What are the best places in Panama to live and retire?

The best place to retire in Panama depends completely upon your interests and budget.  In 2012, I decided to retire.  I had been living on Kauai in Hawaii for the past nineteen years and had very definite needs.  The place would have to have a similar climate to what I had become accustomed, mountains for road cycling, races for the same, good surf, friendly people, a safe environment and a city for culture.  And certainly be affordable!

 

I...

The best place to retire in Panama depends completely upon your interests and budget.  In 2012, I decided to retire.  I had been living on Kauai in Hawaii for the past nineteen years and had very definite needs.  The place would have to have a similar climate to what I had become accustomed, mountains for road cycling, races for the same, good surf, friendly people, a safe environment and a city for culture.  And certainly be affordable!

 

I had visited Costa Rica in 2004 and loved the country.  However, after some research, I found that prices had risen to similar levels found in the United States.  I had spent eight months in Spain in 1992 and fallen in love with the Latin culture.

 

So, I decided to check out Panama since it's right next door to Costa Rica.  I picked the two wettest months, October and November, to see just how bad the wet season really is.  It turns out that it was actually drier than Kauai and the rain was much more predictable.  Typically it rains for a couple of hours late morning or early afternoon.  Early morning, when I ride, is almost always dry as well as the evenings.

 

I went all over the country checking out all the ares that had expat communities with the necessary mountains, good weather and surf.  I visited Panama City, Boquete, Volcan, Bocas del Toro, Coronado, Pedasi, Santa Catalina and El Valle - a pretty good cross-check of the country!

What I did discover is that the entire country of Panama is very beautiful, the people are amazingly friendly, and I always felt safe - of course avoiding the few parts of the city and Colon that are deemed less than safe. Shopping for essentials at reasonable prices is no problem and there is so much to do everywhere!

 

For me, I chose El Valle, Boquete and Pedasi as the areas most desirable for my lifestyle - finally settling on El Valle because of the mountains, perfect climate, access to the ocean, close proximity to Panama City and the friendly people.

 

Ultimately, what's good for me may not work for you.  That decision has got to be  yours alone!

 

 

The best place I have found in Panama to live is in David, Chiriqui. My family moved here about 25 years ago.  I never thought after three months that I would still be here. Yes,it does depend on where you would like to live. But, thus so far I love the tropical weather, this growing city, and most of all the people. I´m not too crazy about the cold weather but if I want that, I only have to drive about 45 minutes to Boquete or Volcan and get cool weather, so you get a bit...

The best place I have found in Panama to live is in David, Chiriqui. My family moved here about 25 years ago.  I never thought after three months that I would still be here. Yes,it does depend on where you would like to live. But, thus so far I love the tropical weather, this growing city, and most of all the people. I´m not too crazy about the cold weather but if I want that, I only have to drive about 45 minutes to Boquete or Volcan and get cool weather, so you get a bit of both climates. The Pacific Ocean is 25 minutes from my home and what I love about that is, when I need a break I just pick up some lunch and head to the beach for a picnic with my kids. Or even a romantic walk down the beach with my hubby in the moonlight. I wouldn´t change it for the world.

What is the best part of Panamá for you to retire to depends on you. If you want to live in a community of fellow English-speaking gringos, look into a gated community. If you want cultural opportunities, consider many neighborhoods around Panamá City. If you want the beach, look for sand. If, like me, you want to live quietly in a world orbiting some star in another galaxy, move to the countryside. I, for one, am ecstatic with joy for living in the Tierras Altas of the...

What is the best part of Panamá for you to retire to depends on you. If you want to live in a community of fellow English-speaking gringos, look into a gated community. If you want cultural opportunities, consider many neighborhoods around Panamá City. If you want the beach, look for sand. If, like me, you want to live quietly in a world orbiting some star in another galaxy, move to the countryside. I, for one, am ecstatic with joy for living in the Tierras Altas of the Chiriquí Province. Even strangers here are apt to wave and smile and say "¡Buenos días!" to you. My neighbors often come over to share food or visit with me. The children in the neighborhood treat me like their favorite grandfather. In short, every day I cannot imagine being happier, but every day I find I am indeed happier living here.
 

The best places in Panama to live and retire are so many!  Panama has so many good places to live but which one is best for you will depend on what you are looking for or enjoy the most.

