What's it like to live in Boquete, Panama?
Dianne Heidke - The Boquete Handbook
For me, living in Boquete is very easy. It's an easy life if you want it to be. There are not a great deal of cultural activities or great restaurants so if that is your bag, you may be unhappy.
Visit first for a while.
For me, living in Boquete is very easy. It's an easy life if you want it to be. There are not a great deal of cultural activities or great restaurants so if that is your bag, you may be unhappy.
Visit first for a while.
Posted April 11, 2013
Oscar Peña - Mucho Gusto Panama
Hola!
I have been in Boquete for 4 years and I do feel very grateful for the peaceful feeling here! Boquete has many things to offer for retired people or young people. There are good places to go hiking, bird watching, horse back ridding, white water rafting, take coffee tours, etc.,but the nicest thing is how easy going it is here and if you don't remember what day it is after a little while being here it is because you are in Panama :)
...
Hola!
I have been in Boquete for 4 years and I do feel very grateful for the peaceful feeling here! Boquete has many things to offer for retired people or young people. There are good places to go hiking, bird watching, horse back ridding, white water rafting, take coffee tours, etc.,but the nicest thing is how easy going it is here and if you don't remember what day it is after a little while being here it is because you are in Panama :)
Restaurants are very good for such a small town. Of course not all of them are great but you can have different options and styles.
Living in Boquete in less words is like when you can just BE! and enjoy simple things in life :)
The picture to the right is of a waterfall hike in the mountains of Boquete.
Posted June 3, 2013
Paul McBride - Inside Panama Real Estate
Without a doubt, Boquete is one of the most beautiful places in Panama to live or retire. Blessed with an incredible year round spring climate, the days are warm but not hot and the nights are cool but not cold. There's no need for heating or air conditioning and the surrounding mountain valleys are always lush and green. Life is relaxed and the pace is slow but not so slow as to be...
Without a doubt, Boquete is one of the most beautiful places in Panama to live or retire. Blessed with an incredible year round spring climate, the days are warm but not hot and the nights are cool but not cold. There's no need for heating or air conditioning and the surrounding mountain valleys are always lush and green. Life is relaxed and the pace is slow but not so slow as to be boring. There's always plenty to do whether it's golfing, playing tennis, hiking along beautiful mountain trails or sharpening your acting skills at the local playhouse.
The local fruits and vegetables are healthy, plentiful and surprisingly cheap. With 41 restaurants in the area there's never a shortage of places to eat out. The beach is just an hour's drive away so it's easy to chill out by the ocean.
In short, life in Boquete is good, the pace of life is easy and the community is warm and friendly. If you're looking to live or retire in a tranquil environment, surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery with one of the finest climates in the world, Boquete might be the place for you.
Posted June 27, 2013
Sharon Schwartz
50 Shades of Green
or
How Boquete Seduced Me
Maybe I was ready to be seduced but Boquete is simply beautiful - the climate incredible, lush and cool but no air conditioning or heat needed, just a cozy fleece sometimes. Unlike others I have no property or services to sell, I rent cheaply and travel a lot. Folks here are from all over, but it's a real community that takes care of local needs. I love that! Tired...
50 Shades of Green
or
How Boquete Seduced Me
Maybe I was ready to be seduced but Boquete is simply beautiful - the climate incredible, lush and cool but no air conditioning or heat needed, just a cozy fleece sometimes. Unlike others I have no property or services to sell, I rent cheaply and travel a lot. Folks here are from all over, but it's a real community that takes care of local needs. I love that! Tired of the rain? Head for the beach. Want theatre? Go to see performances. Care about animals? Volunteer at clinics. Help feed the hungry ....Boquete has all that and more.
Posted August 29, 2013
Harry Hunt - ownboquete
Sometimes, people ask me they're missed their opportunity to live in Boquete well and at a good price.
