Gay friendly panama


A Queer Guide To Panama City

This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)

This gay travel guide is your passport to exploring Panama City through a queer lens, discovering its LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, events, and experiences that will make your visit truly unforgettable. 

Panama City has become more tolerant of LGBTQ+ life over the last 10 years, and is now a place that same-sex couples will like visiting. It’s not necessarily a place where you will see couples holding hands in public nor is same-sex marriage legal, but this hasn’t stopped a strong queer community of locals and foreigners to be out and proud! There is now a huge yearly pride parade that takes place in Casco Viejo, lots of gay-friendly establishments, and overall so many unique experiences to have in Panama. 


Does Panama City have a gay neighborhood? 

Via Argentina is the unofficial “gayborhood” in Panama City. It’s not super gay, but is the most funky neighborhood in Panama City so you find a little bit of everything here. The main avenue of Via Argentina has several cafés, bakeri

Panama Expat Forum

roberg55

  3/4/ EST


We are an older couple, married only 3 years and looking to possess a peaceful and adj and new life. What if anything might we need to look out for regarding how gays are treated in various areas of Panama and/or Costa Rica.
louisebelisle

  3/4/ EST


Safety for gays was my first question regarding Panama, if Panama was accepting, then they would be accepting of different cultures and races. My gay friend moved here and confirmed that he was very well treated, I also met a gentleman that was transitioning, he was at the launch and awkward stage. He lived in a little village, everyone was friendly, waved and at no time did he sense threatened. That for me was the green flash to come to Panama where people are treated as people, regardless. I have been here since and am happy with the all-inclusive culture we enjoy. Respect is key.
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If you have not yet been to Panama it is an absolute must. We only spent ten days in Panama and were pleasantly surprised to find gay owned hotels (like this luxury boutique in Bocas Del Toro) and a great gay scene in the Panama City itself.

We met up with Roberto Broce in Panama City to detect our more about ‘gay Panama’ and find out if Panama is gay friendly.

Who is Roberto? ‘Hi! My name’s Roberto Broce, I’m 26 years aged and I work as a marketing analyst for the Innovation Centre of a foundation here in Panama called Ciudad del Saber. I’ve been travelling for 10 years living in almost every continent around the world, partaking in several social causes in places like China and Australia. I fond kitesurfing, astronomy, and adventure travelling. !”

Based on our discussion, we have position together the below mini gay travel guide to Panama

Is Panama Gay Friendly?

It depends a lot on where you go and whether the people you are around were raised in an urban or a rural environment, their age, whether they were raised in a religious home

XS Club

XS Club is one of the main gay clubs in Panama. It has a young crowd, mostly getting busy on Friday and Saturday.

The club is spacious, drinks not expensive, large dance floor, smoking room more

place

Via José Ricardo Alfaro (Tumba Muerto); Avenida Juan Pablo II, Panama map

schedule

  • wed

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  • fri - sat

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  • sun

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Opening hours are indicative only.

Hamman Sauna & Spa

Gay sauna / bathhouse Gym, turkish bath (labyrinth), jacuzzi, dry sauna, VIP loosen rooms, massage rooms, bar, lounge and internet.

place

Hamman Sauna & Spa

Calle 32 Este, Panama map

schedule

  • mon - thu

    -

  • fri - sat

    -

  • sun

    -

Opening hours are indicative only.