As of May 2017, The U.S. Department of State does not have an official travel warning for Panama. That said, as with many other countries and cities, traveling to Panama does not come without some risk. The Department of State suggests that before you travel to Panama, you enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which gives travelers access to updated warnings and assistance from the Department of State. Read on to learn more about how to travel safely so you can enjoy your trip to Panama to the fullest.

What is a Travel Warning and More on STEP The Department of State issues travel warnings as a way to caution adventurous travelers before they make their way to a specific country or region. The reasons for an issued travel warning may vary, but can include an unstable government, ongoing civil war, crime or violence, or even terrorist attacks. Travel warnings are put in place when the U.S. government believes that it may be dangerous to travel to an area, and remains in effect until the conditions in the country change – meaning that they may stay in effect for years. To learn more about whether or not the country you are visiting is under a U.S.-mandated travel warning, visit the U.S. Department of State's [website](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html). Regardless of whether or not the country you are visiting is under a U.S.-mandated travel warning, it is smart to enroll in the STEP program. Not only does STEP give you access to information from the U.S. Embassy in the country you are visiting, it will also allow the U.S. Embassy to contact you (and even your family and friends to contact you) in case there is an emergency while you are on your vacation.

A Word on Crime and Safety According to the U.S. Department of State's [website](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/panama.html), cities, like Panama City, Colon and Chiriqui, have higher crime rates. More common crimes include shootings, muggings, theft, rape and kidnapping. So when visiting, as with any other large city, it's recommended you travel in groups, lock your car doors while driving and remove any valuables from you car when you park. You should also only ride in registered taxis or transportation provided by your hotel. Once in your ride, make sure you inform your taxi driver to not pick up any additional fares along the route to your destination. If traveling to the Darien region or Mosquito Coast, be aware that due to their remote locations, you may not be afforded the same security as in the city. The Darien province lacks good roads and medical facilities. Further, closer to the Panama-Colombian border, there are more reports of drug trafficking, Colombian terrorist groups and other criminal activities. On the Mosquito Coast, most of the region is only accessible by boat or plane. As a result, the U.S. Department of State reports that some of the coastline is used for drug and other illegal activities. As a result, if you are in either region – Darien or Mosquito Coast – it's recommended that you be aware of your surroundings. Be wary of any boats that seem to be transporting something illegal. And, do not pick up packages that wash up on the beaches; instead, report them to authorities immediately.

Choosing Safe Transportation The roads in cities usually are well-maintained and safe, although they are heavily congested and many intersections do not have traffic lights. Outside the cities, road conditions are considerably worse. Panama experiences heavy rains from April to December and even in the cities this can lead to road closings. Further, it's not recommended that you take public transportation due to petty theft and pick pockets. That said, the Panamanian government asserts that instances of theft have decreased with recent metro upgrades that allow for bigger windows and better lighting. If you plan on traveling by boat, be wary of your surroundings. Boaters should be aware that drug and human traffickers sometimes use Panama's waters to smuggle narcotics and people. If boating, avoid suspicious vessels and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

A Word on Health In general, the medical facilities in the cities are very good and up to date, though they may be a little scarce outside of the cities. It's recommended that you check with your health insurance and possibly buy additional health insurance before your trip to avoid hefty hospital costs, if the need arises. Further, as of May 2017, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning for Zika for Panama. Zika can cause severe birth defects, so the CDC recommends that pregnant women not travel to Panama. Further, any visitors to the country should practice safe mosquito behavior and avoid sexual exposure to Zika during and after their trip. Further, the CDC recommends practicing safe travel behavior, such as getting vaccinated beforehand, keeping away from stray animals, taking anti-malaria medications, reducing mosquito bites by wearing mosquito repellent and reducing germ exposure any way you can. For an updated list of CDC recommendations, visit the CDC [website](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/panama).

Documentation Americans traveling to Panama must have a passport valid for three months after arrival, a return ticket home, $500 in cash or the equivalent, no criminal record and no evidence of HIV/AIDS. The Panamanian immigration will most likely not check your criminal record or test for HIV/AIDS, but does reserve the right to deport anyone found with either. When leaving the country, children who are Panamanian citizens have to have notarized legal consent from both parents to leave the country unless the child is traveling with both parents, and the government might require the same documentation in the case of a child who is an American citizen. Tourists are supposed to carry identification with them at all times, such as a passport or a driver's license.

Disclosure Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.