The Best Times to Vacation in Bocas del Toro, Panama

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Bocas Town bustles with visitors year-round. But, no matter how busy, there are always beautiful stretches of white sandy beaches you can have to yourself. The weather is always warm in Bocas Del Toro. It’s one of the few places in the world with only about three degrees of variation in daily highs for air temperature annually and four degrees of variation in daily water temperatures annually.

High Season

Mid-December through April are considered high season, but it does not feel overcrowded. This time of year has the most live music, but you can find live music somewhere in Bocas Town every night of the year.

Best Months

The locals will tell you that September and October are their favorite months, but given the temperate weather and steady sea breeze, every month is attractive for visitors.

Air Temperature

Shorts and a T-shirt are enough to feel comfortable year-round. The mean daily highs range from 83°F to 86°F. At night, the high temperature is rarely above 88°F and below 70°F. This makes for warm days and comfortable sleeping conditions.

Water Temperature

The ocean is always ideal for swimming with average water temperatures between 82°F and 86°F year-round. Although this makes swimming comfortable, the water temperature is too warm for our coral reefs—a worldwide problem.

Rain

A rainforest surrounds Bocas del Toro, so the area experiences a significant amount of rainfall and cloud cover. However, most days see many sunny hours. The mean storm duration is between an hour and an hour and a half.

Wind

With wind speeds averaging five to 11 kilometers per hour, the region almost always has a comfortable breeze. The wind at Bocas del Toro is especially consistent due to its proximity to open water. Many of the villas are quite comfortable without ever using the air conditioning.

Tip

Don’t believe the online weather forecasts for Bocas del Toro as they constantly predict rain even when the weather is beautiful. Part of the reason: Bocas del Toro’s landmass is on the other side of the mountain from Bocas Town and Bocas del Toro.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Bocas del Toro provided a lot of this information.