Are there American-trained doctors in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Mark O'Neill
There are some America-trained doctors in Chapala and Ajijic. As an example, my doctor is from Guadalajara, which is considered one of the top medical centers of all of Mexico and Central America. The training of the doctors there is comparable to the US. My personal doctor had some training in Guadalajara and some training in the United States.
They have a whole different outlook in the medical system in Mexico in that that they are focused on the...
There are some America-trained doctors in Chapala and Ajijic. As an example, my doctor is from Guadalajara, which is considered one of the top medical centers of all of Mexico and Central America. The training of the doctors there is comparable to the US. My personal doctor had some training in Guadalajara and some training in the United States.
They have a whole different outlook in the medical system in Mexico in that that they are focused on the client’s recovery and not in perpetuating the illness. The cost of healthcare in Mexico is anywhere from 70% to 90% less than it is in the United States.
The village of Ajijic acts as a hub where people from the US come down for dental or cosmetic and other surgeries and then return to the US, which saves them huge amounts of money, while receiving very high quality work.
I’m not at all, in any way, shape, or form, concerned to be living in Ajijic and using the healthcare system. The doctors in Ajijic are very competent and experienced people. If you have something major, it can be done.
There is a level of personal care in Ajijic. I read recently about a couple that went down to Ajijic wherein the man had some emergencies, which was the scary part. Day to day things that are planned are one thing but emergencies are things that require specific consideration. This couple went to Chapala, which is the closest town to Ajijic and where they have a medical facility in which they were able to address him even on a late-night hour. They took care of him and he was in there for three or four nights. The doctor came to his house once a day for the next week afterwards. Even after he recovered, the doctor was still in personal contact with this man to follow up for some heart problems that the man had experienced unexpectedly.
(Logo for Hospital Clinica Ajijic, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
Is there diving, SCUBA or snorkeling in and around Placencia, Belize?
Apolo Caliz
In Placencia, you could go snorkeling directly from the beach or you can go to the reef or to a nearby island.
We have diving spots right in Placencia. I am a diver myself, so when I am bored we just go diving. We dive about 80 to 100 feet down. You can also do beach diving, where you just have to walk down the beach with your dive equipment.
In Placencia, you could go snorkeling directly from the beach or you can go to the reef or to a nearby island.
We have diving spots right in Placencia. I am a diver myself, so when I am bored we just go diving. We dive about 80 to 100 feet down. You can also do beach diving, where you just have to walk down the beach with your dive equipment.
Are there natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fire or hurricanes in Boquete, Panama?
Rommel H. Troetsch - Arquitectura Axioma
Greetings expats community.
Are there natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fire or hurricanes in Boquete, Panama?
The answer to that question is yes, we do have some natural disasters previously mentioned so I will talk about it from my experience.
Flooding
In the 12 years that I have been living in Boquete I can recall two times when the Caldera river flooded. The first time was in 2008 and it was pretty amazing. Fortunately,...
Greetings expats community.
Are there natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fire or hurricanes in Boquete, Panama?
The answer to that question is yes, we do have some natural disasters previously mentioned so I will talk about it from my experience.
Flooding
In the 12 years that I have been living in Boquete I can recall two times when the Caldera river flooded. The first time was in 2008 and it was pretty amazing. Fortunately, nothing major happened, just material damages like a small bridge collapsed. Many fields where flooded but nobody was living there and there weren't any crops on site. After that massive flood the municipality decided to make the river wider and reinforce each side of the river with a rock wall all the way to the exit of the town. Before that the previous flood was 60 years ago.
The next year in 2009 the river grew again but because it was wider and we were prepared no bridges fell or any people were harmed so it was just a one time thing. This is 2018 and global warming is at full power so I can not assure you that nothing will ever happen again but you just need to keep your distance from the un-protected part of the river and you will be fine.
Earthquakes
We don't have earthquakes, but we do have some small tremblers, which are more common. They are regular in this part of the world because this is a seismic region all the way from Costa Rica to Colombia. Here in Chiriquí is the place in Panama with more seismic activity, which could happen once every two years and it is not like as dangerous as in other places like San Francisco or Tokyo. The average earthquake is from 4 to 6 in the Richter scale so it is not like the earth is going to swallow us.
By law all the buildings in Panama have anti-earthquake foundations for your own safety so your house is not going to fall apart by any means.
Do I need to renounce or relinquish my US citizenship or get a dual citizenship to move or live abroad?
John Gilbert - PanamaKeys
You do not need to renounce or relinquish your US citizenship or get dual citizenship to move or live abroad. However, the laws in some countries are more cumbersome than others. I found a great situation in Panama where as a foreigner coming in, there’s no need for you to pick up a second citizenship. That option is available for you as time goes by, but you don’t need to do it.
What was right for me and my family was the Friendly...
You do not need to renounce or relinquish your US citizenship or get dual citizenship to move or live abroad. However, the laws in some countries are more cumbersome than others. I found a great situation in Panama where as a foreigner coming in, there’s no need for you to pick up a second citizenship. That option is available for you as time goes by, but you don’t need to do it.
What was right for me and my family was the Friendly Nation’s Visa. We came in to Panama wanting to start a business, which we did, and the corporation came with my Friendly Nation’s Visa. It was a qualification criteria for my Friendly Nation’s Visa, which gives me a Permanent Residency Visa, which means that I have a legal right to be here. Many people don’t choose to even go that far. People come and go on their Tourist Visa in Panama which gives you the right to stay in Panama and drive in the country on your foreign license for 90 days.
