Mosquitoes are one of the few creatures in Panama that can make a person briefly question why they came to paradise in the first place. You can be sitting beside a beautiful jungle river, watching hummingbirds and listening to howler monkeys in the distance, when suddenly you hear that tiny, unmistakable eeeeeeee beside your ear.
The good news is that you don't need to spend your Panama trip covered from head to toe or locked inside an air conditioned room. With a few sensible habits, you can dramatically reduce the number of mosquitoes that find you.
The trick is understanding that mosquito avoidance is a combination of clothing, repellent, timing, accommodation and location. There isn't one magical product that solves everything.
Start with the right repellent
For serious mosquito protection, the most useful repellents are those containing an effective active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends EPA registered repellents containing these ingredients for protection against mosquitoes that can transmit disease.
DEET remains one of the best known options and can provide long lasting protection when used according to the label. Picaridin is another excellent choice and is popular with travelers because it generally feels less oily and has little odor.
If you're going deep into the jungle, spending hours around rivers or simply know that mosquitoes absolutely adore you, don't rely on a weak natural spray just because it smells nicer.
The mosquito doesn't care how tropical your citronella smells.
Don't forget your ankles
One of the easiest mistakes travelers make is covering their arms and then wondering why their legs are being attacked.
Mosquitoes often target exposed areas, and ankles can be particularly vulnerable. Sandals, shorts and bare legs may be perfectly comfortable in Panama, but they also provide mosquitoes with an all you can eat buffet.
If you're going into forested or wet areas, lightweight long trousers and socks can make a surprisingly large difference.
You don't need expedition clothing.
Loose, lightweight clothing is generally much more comfortable in Panama's heat than heavy outdoor gear.
Choose your clothes strategically
Mosquitoes can bite through some thin or tight clothing, so simply wearing long sleeves isn't a complete guarantee.
Loose fitting clothing provides better coverage, and clothing treated with permethrin can provide additional protection. However, permethrin is intended for clothing and gear, not application directly to skin, and products should be used exactly according to their instructions.
Light colored clothing can also make mosquitoes easier to spot and may be preferable for other reasons when you're hiking in tropical environments.
Think of your clothing as your first physical barrier.
Repellent is the second.
Timing matters enormously
You might assume that mosquitoes are simply waiting for you all day.
Fortunately, that isn't quite how it works.
Different mosquito species have different activity patterns. Some species are particularly active around dawn and dusk, while others, including Aedes aegypti, can bite during the daytime.
That means the old strategy of only worrying about mosquitoes after sunset isn't sufficient.
Early morning jungle walks and late afternoon outdoor activities can be particularly worthwhile times to use repellent, while daytime protection remains important in areas where daytime biting mosquitoes occur.
And if you're heading into dense forest, don't assume that being in bright sunshine means you're safe.
Your room is your fortress
Accommodation makes a huge difference.
A room with intact screens, closed doors and windows and air conditioning can dramatically reduce mosquito exposure. If you're staying somewhere without air conditioning, a properly installed mosquito screen becomes much more important.
Check the room when you arrive.
Look around windows.
Look at the door.
Check whether screens have obvious gaps.
And if you're sleeping in a hammock, cabin or open air structure, find out what mosquito protection is provided before you settle in for the night.
A beautiful jungle room with a giant gap underneath the door may be an invitation to every mosquito in the neighborhood.
Fans are surprisingly useful
Here's a wonderfully simple trick: use a fan.
Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, and moving air can make it harder for them to land on you. A fan blowing across your bed can therefore make sleeping considerably more comfortable.
It also has another advantage in Panama.
It's hot.
So while you're using the fan to stay cool, you're simultaneously making yourself a more difficult target.
That's a pretty good two for one deal.
Eliminate the little pools around you
Mosquitoes don't need a lake to reproduce.
A bucket.
A flowerpot.
A discarded container.
A clogged gutter.
An old tire.
A small puddle.
Any container capable of holding water can potentially become mosquito habitat, depending on the species.
