Panama

Right Now Could be the Best Time to Come to Panama...the Hub of the Americas.

Panama

Panama has long been the prime choice for retirees, second-home buyers, and property investors alike. Today you can still find apartments in sought-after areas of Panama City for $80,000 and live well on $1,200 per month.

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Panama Fast Facts

Population: 3,410,676

Capital City: Panama City

Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Time Zone: GMT-5

Language: Spanish (official), English 14%; (many Panamanians are bilingual)

Country Code: 507

Coastline: 2,490 km

Panama Articles

Tips to Get the Most Out of the 2012 International Real Estate Investment Forum
Posted on May 22, 2012 by Dan Prescher

Dan Prescher, special reports editor for International Living, and emcee at the 2011 Live and Invest in Panama Seminar, offers his tips on getting the most out of this year’s conference in Panama City.
IL Radio Episode 32: Panama—Your Residency and Visa Issues Answered
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Dan Prescher

When you talk about Panama, you’ll often find that you’re talking about all the things that make a place a tropical paradise. Panama is hugely popular with U.S. and Canadian expats, and for good reasons. But like any place else, having experienced legal help on your side is critical, even in Paradise.
One Way to Get Immediate Residency in Panama
Posted on May 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman

The Panamanian side of the Darién is dominated by deep valleys, rivers and a 6,000-foot-high mountain peak. You won’t find much else here. Starbucks hasn’t made it, and there’s no Home Depot. This is frontier country. But you will find an open door to immediate residency in Panama, along with a chance for profitable investing.
Panama’s Most Beautiful Town
Posted on May 8, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

Santa Fe de Veraguas in Panama is a tiny mountain hideaway with lots of natural bounty. About 200 miles west of Panama City, it’s the kind of place where expat couples are able to live on small pensions (as small as $1,000 a month). And I mean live comfortably. It’s easy to grow heirloom vegetables or rare orchids, should you desire.
“I Got Paid to Write About My Panama Vacation”
Posted on May 4, 2012 by Andrea Gonzales

My husband and I had recently returned from our third vacation to Panama. We had a busy trip—we toured the Panama Canal, visited the ruins of Panama La Vieja, taken a Spanish language immersion class, explored the restaurants on Via Argentina…and that was just in the city. We also got out into the countryside, strolled quiet beaches and walked in the mountains.
2012 Fast-Track Panama Fund Your Life Package
Posted on May 1, 2012 by International Living
How I Paid For My Vacation to Panama
Posted on May 1, 2012 by J. Keith Howie

I love to travel to exotic destinations—like on my last trip to Panama. I trekked in Cerro Azul in the majestic mountains overlooking Panama City and visited Santa Fe—one of the country’s hilly frontiers. The rugged natural beauty of these places begs to have a camera pointed at it. Bring a camera with you, and you can start making money right away.
Reclaim Your Retirement Dreams in Panama
Posted on April 26, 2012 by International Living

2012 Fast-Track Panama Package
Panama City, Panama – April 2012
In Panama you can have it all: a genuinely cosmopolitan capital city with one of the world’s largest financial districts… hundreds of miles of spectacular beaches… highland retreats with green valleys where the weather is spring-like, even in January and August… and did you know that there are never any hurricanes? If you crave sunshine, you’ll love Panama, where the sun shines almost every day of the year. Find out if Panama is right for you in the 2012 Fast-Track Panama Package.
Spotting an Island Dream…from 20,000 Feet Up
Posted on April 25, 2012 by Caren Abdela

We were ﬂying low over the glittering Caribbean when I saw my dream out the window. Looking down on reefs of coral and lush green islands, I just knew I had to live down there, with my toes buried in those warm, white sands,” says Stephen Crabtree.
How to Get Immediate Residency in Panama
Posted on April 25, 2012 by Robert Bauman

Since my first visit to Panama in the 1970s I’ve returned countless times and visited every part of the isthmus except one—the Darién Gap, a large swath of swamp, jungle and forest, 99 miles long and 31 miles wide, that separates Panama’s Darién Province from the Republic of Colombia.
Panama’s Islands, Rainforests, and Artisan Crafts
Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

To see what makes Panama unique, explore its rich and fascinating indigenous cultures. Bocas del Toro is the best place to start—by dint of sheer beauty. The province is partly made up of an archipelago of Caribbean islands ringed by white-sand beaches and waters the color of a summer sky. To get to Bocas del Toro from Panama City, catch a one-hour ﬂight on domestic carrier Air Panama.
What Does Your Dream Retirement Look Like?
Posted on April 25, 2012 by International Living

201 1 Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package
Las Vegas, NV – October 2011

In the Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package, we’ll show you how you can make that dream your reality… for as little as $697 a month. Maybe you long for your own cottage on a quiet beach… a grand apartment in a city vibrant with concerts and cafes… a mountain villa where the air is crisp… or even your own vineyard amid gently rolling hills. Whatever you fantasize about… come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable life at home.
2011 Fast-Track Panama Package
Posted on April 24, 2012 by International Living

Panama City, Panama – April 2011

The 2011 Fast-Track Panama Package is no longer available for sale.