On the other hand, the US isn’t going to say, “Hey, you’re living in Panama. You’re no longer a US citizen.” The fact that you live outside of the United States has no bearing or consequence whatsoever on the fact that you are a United States citizen. You have 100% of the rights to vote, and 100% of the rights to all that your citizenship entails as being a citizen of the United States of America.
You can still receive your Social Security checks or benefits living in Panama and in other places in the world as an expat. That is one of the primary ways that many of the retirees are able to live here in Panama- through their Social Security benefits. From time to time, there are things that you need to do as a recipient of Social Security that don’t change. An example would be proving that you’re still alive, and those types of things. The qualifiers are that you worked a certain number of years in the United States and earned a certain level of retirement benefits. It has no bearing whatsoever on where your ZIP Code’s going to be in the future.
The US embassy in Panama has great services throughout the country that can walk you through those things that are relevant. As far as renewing your passport, and doing many things that you would do with any consulate is freely done here in Panama.
(John Gilbert with his children in Panama, pictured.)
How many Americans, Canadians, and other expats live in Nicaragua?
Carolyn Membreño - León Travel Bureau
In Leon, where I live, they may be a few hundred expats. In Managua, which is the capital, there maybe several thousand expats. In Leon, however, you will regularly run into a lot of tourists and backpackers.
How many foreigners you will see also depends on where you are going. For example, there is a higher possibility to run into a foreigner if you go to the supermarket than if you go to the mercado (public market).
Leon is a close-knit community and the expats who...
In Leon, where I live, they may be a few hundred expats. In Managua, which is the capital, there maybe several thousand expats. In Leon, however, you will regularly run into a lot of tourists and backpackers.
How many foreigners you will see also depends on where you are going. For example, there is a higher possibility to run into a foreigner if you go to the supermarket than if you go to the mercado (public market).
Leon is a close-knit community and the expats who live here usually congregate amongst themselves.
If you go to Granada, you would find expats everywhere. The same is true in San Juan Del Sur. It is not that Leon is not as friendly to expats. It is just that other towns are more expat-developed such as Granada and San Juan Del Sur. These two places are heavily tourist-oriented and tourist-driven. Leon doesn’t have the tourist infrastructure that attracts expats.
(Bicycle ride for hire, Leon, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Starting a business in Portugal can be relatively simple because Portugal has an “On The Hour” facility whereby you can walk into a government department and basically set up a company in an hour.
Once you get the company running, that’s the only time the problem starts, because the bureaucracy comes in. It’s easy to start a business but it’s the rules after that which makes it a bit frustrating.
...
Starting a business in Portugal can be relatively simple because Portugal has an “On The Hour” facility whereby you can walk into a government department and basically set up a company in an hour.
Once you get the company running, that’s the only time the problem starts, because the bureaucracy comes in. It’s easy to start a business but it’s the rules after that which makes it a bit frustrating.
(Mário Centeno Minister of Finance, Portugal, pictured.)
Two bodies of water surround most of the peninsula of Baja California. On the eastern side is the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California), while the western side faces the more familiar Pacific Ocean. These watery expanses merge at what looks like the large, natural arch you've seen pictures of at Baja’s southern tip, Cabo San Lucas, about 750 miles roughly south of the US-Mexican border. At its widest, the peninsula measures about 85 miles from side...
Presented with permission from Bob Adams, of Retirement Wave.
Are Americans leaving Panama?
From time to time, I have received messages from various RW Members over the last six years asking, "Why are expats leaving Panama?" or they ask, "Why are Americans leaving Panama?" Some get a little colorful and say that American retirees are "fleeing" Panama! The same thing happens once in awhile when I meet Members face-to-face here in Panama. I ask them, why do you ask? They...
Panamá has always been on a global path, “pro mundi beneficio” (for the benefit of the world).
Since the 15th century, Panamá was the main route for gold from South America to Europe, mainly Spain. This is one of the reasons why Panamá was always the center of attacks by the pirates at that time seeking wealth, and the city of Panamá was ultimately burned, leaving only the famous ruins of “Panamá la Vieja” (Old Panamá). We also have other ruins of...
There are some America-trained doctors in Chapala and Ajijic. As an example, my doctor is from Guadalajara, which is considered one of the top medical centers of all of Mexico and Central America. The training of the doctors there is comparable to the US. My personal doctor had some training in Guadalajara and some training in the United States. 
In Placencia, you could go snorkeling directly from the beach or you can go to the reef or to a nearby island.
You do not need to renounce or relinquish your US citizenship or get dual citizenship to move or live abroad. However, the laws in some countries are more cumbersome than others. I found a great situation in Panama where as a foreigner coming in, there’s no need for you to pick up a second citizenship. That option is available for you as time goes by, but you don’t need to do it. 
In Leon, where I live, they may be a few hundred expats. In Managua, which is the capital, there maybe several thousand expats. In Leon, however, you will regularly run into a lot of tourists and backpackers.
Starting a business in Portugal can be relatively simple because Portugal has an “On The Hour” facility whereby you can walk into a government department and basically set up a company in an hour. .jpg)
Two bodies of water surround most of the peninsula of Baja California. On the eastern side is the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California), while the western side faces the more familiar Pacific Ocean. These watery expanses merge at what looks like the large, natural arch you've seen pictures of at Baja’s southern tip, Cabo San Lucas, about 750 miles roughly south of the US-Mexican border. At its widest, the peninsula measures about 85 miles from side...
Panamá has always been on a global path, “pro mundi beneficio” (for the benefit of the world).