I do not think that anyone has missed their opportunity at all. If anything Boquete is better than ever with a new interstate-type highway with breakdown lanes that is probably one of the best roads in Latin America. We have a new and improved power system that also makes living here easier.
David (the closest big city) is building new roads and also a...
Sometimes, people ask me they're missed their opportunity to live in Boquete well and at a good price.
I do not think that anyone has missed their opportunity at all. If anything Boquete is better than ever with a new interstate-type highway with breakdown lanes that is probably one of the best roads in Latin America. We have a new and improved power system that also makes living here easier.
David (the closest big city) is building new roads and also a flyover to ease traffic at the Gringo Mall and make it easier to enter David once you arrive in half an hour. The new airport terminal and upgraded runway already has jet service to Panama City and international flights are soon to follow.
We are starting to see a lot of curious expats investigating this area as well as the Volcan area for possible homes and building sites now that the infrastructure has improved so much. As far as restaurants go, we are living the life. The locally famous Craig the Chef may have left but he has left his mark on three of the restaurants he was involved in. Also, Big Daddy's and Sugar and Spice are here to stay and offer excellent and nutritious meals.
We have more hostels and hotels than ever and there is construction starting in several areas of town to provide more long term rentals, which we seriously need if we are to be able to satisfy the demand we are now experiencing in the rainy season when everyone goes home to warm weather.
I saw my first Canadian snowbird yesterday from Saskatchewan where it was snowing, and he couldn't get over all the changes we've had this summer. I have one 5 bedroom, 2 bath home that could be adapted to a B and B for $259,000 and has a motivated seller. There have been many sales this season, some that have become homes and others that investors have turned into rentals, which by the way are rented and we still have demand for more.
In my opinion, Boquete is evolving into a great place to live. Those of us who have lived here for a long time have always enjoyed the weather, the scenery and the people, but now we are starting to get amenities and infrastructure that we could only fantasize about in the old days. I hope I have answered your question. I have to go now to get to Sugar and Spice before it gets too crowded. It is independence from Columbia day and the town is full of people.
Posted November 11, 2013
Bonnie Williams
My husband and I have lived in Boquete for seven years and are very happy here. That is not to say that there are not challenges, some of which we have overcome with diligence and patience, and some of which we live with every day. Obtaining our pensionado visas, opening a bank account, building a house, buying and registering vehicles, obtaining Internet and t.v. services, and securing driver's licenses are among the former. Ongoing challenges include power outages, lack of...
My husband and I have lived in Boquete for seven years and are very happy here. That is not to say that there are not challenges, some of which we have overcome with diligence and patience, and some of which we live with every day. Obtaining our pensionado visas, opening a bank account, building a house, buying and registering vehicles, obtaining Internet and t.v. services, and securing driver's licenses are among the former. Ongoing challenges include power outages, lack of one-stop or even two-stop shopping, locating and waiting for maintenance workers, and dealing with the government and the banks. Everything is more complicated than it was in the States, and we have to expect that virtually nothing is accomplished easily.
For the most part, however, we have adapted and have come to appreciate the slower pace of life, the friendliness of the locals, the opportunities for recreational and volunteer activities that have enriched our lives. We have built a circle of friends--both Panamanian and expat--and daily remark on the beauty of our surroundings. Embracing a new culture and new lifestyle has been rewarding.
Provided that one has the diligence and patience to deal with challenges, life in Boquete offers many opportunities for fulfillment. Once settled, it becomes important to reach out and grab those opportunities--make friends, become involved.
Posted November 12, 2013
Rebeca Astorga Rodriguez
Living in Boquete is an experience full of peace and tranquility. Boquete is a town surrounded by mountains with a cool climate where you will find a wide range of vegetation including flora and fauna to enjoy in company or even alone.
Living in Boquete is something incredible, with good restaurants and coffee. If you like outdoor activities you can go hiking, river rafting or even enjoy the beautiful vegetation and its comfortable weather. ...