Buyers and members of World Club and Publisher’s Roundtable can access the package here.
2010 Fast-Track Panama Package
Posted on April 24, 2012 by International Living

Panama City, Panama – April 2010

The 2010 Fast-Track Panama Package is no longer available for sale.

Buyers and members of World Club and Publisher’s Roundtable can access the package here.
2009 Fast-Track Panama Package
Posted on April 20, 2012 by International Living

Panama City, Panama – August 2009
The 2009 Fast-Track Panama Package is no longer available for sale.

Buyers and members of World Club and Publisher’s Roundtable can access the package here.
Panama: One of the Easiest Places in the World to Retire
Posted on April 20, 2012 by Dan Prescher

Sometimes the best way to see something is through someone else’s eyes. For example, I know Panama. My wife, Suzan Haskins, and I lived in Panama City several years ago, and we’ve traveled nearly the entire country. We’ve also attended dozens of International Living events in Panama.
Pulling the Plug on Panama
Posted on April 19, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

There’s a little mountain town in the interior of Panama where you can still buy a home or a large parcel of land next to a gurgling river. It’s likely this land will have waterfalls and hiking trails on it…you’ll see wild parrots and toucans and flowers of every tropical variety and color. The tall grass waving in the breeze will be so green, it would make even the Irish envious…
2012 Fast-Track Panama Package
Posted on April 18, 2012 by International Living
2012 Fast-Track Panama Video Package
Posted on April 18, 2012 by International Living
Baring All in Panama
Posted on April 18, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

Today Al took us on a virtual tour of Panama City—his typical day. Paying his housekeeper, going to the bank, out to lunch, paying bills, to the movies… Al and Carmen own a three-bedroom, three-bath condo on the 14th floor with a bay and city view. This area is now the “Beverly Hills of Panama City,” Al said.
Panama: Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet
Posted on April 17, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

It’s good to be back in Panama, the tiny country on the southern edge of the northern hemisphere, one of the only countries to bridge two continents… and the only country in the world where you can see the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic. Did you know that? If not, don’t worry…there are so many things unique to Panama that it’s hard to track them all. For instance… Panama is the only country in Central America with no hurricanes and no destructive earthquakes.
Retire to Panama’s Highlands from $800 a Month
Posted on April 15, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

In the distance I can see the national park, where hiking trails crisscross hills lush with rainforest. In the treetops above me, I’ve seen monkeys and toucans and several species of birds I can’t name. This is Santa Fe de Veraguas, a tiny mountain hideaway about 200 miles west of Panama City.
Panama’s Secret Surf Town
Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

If you like a good wave, Santa Catalina will more than wow you. But the volcanic outcroppings responsible for the incredible surf break also create some of Panama’s best dive and fishing spots. And if you’re a landlubber at heart, there are numerous trails for hiking out to find remote beaches or trek through the jungle to view wildlife, birds, and exotic plants.
Tips to Get the Most Out of the 2012 Fast-Track Panama Conference
Posted on April 4, 2012 by International Living

Dan Prescher, special reports editor for International Living, and emcee at the 2011 Live and Invest in Panama Seminar, offers his tips on getting the most out of this year’s conference in Panama City.
Retire Cheap: Great-Value Towns Where You Can Live Better for Less
Posted on March 27, 2012 by International Living

At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difﬁcult to rebuild.
Budgets in Great-Value Towns
Posted on March 27, 2012 by Robert Carry

Santa Fe in Panama…Vilcabamba in Ecuador…Penang in Malaysia…Granada in Nicaragua…Campeche in Mexico…you know these havens come with a rock-bottom price tag, but on what, exactly, do expats in these locations spend their money on? We’ve asked on-the-ground experts for a detailed breakdown of what a typical couple might spend each month. Here’s what they said.
Panama’s Laid-Back Secret Surf Town
Posted on March 27, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

A few white cottages sit by an open-air restaurant with a great thatched roof. A lone swimmer splashes out of the water and onto the rocky shore. The only other noise is the sound of the waves—perfect waves, if the surfers are to be believed.
A True Story About Panama
Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

“I want it all,” he said. I was at International Living’s recent Ultimate Event. This attendee had come to us seeking information about Belize and Costa Rica. But my presentation—particularly the part about Panama City—got him thinking. Suddenly, Panama was at the top of his list of countries to check out.
How Panama Changed Everything
Posted on March 8, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