 

Panama's variety allows you to select between a beach front property, one up in the hills or a well-located condo in the City.

 

Depending on your budget, property type, size and proximity to several facilities you may find your dream...

The best places in Panama to live and retire are so many!  Panama has so many good places to live but which one is best for you will depend on what you are looking for or enjoy the most.

 

Panama's variety allows you to select between a beach front property, one up in the hills or a well-located condo in the City.

 

Depending on your budget, property type, size and proximity to several facilities you may find your dream living or retirement home.
 

I agree with the other contributors. Panama offers a variety of lifestyle options, and the perfect fit depends a lot on personal interests and budget.

 

I highly recommend Buenaventura if you enjoy the beach and tranquility. It is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Coronado.

 

To add to the other comments, when planning to relocate or acquiring a vacation home in a foreign country, finding a place that provides peace of mind is...

I agree with the other contributors. Panama offers a variety of lifestyle options, and the perfect fit depends a lot on personal interests and budget.

 

I highly recommend Buenaventura if you enjoy the beach and tranquility. It is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Coronado.

 

To add to the other comments, when planning to relocate or acquiring a vacation home in a foreign country, finding a place that provides peace of mind is essential, and Buenaventura offers just that, along with many other perks and benefits.

Doing a proper assessment of the areas of interest is important, especially in order to understand the security of the property, the proximity to health care and the stability/credibility of the project.

 

I recommend doing a Discovery Tour Package and/or search for a rental unit in the areas, in order to get better idea of what you are investing in, prior to making to the move.

 

 

There are plenty of places in Panama which would be perfect to live and retire. Depending on your lifestyle, your budget, your sense of adventure and privacy needs, and your ability to transport yourself, you will find certain regions of Panama more or less friendly for you. 

When first moving to Panama it is a good idea to put down roots in the capital city (Panama City) for a few months. It can help you get grounded, do some networking, and see what the opportunities are for...

There are plenty of places in Panama which would be perfect to live and retire. Depending on your lifestyle, your budget, your sense of adventure and privacy needs, and your ability to transport yourself, you will find certain regions of Panama more or less friendly for you. 

When first moving to Panama it is a good idea to put down roots in the capital city (Panama City) for a few months. It can help you get grounded, do some networking, and see what the opportunities are for your future in Panama. 

After a few months using the more concentrated resources in the city, you can begin looking around for more affordable (and certainly more peaceful!) accommodations elsewhere. 

Many people will probably recommend places such as Coronado, Boquete or Bocas del Toro already so I won't add anything about them. A lot of people say that El Valle and Cerro Azul are lovely to live in.

I'm currently based in both Panama City and Maria Chiquita on the Caribbean coast. I can say that my home area of El Cangrejo is a lovely, mid-end residential area that is lively during the day and full of relaxed bar culture in the evening. Plenty of bars, plenty of good restaurants across a range of cuisines and prices, and a cool vibe help. 

I love parts of Colon Province too, including the Portobelo area. It's super cheap out here and is beautiful - the jungle bordering the ocean road is virtually all part of one national forest or another. I live at Bala Beach Resort in Maria Chiquita and the area has a number of good restaurants and adventure activities, as well as beautiful beaches. 

Ideally, you should try and take a road trip around Panama first. You'll find your own pace of life can be accommodated somewhere here, and it may only take a few days to find out what kind of place is perfect for you in paradise.

Traditionally Panamá has attracted people from all over the world for the simplicity and beauty of its history, territory and people.

 

As you plan to settle in a different country, to get the best from your golden years, "Will I be happy in this country?" is a very important question, and would be your major concern.

 

Whether or not to move to a certain place depends on your present situation.  If you are seeking a better...

Traditionally Panamá has attracted people from all over the world for the simplicity and beauty of its history, territory and people.

 

As you plan to settle in a different country, to get the best from your golden years, "Will I be happy in this country?" is a very important question, and would be your major concern.

 

Whether or not to move to a certain place depends on your present situation.  If you are seeking a better quality of life on a much better budget, then definitely you should do a thorough investigation.  Using the Internet offers many options, as each country tries to attract foreigners and offers the best they have, sometimes making it overwhelming to make the final decision.

