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Tropical beaches, First-World infrastructure, high-quality healthcare, welcoming people…there are many things to love about Panama. Businesspeople come here because of the dollarized economy, the legendary privacy laws, the many government incentives…the list goes on. Retirees are drawn here by the Pensionado program, one of the best retiree benefits programs in the entire world. Younger adults…even those with children in tow…are moving here in increasing numbers to take advantage of the ease of doing business and to enjoy the first-rate schools and hip, international vibe. For all of them, the low cost of living is a major factor in choosing Panama. No matter what lifestyle you plan to pursue in Panama, rest assured you can have it…most likely for less than it would cost back home. But where to start on the path to your new life here? In Panama, just as there is a lifestyle for everyone, there is a place for everyone… Panama City is the most popular expat destination, but this country is so much more than just the city. The highland towns offer spring-like weather, nature trails and waterfalls, cloud forests and volcanoes. Take your pick of locations on the water…from the white sands of the Caribbean islands to the deep blues of the Pacific. And if you’re just a little bit country, there are rural locations where you can stretch your dollars further than you could have imagined. See below to view videos from Panama. A nickname like the Valley of Flowers and Eternal Spring is pretty hard to live up to. But the area around the small town of Boquete, high in the green mountains of the Chiriquí province in western Panama, certainly does. This bustling town of around 20,000 sits at an elevation of just below 4,000 feet.
Boquete, a small highland town in the Chirquí Province of Panama, has everything a retired expat could want. Those who live here enjoy a low cost of living, a year-round spring-like climate, and breathtaking 360 degree views of coffee planted hills and greenery.
At the southeastern tip of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula is an up-and-coming beach community that has become a favored spot for surfers, beach-loving tourists, and entertainment-seeking expats.
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.
My wife, Suzan Haskins, and I were married in Costa Rica 14 years ago and have been back for business and pleasure almost every year since. We also lived in Panama in 2006 and, like Costa Rica, have returned nearly every year for International Living events, editorial trips, and vacations. So it is inevitable that...
With a skyline that wouldn’t look out of place in Miami or Dubai, Panama City is the epitome of a modern metropolis. Impressive towers overlooking the Panama Bay are home to many well-heeled locals, as well as an ever-growing community of expats.
The sky is a piercing blue, with a few wisps of white that could hardly be called clouds. Small boats and yachts bob in the marina, and birds and bees swoop and buzz around the trees and flowered hedges that line the walkway.
A country with surprisingly varied landscapes, Panama is so much more than its modern, cosmopolitan capital city. There are mountain towns boasting cool climates, pine-covered hills, and sweet, Swiss-style cottages framed with bright bursts of bougainvillea.