{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/panama/bocas-del-toro","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T12:11:16.409Z","place":{"city":"Bocas del Toro","country":"Panama","countryCode":"PA","lat":9.34031,"lon":-82.24204},"safety":{"score":57,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":51,"confidence":0.53,"caps":[],"databaseScore":54,"travellerSentiment":{"score":68,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate visitors generally feel safe in Bocas del Toro, especially in tourist areas and during daylight hours; solo female travelers report feeling secure but advise caution at night and on isolated beaches.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":70,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":53,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":68,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":43,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":69,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":80,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Wed, 19 Aug 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/panama-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2025-12-10T13:26:25Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/panama"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-29T14:54:26.6737941-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/panama"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":11.7072934419645,"display":"11.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":41,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":8.8,"display":"8.8%","year":"2010","score":77,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":7.3,"display":"7.3 / 100k","year":"2021","score":75,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":70.4155683,"display":"70/100","year":"2024","score":70,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":52.4309378,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":36.6386167,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":56.1071256,"display":"56/100","year":"2024","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":53.6988437,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":64.5696958,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":5380,"display":"5k residents","year":null,"score":94,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":42.4,"display":"42.4 / 100","year":null,"score":63,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":33,"display":"33.0%","year":"2016","score":24,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.74,"display":"0.74 / 100k","year":"2023","score":82,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2019","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":24,"display":"US AQI 24 · Good","year":null,"score":94,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":2,"display":"2 within 15 km · nearest ~0.7 km","year":null,"score":66,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"September: highs ~30°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Flood (green)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1.5,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":75,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Flood","severity":"green","title":"flood alert in Costa Rica","distanceKm":196}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Bocas del Toro is generally safe for travelers who exercise normal precautions, though petty crime and occasional unrest require vigilance.","summary":"Bocas del Toro scores 74/100 on safety indices, with low violent crime but moderate risks of petty theft and scams. While tourist zones remain largely unaffected, the mainland experienced civil unrest in 2025, and specific areas like jungle trails between beaches pose documented robbery risks. Visitors report feeling safe during the day but should avoid isolated areas after dark.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery against visitors is rare but occurs, mainly on isolated jungle trails between beaches on Isla Bastimentos after dark; avoid walking this trail alone."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded spots such as the main dock, public markets, and during festivals; keep bags secure and front-facing."},"safeAreas":["Isla Bastimentos (main settlements)","Isla Cristóbal (Pastorelli)","Isla Popa"],"avoidAreas":["Wizard Beach to Red Frog Beach trail (Isla Bastimentos) - armed robberies and murder risk","Changuinola (mainland) - civil unrest and U.S. Embassy advisory to avoid"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging","Fake tour operators","ATM skimming","Beach distraction theft","Restaurant overcharging","Accommodation deposit scams"],"zones":[{"name":"Bocas Town (Isla Colón)","level":"caution","note":"Main tourist hub; generally safe day and night but petty theft occurs in crowded areas like docks and markets."},{"name":"Isla Bastimentos (main settlements)","level":"safe","note":"Tight-knit communities like Banco and Old Bank offer natural security; popular with backpackers and generally low crime."},{"name":"Wizard Beach to Red Frog Beach trail (Isla Bastimentos)","level":"avoid","note":"High-risk jungle trail; armed robberies with machetes reported, including a 2016 murder; avoid solo hiking."},{"name":"Isla Solarte","level":"caution","note":"Larger island with beautiful beaches but muggings after dark reported; stick to main areas and avoid walking alone at night."},{"name":"Isla Cristóbal (Pastorelli)","level":"safe","note":"Small island near Bocas Town; tight-knit community provides natural security; low crime and popular with budget travelers."},{"name":"Changuinola (mainland)","level":"avoid","note":"Mainland experienced civil unrest in 2025; U.S. Embassy advises avoiding all areas of Bocas del Toro Province including Changuinola due to instability."},{"name":"Almirante (mainland)","level":"caution","note":"Primary boat gateway; generally safe but incidents of being followed reported; exercise caution when walking to boat port, especially at night."},{"name":"Isla Popa","level":"safe","note":"Remote island with limited tourism; low population density reduces crime risk; standard precautions advised for beach and water activities."}]}}