Living in Boquete is an experience full of peace and tranquility. Boquete is a town surrounded by mountains with a cool climate where you will find a wide range of vegetation including flora and fauna to enjoy in company or even alone.
Living in Boquete is something incredible, with good restaurants and coffee. If you like outdoor activities you can go hiking, river rafting or even enjoy the beautiful vegetation and its comfortable weather.
I go to Boquete every time I can. I love to go there for the food and the weather. The place for me is just amazing.
Posted March 8, 2014
Philip McGuigan - Chiriqui United, an Association of the leading humanitarian organizations in the Chiriqui Province of Panama
Boquete is about the most attractive place I can imagine in which to live or retire.
Boquete has a terrific community of about 25,000 people, 5,000 of whom are expats. The services are great. Even the supermarkets reflect the presence of the expat community.
People that live here are able to have a focus that meets their needs. There are people who come here and finally get to play golf every day or go hiking everywhere. I know two folks...
Boquete has a terrific community of about 25,000 people, 5,000 of whom are expats. The services are great. Even the supermarkets reflect the presence of the expat community.
People that live here are able to have a focus that meets their needs. There are people who come here and finally get to play golf every day or go hiking everywhere. I know two folks...
Boquete is about the most attractive place I can imagine in which to live or retire.
Boquete has a terrific community of about 25,000 people, 5,000 of whom are expats. The services are great. Even the supermarkets reflect the presence of the expat community.
People that live here are able to have a focus that meets their needs. There are people who come here and finally get to play golf every day or go hiking everywhere. I know two folks who created animal rescues— they’re friends with each other. One has 14 dogs that she takes care of; it is the “pack from heaven”. The other one has something like 30 cats and many, many dogs. These women have created a whole life of rescuing animals. It is wonderful to watch.
Here in Boquete, what you get out of things depends on how you approach it. There are many choices from which you can choose to make you feel good.
From a personal perspective, my wife and I like the fact that we work in the humanitarian arena because we get to meet so many terrific people. For example, if you go to a spay and neuter clinic, it is just a delight to see and meet these folks. It’s through these types of activities that we’ve gotten to know a lot of folks.
All of us have the challenges of dealing with the grace that electricity goes out once or twice a week and other situations you may not find in places like the US. For example, the people who live in Boquete usually go down to David (about 45 minutes away by car) to Pricemart (similar to Costco) every 2 to 3 weeks and there is sort of a social network that keeps everyone up to date on what’s going on. If, as is the case now, the Kirkland Dog cookies have not been in stock for a while, panic sets in among the dog community, and you can feel the pressure building. I guarantee you that, in a very short time, as soon as the words goes out that the cookies are in stock, many people will be going down to stock up.
One of the things you learn when you move to a foreign country like Panama, is if you see it and you want it, buy it, because it may not be there the next time you go back.
The two biggest panics right now in Boquete are hysterically funny: we are out of stock on dog cookies and disher tabs. If that’s the biggest thing you have to worry about, life's pretty good.
The general area here where Boquete is located is called the Chiriqui Highlands. The Chiriqui Highlands are magic.
Boquete has a terrific community of about 25,000 people, 5,000 of whom are expats. The services are great. Even the supermarkets reflect the presence of the expat community.
People that live here are able to have a focus that meets their needs. There are people who come here and finally get to play golf every day or go hiking everywhere. I know two folks who created animal rescues— they’re friends with each other. One has 14 dogs that she takes care of; it is the “pack from heaven”. The other one has something like 30 cats and many, many dogs. These women have created a whole life of rescuing animals. It is wonderful to watch.
Here in Boquete, what you get out of things depends on how you approach it. There are many choices from which you can choose to make you feel good.
From a personal perspective, my wife and I like the fact that we work in the humanitarian arena because we get to meet so many terrific people. For example, if you go to a spay and neuter clinic, it is just a delight to see and meet these folks. It’s through these types of activities that we’ve gotten to know a lot of folks.
