Where Should I Live In Panama?
Mar 11th, 2008 by Don Ray
This question comes up again and again. “Where should I chose to live in Panama?” Some will say that Panama City is too crowded. Some will say that Panama City is perfect because you can do and find anything you want.
Some will say, “No El Valle is the only place to live.” Other’s may say that Coronado offers me the beach and closeness to Panama City. Some would not live anyplace other that Bocas. Still others will promote Boquete or Volcan. Some will say that David offers a lot and is more tranquil than Panama City.
Still others will say, somewhere between Boquete and David, because David is too hot and Boquete or Volcan are too cold.
Some will say, “It has to be a gated community.” Others may tell you that integrating with the Panamanian community with “real people” is better.
How much do you understand about construction in Panama? Are you construction savvy? Do you speak Spanish? How do you know who is a reputable builder and which one’s aren’t? Can you recognize a good one by talking to him? Can you believe what you are being told?
You can get any answer you want, to support what ever decision you subconsciously may have already made.
I have spent a lot of time in Panama City. I have lived in Boquete and I visited Volcan many times. I currently live in David. I firmly believe that the question, “Where should I live in Panama?” can not be answered by someone other than you.
Many people are going to give you answers and spin, because they have some vested interest in the decision you may make. Many people will steer you toward the decision they made. I think a lot of time that is because they are still trying to convince themselves that they did the right thing.
I think a better way is to make a list of the things you require to be happy.
- Are you wanting a six month a year diversion and plan to spend the other six months somewhere else?
- Are you interested in going bowling or to current movies?
- Do you want a view of the ocean?
- Which ocean?
- How close to the ocean?
- Do you have special health considerations?
- Why Panama in the first place? Was it some article in International Living that was probably paid for to be written?
- What is too hot?
- What is too cold.
- How much is too much rain.
- Can you survive a day without electricity?
- How about a day or two or three without water?
- Is cost a factor?
- …
Only you can make your list. Allowing someone else’s list to influence your decision is crazy. If you move to any place in Panama, without really thinking it through, it may result in an Aw Shit decision in hindsight.
I know people that are happy living in almost all of the areas in Panama. Likewise, I know some people that have decided they made a mistake. Some even decided to move back to where they moved from in less than two years.
If you are very wealthy and this is just going to be a secondary home, in a foreign country, then you have very little at risk. If you are a person who can’t afford to make a mistake, then don’t rush into moving anyplace without trying it out. A good carpenter will measure twice before making a cut. If you were buying a car, you wouldn’t buy it without driving it. You should be even more careful when it comes to moving into a foreign country with a different culture than you are accustomed to.
I love Panama. It is the best move I ever made. I get up each day thinking this day is going to be better than yesterday. I would just like for all people, that move here, to be able to make the same statements after they have been here for as long as I have.
We, too, love Panama. After three years we wouldn’t think of living anywhere else. It’s home. We take great joy in our surroundings - the people, the culture, the varied climates and scenery. Yes, there are some blemishes, but without them life would probably be nirvana… and extremely boring. You learn as you go, and for us the key to our acclimation is respect. If you give it, you will get it. If you don’t, life can be extremely miserable. Understanding and respecting the individuality and customs of others goes a long way to making any differences resolvable. Don Ray, that respect is very evident in your descriptions and depictions of your life here. Thanks.
Hi Wendy. Thanks for dropping in and taking the time to leave a comment.
I am sure it is a difficult decision especially when it comes to establish yourself in a different country. I am the opposite, grew up in Panama and migrated to USA - Florida back in the 80’s. Miss certain things from Panama but to be honest you get used to this, this is a country that if you do your part it will treat you nice and you can have, sometimes, things that if I would’ve stayed in Panama, not sure I would’ve have. Nevertheless, Panama has alot to offer for the ones who like Don says don’t mind certain attributes that as a third world country you get.
Hi Rolando. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Life is a journey. It is how we make the journey that leaves us with something to remember that is good or unpleasant.
I totally agree with Rolando. I have adopted US as my new country since I have been able to pursue my graduate studies here, things that I would never be able to do in my country; however, I still miss my get togethers with my friends on Friday night or the party were everybody was invited, even the friends of my friends. Anyhow, I will go back home someday. Enjoy it now.
