{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/panama/colon","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:05:48.700Z","place":{"city":"Colón","country":"Panama","countryCode":"PA","lat":9.36025,"lon":-79.90019},"safety":{"score":60,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":57,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":61,"travellerSentiment":{"score":54,"label":"Cautious","summary":"Historical reports and news indicate a general perception of caution is warranted, with past incidents of unrest and crime impacting the city's reputation.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":30,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":52,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":54,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":69,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":82,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"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":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","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":76643,"display":"77k residents","year":null,"score":88,"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":47,"display":"US AQI 47 · Good","year":null,"score":90,"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":19.539069055,"display":"20 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"July: highs ~30°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 3 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":97,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":30,"display":"30 / 100 (Cautious)","year":null,"score":30,"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":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Colón presents moderate safety risks for travelers, requiring heightened awareness and caution.","summary":"While official advisories suggest normal precautions, Colón has a higher homicide rate than many developed nations and a history of civil unrest. Travelers should be vigilant against petty crime and aware of their surroundings, particularly in certain areas.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While not explicitly highlighted for tourists, Colón has a higher homicide rate than many countries, suggesting a baseline risk of violent crime, particularly in less-trafficked areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common risks in crowded areas such as markets, bus stations, and near the Colón Free Zone."},"safeAreas":["Portobelo"],"avoidAreas":["Nuevo Colón","Barrio Norte","Barrio Sur"],"scams":["Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially from the port.","Distraction theft, where an accomplice distracts you while another picks your pocket."],"zones":[{"name":"Colón Free Zone","level":"caution","note":"High commercial activity can attract petty crime; be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"Portobelo","level":"safe","note":"Historically significant and generally considered safe for tourists."},{"name":"Nuevo Colón","level":"avoid","note":"Reports of significant crime and social issues make this area unsafe for visitors."},{"name":"Barrio Norte","level":"avoid","note":"High crime rates and social unrest make this area dangerous."},{"name":"Barrio Sur","level":"avoid","note":"Similar to Barrio Norte, this area has significant safety concerns."},{"name":"Downtown Colón","level":"caution","note":"While a commercial hub, petty crime and scams are prevalent; stay alert."}]}}