You booked your flight and are ready to start your next backpacking adventure in Panama? Dreaming of Caribbean beaches, surfing, and jungle hikes? Now you just need to get the right stuff in your backpack. There are a few things you shouldn’t miss out on when travelling through Panama.
1. Bug spray
That’s an absolute must. Especially when you plan to go to the jungle you’ll be eaten by bugs, so you’ll be happy to have some repellent. In most places the mosquitos are not really dangerous though and except for the Darien region Malaria is not widespread, so don’t worry. They are just nasty. Also, you won’t need mosquito nets. Just make sure the door to your sleeping place is always closed.
2. Sunscreen
You probably guessed that one. You’re gonna be outside a lot and especially at the beach you’ll need a fair amount of sunscreen. It’s quite expensive here, so make sure to bring enough.
3. Sweater
Panama is a tropical country, and you might be deceived to think it’s always hot and humid here but be prepared when you go to the mountains. In popular towns like Boquete or in the Lost & Found hostel it can get quite fresh at nights. Also, if you plan on hiking up Volcán Barú you’ll definitely need some warm clothes.
4. Head lamp
A head lamp will come in handy for a lot of things. Whether you’d like to explore a cave, go on a nocturnal adventure in the jungle (Please don’t do this on your own! Go with a guide and a large group of people!) or just go to the toilet at night without waking up all your room mates.
5. Drybag
There are some cool waterfalls to be seen in Panama and also heavy rain can hit you very unexpectedly. So, a drybag to keep your phone, money, etc. dry will be very useful.
6. Rain jacket
As I just said, rain can hit you very unexpectedly here and especially when you plan to travel during the rainy season (May-Nov) a rain jacket is gonna be necessary, if you don’t like to get completely soaked.
7. Adapter
Depending, where you come from, you’ll need to bring an adapter for sockets, otherwise you’ll have a bad surprise the first time you want to charge your phone. Of course, you can easily buy adapters here too, but chances are you might already have one laying around at home. For Panama you need a flat connector, the same ones that are used in the US.
8. US Dollars
While the official currency in Panama is Balboa, US dollars are actually much more widespread, and you can pay with them absolutely everywhere. The exchange rate for US dollars and Balboa is also 1:1 which means you can even make a payment using both currencies at the same time. So, if you come from the US, you can relax about that part and if you are from anywhere else, you’ll have a much easier time getting US dollars than Balboa’s.
9. Multiple wallets
Despite the dark image some Western media is painting, Panama is quite safe compared to other Latin American countries, especially if you stick to the more touristy areas. However, it’s still Latin America and you should be careful about pickpockets and common tourist scams. Don’t drive yourself crazy about this, but it’s always useful to store your money and cards in different places, so in case you lose one you are not left with nothing. I personally brought two wallets and always keep one on me, while leaving the other one in a hostel safe.
10. Hiking boots
Now, this one is not a must, and it depends on your plans, but there are a few attractions here in Panama, like climbing Volcán Barú or hiking the Sendero Los Quetzales, where hiking boots will make your life easier. You can skip this one, if you absolutely hate hiking, but if you’re not sure yet better bring them, because when other travelers show you their stunning pictures from the top of the volcano, you’ll definitely wanna go.
I hope you’re feeling prepared now for your backpacking adventure in Panama. You got something important to add? Let us know in the comments!