambulance or firefighters.
The short version
Set up the eSIM at home, carry cash for the islands, keep your phone dry on water taxis, treat San Blas as time offline, and save 911.
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