All of us have the challenges of dealing with the grace that electricity goes out once or twice a week and other situations you may not find in places like the US. For example, the people who live in Boquete usually go down to David (about 45 minutes away by car) to Pricemart (similar to Costco) every 2 to 3 weeks and there is sort of a social network that keeps everyone up to date on what’s going on. If, as is the case now, the Kirkland Dog cookies have not been in stock for a while, panic sets in among the dog community, and you can feel the pressure building. I guarantee you that, in a very short time, as soon as the words goes out that the cookies are in stock, many people will be going down to stock up.
One of the things you learn when you move to a foreign country like Panama, is if you see it and you want it, buy it, because it may not be there the next time you go back.
The two biggest panics right now in Boquete are hysterically funny: we are out of stock on dog cookies and disher tabs. If that’s the biggest thing you have to worry about, life's pretty good.
The general area here where Boquete is located is called the Chiriqui Highlands. The Chiriqui Highlands are magic.
Posted June 26, 2014
Frank Stegmeier - Rio Encantado
“What’s it like to live in Boquete?” is a broad question. For me, my life in the Boquete area is vastly different than 95% of the expats.
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool maintenance, patrol the property and...
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool maintenance, patrol the property and...
“What’s it like to live in Boquete?” is a broad question. For me, my life in the Boquete area is vastly different than 95% of the expats.
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool maintenance, patrol the property and most important now, make work plans to finish my tree tower tree house right on the river.
By about 9 AM, my maid ($15 a day) has breakfast ready. After breakfast, we had a meeting in Caldera regarding community projects, which I am very involved in. Then the rest of the day was a trip to Boquete, 15 minutes away, for business, banking and shopping. Then in the late PM, a little work out, swim in my pool, dinner and retire for the night.
Frankly, I would have to be a multimillionaire in North America to live and have what I have here, but I bought and built my project years ago, before the big gringo price inflation. I’ve got 100 acres, 5 homes, a pool, rancho, designer tree house and no property taxes. I have 5 employees. Even without my rental income I could still live on my pension, which, when I left Seattle, Washington, i was living on in a 40 year old trailer in a trailer park.
So, we do have options in life. But my advice to newcomers is to rent for a year and check it all out so you don’t make some serious mistakes.
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool maintenance, patrol the property and most important now, make work plans to finish my tree tower tree house right on the river.
By about 9 AM, my maid ($15 a day) has breakfast ready. After breakfast, we had a meeting in Caldera regarding community projects, which I am very involved in. Then the rest of the day was a trip to Boquete, 15 minutes away, for business, banking and shopping. Then in the late PM, a little work out, swim in my pool, dinner and retire for the night.
Frankly, I would have to be a multimillionaire in North America to live and have what I have here, but I bought and built my project years ago, before the big gringo price inflation. I’ve got 100 acres, 5 homes, a pool, rancho, designer tree house and no property taxes. I have 5 employees. Even without my rental income I could still live on my pension, which, when I left Seattle, Washington, i was living on in a 40 year old trailer in a trailer park.
So, we do have options in life. But my advice to newcomers is to rent for a year and check it all out so you don’t make some serious mistakes.
Posted July 19, 2014
Frank Stegmeier - Rio Encantado
“What’s it like to live in Boquete?” is a broad question. For me, my life in the Boquete area is vastly different than 95% of the expats.
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool...
“What’s it like to live in Boquete?” is a broad question. For me, my life in the Boquete area is vastly different than 95% of the expats.
I own and run a tourist business and have an intense love for my art and nature resort, so today started out at 7:00 AM, opening the gate for my workers, making coffee, feeding my fish and turtles, and taking a swim with my dog in the Caldera river.
Then I do the pool maintenance, patrol the property and most important now, make work plans to finish my tree tower tree house right on the river.
