Month guide · Panama City · Panama
Panama City in December
What December is really like in Panama City: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11.6 hours of daylight. Rains ease and the dry season begins mid-month; Christmas and New Year fireworks over the bay.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 9th-warmest month in Panama City: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (30°C (86°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs stay near 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:26
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 18:02
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
Transition (December). Rains taper off, trade winds return and the city fills up for Christmas and New Year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Mother's Day holiday (8 December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over the bay (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Religious site · Casco Viejo
Iglesia de San José
This simple church hides Panama's best-known altarpiece, the Altar de Oro, a baroque altar of carved mahogany covered in gold leaf.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Art
Religious site · Casco Viejo
Catedral Metropolitana
Sit on the plaza after visiting the cathedral and the canal museum, which is on the same square.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
Museum · Casco Viejo
Panama Canal Museum
Housed in the building used as headquarters by the French canal company on the Plaza de la Independencia, this museum tells the story of the isthmus as a crossing point, the failed French attempt, the American construction and the 1999 handover of the canal to Panama.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
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Museum · Amador
Biomuseo
Allow around two hours and combine it with a bike ride or lunch along the causeway.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Nature
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Panama City.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 23°C and 9 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Panama City?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, January–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Panama City in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Panama City?
It is a shoulder-season month. Rains ease and the dry season begins mid-month; Christmas and New Year fireworks over the bay.
+How warm is Panama City in December?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Panama City in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.