Right Now Could be the Best Time to Come to Panama...the Hub of the Americas.
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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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
Your Issue this Month – 5 Top StoriesPosted on February 2, 2012 by Eoin Bassett
Jessica has been on the road, exploring the best of Panama’s “close-in” havens. And in your February issue she reveals the places you’ll enjoy stunning natural beauty, yet have the modern amenities of Panama City on your doorstep… Farther north and closer to home, IL Mexico Editor, Glynna Prentice, discovers big discounts on beach-town properties in beautiful Baja California. Lisa Marie Mercer moved to the coastal town of Atlantida, Uruguay, to benefit her health, but she’s staying for the affordability and quality of life. In your issue this month she explains how much she saves on health care and what she likes most about her friendly, convenient new home. Also in your latest issue, expat Terry Coles and her husband Clyde explain why they love their new affordable life in Capira, Panama, while New York native Chuck Kruger describes the moment he and his wife Nell first arrived on their island home off the coast of County Cork, Ireland. After traveling to 92 countries Renee Pyburn finally found her retirement dream on another European island. It’s English-speaking, with a mild, sunny climate and great health care, steeped in history and there’s plenty to do…find out why Renee chose Malta as the place to buy her overseas home.
A Great New Neighborhood in Panama’s MountainsPosted on February 1, 2012 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.
Where to Eat in Panama CityPosted on January 31, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
You Could Be Living in Paradise Right Now… For a Lot Less than It Costs You to Stay HomePosted on January 23, 2012 by International Living
In a place where your dollar goes further… where today’s economic crisis is creating new opportunities… instead of taking them away.
Where costs of living, healthcare, and property are still affordable – like they once were in the US. And you can still live luxuriously… even hire a maid… on nothing more than your social security check.
Discover our top retirement destinations for 2012 at International Living’s Seventh Annual Ultimate Event.
Fast Track Your Retirement Dreams in PanamaPosted on January 22, 2012 by International Living
Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean…on the slim precipice between the Americas…a little country with a lot to offer awaits you…
Sophisticated shopping and sublime shores…expatriate enclaves and secluded sanctuaries…rainforest canopies and rolling green hillsides …stability and safety… wilderness and adventure…
Join us this April to discover everything you need to know about Panama to help you decide if it’s your ideal retirement or relocation destination…
How to Escape The UndertowPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like…
Skeptics inquire: Are the opportunities overseas really as great as we at IL portray them to be? The short answer is “yes.” But don’t take my word for it… Listen, instead, to the many firsthand stories we’ve collected in this month’s issue—on-the-ground reports from folks who decided to answer the question for themselves…at the beach…in the hills…in cities…or on islands…
Living with the Locals in Panama and IrelandPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
Being a firefighter was the best job in the world according to my husband Clyde, but after 26 years, it was time to retire. However, we were buried beneath a mortgage, car payments, gym membership, the high cost of health care, outrageous electric bills, and taxes, with no end in sight.
From Beach to Mountain: Great Havens Close to Panama CityPosted on January 19, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
Reclaim Your Retirement Beyond America’s BordersPosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
A round-up of the events you should be chalking down on your callendar.
Panama: Where Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones and Other A-List Celebrities Like to VacationPosted on January 13, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
Panama’s New Highland HideawayPosted on January 12, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
Panama Video: The Mountain Village of Santa FePosted on January 11, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
Have We Found The World’s Best Job?Posted on December 30, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
A Little Surf Town in Panama That Was Once a Well-Guarded SecretPosted on December 29, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
“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.
A New Life and a New Business in PanamaPosted on December 28, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
- Central America’s Culinary Capital
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
Amid the towers of steel and chrome waft the tantalizing smells of seafood and …
- You’ll Never Want to Leave Panama’s New Highland Hideaway
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
I’m sipping rich coffee—just poured from a French press—when it happens. A white horse …
- Why Ecuador is the World’s Best Retirement Haven
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Why did Ecuador top the 2012 Retirement Index? One of the key strengths that …
- Cheapest Places to Retire
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Ecuador 97/100 Ecuador stormed to the top of our list in the cost of …
- The Best Retiree Benefits
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Panama, Scored: 100/100 Panama has put together the most appealing program of special benefits …
- The Best-Value Real Estate
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Ecuador, Scored 97/100 Ecuador topped the real estate category in this year’s Retirement Index—and …
- Easiest Places to Integrate
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Ireland 99/100 While small pockets of Irish people still speak the native Gaelic as …
- Healthcare in our Havens
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Panama, Scored 91/100 Panama offers high quality health care and modern hospitals in the …
- Reclaim Your Retirement Beyond America’s Borders
Posted on December 20, 2011 by anon
A round-up of the events you should be chalking down on your callendar.
