7 Great Retirement Towns You’ve Never Heard Of…
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Boca Chica is a slow-paced fishing village of only 300 inhabitants, right on the Pacific Ocean. Here you won’t find any grocery stores, gas stations, or services—but that’s the beauty of it. Boca Chica is where you come to experience nature and the beauty of Panama.
Smartphones can be your best friend when traveling abroad. Your phone can be your “go to” for keeping track of your travel documents and reservations, and it can help manage and save your money. The first order of business is finding out if your phone is unlocked or can be unlocked.
Panama is a diverse country with differing climates and geography. In Chiriquí, many expats seem to settle in David, Boquete, and Bocas del Toro. These three locations are uniquely different from each other in climate, location, and the size of their expat communities.
Las Lajas is the favored beach among expats in Chiriquí. An easy one-hour drive from David going east on the Interamerican highway brings you to the San Felix intersection. Here you turn right and head towards the ocean. Thirty minutes more and you will find the two-lane road ends at the shore. The small village seems abandoned as you drive along the rough road.
I always wanted to live in the tropics, and since moving to the city of David all my expectations have been surpassed. Besides the great weather, shopping, and services, David is a thriving modern city. Even though David has a population of over 164,000, it feels like a smaller town. Everything I need is within 10 to 15 minutes of where I live.
The lights of the city glistened and twinkled in the distance under a cloudless night sky as our select group gathered on a rooftop bar in the historic area of Panama City known as Casco Viejo.
One of the biggest reasons expats move to Panama is the cost of living. I can include myself in that group. Most expats I know have moved to Panama because of the affordability of maintaining the lifestyle they want.
Tucked away and hidden off the Pan-American Highway in David, several country roads lead to new housing developments. These smaller developments are quiet, have great views, and a laidback atmosphere.
I love living in David, the capital of the Chiriquí province, so much so that I have never considered moving anywhere else. David has a population of 164,000, making it feel like a small city with nice friendly locals that’s easy to get around, but also with all the amenities of a larger city.
The biggest attractions of Panama’s highland towns are obvious. They have cooler climates than other parts of the country…and the expats who live here enjoy a laidback lifestyle surrounded by beautiful scenery.