Good to know
Good to Know
- Panamanian social etiquette is friendly, family oriented, hospitable, and shaped by everyday respect. Social life often overlaps with business life, especially as relationships develop. Panama is often socially warm, and greetings are part of everyday interaction.
- Building strong personal relationships is fundamental to doing business in Panama. Trust is often built through personal interaction and reliability over time.
- When discussing business, keep the conversation relaxed, as Panamanians prefer a conversational flow over a rigid agenda.
- It is customary to start with some social conversation rather than leaping into business talk – let the other party bring it up and in the meantime stick to culture and sports.
- Panamanians value respect for their cultural heritage and traditions; negative comments about the country or its people are considered disrespectful.
- God is regularly referenced in everyday conversations—this is a normal and important part of Panamanian communication.
Tipping
Avoid tipping anything less than 10 percent when dining out. It is common practice to give a 10 to 15 percent tip to the server.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Panama and remains central to business life. English is also widely present, especially in Panama City, Colón, tourism, banking, professional services, and among West Indian communities.
Greetings
- Titles
- Panamanians appreciate formal speech, especially in professional environments. Use Señor, Señora, or Licenciado (for professionals with degrees) when addressing colleagues or clients.
- Informal
- "Buenas" is a common informal greeting, while more formal situations call for "buenos días" or "buenas tardes".
- Formal Professional
- Handshakes in formal settings; light kiss on the cheek between women or between a man and woman who are acquaintances. Use friendly phrases like "Buenos días" (Good morning), "Buenas tardes" (Good afternoon), and "Buenas noches" (Good evening).
Dress Code
- Casual
- For casual outings, a pair of jeans and a clean collared shirt works well.
- Professional
- It is not only a faux pas to go shirtless in any city and town in Panama, but it is also illegal. Panamanians are stylish dressers and even when they go casual, they pay much attention to their personal appearance. Men and women wear suits and dresses even when the weather is hot.
Eye Contact
Those who hesitate to maintain eye contact during a conversation out of shyness may unfortunately be committing a major faux pas. Eye contact is perceived as a sign of integrity.
Punctuality
- Social
- Social gatherings often operate on "Panama time," meaning that guests may arrive 30-60 minutes later than the stated time.
- Business
- Punctuality is valued. Arriving on time for meetings and appointments demonstrates respect for others' schedules. Being late can be perceived as a lack of seriousness about the business relationship.
Personal Space
Unlike the people in other central and Latin American countries, Panamanians prefer personal space and avoid touching during conversations.
Sensitive Topics
- Avoid
- Avoid controversial topics such as politics, government policies, or economic disparities, especially with people you've just met. These conversations can be sensitive and are best approached cautiously.
- Religion And Culture
- Panama has many national holidays and religious festivals, including: Carnival (a massive celebration before Lent with parades and parties). Independence Days in November. Semana Santa (Holy Week), which is widely observed. Disrupting or ignoring these cultural traditions can be seen as disrespectful. Instead, try to participate and appreciate their significance.
Religious Context
Panama, like much of the rest of Latin America, is socially conservative, with a vast majority of the population reported to be Roman Catholic. Thanks to the country's history, more religions are present than in other parts of the region, but the combination of a largely Catholic cultural identity, marked economic stratification and other ingrained colonial legacies has produced a country and people who appreciate rules and accept established social castes.
Family And Relationships
The extended family is the most important social unit in Panama. People work hard to take care of their relatives and are quick to tell you about the achievements of those they are related to. Children are raised by their extended family and genuinely respect their elders. Often times, multiple generations will live under the same roof, with the younger ones taking care of their grandparents.
Gender And Cultural Context
Macho attitudes prevail. For women travelling in Panama, unsolicited attention in the form of whistles and catcalls is almost inevitable, though easily ignored.
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this culture & etiquette research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Panama City
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.