February is when Panama Canal truly comes into the hot and dry season, which is great news for you! This is when you can really catch a tan, though of course you should be wary of the hot weather and take precautions against sunburn. Without the rain to cool you off, you can get very hot very quickly. Average daily temperatures at this time of year stand around 28°C, with daily highs starting at 32°C and lows at 23°C.
What you may notice is that there is a lot of variation in these figures, so be aware. You could be looking at a temperature that is almost 10 degrees higher than it was the day before! It's a good idea to keep checking back on the weather forecast for this very reason. Also be aware that the sea will be very warm to swim in average temperatures of 27°C are to be expected.
This is all mostly down to the heat of the sun, which shines for the longest time of the year this month. You will see days of around 9 hours of sunshine, which is an extra hour over January or March giving you that much more time to enjoy the weather every day. A lot of people like to visit this month because of this, as well as the fact that it is a good way to get away from the kind of cold weather that might be found elsewhere.
Meanwhile, rainfall is minimal. We are in the heart of the dry season now, where Panama sees much less rain than other times of year sometimes less than a tenth than in the wet months. Just 32mm will fall over 4 days of the month so you do not have to be hugely lucky to find yourself with a fully dry week.
The Canal Inn is a great B&B where you can take a short break or a longer stay. It's a small guesthouse in a central location, giving you access to plenty of local areas of interest. They have single, double, and family rooms available, and serve a varied breakfast each morning.
The Jamraka Homestay was designed for backpackers, giving you the chance to experience real Panamanian style and comfort. The family who run it will look after you personally, and can give you a guided tour of the city if you wish. By the end of your trip, you may feel like one of the family yourself!
If you prefer a more luxurious stay, try Country Inn & Suites By Carlson perfect as a base for your February visit, particularly with such dry and hot days. Why not spend them in the pool? There is also a fitness centre and free internet access, and you will be close by plenty of local landmarks or points of interest. It's also easy to find your way back.
The sea temperatures remain at an average of 27°C, so you can definitely spare the time for a day trip to another beach. With a little less crowding than those closer to home, taking an hour or so to travel to Farallon could be a really great option. There are a few different beaches here, with a good selection of restaurants and shops along the sand as well. Make sure you enjoy lunch here before you think about heading back.
Sunbathing is the main thing here, as well as swimming in the warm waters, but you can find other water sports to occupy your time if you are happy to pay for the pleasure. There are some companies along the beach which will provide equipment, rides, or lessons in a number of areas.
Donde Jose is certainly not the cheapest restaurant in town, but it is one of the best. This is the height of Panamanian cuisine, as you will see from the various press clippings and reviews on their website. For a special occasion, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this option.
The Cerveceria La Rana Dorada Pub is a bit more cheap and cheerful. Here you will find good quality beer, served in a great atmosphere. The name translates as "the golden frog", celebrating one of the indigenous animals of Panama, and you will find fantastic local ales here as well.
The Fish Market is the obvious place to go for seafood. They offer different kinds of food as well, but are artists with fish, creating beautiful plates of ceviche and the like which almost don't want to be eaten. This is a hip place which is up and coming in Panama.
Take advantage of the hot weather by spending a lot of time outdoors in February provided you have the right sunscreen. What can you do? Well, visiting the Casco Viejo is a must. This is the old part of the city, which features many historic buildings for you to admire as you walk down cobbled streets. It was built as a walled city in 1671, as a response to the destruction of the original settlement by fearsome pirate Henry Morgan. It's a thrilling place to see!
You can also visit Gatun Lake, the second largest man-made lake in the world. Fishing is a popular pastime here, so you can bring or rent some rods and enjoy a quiet day yourself. Otherwise, you can admire the Barro Colorado Island, currently run by the Smithsonian Institute, where scientific study has led to many breakthroughs in understanding the tropical animal and plant kingdom.
