Best time of year for Panama Canal?

[traveling grandma]

Thinking about doing a full-transit Panama Canal cruise. What is best time of year weather wise? Is it hot and muggy all year? Is there a rainy season to avoid? Anything else I need to consider in deciding what time of year?

[BillB48]

The dry season in Panama runs from late December to about the middle of April and that is the approximate time you will find most of the Canal transits occuring around that time. Coming from AZ I don't believe you will find it hot;), I have never been so hot than I was in AZ!! It will be humid.... generally it does not get much over 90F but there will be plenty of humidity. As far as heat goes, it's not too bad if you seek a little shade when the sun is blazing and it's usually fairly easy to catch a breeze on deck and air conditoning is not too far away. Even the dry season doesn't mean no rain, just less rain;)! If you happen to pick a cruise a little outside those months, don't worry, you may get a little rain but usually those rains are not an all day affair, just the splash and dash variety.

[kuldalai]

Best times to cruise the Panama Canal - September to April .

Not so good - May to August .

[kestrel]

The dry season is from around mid December to mid April. I think that's the best time to cruise the Panama Canal.