Blue, yellow and bright orange buildings with white accents line the cobblestone streets
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Thinking about taking your first international trip but feeling a little unsure? Maybe you’re wondering what it’s like to navigate a new country—different language, different customs, and all those unknowns. You’re not alone—many first-time travelers share the same concerns.

As someone who’s traveled a lot, I know that first step can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be hard. The key is picking a destination that makes things easy, familiar, and welcoming—and Panama checks all those boxes.

This post is for travelers just like you—curious, excited, and maybe a bit nervous. I’m here to walk you through 8 reasons why Panama is the perfect choice for easing into international travel.

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#1 – You can use US Dollars in Panama

Panama has their own currency (the Panamanian Balboa or PAB), but by law, it exactly equals the US Dollar so there is no conversion risk. It’s really easy to shop when you don’t have to worry about converting their prices to US Dollars.

And you can spend US Dollars anywhere in Panama. We never took out any PAB the whole time we were there. We just used our credit cards, Apple Pay and American Cash.

#2 – Lots of English speaking Expats in Panama

Although Spanish is the official language of Panama, there a large number of English speaking Americans in Panama. Plus many of the people who work in hospitality, tourism, retail, and food speak a good level of English. So communication is reasonably easy for your first international trip.

We met up with some expat friends who live there to learn what they like and don’t like about Panama. Of course, some people in Panama only speak Spanish, but there’s the Google Translate app to help with that.

Four people sit at a table in a restaurant where they just had lunch.
Our expat friends
Guide in a bright red shirt and white pants sits on a fence while he explains what we are seeing.
Our tour guide in Casco Viejo

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PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH OUR
FAVORITE TOOLS

– Best Lodging site: Booking.com
– Book Day Tours here: Viator.com
– Rent Cars here: RentalCars.com

#3 – Same electrical plugs as the US

Panama uses Type A & B plugs and the same electrical current as we do in America. So you can plug in your electronics and appliances from home just fine without needing to bring a plug adaptor or having to buy dual voltage items.

A white electrical outlet plug with two flat prongs
Type A
A white electrical outlet plug with two flat prongs and one round prong for grounding.
Type B

#4 – They drive on right side of the road

Just like we do in the US, Panamanians drive on the right side of the road. So it’s easy to navigate the roads. If you take your first trip to say Ireland or Australia, you have to learn how to drive on the left hand side of the road.

The road signs are all in Spanish, but they are the same shape and color as the ones we have in the USA. So driving in Panama is easy for your first international trip.

#5 – Panama is in the Eastern Time Zone

This means less jetlag than say if you went to Asia or Europe. The quicker you adapt to the time zone of your destination, the more you will enjoy your trip. It’s also a much shorter flight than crossing the ocean from the USA.

Plus it’s easier to connect with friends and family back home because you are probably awake during the same hours.

#6 – Lots of beautiful scenery in compact Panama

Panama offers everything from mountains and beaches, valleys, volcanos and waterfalls, all in a relatively compact country geographically. Here’s some of what we got to see while there.

Waves gently lap the sand along the tree-lined coastline.
The sky glows yellow and orange as the sun sets over the water of the bay.
Kari and Bill stand on the beautiful beach, surrounded by palm trees and sand.
The road leads to the volcano and mountains which are glowing as the sun rises.

#7 – Something for All Interests

Panama offers activities for every kind of passion and interest. If you are interested in History, there are many centuries of it to learn about while in Panama. If you love nature and wildlife, they’ve got that too.

The flame-colored Tanager shows off his bright orange head and body with this black and white wings.
orange-Brown starfish shimmers amongst the green seaweed on the ocean floor.
A two-toed sloth hangs in the trees, surrounded by branches and leaves
A long-necked heron walks through the water, hunting for fish. His pink legs, the bright blue top of his bill and the white plume on the back of his head indicate that he is in breeding plumage

If you want to experience different cultural experiences on your first international trip, Panama has that in spades.

Blue, yellow and bright orange buildings with white accents line the cobblestone streets
A closer up photo of the hats hanging suspended from wires in an area called "Hat Street" in Casco Viejo
A bold black and red character in a costume that appears to be sparking evil flames. This is the Diablico Sucio - the dirty devil, walking the streets of Casco Viejo.
Pastel yellow, blue and pink buildings line the cobblestoned streets of Casco Viejo.


If you are a foodie, the eating options are truly endless in Panama. If you like surfing or snorkeling or fishing, there are 1700+ miles of coastline offering those activities. If you get excited about different types of architecture, Panama City has a wealth of buildings waiting for you to explore, from the ancient to the ultra modern. And I haven’t even mentioned the Great Panama Canal – an engineering wonder!

Three story white building with black wrought iron railings, arched doorways and potted flowers give a distinctly European feel to Casco Viejo Panama
Old Town Casco Viejo
The skyline of Panama City offers hundreds of modern skyscrapers with tons of glass windows.
Modern Panama City Skyline

If you love coffee, they grow and produce it all across Panama. You can visit a coffee plantation, or just have a delicious cup at a one of the many, many cafes and bistros.

The list goes on and on – whatever your interests and passions are, Panama will have an opportunity to experience it, making it perfect for your first international trip!

#8 – You can drink the tap water in Panama

We take it for granted in the US, but in many parts of the world, it is not safe to drink the tap water. In Southeast Asia and Africa for sure, you can get really sick just by drinking the water out of the tap. Sadly, I know from personal experience. ☹

But in most places in Panama, you can safely drink and cook with the water. There are a few exceptions (like in Bocas del Toro), but it’s generally safe in most destinations in Panama.

Conclusion: Is Panama worth Visiting?

In my opinion as someone who has traveled all around the world, I would say that Panama is the perfect destination for your first international trip. It offers a balanced blend of familiar things with some new experiences to give you confidence to try additional international destinations.

More Info on Panama

Here are some more posts about Panama, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.

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