Chitré, which is about 90 minutes away, is home to several larger hospitals and a more expansive network of healthcare providers. With our pensionado privileges, the generous residency program for retirees in Panama, seeing our GP in Chitré costs $35. He usually spends at least 30 to 45 minutes discussing any concerns—in English.
Will there be another severe lockdown here in Panama? We all know by now it's difficult to predict when or whether there'll be a spike in cases. Panama has a great many holidays in November, so the government is urging people to stay vigilant.
Exploring Panama’s picturesque Azuero Peninsula is akin to traveling back to a simpler time. The hectic hustle and bustle of Panama City seems far away after turning off of the busy Pan-American Highway.
My dad loved marching bands and parades. The slightest beat of a drum got his feet and hands moving to the rhythm of the music. He would have been thrilled that I accidentally became part of the Mil Polleras or "Thousand Polleras" parade in Las Tablas.
Bocas Town, the capital of Panama’s beautiful Bocas del Toro Province, is one of my favorite places in the world. Yes—the entire world.
On a quest to find the world-class Panamanian cocoa I'd heard so much about, I took a leisurely drive to the small mountain town of El Cacao in the Panama Oeste province. But the town was dry. An old man at a small market limped over to the counter and handed me the can of soda I bought. He smiled when I asked in remedial Spanish, where is the cocoa? Even with our language barrier, he understood the irony.
Come down for a visit and talk to some expats who've been here a while, and you'll hear a lot of anecdotes about Panamanian people. Great stories about how friendly, helpful, fun-loving, or welcoming they are. These are things you'll learn through your own interactions, too.
Swaying palm trees, soft white sands, and warm waters of clearest blue…Panama’s islands epitomize the best of the tropics. Panama has hundreds of islands, but the island destination I visit the most is Contadora—and with good reason.
All of Panama is eager to get back to "regular business" as soon as possible... Some economic areas, however, have not been slowed by the virus situation—thereby shoring up Panama's overall economy.
Currently, this is more of a buyer's than a seller's market. If you're test-driving life in Panama, I recommend renting before you buy. Countless expats have moved to the beach, only to find that they prefer a mountain community in another part of the country—and vice-versa.