If you are headed to Panama City for any reason and curious about the sex workers in the city while you do business or disconnect for a few days, this guide has you covered. I spent a few months in Panama City on my tour of Central America and per usual, fully immersed myself in the wild night life and illegal activities that draw in so many tourists in Latin America.
My goal is to answer all your questions, clear up an misinformation, and help you understand the legal framework of prostitution in Panama City looks like.
But first, a lovely pic of the Panama skyline. If you haven’t been, it’s a lot like the Brickell Avenue area in Miami and really has some sharp architecture. Panama is a huge financial hub for wealthy residents of Central and South America, so you’ll see a lot of business travelers and conventions in Panama City.
Is Prostitution Legal in Panama?
Yes, prostitution in Panama is legal. Registered sex workers as well as well, unregistered sex workers are abundant if you know where to look. You’ll find sexual services offered at a variety of places around the country, mainly in the big city of Panama City where you can visit strip clubs, massage parlors, and even in some streets and casinos.
The Prostitution Legal Framework Explained
It’s important you understand that while legal, there are a few things to take into consideration. While most of the sex workers are not registered, sex workers are indeed required to carry identification cards after being registered with the government. Health checks are in place to make sure safety measures are followed as well.
While consensual sex among working girls and clients is legal, pimping and working outside of establishments operating within specific regulations is illegal and can lead to severe penalties.
Do not even think about having sex with a minor. I said it. Adhere to it, or expect to rot away in a Panamanian prison with basically zero rights and an awful environment.
You’ll encounter no shortage of foreign workers in the Panama prostitution circles. These women, often from Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, and beyond, require a special visa called the “alternadora visa.”
It’s worth noting that human trafficking is rampant in Panama City. Sadly, there are many women who are victims of this and forced into sex trafficking. They do not work out of desire, but out of fear. Be very careful if you are not in a popular tourist area as you may see these women aggressively being touted by groups profiting off of their trade.
Red Light Districts in Panama City
There aren’t any official red light districts in Panama City, and things can be spread out throughout the city. However, there are some establishments that have become very popular for tourists and locals alike who seek company from female sex workers. Here are a few examples of where you can find ladies of the night in Panama City.
Strip Clubs AKA “Night Clubs” In Panama City
El Capri
In Central America strip clubs are referred to as “night clubs.” Don’t think you are going to some discoteca for some dancing. Here you will get in for $10 and receive three free domestic beers or two domestic drinks like a Rum & Coke with your admission. While that might sound cheap on the surface, the lap dances and beyond can add up. Use your imagination, anything goes here.
Miami Club
Miami Club is another night club option where you’ll find cheap drinks, hot strippers, and a vibe that resembles the days of Miami Vice. You can get lap dances and even take the women out to a hotel or quickie motel if you wish, or do the deed right there.
Le Palace
This is the creme de la creme to find the most beautiful women in the city. This venue only opens at night and it goes late. While not technically a strip club, there is a show every 30 minutes or so. One woman goes on stage and dances around to different props while music plays. Other than that, you can sit at a table or at the bar, enjoy higher priced cocktails, bottle services, and more. Women stand along the walls and will come to your table to join you if you invite them. If you wish to take them out of the premises, this can be arranged for a hefty fee. The women here are in sexy lingerie and you will find the sexiest women out of all venues at Le Palace.
Prostitutes in Panama City (Street Walkers)
While there are many establishments listed below that offer a much safer environment for legal prostitution in Panama, you can find street walkers freelancing on Calle Uruguay. This is a bustling area with restaurants, bars, and cafe’s where women (mostly Colombian) will chat you up and offer their services. Be careful if this is the route you choose. These women may offer you more than a good time, they may have been banned from a venue for having sexually transmitted infections and STD’s.