By about 9 AM, my maid ($15 a day) has breakfast ready. After breakfast, we had a meeting in Caldera regarding community projects, which I am very involved in. Then the rest of the day was a trip to Boquete, 15 minutes away, for business, banking and shopping. Then in the late PM, a little work out, swim in my pool, dinner and retire for the night.
Frankly, I would have to be a multimillionaire in North America to live and have what I have here, but I bought and built my project years ago, before the big gringo price inflation. I’ve got 100 acres, 5 homes, a pool, rancho, designer tree house and no property taxes. I have 5 employees. Even without my rental income I could still live on my pension, which, when I left Seattle, Washington., i was living on in a 40 year old trailer in a trailer park.
So, we do have options in life. But my advice to newcomers is to rent for a year and check it all out so you don’t make some serious mistakes.
Posted July 19, 2014
Linda Jensen
Just this morning, I was walking out of my apartment in Boquete and said to my neighbor “How are you today?” His answer was “It’s another day in paradise.” That’s how it feels here.
The number one thing I hear that expats like about Boquete is the climate. The climate here is an element of the relaxing lifestyle because it’s not extreme.
Another thing expats like about Boquete is that it’s affordable...
The number one thing I hear that expats like about Boquete is the climate. The climate here is an element of the relaxing lifestyle because it’s not extreme.
Another thing expats like about Boquete is that it’s affordable...
Just this morning, I was walking out of my apartment in Boquete and said to my neighbor “How are you today?” His answer was “It’s another day in paradise.” That’s how it feels here.
The number one thing I hear that expats like about Boquete is the climate. The climate here is an element of the relaxing lifestyle because it’s not extreme.
Another thing expats like about Boquete is that it’s affordable to live here. A couple can live here in Boquete comfortably on $1,500 per month.
As to my husband Arne and me, we really enjoy our patio. We’re out there morning, noon and night. Retiring or just living here in Boquete is like a much, much needed vacation. I love the level of relaxation here.
If I need any activities, all I have to do is go to town and walk in almost any place and there will be someone who speaks English or someone who wants to talk or who has a question for you.
Boquete has a small town feel. Being in Boquete is not as highfalutin as being in a resort, but to me, it feels like one. I love it here.
I have a housekeeper who comes in twice a month (which is as much as I need).
We enjoy our friends here. We have Happy Hour here on the property, we meet people doing our day-to-day activities or when we’re out on a walk and stop to talk.
Living in Boquete is different than living in the US in that in Boquete, you don’t have the feeling that there’s a lot to do and you have to be somewhere. It’s much more relaxing.
The number one thing I hear that expats like about Boquete is the climate. The climate here is an element of the relaxing lifestyle because it’s not extreme.
Another thing expats like about Boquete is that it’s affordable to live here. A couple can live here in Boquete comfortably on $1,500 per month.
As to my husband Arne and me, we really enjoy our patio. We’re out there morning, noon and night. Retiring or just living here in Boquete is like a much, much needed vacation. I love the level of relaxation here.
If I need any activities, all I have to do is go to town and walk in almost any place and there will be someone who speaks English or someone who wants to talk or who has a question for you.
Boquete has a small town feel. Being in Boquete is not as highfalutin as being in a resort, but to me, it feels like one. I love it here.
I have a housekeeper who comes in twice a month (which is as much as I need).
We enjoy our friends here. We have Happy Hour here on the property, we meet people doing our day-to-day activities or when we’re out on a walk and stop to talk.
Living in Boquete is different than living in the US in that in Boquete, you don’t have the feeling that there’s a lot to do and you have to be somewhere. It’s much more relaxing.
Posted July 25, 2014
Vannessa Solano
There are a lot of expats in Boquete; a lot of people came to live in Boquete to retire. It was actually one of the several places in Panama that many Americans and Canadians went to for retirement because of the weather there. The climate here is not humid like the rest of the country of Panama.
Boquete has a lot of land where you can grow your own crops and a lot of people like that, so a lot of expats moved here. It is also very inexpensive to live in Boquete back then. It is...