 

But if you do careful research, you will certainly find the best place to accommodate you, as no all places are right for every person, because each individual has different tastes and lifestyles.

 

Family and health should be among your highest priorities, so please make every effort to get the best information on transportation (so you can visit your family easily and promptly, should you need to) and medical centers that are suitable for your needs.

 

Reason Why Panamá is the #1 Destination Worldwide

 

Panama offers:

In addition, Panamá offers great weather, with only dry or rainy season.  While there can be some flooding here and there if you live by a river, Panamá has no snow, earthquakes, tornados or other major disasters.  

 

Panamá also offers you the choice of living in a warm or a cool climate.  If you don´t like sunshine and hot weather, just go to one of the wonderful places, not only the traditionally ones that are the best known, but there are many places in the "interior" that offer mild climate, special at night, and prices that are much better, because they are not tourist sites.

 

And best of all, by law, all locals and retirees with a proper visa receive a very attractive 25% discount on medical care and prescriptions, hotels, restaurants, airlines, movies and other items.

 

In other words, Panamá has it ALL INCLUDED for you to enjoy.  And that’s without mentioning the beauty of it’s nature and it’s warm people.

 

If relaxation is what you are looking for, while having the ability to add an extra ingredient of full country or city spices and cutting your budget by one third from where you are living right now, think of Panamá.  Panamá is not a perfect country; none is.  Panamá has it all, including, sometimes, little frustrations, that you learn how to skip, but compensated for by living a wonderful life.  If you come with an open mind to fit in a different and pleasant life, you will find that Panamá is a good choice.

 

And the place within Panamá?  Visit different regions to find what you love best:

Regarding prices, what you see on-line is usually the most expensive offers.

 

As professionals are always required for certain procedures, it is not a bad idea to contact an independent local for complete and candid answers, before you make your final move.  There are always "certain" things that on-line or sellers don´t tell you.

 

And last but not least, as I mentioned earlier, take information on-line but remember that vendors only post whatever they want you to see.  There are many other options, some of them, not so expensive, and inquire about little details like where you get your utilities, as well as other items such as neighbors, noise, and other basic needs.  That way, you are not misled.

 

One very important advice is to try to interact in the Spanish language with locals.  They will be delighted that you are trying (even if your Spanish is very bad), and doing so will minimize the frustration of them trying to speak in your language.  Locals love to be taken into consideration.​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only does Lourdes Miranda have one of the best answers she is also  one of the very best attorneys in Boquete.

Not only does Lourdes Miranda have one of the best answers she is also  one of the very best attorneys in Boquete.

The best place to retire in Panama is anyone's guess. There are so many options, climates, scenery and lifestyles to choose from. We are not retired to living close to the city was a priority. I would never choose the beach, but many people do. Life and retirement in Panama is so attractive because we can choose a certain lifestyle but are able to experience all of the other options within a day's drive.

The best place to retire in Panama is anyone's guess. There are so many options, climates, scenery and lifestyles to choose from. We are not retired to living close to the city was a priority. I would never choose the beach, but many people do. Life and retirement in Panama is so attractive because we can choose a certain lifestyle but are able to experience all of the other options within a day's drive.

One of the many great things about Panama is that you can pick the temperature you like best just by moving to a certain elevation.  If you like hot and humid, then the beach areas, David or Panama City would be ideal for you - anything at less than 500 feet.

 

If you like spring like weather in the mid 70s year round, lots of green and flowers, then you need to be at 3,000 feet or higher.  Boquete or Volcan would be ideal.

 

If the mid...

One of the many great things about Panama is that you can pick the temperature you like best just by moving to a certain elevation.  If you like hot and humid, then the beach areas, David or Panama City would be ideal for you - anything at less than 500 feet.

 

If you like spring like weather in the mid 70s year round, lots of green and flowers, then you need to be at 3,000 feet or higher.  Boquete or Volcan would be ideal.

 

If the mid 70s is a little too cool for you, then move down to 1,800 to 2,500 feet for low to mid 80s.  El Valle would work.  But there are also communities near Boquete to consider like Caldera or the gated community of Los Molinas

 

If you like even cooler weather in the high 60s during the day but the 50s at night, they Cerra Punta is the place which would appeal to you most.

 

Yes, Panama has something for everyone. 

 

What are the best places in Panama to live and retire?

