What's it like to retire in Panama?
Neil Stein - Panama Paraiso
What's retirement in Panama like is a very interesting question with possibly as many answers as there are retirees. I am single, so I have all kinds of options. I love racing road bicycles, surfing, playing basketball, hiking, reading, sightseeing and most important of all - experiencing the culture. All of this and more is available in Panama!I have found for some couples who have just retired that being together with their spouse 24 hours a day is not...
What's retirement in Panama like is a very interesting question with possibly as many answers as there are retirees. I am single, so I have all kinds of options. I love racing road bicycles, surfing, playing basketball, hiking, reading, sightseeing and most important of all - experiencing the culture. All of this and more is available in Panama!I have found for some couples who have just retired that being together with their spouse 24 hours a day is not exactly what they bargained for. So, I would definitely recommend that each person who retires here finds something to occupy a good amount of their time.
Learning the Spanish language is one of the most fun ways to spend time and help you immerse yourself in the Panamanian culture. People here appreciate your attempt to speak with them and are very helpful in correcting you if that's what you want. Either way, it's a good way to develop local friends rather than just gringos!If you want a cooler climate, it's available in mountain towns such as El Valle and Boquete. If you want to live by the beach, there are wonderful communities in the Coronado area, Pedasi, Bocas del Toro and other smaller towns.
If you want the city, Panama City has great restaurants, cultural events, museums and a wonderful night life.
So, all in all, retirement in Panama is what you make it! This is certainly the same wherever you go in the world including wherever you are coming from!
Posted March 27, 2013
Col Davis Stevenson RET
We have many former Zonians that chose to retire in Panama due to the very favorable laws governing retirees. Panama not only has great benefits but it also has great medical services which are of a great interest to the retirement community.
Life is at a leisurely pace for the retiree. There are so many options as to the area that one would end up settling in all of which have great attractions for the retiree from reasonable household help to a great abundace of native food...
We have many former Zonians that chose to retire in Panama due to the very favorable laws governing retirees. Panama not only has great benefits but it also has great medical services which are of a great interest to the retirement community.
Life is at a leisurely pace for the retiree. There are so many options as to the area that one would end up settling in all of which have great attractions for the retiree from reasonable household help to a great abundace of native food products at reasonable prices.
The weather is great, especially during the dry season. The days of having heating fixtures in the closets to fend off mold are long gone with the introduction of air conditioning. Come on down join a great group of people.
Posted April 1, 2013
David Whittington - Tucan Golf Club and Resort
I’m not retired, but I can tell you how I see the retirees living in Panama. Most expat retirees seem to like Panama. There are lots for expat retirees to do here, from golfing to beach activities to many other activities. Overall, they seem to be enjoying their lives. They form bridge clubs or theater groups, and do many other activities together.
Many of the expats I’ve met who’ve moved to Panama move here because of limited...
Many of the expats I’ve met who’ve moved to Panama move here because of limited...
I’m not retired, but I can tell you how I see the retirees living in Panama. Most expat retirees seem to like Panama. There are lots for expat retirees to do here, from golfing to beach activities to many other activities. Overall, they seem to be enjoying their lives. They form bridge clubs or theater groups, and do many other activities together.
Many of the expats I’ve met who’ve moved to Panama move here because of limited pensions. In Panama, your dollar goes a whole lot further than in North America. In Canada, when you retire, if your pension isn’t as good as it should be, you’re going to struggle a bit. In Panama, you can take the same pension and not struggle because the costs to live in Panama are so much less than, for example, in Canada. Gas, insurance, taxes, etc., are all more in Canada. It makes a heck of a difference if you’re on a fixed income in Canada and they decide to raise your land taxes on your home. In Canada, our taxes are quite high. So many people move to Panama to have a much easier time living on their pensions.
You can do a lot more with your money in Panama than you can in the US. For example, I just got back from Chicago. A good breakfast there in a restaurant cost me $10. In Panama, a good breakfast costs me $5.
Many of the expats I’ve met who’ve moved to Panama move here because of limited pensions. In Panama, your dollar goes a whole lot further than in North America. In Canada, when you retire, if your pension isn’t as good as it should be, you’re going to struggle a bit. In Panama, you can take the same pension and not struggle because the costs to live in Panama are so much less than, for example, in Canada. Gas, insurance, taxes, etc., are all more in Canada. It makes a heck of a difference if you’re on a fixed income in Canada and they decide to raise your land taxes on your home. In Canada, our taxes are quite high. So many people move to Panama to have a much easier time living on their pensions.
You can do a lot more with your money in Panama than you can in the US. For example, I just got back from Chicago. A good breakfast there in a restaurant cost me $10. In Panama, a good breakfast costs me $5.
Posted August 2, 2014
Gonzalo de la Guardia - Panasurance
Retiring in Panama is going to be paradise for people who live in cold places. Panama is the best place to retire in Latin America. It is a good place for business. It attracts a lot of retirees from the US and Canada. Panama City is a really wonderful place. Another great thing about retiring in Panama is the connectivity. We have great TV, phone, and Internet service so you can call home everyday to stay connected all the time. I think the secret to...
