Tipping in Panama
Visiting Panama for business or leisure? Read our guide about who to tip in Panama, when to tip - and how much to hand over. Then avoid any tipping missteps with our handy tip calculator.
Please be advised that in line with our current internal policy, we won’t be able to process transactions made in Panama and you won’t be able to use Wise products there.
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Do you tip in Panama?
It’s normal to tip for good service in restaurants, bars and cafes in Panama - especially in touristy or business areas. Tips are also appreciated in hotels and serviced apartments - and other places where staff may not be so well rewarded, like spas or salons.
The amount you tip in Panama will depend on where you are and what type of services you’re buying. As a general rule, expect to tip around 10% of the bill. If you get exceptionally good service, say thank you with a tip closer to 15-20%.
Tipping in Panama in restaurants & bars
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Panamanian restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Panama depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It’s customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
In bars and cafes in Panama you can round the bill to the next significant amount, or leave a small tip each time you order a drink. If you are in a fancy cocktail bar, where cocktail making is a craft - or have a particularly skilled barista make your cappuccino - you might wish to splash out and leave a bigger tip.
Suggested tip:
100 US dollars meal = suggested tip of 10 or 15 US dollars
10 US dollars for a drink = suggested tip of 1-2 US dollars
Tipping in hotels in Panama
If you’re staying in a hotel in Panama it’s standard practise to tip between 10-20%. In top end hotels with high service levels you’ll likely want to tip a range of staff, such as maids, bellboys, valets and front desk employees.
Who you tip, and how much, is ultimately at your discretion, and should be based on the levels of service you receive. To help you figure out how to budget and approach hotel tipping, check out our handy cheat sheet for tipping in Panamanian hotels.
| Hotel staff | Suggested Tip | Reasons to tip |
|---|---|---|
House-keeping | 5-10 USD | Housekeepers and maids are among the hardest working hotel staff. It’s common to say thanks for great service with a small daily tip. |
Luggage attendants / Porters | 1 USD / per bag | When you arrive at your hotel in Panama you’ll probably need help getting your bags to your room. It’s customary to give a small tip to porters so don’t forget to have some small change when checking in! |
Concierge/ Receptionist | 10-15 USD | If the hotel concierge during your stay in Panama offers exceptional service, you may want to tip. Tips aren’t needed if reception staff simply helped ordering a cab or booking dinner reservations. |
Valets | 5-10 USD / each time | If you’re driving, pay a small tip every time a valet retrieves your car from the hotel parking lot. |
Tipping taxi drivers in Panama
It’s common to tip 10% in Panama for a longer journey, and if you were helped with your luggage. For short journeys the easiest option is to round up the bill to the nearest significant amount in US dollars. Don’t forget, if you’re using local taxis rather than a ride-hailing service such as Uber, you’ll need to agree on the fare before your journey.
Suggested tip:
50 US dollars taxi bill = 5 US dollars tip for a longer journey
7.50 US dollars taxi bill = 0.50 US dollars tip for a short journey
Tipping tour guides in Panama
Your tour guide can make or break your experience when travelling - so when you find a great guide in Panama do tip them the standard 10%. Tips are equally welcome whether you’re taking a private, multi-day, or walking tour.
If you join a free tour in Panama it’s worth tipping too. Tours like these often operate on a ‘pay what you like’ basis. Your tips may be the only income your guide makes.
Sometimes you may be asked to leave a TripAdvisor review if you enjoyed your experience instead of tipping. This might help guides earn commission - and help other travellers have their own great experience in future.
Tipping at a spa in Panama
If you need a massage to unwind after your adventures in Panama it is appropriate to leave a small tip to the therapist. Budget around 10-15% of the treatment price.
That means that for a massage costing you 100 US dollar , you might consider leaving a tip of 10 US dollars if the service was average, or as you’d expect - or say thanks with a 15% tip if the therapist provided an outstanding treatment.
Suggested tip:
100 US dollars massage bill = 10 US dollars tip to masseuse for a standard treatment
100 US dollars massage bill = 15 US dollars tip to masseuse for an outstanding treatment
Tips for tipping in Panama
- Whenever you tip during your trip to Panama it is important to use the local currency, that is - US dollars. Otherwise you’ll leave your service providers with cash they can’t use without paying high fees on currency exchange. Prepare some small change in the local currency before leaving the airport if you can, to tip drivers and hotel porters.
Tip in the local currency
- Tipping is a great way to acknowledge and reward great service. If the service charge is not already added to your bill, then tipping is at your discretion - but will always be appreciated. The staff working in restaurants and hotels in Panama often have tough jobs for lower end wages - think twice before canceling any gratuity tip request on their payment terminals.