 

That's a loaded question.

 

Clearly most retirees who move to Panama or are investigating retiring in Panama check out the usual locations: Bocas Del Toro, Boquete, and the mountain and beach towns near Panama City.

 

If living within a gated community or living near other people who share the same values and culture as you is what you want, these are excellent...

What are the best places in Panama to live and retire?

 

That's a loaded question.

 

Clearly most retirees who move to Panama or are investigating retiring in Panama check out the usual locations: Bocas Del Toro, Boquete, and the mountain and beach towns near Panama City.

 

If living within a gated community or living near other people who share the same values and culture as you is what you want, these are excellent choices.  There are many options to choose from, making this decision difficult.

 

If you are interested in Panama to stoke your adventurous side, then the choices are even more difficult.  Because Panama is so young, there are many undeveloped areas that have the things that the adventurous look for.....mountain vistas, desolate beaches, big powerful rivers, and beautiful forests.

 

The Azuero Peninsula, though developing rapidly, still has many wild places to explore.  The other side of Volcan Baru, the towns of Volcan, Paso Ancho, and Cerro Punta are spectacular and fairly untouched by development.  The Caribbean coast other than Bocas, is untouched.  The possibilities are mind boggling for the adventurous.  The Darien (East of Panama City) is a can of worms or a gold mine, depending on how you look at it.

 

I guess as others have stated already, it depends....

Panama City, as far as Latin America goes, especially Central America, is very cosmopolitan and it has a lot to offer – entertainment, educational opportunities and so on. There is a lot going on in Panama City. It has good telecommunications that is generally available in the rest of the country, too, but in Panama City  there is entertainment 7 days a week. There are restaurants and others things that most cities offer.

Having traveled a fair bit across and around the country of Panama, we stumbled across Boquete and found ourselves having coffee at the wonderful Ruiz coffee factory shop. There we were, sipping some of the world's best coffee, amongst coffee plantations, smelling roasting coffee, fresh tropical flowers, and viewing vibrant rainbows and tropical rainforests from the coffee shop seating area. Is this heaven, we thought? At that moment, the thought came strongly to us: "Let's make...

Having traveled a fair bit across and around the country of Panama, we stumbled across Boquete and found ourselves having coffee at the wonderful Ruiz coffee factory shop. There we were, sipping some of the world's best coffee, amongst coffee plantations, smelling roasting coffee, fresh tropical flowers, and viewing vibrant rainbows and tropical rainforests from the coffee shop seating area. Is this heaven, we thought? At that moment, the thought came strongly to us: "Let's make this home!". And that we did.

 

And now, with the passage of time, feeling very much at home, we are glad we did.  For us, Boquete is our new home, with good friends, a friendly community, fresh mountain air, and endless views and hiking trails to last a lifetime.

 

So, what is the best place to live and retire in in Panama? Well, for us, it is Boquete. We love it here. 
  
  

I personally recommend to live and retire in Pedasi. Lately Pedasi is developing amazingly. There is a new hospital that is soon going to be opened, which is very important for a place to retire and live, and soon there will be a shopping center as well.

 

Pedasi offers first-class infrastructure and provides everything you need for a relaxing day at the beach, or perhaps, more strenuous activities such as hiking, biking, horse-riding, boating, fishing,...

I personally recommend to live and retire in Pedasi. Lately Pedasi is developing amazingly. There is a new hospital that is soon going to be opened, which is very important for a place to retire and live, and soon there will be a shopping center as well.

 

Pedasi offers first-class infrastructure and provides everything you need for a relaxing day at the beach, or perhaps, more strenuous activities such as hiking, biking, horse-riding, boating, fishing, and surfing. There are restaurants and hotels fitting every pocket, and a growing number of amenities and facilities for day-to-day needs. There is even a new recommended project in Pedasi to retire (pictured above). 

 

Being from Florida, I had enough hot and humid (which is Pedasi, Coronado, Panama City and David), and settled in the beautiful cool mountain climate of Boquete. (A bridge in Boquete, pictured.)  I've lived here 10 years with a 15 month change to Cuenca, Ecuador, but returned to Boquete where I will live out my life.

 

One thing is it's near David, which is a large city with good shopping, and is only a 30 minutes drive away...