There are a lot of expats in Boquete; a lot of people came to live in Boquete to retire. It was actually one of the several places in Panama that many Americans and Canadians went to for retirement because of the weather there. The climate here is not humid like the rest of the country of Panama.
Boquete has a lot of land where you can grow your own crops and a lot of people like that, so a lot of expats moved here. It is also very inexpensive to live in Boquete back then. It is a little bit expensive now because of the number of expats that came and lived there so the prices increased.
There are a lot of little businesses in Boquete. It is not a big city like Panama City. The town is very relaxed and does not have a lot of traffic like in the city (Panama City). People in Boquete walk a lot or use bikes to go around. There are cars, too, but not as much as to cause a traffic jam in the central park. We have one supermarket. It is a cute, small town and everyone knows everyone else.
Posted October 7, 2014
Penny Barrett - Fundacion Bid 4 Bouquete
There are many things to do in Boquete. There are many volunteering opportunities here, too. You can take advantage of these opportunities as much as you want or as little as you want. If you are a stay-at-home person, who likes to read three books a week, you can lay in a hammock and read. If you are bored to tears sitting in your house, you can find things to do.
The expats in Boquete are a fairly cohesive group that solves problems that exist here. We have organized...
The expats in Boquete are a fairly cohesive group that solves problems that exist here. We have organized...
There are many things to do in Boquete. There are many volunteering opportunities here, too. You can take advantage of these opportunities as much as you want or as little as you want. If you are a stay-at-home person, who likes to read three books a week, you can lay in a hammock and read. If you are bored to tears sitting in your house, you can find things to do.
The expats in Boquete are a fairly cohesive group that solves problems that exist here. We have organized communication systems such as websites, community forum boards, and email newsletters. All these give us updates on what is going on and what activities we can join in. It gives us updates on lost dogs, what charities need help, or who needs blood. Blood is a big problem here because there is no blood bank, so getting blood in an emergency is sometimes a problem. We have this email distribution service and a call goes out to someone that has A+ blood type (for example) to go to David (provincial capital of Chiriquí to donate blood.
Up until recently, we had the only hospice group in the country of Panama but some people from Panama City came down here recently for some training and they have started their own hospice group. For a long time, we had the only true recycling center and we had the only “take out” lending library. That may sound funny because here in Panama, there are libraries but you are not allowed to take the books out. Most of the gringos contributed and we were able to build a multi-million dollar library and it is the only lending library, to the best of my knowledge, in Central America and definitely, it is the only one in the country of Panama.
We have a large spay and neuter clinic. Every last Sunday of every month, every clinic spays or neuters around 150 to 200 dogs and cats. So we do not have stray or hungry dog problems here in Boquete.
The expats in Boquete are a fairly cohesive group that solves problems that exist here. We have organized communication systems such as websites, community forum boards, and email newsletters. All these give us updates on what is going on and what activities we can join in. It gives us updates on lost dogs, what charities need help, or who needs blood. Blood is a big problem here because there is no blood bank, so getting blood in an emergency is sometimes a problem. We have this email distribution service and a call goes out to someone that has A+ blood type (for example) to go to David (provincial capital of Chiriquí to donate blood.
Up until recently, we had the only hospice group in the country of Panama but some people from Panama City came down here recently for some training and they have started their own hospice group. For a long time, we had the only true recycling center and we had the only “take out” lending library. That may sound funny because here in Panama, there are libraries but you are not allowed to take the books out. Most of the gringos contributed and we were able to build a multi-million dollar library and it is the only lending library, to the best of my knowledge, in Central America and definitely, it is the only one in the country of Panama.
We have a large spay and neuter clinic. Every last Sunday of every month, every clinic spays or neuters around 150 to 200 dogs and cats. So we do not have stray or hungry dog problems here in Boquete.