Retiring in Panama is going to be paradise for people who live in cold places. Panama is the best place to retire in Latin America. It is a good place for business. It attracts a lot of retirees from the US and Canada. Panama City is a really wonderful place. Another great thing about retiring in Panama is the connectivity. We have great TV, phone, and Internet service so you can call home everyday to stay connected all the time. I think the secret to living in Panama is to consider it like a hub where you can live most of the year and then you can go back to your home country a couple of times in a year if you are from the US or Canada. We are only two and a half hours away from Miami, seven hours from Seattle, and eight hours from Toronto. There are direct flights to all these places so it is very convenient to travel back and forth.
In Panama, we have most of the commodities that you are accustomed to in your home country. So to me, Panama is just another address and a very nice address at that.
Posted November 20, 2014
Bill Hamilton - Bill Hamilton
I love retirement in Panama. It is like living in Spain, but with fewer foreigners. I like it. I like the climate and the people are nice. We have everything we want in the village where we live and we’re free to move around. We can get to the beach in a couple of hours and spend a few days there. There are so many things to see and it’s such a diverse type of terrain. You go from one side of the country to another; it’s completely different. You have Volcan in...I love retirement in Panama. It is like living in Spain, but with fewer foreigners. I like it. I like the climate and the people are nice. We have everything we want in the village where we live and we’re free to move around. We can get to the beach in a couple of hours and spend a few days there. There are so many things to see and it’s such a diverse type of terrain. You go from one side of the country to another; it’s completely different. You have Volcan in the mountains, you have your jungle in Gamboa, you go to the lakes, waterfalls, and rivers to swim. The beaches are great, too. It is absolutely wonderful. From my home in Calobre, in Santiago, these places are all within less than a couple of hours of driving. In 45 minutes, you are in a beautiful national park. In 10 minutes, you will reach the river down the road where you can swim. There are hot springs that are about 20 minutes away. The city is 40 minutes away. The beaches are two hours away. In three and a half hours, you are in Panama City.
So there is lots of things we can do because we are in the center of Panama, really, between the city and Boquete, and in three hours approximately, you are in David.
You have to research a lot if you are thinking of retiring in Panama. We researched a lot. Do I want to be with expats? Do I want to be without them? Do I want nightlife? What sort of climate do I want? Do I want to be near the beach? Do I want to live in the country? You have to weigh all those things out. It’s really a matter of personal choice.
For example, I could not last in Coronado for five minutes. In fact, we have a friend who had lived there for a year, but has gone back to the States. When we took her to Pedasi, she said to me, “What the hell am I doing living in Coronado? There are drunk Canadians arguing at night.”
Panama is a very small country and you can get anything you like. You can get city life and expats, whatever you want, if you choose carefully. To me, from where I live, down the Pan-American Highway three and a half hours to Panama City is not long. Going the other way to the beaches also is not far. It just depends on what you want. You can choose urban or country or mountains or beach. In Panama, you’ve got anything and anyone.
What’s nice about it is it’s all very close. Let us say you are in the city and you want to go to the mountains; it does not take long, or if you’re in the mountains and you want to go to the city. In a little more than an hour from Panama City, you can be in El Valle, up in the mountains. Also, you’ve got your beaches around the corner.
Going East towards Colombia into the Darien, there’s a nice area called Lake Bayano, which is beautiful, near Chepo. Lake Bayano has caves with bats. There’s really almost no development there; just Lake Bayano. You can walk in the caves and it really is a nice area. It is about two and a half hour drive. We went to a little fishing port there. It is a nice, quiet place with no foreigners and we walked around. We had two whole fish, patacones (fried plantain), a few beers and I think it was US $17.
I also had sugar cane water that I got in the city at a stall at the side of the road. I never tried it before. They have a machine that grinds the sugar cane and then the juice goes through a cooler and into the bottom, into ice, and they serve that to you. It’s delicious.
This is just an example. There are plenty of new things to experience and to learn. I like to learn everything. Panama is a great place to retire for those who wish to learn.
As another example, when I get this horse one of the locals is selling me for US $200, I’m going to get them to teach me to rope. I’m going to help with the cows. I’m going to learn how to brand and things like they do. I will be a vaquero!
Posted December 13, 2014
Daryl Ries - Keller Williams Panama, associate
Retirement seems to agree with the many American and Canadian residents of Coronado, which is one of the most popular expat retirement areas. Living well and living within their means is an essential aspect of making retirement work for them here in Panama.
The beach community at Coronado is a center of social activity for the coastal region, is within 2 hours from Panama City, and attracts foreigners from all over the world looking for a comfortable retirement....
The beach community at Coronado is a center of social activity for the coastal region, is within 2 hours from Panama City, and attracts foreigners from all over the world looking for a comfortable retirement....
