What to pack for Panama: a packing list for observant families
By the Unpacked Panama team Last reviewed 4 min read
The short answer
Pack for heat and sun: Panama City’s daytime highs are about 91 to 96°F all year, and the dry season, roughly mid-December to April, brings little rain but strong sun. Add modest clothes for shul, a light layer for air-conditioning, a passport valid at least three months beyond arrival for every family member, and small US bills. US and Canadian plugs work without adapters.
A passport for every traveler, valid at least 3 months under Panama’s rule (6 months is a safer margin).1
Your return or onward booking, and a card or bank statement to show funds of at least US$500 per adult if asked.
The QR code DSI emails you for shul visits, and a letter from your home shul or rabbi if you have one.2
Your insurance card and policy number.
For a child with Panamanian nationality (for example, born in Panama) who is not travelling with both parents: the absent parent’s notarized authorization, apostilled and in Spanish.
Printed or saved confirmations for Shabbat meals and your hotel.
Clothes
Light, breathable clothes for the heat, with hats and sunglasses.
Modest clothes for shul and community buildings, where modest dress is expected; Shabbat clothes for each Shabbat of your stay.
A light sweater or jacket for strong indoor air-conditioning, and a warmer layer if you’re going up to Boquete’s highlands.
A rain jacket in December or from May to November; October is the wettest month.3
Comfortable walking shoes (Casco Viejo’s streets are cobbled), sandals and swimwear.
Closed shoes and long trousers for rainforest trails.
For Shabbat
Candles and travel candlesticks, or ask your hotel what it allows in rooms.
A light timer if you use one, and a plan for room keys: ask the hotel before you arrive whether a mechanical key or staff help is available.
Your own siddur, chumash and tallis or tefillin.
A small cooler bag or containers if you’re collecting Shabbat take-out.
Inside Panama City you can buy almost anything kosher at the two kosher supermarkets in Punta Paitilla; Super Kosher carries products imported from Israel and elsewhere.4 Outside the city there is almost no kosher food, and many attractions have no food at all, so for day trips pack:
A cooler bag and ice packs for packed lunches.
Reusable water bottles; some nature reserves ask visitors to bring them.
Sealed snacks the children like, for flights, boats and long drives.
Plugs: Panama uses Type A and B sockets at 120 V and 60 Hz, like the US and Canada, so North American devices need no adapter. A three-prong plug may need a simple adapter where only two-prong sockets exist. UK and Israeli visitors need adapters.5
Phones: an unlocked phone with an international eSIM installed before you fly avoids store queues; buying a local SIM requires a passport. Data-only eSIMs have no local number, so use WhatsApp for calls.
Chargers and a power bank for long day trips.
For children
A car seat: Uber drivers in Panama don’t supply them.6
A light stroller (it manages Casco Viejo’s cobbles) or a carrier for trails.
Swim gear, rash guards and water shoes for beaches and pools.
Something warm for flights and air-conditioned rooms.
Not from the US or Canada. Panama uses Type A and B sockets at 120 V and 60 Hz, the same as North America. Visitors from the UK and Israel need adapters.
Is it cold in Panama in January?
No. January is the dry season in Panama City, with average highs of about 92°F and lows of about 65°F. Bring a light layer for air-conditioning, and something warmer for the Boquete highlands.
Should I bring kosher food to Panama?
Not for Panama City, which has two kosher supermarkets and dozens of certified restaurants. Do pack food for day trips, beaches and travel days, because there is almost no kosher food outside the city.
What should I wear to shul in Panama City?
Modest clothes, as you would at home; the community expects modest dress. Bring your original passport and the QR code DSI emails you too, including on Shabbat.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these sources or from our own research (walking routes, prices and listings we checked). We last reviewed it on 6 November 2026.
Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá, Preguntas frecuentes. migracion.gob.pa(read 5 November 2026)
Departamento de Seguridad Institucional (DSI), Visitor registration. visit.dsipanama.org(read 5 November 2026)
World Meteorological Organization, Panama City climate normals. worldweather.wmo.int(read 5 November 2026)
Kosher Shevet Ahim, Certified establishments. kosher.com.pa(read 5 November 2026)
WorldStandards, Plug, socket and voltage by country: Panama. worldstandards.eu(read 5 November 2026)
Uber, Panama City airport (PTY). uber.com(read 5 November 2026)
Planning the January winter break in Panama City: what to book in November and December, Shabbat times for January 2027, the weather, and what to pack.
Traveling to Panama City with children: where to base yourselves, outings by age, the heat, documents for kids, medical care and what to ask a teen program.