GLD INDEXGLD COUNTRY SCORE
The national picture for LGBTQ+ travel.
YOUR DESTINATION IN THE INDEX
Among destinations covered by this index with current publishable scores. Based on unrounded scores; equal values share a rank. As of 2026-09-27. How rankings work →
YOUR DESTINATION, IN CONTEXT
Panama has a published GLD Country Score of 56/100, in the Medium range.
Panama combines a cosmopolitan capital and globally connected canal economy with limited relationship recognition and uneven social acceptance. Panama City has the most visible community, while islands, beaches and interior regions offer less dedicated infrastructure.
PLACES TO STAY
Independent selections with sourced hotel information and LGBTQ+ travel context.
BEYOND THE NATIONAL SCORE
Source-based overview · external sources consulted 2026-09-29. GLD score dates are shown separately.
Panama City is the principal transport hub, while highlands, Caribbean islands and Pacific destinations involve road, boat or domestic-air connections. Rainfall and marine schedules affect regional access.
Sources: Tourism Panama — official websiteGaylidays currently connects 11 scored cities to the national picture. Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Boquete are the three highest-scoring cities currently covered. Recorded city scores range from 50/100 in Chitré to 57/100 in Panama City, a 7-point spread that shows why local context still matters.
Source: GLD country and city scoring records. Interpretation of the recorded assessment, not a new score calculation.Pride and community activity are most evident in Panama City. Outside the capital, tourism familiarity may support practical comfort without producing permanent queer venues or equivalent public visibility.
Sources: Tourism Panama — official websitePanama City has the greatest concentration of organisations, events and venues.
Sources: Tourism Panama — official websiteNo. Provider practices and local attitudes vary substantially.
Sources: Tourism Panama — official websiteHOW TO READ THIS SCORE
The country score combines legal rights, social acceptance, rule of law and travel comfort. City guides add the local perspective to this national foundation.
BEHIND THIS SCORE
The source-based overview above adds national and city-level context. These are the recorded score components; the editorial research has not recalculated them.
Components have different weights and may be subject to methodology caps; this is not a simple average.
ILGA World legal evidence; Equaldex public opinion and legal context; World Bank WGI Rule of Law; GLD Editorial Review using LGBTQ+ travel evidence for Panama City, Bocas del Toro and Boquete.
Synced from GLD Index on 27 Sept 2026. The sync date is not an evidence verification date.
No. Use the GLD Index alongside current official travel advice and local information. Conditions and personal experiences vary.
This score is read from GLD Index’s data portal, using only current published or partner-ready records. Score last updated: 19 May 2026. Public display levels use the existing four-band scale; the underlying methodology category is tracked separately.