Juan
Hi Juan. Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment. No matter when one goes, there is never any place like our original home.
Don Ray:
Again your words are full of knowledge. Also you are referring to your adoptive Country very respectfully. I appreciate that, as a chiricano living in US. As Rolando and Juan above, I migrated here for professional reasons in early 90’s and I have adapted to my new “home” (California). They are many things from David and Panama I miss, but I made a decision to live in US and I have made the best of that decision.
Again I thank you for your honesty, for your respect, and for your appreciation for your adoptive Country. And specially thank you for trying to integrate to the culture and the people.
Jaime (CA)
Hi Jamie. Thanks you for your kind words.
There is so much to see and do, and experience; the people are so vibrant with life. But then again, Panama is not for everyone.
Hi Timothy. You are correct. That is why I think people should try it out before they spend a fortune moving and then realize that they have made a mistake.
Don..
Where should one live in Panama?
Easy: Costa Rica!!!
LOL! Just kidding. We really like Panama and if I could find a house with 10 or 20 acres somewhere near Cordillera or Cuesta de Piedra.. We just might do it! But now they’re fixing up the Cordillera road (just south of Volcan) and the shockingly high land prices will probably pole vault into the second ring of Saturn. Plus the US Dollar is just getting killed which may appeal to Europeans even more now since their euros can buy more turf adding further upward pressure to land prices!… Ack! No easy way out!
Nothing is easy. Some things less so that others.
Hi
I hit your blog by accident and I would like to add some comments based on my 4 years of living in Bocas del TORRO and the construction of my holelito.
All of what you said is true.
But you always forget about other options than Panama city and David.
Before making such a decision someone should visit Panama including Bocas and STAY for at least 3 month in the location they select before making a decision.
Only then a person will know if happiness is waiting at the next corner
asta luego
Richard
Hi Richard. Thanks for dropping in and adding a comment.
Well a different tune. I have lived in Panama in Chiriqui for 3 years and I can’t wait to leave. The only plus for me in Panama are the people they are great. Everything else is downhill and way to much rain is on the top of the list.
This is why it is so important to visit first before you move.
However there are a bunch of us leaving and we all have around 3 years in. 3 years seems to be the magic number. With the dollar falling, everything costs more now and the real estate which was a good value 3 years ago all nut disappeared. Now you pay 1st world prices to live in a 3rd world place. I will miss the people though.
I have lived here 5 years, so the 3 year limit didn’t effect me. Sorry it didn’t work out for you. I hope you will find some place on this planet that you like. It is often said there are only two good places to live (the place you left and the place you are moving to). It is a shame when people spend their whole life searching for that special place and only stop in their final resting place.
Lots of key questions raised in your excellent opening article, Don.
The climate was my primary focus when I started my big search across this beautiful planet, many years ago. But I quickly started to appreciate that there was a lot more to it than finding ideal temps. Little things like earthquakes, hurricanes, monsoons, political stability, to name but a few, quickly came to the fore.
Now having settled on Panama, the big issue is where to locate to. I was originally drawn by sites like escapeartist and viviun, to those seemingly ideal year round spring-like climates up in the mountains. But the more I spoke with people up there, the more i realised that there are issues up there too.
I guess what I am trying to say is that the reality has been, for me, based on years of research, that there genuinely is no total paradise on earth. There will always have to be compromises made, to some degree or other.
I’m choosing to live in the rural mountains, close to the pan american highway, some 30 minutes from the city. There have been many compromises. But I’ve tried to choose a line of best fit.
Now I’ve gotta find a builder. Yikes.
As you say, Sunshine, there are compromises in all choices. One can only do the best job they can in evaluating the +’s and -’s to not have too many surprises after the decision is made.
Even with the best of investigation, things will be missed, but at least the major show stoppers should have been taken care of.
Good luck on your builder search.
That’s it, Don. One can only do so much research. After that, hopefully most potential surprises will have been taken care of.