Las Tablas, just 15 minutes away, is one of Panama’s best-known rural colonial towns…a place where local traditions thrive and where Carnival season engrosses the entire town. “I like exploring places where the locals are surprised to see a foreigner. We drive around or go in search of a waterfall or swimming hole we’ve heard about. It’s a fun way to spend the day.”
How to Get Discounts on Everything in Panama
Posted on March 8, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

In some countries, residency can be expensive (needing, perhaps, investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars). Not in Panama. Panama’s Pensionado program has made it easy for Baby Boomers to take advantage of everything this tiny tropical powerhouse has to offer. Most pensioners who can prove an income of at least $1,000 a month are eligible to apply.
Panama: Great Health Care at a Fraction of The Cost
Posted on March 7, 2012 by Terry Coles

As a Texan firefighter my husband, Clyde, had premium health insurance—which the city helped pay for. But once he retired we would have had to pay the full amount, about $1,000 a month. Since we were both too young for Medicaid, we wanted to live somewhere with good health care that cost less than the U.S. Panama topped all the lists.
The Two Best Day Trips from Panama City
Posted on March 2, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

From Panama City, no island is easier to get to than tiny (and often overlooked) Taboga. The best island in Panama for true local flavor, it’s just 12 miles off Panama’s Pacific coast. Locals call Taboga “the Island of Flowers.”
Travel and Photography: How Keith Made Money Overseas From His Two Favorite Hobbies
Posted on February 24, 2012 by J. Keith Howie

For me, with my own company doing project management for large Information Technology infrastructure deployments, my job was a means to an end. I worked to earn money to travel and take photos of interesting and exotic places. But I longed for a job I could do from anywhere, which would permit me to travel as I worked.
Panama: Perfect Weather, Low Taxes, Friendly People
Posted on February 22, 2012 by Terry Coles

Six months ago we moved to Panama. We knew that we didn’t want to live in a gated community. For us, it just made more sense to live among the locals where we could immerse ourselves in the culture and get to know everyone.
Three Rewarding Trips from David, Panama
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

It’s one of Panama’s newest expat destinations, with all the amenities you could want in an overseas retirement haven. There’s high-speed Internet, inexpensive restaurants, good clinics and hospitals, and a burgeoning expat community. It’s a fast-growing city and the busy domestic airport is being expanded. But the real allure of David, capital of Panama’s Chiriquí province, is its strategic location. David is a hub for the region’s best vacation spots: natural hideaways like the lush green highlands to the north or the many beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean.

In as little as 45 minutes, you can be out of David and in dozens of perfect day-trip destinations—here are three of the best.
E-zine Extra Video: A Trip Around David, Panama
Posted on February 21, 2012 by anon

David, the capital of Chiriqui, is becoming more and more popular as expats discover the delights of living amongst Panama’s successful ranchers.
Running a Language School in Pedasi, Panama
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

Ingrid Senne spends a great deal of time at the beach, doing yoga, or exploring the villages near her new home in Pedasí, Panama—“especially the tiny ones,” she says. Las Tablas, just 15 minutes away, is one of Panama’s best-known rural colonial towns…a place where local traditions thrive and where Carnival season engrosses the entire town.
Events: The Most Attractive Retirement “Package” in the World
Posted on February 21, 2012 by anon

Here’s a round-up of the events you should be keeping an eye on over the coming months. First up, the Fast Track Panama: Lifestyle and Opportunity Conference which is kicking off this April in Panama City. Panama is, arguably, the one country on our beat that offers something for everyone. Beaches. Big City. Colonial enclaves. Highland retreats. In this diverse place, the sun shines someplace, 365 days a year. You have hundreds of miles of sandy expanse…in the hills, green valleys are spring-like, even in January and August…and Panama City is genuinely cosmopolitan, with one of the world’s largest financial districts.
Panama’s Best Bargains from $50,000
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

I’m sad to report that most visitors to Panama never leave the capital city. But if you’re willing to look beyond the city skyline, a world of choice awaits. This is a country roughly the size of South Carolina, so you needn’t go far to find idyllic mountain, beach, and valley hideaways with a “so close, yet so far away” feel.
Great Havens Close to Panama City
Posted on February 20, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

Panama City is color, light, noise, and action—a thrumming, modern city that surprises first-timers with its stellar roads and steamy nightlife. But the beauty is more than skin-deep. Panama is also the region’s most convenient capital.

Upcoming Event

Fast Track Your Retirement Dreams in Panama
Event Date: Apr 12, 2012

Fast-Track Panama: Lifestyle and Opportunity Conference
April 12-14, 2012 – Panama City, Panama

Say goodbye to mounting debt and dashed dreams… Instead, get on the fast track to the retirement you deserve. Picture-perfect beaches kissed by turquoise waters… pretty mountain villages with year-round spring-like weather… a cosmopolitan seaside city with world-class restaurants and designer shopping for pennies on the dollar… For $1,500 a month or less you can be living the good life in Panama.

Find out more and register here.