{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/panama/boquete","updatedAt":"2026-09-04T23:25:47.202Z","place":{"city":"Boquete","country":"Panama","countryCode":"PA","lat":8.78024,"lon":-82.44136},"safety":{"score":66,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":66,"confidence":0.72,"caps":[],"databaseScore":62,"travellerSentiment":{"score":84,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Visitors and residents report feeling safe walking alone during the day (87/100) and reasonably safe at night (66/100), indicating a strong sense of personal security in the town.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":76,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":66,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":43,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":69,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":75,"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":"2026-08-21T15:37:03.1089342-04:00","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":6123,"display":"6k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"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":29,"display":"US AQI 29 · Good","year":null,"score":93,"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":0,"display":"None mapped within 15 km","year":null,"score":22,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":27,"display":"September: highs ~27°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"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":76,"display":"76 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":76,"source":"City Web Research"}],"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":162}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Boquete is generally safe for travelers, with low violent crime and a strong expat community, though petty theft and natural hazards require caution.","summary":"Boquete scores 77/100 on the IsMyTripSafe index (July 2026), reflecting low violent crime and high daytime safety, but moderate property crime and seasonal flooding risks. Residents and visitors report feeling safe walking alone in daylight (87/100) and reasonably safe at night (66/100). The main risks for tourists are scams and occasional pickpocketing in crowded areas, not violent crime.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are rare in Boquete; violent crime is not seen as a major local problem per resident surveys."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur occasionally in the town center and markets, especially during festivals or busy weekends."},"safeAreas":["Town Center (Plaza Principal)","Alto Boquete","Los Naranjos"],"avoidAreas":["Boquete River crossing points (after heavy rain due to flood/landslide risk)"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging by unmetered or unofficial drivers","Fake police officers demanding fines for minor infractions"],"zones":[{"name":"Town Center (Plaza Principal)","level":"safe","note":"Well-lit, high foot traffic, strong police presence; safest area day and night."},{"name":"Alto Boquete","level":"safe","note":"Upscale residential zone with expat homes and private security; very safe, though more isolated after dark."},{"name":"Bajo Boquete (near Río Caldera)","level":"caution","note":"Safe by day and early evening; exercise normal caution after dark due to reduced lighting and foot traffic."},{"name":"Los Naranjos","level":"safe","note":"Popular coffee farm and tourist area; low crime, strong community watch, safe for daytime visits and tours."},{"name":"Volcán Barú foothills trailheads","level":"caution","note":"Popular for hiking; exercise caution when hiking alone due to slippery trails and sudden weather changes in September."},{"name":"Coffee plantation routes (rural outskirts)","level":"caution","note":"Generally safe during guided tours; avoid unaccompanied walks after dark due to poor lighting and remote terrain."},{"name":"Boquete River crossing points","level":"avoid","note":"Avoid after heavy rain; September wet season increases flood and landslide risk near riverbanks."}]}}