Thanks for the kind words re finding a builder. I’m slightly terrified on this score - what with a strange country, strange language, different culture, different procedures, etc. One hears many tales of woe. It is all too easy to be taken for a ride re money/costs for building.
There are good builders out ther. You just have to check reference and pay for performance. Don’t pay in advance for other than materials and part of the labor. Have a contract drawn up that protects your rights and not the builder’s. Keep track of all changes caused by the builder so that they are his expense and not yours.
Thanks for the tips. I read, a while back, a very good archived (in the files section)article by Susan (I forget her surname) on the yahoo group - panama forum. She listed what one should do when getting building work done…..contract contents, advice, always having the plans kept on-site at all times, etc.
I stumbled upon a superb gringo site a few weeks ago. They (gringo couple originally from USA) have been more or less keeping an online monthly diary of their house project, since they moved down in 2005. And each month has picture gallery/ies. Superb site and the best I have ever found. It gives a great insight into the pitfalls/issues and the mentality of the workers. The gringo couple would take over a crate of beer each Saturday, for the workers, when work was complete. I have spent hours at a time, reading their monthly pages and pics. They have great skills re photography and writing.
You are refreshing and it has been nice to read your blogs. My husband and I feel just the same as you, happiness is where you stand at the moment. It has to be so, because that is where you are!
We are planning on a 6 month visit to Central America. Not because we are unhappy where we are, but because my husband loves the Ocean and deep sea fishing. We can’t seem to do that in Idaho, although we do love it here and the lakes and streams and mountains are georgeous. And also, we just sold our house and all of the furniture and accessories, so we are mobile. We also feel that after 60 years of physical investment in the Universe, we owe it to ourselves to see other parts of the world .. and to fish in the Ocean. We are considering the Central America Area of Panama and Costa Rica because of the terrific fishing, but we also know that we will have to find a place to rest our poles when not in the Ocean. I have been having kind of a difficult time finding recent information on places to lease for 3 or 4 months. Do you have any ideas on that. Somewhere near or around Cebaco island, or anywhere that would be accessible to Hannibal Bank. (that seems to be an area of great fishing).
Thank you in advance! Look forward to “talking” to you.
hugs!
karen
Not being a fisherperson, I don’t know. I don’t know of either of the places you mentioned as well. Hopefully, someone else can answer your question.
Hi Don:
I’m planning to visit Panama early next year, 2009 and want to try to take in quite a bit of the country in the 2 weeks I plan on being there but don’t want to overwhelm myself.
Do you think it would be a wise idea to rent a vehicle in Panama City and drive to David to explore or just fly from Panama City to David and then rent a vehicle there? I think I’m more interested in the mountain area around Chiriqui (Volcan) but want to do some exploring.
I’m retired and think I may apply for the pensinado program but I will come visit first, then maybe come down for a few months later on, rent a place, and see how things go.
I’m thinking Volcan because I’m not a “hot”weather person. I can tolerate it for a while and do so on vacations but DO NOT want to live somewhere that is hot and humid.
Also, I’m an avid hard core Harley Davidson rider and have been for 40+ years. Don’t plan on giving that up so was wondering if you know anything about Motorcycle riding in Panama. I know there is a Harley dealer in Panama City and plan on stopping there for a visit, BUT, I don’t plan on living in Panama City. Just wondering how “motorcycle friendly” Panama is? I don’t mind riding in the rain (on pavement) and have heard the rains are fairly predictable during most days with mornings being clear and rains developing in the afternoons (most the time)
I don’t plan on riding a Harley when I visit but that’s one thing I will want to do if I set up a winter residence there.
Any info you might have or can point me towards will be appreciated and I thank you in advance.
Thanks . . . Butch
Hi Butch. If it were me, and I was only interested in Chiriqui, then I would fly to David and rent a car. The drive from Panama City is at least 6 hours and you have to want to make the drive to do it. The road is greatly improved from previous years, but if you get in a big rain storm, it can still be a challenge.
Not being a motorcycle buff, I can’t answer your question. I will say, that I would not want to be riding a motorcycle anywhere in Panama, It is risky enough, just driving with some drivers that are on the road.
Hope you enjoy your up coming trip.