Is Panama City Safe in March 2026?

In El Cangrejo and Marbella neighbourhoods after midnight, unlicensed taxis pick up solo passengers and drive to one or more ATMs, forcing the victim at implied or explicit threat to withdraw the daily maximum. The driver may have accomplices who join at a pre-arranged stop. Victims are typically released unharmed after the withdrawal but the financial loss averages USD 300–500 per incident. This crime category is locally called "secuestro exprés" and is specifically linked to unmarked vehicles operating outside the regulated taxi zones.

How to avoid: Never hail a taxi from the street after dark in El Cangrejo or Marbella. Use only the Uber app or call a registered radio taxi such as Taxi Único or ask your hotel or restaurant to call a confirmed taxi for you. Share your live location with a contact before getting in any vehicle at night.

Panama City's taxi system uses zones rather than meters, and many drivers quote tourist fares significantly above the zone rate, especially from Tocumen International Airport. A legal airport-to-city fare is around $25–30, but drivers often quote $50–80.

How to avoid: Use Uber (available in Panama City) or confirm the exact zone fare from the official rate card before getting in.

Operators near the Casco Viejo advertise San Blas Island boat tours with "beach camping" and "pristine islands." Tourists arrive to find overcrowded boats, safety issues, and basic conditions far below what was advertised.

How to avoid: Book San Blas tours through operators with extensive recent reviews on TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet. Ask specifically how many people are on the boat and see photos of the actual boat before paying. Request the license of the operation.

Touts near the Miraflores Locks visitor centre sell Canal admission tickets and tour packages at inflated prices, claiming official tickets are sold out or unavailable online.

How to avoid: Buy Panama Canal visitor tickets directly at the official miraflores.com.pa website or at the on-site ticket desk.

Street vendors in Casco Viejo sell machine-printed textiles claiming to be authentic Kuna Mola handicrafts at genuine mola prices. The real handmade molas are distinct on close inspection.

How to avoid: Buy Mola textiles from Kuna artisans at official craft markets. Authentic molas show careful hand-stitching on both sides; mass-produced copies look printed and identical.