Why These Retirees Are Happy in Boquete, PanamaPosted on November 25, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
- News and Notes from Around the World
Posted on November 24, 2011 by International Living
News and notes from around the world.
- How to Find a Reliable Real Estate Agent
Posted on November 24, 2011 by Margaret Summerfield
When you’re buying a property overseas, it’s good to have help. You want someone who can show you a selection of properties that fit your budget, explain the market’s history, give you price comparisons, and set a fair market value. Someone who will go back and forth with the seller and get you the best possible price. Someone on your side.
- Reclaim Your Retirement Beyond America’s Borders
Posted on November 24, 2011 by International Living
A round-up of the events you should be chalking down on your callendar.
- Own a Home in an Art City
Posted on November 24, 2011 by International Living
Panama City $185,000. For the artistically inclined, Panama City is the ultimate new frontier. …
Big Business Benefits for Panama and the U.S.Posted on November 11, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
Panama: Most Business-Friendly Country in the AmericasPosted on November 10, 2011 by Carol Barron
Panama is the most business-friendly country for expatriates anywhere in the Americas, a major new study in the International Living November issue reveals. When compiling our Business Index 2011, IL’s researchers examined factors such as visa requirements, financing, how easy it is to set up a bank account, local taxes, business expenses, infrastructure and the local business culture in seven business-friendly countries.
- Rolodex: Contacts in Panama
Posted on November 3, 2011 by Laura Doyle
Embassies and Consulates: Embassy of Panama (in the U.S.), 2862 McGill Terrace N.W., Washington, …
Small-town Panamanian Beach LifePosted on November 2, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
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.
- Editor’s Note: Your Own Business Abroad?
Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jennifer Stevens
Here’s a note from our executive editor, Jennifer Stevens, on what we’ve covered in our November issue.
News and Notes From Around the WorldPosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
Globetrotter: Bite-sized news and notes from around the world.
La Barqueta, Rural Panama’s Beach EscapePosted on October 27, 2011 by Jessica Ramesch
Marvin and Joanne Riddle don’t just enjoy “the best of both worlds”… they enjoy the best the whole world has to offer them.
Where to Start a Business Abroad: Our 7 Top Picks for the Year AheadPosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
It might be a palapa bar on a white-sand beach, deep-sea fishing tours, a restaurant, a surf shop, importing t-bone steaks, teaching English, making cheese, exporting art work…Whatever your idea, there’s a place overseas where you can make it a profitable reality. But readers ask us all the time: Where is best? That’s why we’ve put together International Living’s first-ever Business Index.
Property Picks: Dive Destination HomesPosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
In this month’s Property Picks, we’re highlighting properties next to some of the world’s best dive destinations.
Business Index 2011…What Our Experts Say…Posted on October 21, 2011 by Robert Carry
To evaluate our seven countries for our Business Index 2011 we consulted seasoned entrepreneurs who’ve made the move and learned the ropes, as well as worked through in-country attorneys. We asked them about visa requirements, financing, and how easy it was to set up a bank account. They told us about local taxes, business expenses, infrastructure and the local culture for doing business, Here is what they had to say…
Thinking of a Business Overseas? Here’s What the World NeedsPosted on October 21, 2011 by Robert Carry
For International Living’s first ever Business Index we asked our in-country correspondents and a host of expat entrepreneurs what opportunities they see around them in their new homes. These gaps in the market include everything from small guesthouses to dog grooming services… read on to spot your opportunity.
Upcoming Event
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You Could Be Living in Paradise Right Now… For a Lot Less than It Costs You to Stay Home
Event Date: Feb 21, 2012
In a place where your dollar goes further... where today's economic crisis is creating new opportunities... instead of taking them away.
Where costs of living, healthcare, and property are still affordable – like they once were in the US. And you can still live luxuriously... even hire a maid... on nothing more than your social security check.
Discover our top retirement destinations for 2012 at International Living’s Seventh Annual Ultimate Event.
Read More.
Fast-Track Panama: Lifestyle and Opportunity Conference
More About Panama
- Panama city map
- VIDEO: A Taste of Panama
- Invest in Panama
- Move to Panama
- Travel in Panama
- Beachfront Property in Panama
- Health Care in Panama
- Taxes in Panama
- Retire in Panama
- Live in Panama
- Panama Fact File
- Panama Visa and Residency Information
- Panama Real Estate
- Rolodex: Contacts in Panama
- Why Panama?
- Fatima Parish Charity in Panama
- Renting in Panama
- Buying Real Estate in Panama
- The Economy in Panama
- Working in Panama
- Cost of Living in Panama
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