Jessica Ramesch
Articles by Jessica Ramesch
“Lazy” isn’t quite the right word to describe the village of Santa Fe de Veraguas, located in Panama’s Veraguas province. Other words come to mind: “bohemian,” “quirky,” and “effortless.” A town of about 3,000 people, Santa Fe has no traffic. Even on the main road cars pass infrequently. And everyone—every single person—says hello or buenas as they pass.
Amid the towers of steel and chrome waft the tantalizing smells of seafood and spices. Argentine, Cuban, Swiss, German, Thai, and Indian are only a few of the offerings you’ll enjoy today in Panama City.
Fireworks explode in the sky above me. Reflected in the Panama Bay, I see fiery skyrockets, tungsten stars, and spidery bursts of pink, purple, and green. It’s the celebration of the Chinese New Year—an event Panama City has adopted as its own and celebrates with gusto.
Go for the Canal…Stay for Everything Else. That’s what the New York Times is saying about Panama. The publishing giant’s travel section listed Panama as number one out of 45 Places to Go in 2012. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones don’t disagree. They are on vacation in Panama this week with their family.
There’s a highland village in Panama you probably haven’t heard of yet—a handful of North Americans are only beginning to establish a bohemian community. Pines and flowering shrubs, beautifully paved roads and neatly painted houses, where no-one locks their doors and everyone has reliable Internet.
In this video, International Living Panama editor Jessica Ramesch visits the mountain village of Santa Fe in the Veraguas province of Panama. The tiny town is rich in mountain charm, from its small, friendly community of locals (and just a few expats) to its lush vegetation and rural mountain feel.
Richard Brady goes by Ricardo these days…he’s been in Panama since 2001 and has no plans to return to Florida. That’s probably because he spends his days surfing at one of the best sites in the region. When he’s not surfing, he’s out on Elizabeth, a gleaming white 25-foot skiff, from which he’s spotted everything from manta rays to howler monkeys.
“It’s my favorite wave on earth,” says Jon Hanna, a championship surfer who’s seen more than a few waves in his travels around the world. He’s talking about Santa Catalina, a little surf town in Panama that was once a well-guarded secret.
Erica and Kevin Moore didn’t want much…a quiet setting where they’d be able to run a business and be a part of a welcoming community. In Panama, they found dozens of towns with potential…but the tiny village of Santa Fe de Veraguas called to them.
In Boquete, Panama, you want a really good camera. That’s because the mountain views are lavish and rainbows appear nearly every day. Karl and Liz Parker fell for this landscape when they first arrived. Now they live in Panama part of the year, spending the rest of their time traveling or back in the U.S. with family.
U.S. President Barack Obama recently put the final signature on what some are calling the last major trade agreements of his administration. With a simple signing ceremony, Obama made Panama—along with South Korea and Colombia—one of only 20 countries in the world to have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S.
Marvin and Joanne Riddle don’t just enjoy “the best of both worlds”…they enjoy the best the whole world has to offer them. The couple spend part of every year in Florida, part of the year living on La Barqueta beach, in Panama’s Chiriquí province, and—when the mood takes them—they travel the world, too.
Marvin and Joanne Riddle don’t just enjoy “the best of both worlds”… they enjoy the best the whole world has to offer them.
You couldn’t ask for a better location than Panama City’s popular and central El Cangrejo neighborhood. As an example, a furnished, one-bedroom, 650-square-foot condo with air conditioning recently sold for $82,000. The building has all the amenities you’d want like social area and pool, sauna, party room, and doorman.
Panama City is a destination itself. You have the canal, one of the seven modern wonders of the world… the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood, a UN World Heritage site… the Smithsonian-affiliated Frank Gehry-designed Bridge of Life Museum… But even the most die-hard city slicker can use an escape on occasion. Here are five worthwhile, easy-to-reach getaways:
Panama offers a range of residency options for the would-be investor. Here is how to secure yours.
Once you speak the language and armed with the right information, anyone can become a writer for profit. We’ve got five easy-to-apply tips from AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Chicago to help you get started.
You might think that makes Panama City expensive for property. Sometimes it is. You can find condos listed at luxury prices—$250,000 and up. But you can also find condos for much less.
Imagine yourself surrounded by colossal prehistoric trees. Butterflies the size of your hand flutter by. Ferns threaten to envelop you. All that’s missing is a bloodthirsty Tyrannosaurus Rex. This scene is just the start when you decide on an adventure travel vacation in the Darien, Panama’s “forgotten province.”
International Living Panama editor, Jessica Ramesch, talks to Kevin Bradley of Ducruet, who has been an insurance professional in Panama for decades. In this video, he and his business partner Gonzalo discuss health insurance tips that could save you valuable time and money.
In this video, IL Panama editor, Jessica Ramesch, takes you on a day trip around Panama City. You’ll see parts of the city old and new, as well as nearby beaches. Panama is a fascinating combination of the modern and traditional.
Do You Want to Retire Early?Each day we uncover some of the most desirable -- and cheapest -- retirement havens on earth. Sign up for our free daily Postcard e-letter and we'll immediately send you a FREE research report to help you find your perfect retirement destination. |
