Panama Weather

Here at Rancho de Caldera, the daytime temperatures are normally in the mid-80s (Fahrenheit) and nighttime temperatures range between 68 and 72 degrees year round. There are only 2 seasons in Panama, the dry season (summer) and the wet season (winter). The dry season in Caldera is sunny and very dry, with winds of varying intensity. The rainy season is a delightful mixture of sun and rain, producing lush green surroundings, and is this author's favorite season.

Summer

The summer season is from December to April (yes, "summer" here is from December to April!!!). There is virtually no rain in the summer season and it can get windy in February and March. Typically the wind picks up about 10 AM, dies down by 5pm and it is usually still by nightfall. December and most of January are prime summer months, as the grass and fields are still green and usually there is not much wind. The summer school break begins in early December and school resumes in early March, so the beaches may be crowded on weekends during the summer.

Winter

The winter season is from May thru November with the rainiest months being October and November. A typical winter day goes like this: clear sunny mornings with a few clouds over the Continental Divide, just enough for frequent, spectacular sunrises. It remains sunny in the morning and then about noon the clouds start to roll in. Typically it stays partly cloudy until about 3 PM or 4 PM, and then it rains, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot! It is possible to get an inch an hour with incredible thunder and lightning. The rains then typically stops around 5pm. The rain cools off the warmth of the day very quickly and freshens the air.

The clouds that hover over the Continental Divide during the rainy season provide us with an ever-changing view that is often times breathtaking. October and November have the same pattern as the earlier part of the rainy season except that it generally rains more and the rain can start as early as noon. There are sometimes several days that are cloudy all day long with off and on light rain, but this is rare.

Caldera, Downtown Boquete, and Micro-Climates

The weather varies significantly in Chiriqui, and in the Boquete district in particular. Caldera is about 8° F warmer than downtown Boquete, despite the fact that Caldera is located less than 10 miles, as the crow flies, from downtown Boquete. This is because the elevation in Caldera is only about 1300 feet compared to downtown Boquete at 3200 feet (with surrounding elevations of up to 5500 feet, and nearby Volcan Baru at over 11,000 feet). Similarly, Caldera is significantly cooler than nearby David, whose elevation is much closer to sea level.

With regard to precipitation, Caldera is much dryer than downtown Boquete, particularly during the peak of the dry season (January – April). Caldera is truly dry then, experiencing only a couple of days with rain during the entire 4-month period. In contrast, during this same time frame, downtown Boquete frequently experiences bajareque ("more than a mist, less than a rain"); while it makes for amazing rainbows, it is still a form of rain and can be heavy at times.