Social Life in Panama
Behavior
The Panamanians are conservative in most aspects of their lives and this is best seen in their behaviors, dress, and dining etiquette. They tend to dress and act conservatively, much of which is based on the doctrines of their Catholic faith. However, there is also great variety in the way the Panamanians behave as the country is quite diverse ethnically and geographically.
As a visitor to Panama try to follow the lead of the locals by dressing conservatively (see below for details), dining in the local etiquette (see our Panama Dining & Food Page), and avoid sensitive conversation topics, such as politics, finances, and business unless initiated by your local counterpart. Also try to avoid being loud, rude, showing off wealth, or getting noticeably drunk in public.