This is particularly important around houses, hostels, hotels and rental properties. The CDC recommends reducing mosquito breeding areas by removing standing water from containers around homes.
In Panama's rainy season, this can become especially important because tropical downpours can fill containers remarkably quickly.
If you're staying somewhere for several weeks, keeping the immediate area free of unnecessary standing water is one of the easiest preventative measures.
Jungle does not automatically mean mosquitoes
This is something visitors sometimes get wrong.
A spectacular rainforest isn't necessarily the worst place for mosquitoes, while an urban neighborhood can sometimes have its own mosquito problems.
Mosquito abundance depends on species, breeding habitat, rainfall, temperature, vegetation and human activity.
Different parts of Panama therefore feel very different.
The Caribbean coast, Pacific lowlands, mountains and urban areas all have different environments.
You shouldn't assume that because you're surrounded by jungle you'll automatically be eaten alive.
Sometimes the jungle is wonderfully comfortable.
And sometimes you walk through one particular patch of vegetation and suddenly discover that every mosquito in Panama apparently received your itinerary.
Don't confuse mosquitoes with everything else that bites
Panama has plenty of tiny flying and crawling creatures.
Some are mosquitoes.
Some are biting flies.
Some are tiny midges.
Some are completely harmless insects that simply enjoy flying around your face.
And then there are creatures such as ticks, which require a different prevention strategy entirely.
If you come back from a jungle walk covered in tiny bites, don't automatically assume every mark came from a mosquito.
For hikers, checking your clothing and body for ticks after spending time in vegetation is also sensible.
What about natural remedies?
Citronella, eucalyptus, lavender and other plant based products can have some repellent effects, but their effectiveness and duration can vary substantially.
That doesn't mean you can't use them.
If you're sitting on a restaurant terrace for an hour and prefer a pleasant smelling plant based product, that's one thing.
If you're hiking through remote tropical forest where mosquito bites could expose you to disease, use a repellent with proven effectiveness rather than relying exclusively on fragrance or folklore.
Natural doesn't automatically mean effective.
And chemical doesn't automatically mean dangerous.
The important question is what the product contains and whether you're using it correctly.
Mosquito coils and outdoor protection
Mosquito coils and other area repellents can be useful in some outdoor settings, particularly around patios or terraces, but they're not a substitute for personal repellent and physical protection.
Air movement can also affect how useful an area repellent is.
If you're sitting on a completely exposed beach with a strong breeze, don't expect a tiny coil to create an invisible mosquito force field around your chair.
The mosquitoes have other plans.
The Panama backpacker's winning strategy
If you're backpacking through Panama, you don't need to carry an enormous collection of mosquito equipment.
A practical setup is surprisingly simple:
A good repellent. Lightweight long pants. A lightweight long sleeve shirt. Socks. A hat. And accommodation with screens or air conditioning whenever possible.
Keep the repellent somewhere accessible rather than buried at the bottom of your backpack.
Put it on before heading into a forest or wet area rather than waiting until you've already been bitten twenty times.
And remember to follow the product label, particularly when applying repellent to children or when combining repellent with sunscreen.
And don't panic about every bite
Mosquitoes are a genuine health consideration in Panama because some mosquito borne diseases occur in the region. The exact risks vary by location and change over time, so travelers should check current health advice before traveling rather than relying on a generic list of diseases.
The practical approach is simple:
prevent bites, pay attention to symptoms, and seek medical advice if you become ill after significant mosquito exposure.
You don't need to become paranoid about every mosquito that flies past your face.
The ultimate trick: make yourself a difficult target
The best mosquito strategy in Panama isn't one extraordinary trick.
It's stacking several small advantages.
Wear appropriate clothing.
Use an effective repellent.
Protect yourself during mosquito active periods.
Keep doors and screens closed.
Sleep under a mosquito net when appropriate.
Use a fan.
Avoid unnecessary standing water around your accommodation.
And don't assume that because you are on vacation, mosquitoes have also decided to take the week off.
They haven't.
They're working extremely hard.
And unfortunately for them, you now know how to make their job considerably more difficult.