 

Being from Florida, I had enough hot and humid (which is Pedasi, Coronado, Panama City and David), and settled in the beautiful cool mountain climate of Boquete. (A bridge in Boquete, pictured.)  I've lived here 10 years with a 15 month change to Cuenca, Ecuador, but returned to Boquete where I will live out my life.

 

One thing is it's near David, which is a large city with good shopping, and is only a 30 minutes drive away on a new 4 lane highway.   David has an international airport with COPA flying directly to Panama City to change planes to anywhere in the world.  No need to be in the strangled city environment.  If you need to go there, you can, but your daily life is in a community unlike any other.  ExPats here have organized several things to do that are fun. The Tuesday Meeting and Market are fabulous.   

Hi everyone,

 

The best place to live in The Panama Republic for you?

 

Only you can get that answer.

 

The modern conception of quality of life is a combination of factors: environment, standard of living, mental and physical health, social position, education, etc.

 

*** Another important factor in life quality is freedom***

—freedom to create, freedom to develop, freedom to make choices.

Hi everyone,

 

The best place to live in The Panama Republic for you?

 

Only you can get that answer.

 

The modern conception of quality of life is a combination of factors: environment, standard of living, mental and physical health, social position, education, etc.

 

*** Another important factor in life quality is freedom***

—freedom to create, freedom to develop, freedom to make choices.

From this point of view we may say that the policies of a country’s government and its regime may also have a great influence on the quality of life.

 

With that freedom provided in the isthmus, most newcomers spend time visiting every available option and other venues, which are off the beaten path.

 

There is something for everyone in this isthmus: plenty of coast, islands, buzzing cities, high planes, volcano, valleys, lakes, desert, rivers, waterfalls, caves, jungle, etc.

 

You may find a spot that provides all these a few minutes apart.

 

Go, explore the Isthmus,  Your heart will tell you as soon as you find your best place. 

 

You´ll know then and only then.

 

For me is the best place is the Azuero peninsula in southern Panama, where the Republic of Panama's first scream of independence was heard. 

 

REM: Great Baseball too.

 

Welcome to the isthmus of Panama !!!

 

( The town of Cambutal, Los Santos province, Panamá, pictured.)

 

 

 

The best places in Panama to live and retire depend on what you are looking for.  A lot of people want the cooler climates, which would place them up in the hills, in places like El Valle or Boquete. Then there are the beach communities. If you are looking for a place that has healthcare and any sort of service, the Playa Community around Coronado is best because it’s close to the Panama City and we have a Johns Hopkins clinic located there. 
 
Boquete is the...

The best places in Panama to live and retire depend on what you are looking for.  A lot of people want the cooler climates, which would place them up in the hills, in places like El Valle or Boquete. Then there are the beach communities. If you are looking for a place that has healthcare and any sort of service, the Playa Community around Coronado is best because it’s close to the Panama City and we have a Johns Hopkins clinic located there. 
 
Boquete is the fastest growing retirement area outside the US. There are some like-minded individuals there. It is a lot less like Panama than other parts of Panama as it is mostly foreigners retiring there and it is so close to Costa Rica that the locals “get it” when it comes to tourism and hotels. Also, people in Boquete speak English.
 
El Valle de Anton, and the areas around there have a bit higher elevation, which keeps it a little cooler. It’s very clean and green and it is a wonderful part of the country of Panama. Even though it is in the mountains, El Valle is only half an hour away from the beaches and golf courses.
 
The area around Coronado is being billed as the “Playa Community” (Beach Community), even though, in a broader sense, it also encompasses places like Altos del Maria and El Valle, which are both up in the mountains. It  has been a destination since the 1980s. Panamanian families built up the area around the beach in Coronado, but in the last 5 years, the Panamanian government has boosted that area with resorts. There is a handful of resorts in the area and then dotted in between are high-rise apartment condos.
 
That is the main area for breaking and entering, so we don’t really recommend a house in that area; it is definitely safer to live in condominiums. Real estate prices reflect it, because a condo is much more expensive than a house in the area. The Coronado / Playa community is more of a condo type community. So you can be a snowbird and come down for four months and leave your condo locked for eight months, and be safe, whereas if you left your house for just a few minutes, it would get broken into. So we really nudge the people towards the condo style places in that area until they solve that problem, which would be a long time.
 