Retirement seems to agree with the many American and Canadian residents of Coronado, which is one of the most popular expat retirement areas. Living well and living within their means is an essential aspect of making retirement work for them here in Panama.
The beach community at Coronado is a center of social activity for the coastal region, is within 2 hours from Panama City, and attracts foreigners from all over the world looking for a comfortable retirement. Couples over 55 through 75 are the main occupants, renters or homeowners, and most are full time. Single retirees are the next segment and often, divorcees or widowed that opt for a retirement abroad. Returning Panamanians also account for a large part of the Latin Americans who chose Panama for a safe and secure retirement.
But there are enough examples of those that come, and after a few months to a year, discover that retirement is not for them, and return to work in their own country, or they find that living far apart from their families, especially their grand kids, does not work. Finally, the balance is that some retirees who come to Panama find new careers, new opportunities, and many other welcome options that enrich their lives beyond measure.
The beach community at Coronado is a center of social activity for the coastal region, is within 2 hours from Panama City, and attracts foreigners from all over the world looking for a comfortable retirement. Couples over 55 through 75 are the main occupants, renters or homeowners, and most are full time. Single retirees are the next segment and often, divorcees or widowed that opt for a retirement abroad. Returning Panamanians also account for a large part of the Latin Americans who chose Panama for a safe and secure retirement.
But there are enough examples of those that come, and after a few months to a year, discover that retirement is not for them, and return to work in their own country, or they find that living far apart from their families, especially their grand kids, does not work. Finally, the balance is that some retirees who come to Panama find new careers, new opportunities, and many other welcome options that enrich their lives beyond measure.
(House in San Carlos, Panama, south of Coronado, pictured.)
Posted February 15, 2015
Linda Jensen
Retiring in Panama really depends on what you want out of your retirement. For us, it has been an adventure, it’s relaxing, and it’s been an eye-opener to see and experience a different country and a different population. There are indigenous Indians here in Panama who still live in such primitive conditions that it is hard to believe. Yet they are not always that poor. They choose to live that way.There is also the terrain. The topography of the mountains, the...
Retiring in Panama really depends on what you want out of your retirement. For us, it has been an adventure, it’s relaxing, and it’s been an eye-opener to see and experience a different country and a different population. There are indigenous Indians here in Panama who still live in such primitive conditions that it is hard to believe. Yet they are not always that poor. They choose to live that way.There is also the terrain. The topography of the mountains, the valleys, the lowlands, the dry lands and the rainy areas is so beautiful here in Panama that there is just about something for everyone. Then we have the best of both oceans – the Pacific and the Caribbean. To me, retiring in Panama is like retiring into a beautiful, tropical paradise.
Most of my friends are a combination of people who have homes and own properties or are involved in the community. They have started some small business that help provide jobs to Panamanians. People here stay busy.
If you choose not to be busy, you can also enjoy it. Sit on the patio, have a glass of wine, kick back and relax. But if you need to be doing something, there are unbelievable amounts of things to do here. There are two different kinds of bridges clubs here – the serious and the social bridge clubs. I know they have these clubs in Boquete and in other big cities in Panama.
If you are in a small gringo community, you will find that they help each other. They build houses, they build churches, they work on each other’s cars, they offer rides, etc. The lifestyle here in Panama is easy. If someone has a car and he has car trouble, who wouldn’t want to help them? Because they own a car, they have obviously helped other people. They own a car and almost everybody I know who owns a car has offered rides to everybody they know, so it is just the way people think here.
There is art. There are camera and photography classes. If you are a photographer, you would just want to take pictures all the time because it is to photogenic here. There is hiking and rafting. They have every kind of activity that you can think of. They have sports such as soccer, baseball, etc. It’s only the person’s limitation that they choose to make of themselves that keeps them from being extremely busy. There is something for everybody.
(Linda Jensen's friends dining in a patio shaded by banana trees in Boquete, pictured.)
Posted April 3, 2015
Eddie Montes - Panama Property Rentals
Retirement in Panama is very nice from my understanding, judging from many of the people that I have spoken with.They enjoy the weather in Panama more than anything. There is not much of a change of seasons here. There is basically a rainy season and a dry season. The flora and fauna here in Panama is second to none. There are a lot of really good cultural activities. We have theaters. We have good movies. Typically, anything that you would find in South Florida, for example,...
Retirement in Panama is very nice from my understanding, judging from many of the people that I have spoken with.They enjoy the weather in Panama more than anything. There is not much of a change of seasons here. There is basically a rainy season and a dry season. The flora and fauna here in Panama is second to none. There are a lot of really good cultural activities. We have theaters. We have good movies. Typically, anything that you would find in South Florida, for example, you would find here in Panama for a significantly lower price.
If you are seeking a little bit of adventure to find something new to spark up their life, I suggest you consider Panama as a place to retire.
(The Adventures of Panama Red, a country rock album released in 1973 by New Riders of the Purple Sage, pictured. )
Posted October 6, 2015