Of course, you can look online for escorts in Panama. There are a host of websites that come up when you make that search. Here’s a sample of what you can expect:
Othes Venues With for Sexual Services in Panama City
Golden Time
This is your typical massage environment where you’ll enter a room and be given a notepad. This is so you can take notes and write down the number of the woman who comes into the room, flashes her assets, introduces herself, and leaves. Golden Time is in a commercial shopping plaza – making it a very odd location for prostitution in Panama, but hey, it works. When I was there it was adjacent to a Subway sandwich shop. The talent here is phenomenal. It’s mostly Colombian women with great bodies and fake boobs. Some even have fake butts. Once you get rubbed down, you can partake in anything you want. It’s been a while since I was there but the fee was around $100.
La Nueva Gruta Azul
Simply called “La Gruta” by the locals and regulars, this is the oldest brothel in Panama City. Rumors have it that even Presidents visited this famous spot. There’s a stripper pole where shows happen every hour, but if you don’t want to wait, you can call women over to your table to give you a show right there. You can also go to the VIP room for an agreed amount of time and money. While this may not look like the best place, I found it to be very secure and welcoming. You can also take the women out for a fee that was $300 when I was there. La Gruta is definitely an old time venue that has a lot of history behind it.
Sun Casino
This building has changed names a few times and many local prostitutes call it “The Trump” as he had naming rights for a few years. Now it’s called the Sun Casino and it’s adjacent to the J.W. Marriott. This venue is a full blown Vegas style casino where you can find many women of the night in Panama City and arrange companionship.
Former Establishments With Sex Workers in Panama
My first visit to Panama City was a very different landscape than what we find today. Back in 2006, I stayed at a hotel called El Veneto. It was a lively casino with a sportsbook, poker room, bar, and multiple restaurants. This was a popular spot at night and it was littered with working women, gamblers, and party goers. Last time I visited it was a decrepit building that looked like it had been hit by a hurricane. It was just left abandoned, apparently. The once nice facade is decayed and filthy.
The other spot I noticed that closed during COVID, presumably, was Habanos. This was an outdoor venue just steps from Le Palace where you could smoke Cuban cigars and have about 100 options of women to accompany you if you felt like leaving with them. I remember being groped and solicited here on one steamy July afternoon by a voluptuous Venezuelan bombshell. This place is definitely missed.
Panama vs. Costa Rica for Escorts
Having been in both environments, I can whole heartedly say that Panama City has more beautiful women. This is because it’s a lot easier for the women of Colombia to not only arrive in Panama, but also find places of employment with tourist visas where they can work as independent contractors.
Costa Rica, outside of Jaco, has really cleaned up San Jose and the area known as the “Gringo Gulch” is basically dead.
Panama City offers higher end venues and even La Gruta Azul makes some of the areas in the red light district of San Jose Costa Rica look dumpy.
I would say there is more sex trafficking in Panama if I’m being honest. Sex trafficking is a hot topic there and human trafficking has become a serious problem. You have to wonder how many of these women were forced into the trade, but that’s Latin America and if I’m being honest, the same thing happens in the United States. Most prostitutes in the world are desperately trying to feed their families wherever home is, and they end up being conned by human trafficking scumbags that promise them employment – only to find out they will become prostitutes. It’s a sad, sad story.
Summary of Prostitutes in Panama City
Prostitution legal rules allow you to engage in this trade in nightclubs, strip clubs, brothels, and pretty much anywhere women of the night find the tourism. Escorts are also available if you use the Tindr dating app or other apps to meet women. Not all will be escorts, but many will ask for money when you start exchanging messages. If this is an activity you are going to partake in, please follow all local rules, be aware of your surroundings, and stay away from drugs. Drugs can be a gateway to being robbed or worse.
This article is for informational purposes to help tourists and visitors to Panama City safely traverse the night life and surroundings. Use this as a guide and know that I’m simply sharing details of my experiences. Your mileage may vary. Comments are open for anyone who has updates on law, venues, and Panama night life in general. Be safe out there!
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum. Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.