I should emphasize that the crime in Coronado is crime against property, not against people.  The Playa Community in Coronado is about an hour and a half to 2 hours from the city of Panama, unless it is holiday or Sunday, in which case it could be a 5-hour drive. 
 
The Coronado area has grown so much. It used to have one grocery store, but now has four grocery stores. So you now have a lot more choices of restaurants and the area has been growing over the last 10 years. Now, there is basically a foundation for the future.
 
I did not mention Panama City as one of the best places to retire because you in my opinion, you have to be crazy to want to live there. If you are a city person, then it would be fine because it is a city. But Panama City is so congested. It was built for a population of 1 million and now there is about 2 million people there.
 
The roads don’t work, and the traffic is awful. It is not as bad as many other places, but I can’t imagine retiree people wanting to live here. It’s just madness. It’s an absolute crazy place to live since Panama City is loud, there is a lot of beeping, it’s smelly, and there is no ocean. It’s a city. Retired people usually look for a place to relax.
 
Bocas Del Toro is a nice place, but retirement really depends on what an individual likes. If you like Key West, you’re going to like Bocas Del Toro, but there’s not a lot of people retire in Key West. If they are looking for a little bit more reliable electricity, and water, well, they’re not going to get it in Bocas. Bocas is still a bit detached. Although there is road, it takes a long time to get over it. There is a flight, but not all that reliable. Also, it rains a lot more in Bocas than in other places and not all people like that.   The crime rate is a little higher in Bocas del Toro for breaking and entering. There is no community and health care there, either. There is one bank. These things don’t make people who come to retire jump up and down.

 

(Expats  seeking bird life in El Valle de Anton, Panama, pictured.)

There are three main areas in Panama in which to live and retire: 

Boquete is more remote and it’s cooler. Panama City is very vibrant, but not everyone wants to be in the hustle and bustle of the city. What...

There are three main areas in Panama in which to live and retire: 

Boquete is more remote and it’s cooler. Panama City is very vibrant, but not everyone wants to be in the hustle and bustle of the city. What we’re finding is that many people prefer the Coronado area. Because there are so many expats, it’s even more English language friendly than Panama City would be. 
 
In Coronado, because there are expats, it’s easy to make friends. You can almost “plug and play;” you can buy a place in Coronado and as soon as you move in, it’s really easy to get plugged into the North American lifestyle. You have people who speak English. You have people who can automatically become your friends and hang out with. You have people who already are doing the happy hours, doing the beach volleyball, doing the morning coffees, and there are already different charitable organizations to belong to. So whatever you would like to do, you can plug yourself in very easily and feel like you’ve been living there for years.

 

(Built in 1917 as a luxury apartment building with a department store and bank on the ground level, the the building has been revitalized in Casco Viejo as the American Trade Hotel, and is receiving visitors, pictured.)

I read the older answers above with interest, and having just returned from another visit to Panama, I felt that perhaps some additional criteria might be factored into the decision-making process:
 
I agree that the 3 areas of main interest for expat retirement appear to be Panama City, which is an urban lifestyle, Coronado and Boquete. However, beyond the two factors often mentioned, weather and expat community (Panama City hot and humid and suffering from disproportionately...

I read the older answers above with interest, and having just returned from another visit to Panama, I felt that perhaps some additional criteria might be factored into the decision-making process:
 
I agree that the 3 areas of main interest for expat retirement appear to be Panama City, which is an urban lifestyle, Coronado and Boquete. However, beyond the two factors often mentioned, weather and expat community (Panama City hot and humid and suffering from disproportionately hectic traffic, Coronado, in the hills and cooler weather with a different style of condominium living, and Coronado with a beachfront high-rise condo lifestyle in the main and the apparent ease of integration with other expats), we find that a range of other factors such as ease of access to amenities, distance to beach, safety, cost of living, and of course real estate values in particular rentals because many expats are coming for the winters. In addition, the new legislation around the need to remain outside the country for at least 1 month following expiration of a tourist visa, will also affect the choice of those people who have not opted for formal residence.

Notwithstanding these points to observe, Panama remains a very good option quite close to the US, and with an excellent retiree program.
 
Remember to look beyond weather as your new life overseas will be made up of more than sunshine or rain!