# Where to retire in Panama

Retirees in Panama choose between the capital, the cool highlands of Chiriquí and El Valle, the dry Pacific coast and Azuero, and the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro. Below, eleven places compared with the official weather, census and health data, each with its own page.

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[HighlandsBoqueteCool highland valley in Chiriquí, coffee farms and trails, about 20 °C all year.20.5 °C · 3,206 mm rain a year](/places/boquete/)[BeachCoronadoBeach town on the Pacific Riviera, about 1.5 hours from the capital.27.8 °C · 1,520 mm rain a year](/places/coronado/)[CityPanama CityThe capital: international airport, the largest hospitals and two World Heritage sites.27.0 °C · 1,840 mm rain a year](/places/panama-city/)[IslandBocas del ToroCaribbean islands, rain all year, Afro-Caribbean culture, 45 minutes by air.26.6 °C · 3,350 mm rain a year](/places/bocas-del-toro/)[HighlandsEl Valle de AntónVillage inside an old volcano crater, trails and birds, 2.5 hours from the city.not measured · 3,018 mm rain a year](/places/el-valle-de-anton/)[CityDavidCapital of Chiriquí: airport, regional hospital, gateway to the highlands.27.2 °C · 2,603 mm rain a year](/places/david/)[HighlandsVolcán and Tierras AltasThe coolest district in Panama, at the foot of the Barú Volcano.not measured · 2,909 mm rain a year](/places/volcan/)[BeachPedasíSmall beach town in Azuero: dry season, whales, turtles and surf.27.1 °C · 1,564 mm rain a year](/places/pedasi/)[BeachSanta CatalinaSurf village in Veraguas and the gateway to Coiba National Park.27.2 °C · 2,741 mm rain a year](/places/santa-catalina/)[TownLas TablasCapital of Los Santos, home of Carnival and the pollera; the driest place here.27.5 °C · 1,060 mm rain a year](/places/las-tablas/)[TownChitréLargest town in Azuero, the warmest place here, with two hospitals.27.9 °C · 1,066 mm rain a year](/places/chitre/)

Boquete: [Cristhian Carreño, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-standing-on-green-grass-covered-hill-under-white-clouds-and-blue-sky-during-daytime-I1k4RQp1v60?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)([Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)) · Coronado: [Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose from Montreal, Canada, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Playa_Coronado_(4165175000).jpg)([CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)) · Panama City: [Sol Cerrud, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/city-skyline-at-sunset-over-the-ocean-d_4hdowbIaY?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)([Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)) · Bocas del Toro: [Camilo Pinaud, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/palm-tree-on-beach-shore-during-daytime-HNFU3E1E4do?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)([Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)) · El Valle de Antón: [Cristhian Carreño, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/green-grass-field-and-brown-mountain-during-daytime-285W2J_4Eu4?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)([Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)) · David: [The original uploader was Moto-gundy at German Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David-Panama.jpg)([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)) · Volcán and Tierras Altas: [Rkool007, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Volc%C3%A1n_Bar%C3%BA_desde_Volc%C3%A1n.JPG)([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)) · Pedasí: [Franklin Canelon, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/ocean-photography-UIMQDAGUuOo?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)([Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)) · Santa Catalina: [Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Beach_at_Santa_Catalina,_Panama_(8369739920).jpg)([CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)) · Las Tablas: [SportingVVE, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parque_Belisario_Porras_Barahona,_Ciudad_de_Las_Tablas,_Provincia_de_Los_Santos_(2025).jpg)([CC0](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en)) · Chitré: [RandyNavarroB, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catedral_San_Juan_Bautista._Chitr%C3%A9,_Herrera..jpg)([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0))

| Place | Type | Average temperature | Rain a year | Months under 100 mm |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Boquete](/places/boquete/) Cool highland valley in Chiriquí, coffee farms and trails, about 20 °C all year. | Highlands | 20.5 °C | 3,206 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| [Coronado](/places/coronado/) Beach town on the Pacific Riviera, about 1.5 hours from the capital. | Beach | 27.8 °C | 1,520 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [Panama City](/places/panama-city/) The capital: international airport, the largest hospitals and two World Heritage sites. | City | 27.0 °C | 1,840 mm | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [Bocas del Toro](/places/bocas-del-toro/) Caribbean islands, rain all year, Afro-Caribbean culture, 45 minutes by air. | Island | 26.6 °C | 3,350 mm | none |
| [El Valle de Antón](/places/el-valle-de-anton/) Village inside an old volcano crater, trails and birds, 2.5 hours from the city. | Highlands | not measured | 3,018 mm | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [David](/places/david/) Capital of Chiriquí: airport, regional hospital, gateway to the highlands. | City | 27.2 °C | 2,603 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [Volcán and Tierras Altas](/places/volcan/) The coolest district in Panama, at the foot of the Barú Volcano. | Highlands | not measured | 2,909 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| [Pedasí](/places/pedasi/) Small beach town in Azuero: dry season, whales, turtles and surf. | Beach | 27.1 °C | 1,564 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [Santa Catalina](/places/santa-catalina/) Surf village in Veraguas and the gateway to Coiba National Park. | Beach | 27.2 °C | 2,741 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| [Las Tablas](/places/las-tablas/) Capital of Los Santos, home of Carnival and the pollera; the driest place here. | Town | 27.5 °C | 1,060 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| [Chitré](/places/chitre/) Largest town in Azuero, the warmest place here, with two hospitals. | Town | 27.9 °C | 1,066 mm | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |

## How to read the comparison

Temperature and rain come from the stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA): the average of each month over the station’s whole record. “Dry months” are the months with less than 100 mm of rain on average, a threshold we chose. Where there is no official station in the town, we say so instead of guessing. Population is from the 2023 census and health facilities from the Ministry of Health list.

- [IMHPA, historical climate data](https://www.imhpa.gob.pa/es/clima-historicos)
- [INEC, 2023 Census, table 10](https://www.inec.gob.pa/archivos/P0705547520231109105354CUADRO%2010.pdf)
- [Ministry of Health, list of health facilities 2023](https://www.minsa.gob.pa/sites/default/files/publicacion-general/listado_de_instalaciones_de_salud_ano_2023.pdf)

## Highlands or coast

The highlands are cooler and much wetter: Boquete averages about 20 °C and its town station recorded more than 3,000 mm of rain a year. The Pacific lowlands are hot, about 27 to 28 °C, and the Azuero towns of Las Tablas and Chitré are the driest, with about 1,060 mm. Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean, has no dry season at all.

## Cost of living, honestly

The only official cost figure by region is the basic food basket of the Ministry of Economy and Finance: B/. 367.03 in Panama City and San Miguelito and B/. 343.81 in the rest of the urban areas, which include David, Chitré and Las Tablas, in July 2026. There is no official figure for Boquete, Volcán, Coronado, El Valle, Pedasí, Bocas or Santa Catalina. The balboa is at par with the US dollar.

- [Ministry of Economy and Finance, basic food basket, July 2026](https://www.mef.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MEF-DAES-Canasta-Basica-Familiar-de-Alimentos-JULIO-2026.pdf)

## Festivals and seasons

Each region has its calendar: the coffee and flower fair in Boquete, Carnival and the pollera in Azuero, the Sea Fair in Bocas and the whales off the Pacific coast.

- [The year in festivals and seasons](/festivals/)

Your visa does not depend on where you live. Tell us where you plan to settle and we will prepare your application.

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## Planning your retirement in Panama?

Book a free 15-minute call. We will check your pension and tell you exactly what you need.

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