Posted October 14, 2014
Roger J. Pentecost - Boquete Valley of Flowers Condos
My wife and I have not found a place better than Boquete, Panama. I think living in Boquete is very good. I know nowhere in the world that is perfect, otherwise, we would be looking to be there. Boquete followed by Chiriquí and then Panama City, are as good as we know. I consider Boquete and Panama as a whole, safer than what I have experienced in the US, Canada and most probably, if I were living in England. I have never seen a shootout here,...
My wife and I have not found a place better than Boquete, Panama. I think living in Boquete is very good. I know nowhere in the world that is perfect, otherwise, we would be looking to be there. Boquete followed by Chiriquí and then Panama City, are as good as we know. I consider Boquete and Panama as a whole, safer than what I have experienced in the US, Canada and most probably, if I were living in England. I have never seen a shootout here, whereas I have seen them both in Canada and the US. We came out of a restaurant in Vancouver and a shootout was going on, in Gastown, which is a restaurant area. It was the same in Calgary. I have never seen a shootout in Panama. I know they exist in bad places. Safety as a factor is one of the reasons why people live in some countries and do not live in others. Jamaica is beautiful, but being killed is not fun. South Africa has many good attributes, but it is unsafe and very dangerous. I know some South Africans who left for that reason. In Boquete, you will never feel unsafe.
When you ask yourself why do you live in places, it is usually for the interests that you have. Boquete is a place with the widest range of eclectic people. You can make friends with all groups of people. There are so many interests catered to or established by locals, such as bridge games, riding, gardening, bird watching, hiking, camera clubs, or art clubs. Groups get together from here in Boquete to visit other places. They go to polleras festivals (a "pollera" is the traditional dress of Panama) or other things that have cultural or other interests. Show me a place that is better to live in than Boquete and we will move.
Living in Boquete is inexpensive. Having just come back from Canada and experiencing England and other places, the difference of the cost of living is astronomical.
Most of the reasons why people leave Boquete are family-related. Their reasons vary from needing to care for their grandchildren to missing their families. Another reason why some people leave has been medical, and that is not because there is not good medical care here. After what my wife went through medical-wise, we could never be happier because of the quicker and far superior treatment we received compared with what we could have received in Canada. We could have the same medical treatment in the US as long as we had unlimited access to the Mayo Clinic or Sloan Kettering. Many of the other medical people that we deal with in Panama have been American-trained and have been in the US for long periods.
Occasionally, people leave Boquete due to economic reasons. I know some people who have gone back because they lost their investments, not in Panama, but the investments that they had somewhere else in the world and so they had to go back.
Posted October 21, 2014
Georgina Chanapi - Lucero Homes Golf & Country Club
I live in Boquete. If you live in here, you will have a good view of Baru Volcano, which is cool. Boquete has a good weather (the average temperature in Boquete is 72 degrees), and a beautiful tropical forest. If you wanted to go to the river, go hiking, or go to the beach, you may do so if you live in Boquete because these areas are very accessible from Boquete. Boquete is a strategic place for expats because you can do whatever you like here in Boquete. If you want...I live in Boquete. If you live in here, you will have a good view of Baru Volcano, which is cool. Boquete has a good weather (the average temperature in Boquete is 72 degrees), and a beautiful tropical forest. If you wanted to go to the river, go hiking, or go to the beach, you may do so if you live in Boquete because these areas are very accessible from Boquete. Boquete is a strategic place for expats because you can do whatever you like here in Boquete. If you want to go to the beach, for example, you can go to Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean, about 3 ½ hours away by car or Boca Chica, which is about an hour away from Boquete on the Pacific. They have beautiful beaches where many expats go to enjoy the beautiful views.You can meet a lot of people when you go to the market here in Boquete. You get fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Here in Boquete we also have good telecommunication service, so you can have high speed Internet all the time.
In case you need a car, there are three car rental companies here in Boquete, too. If you come here and would like to learn Spanish, you can find a Spanish school. Overall, you can do most things that you would like to do in Boquete.
I decided to live in because of the people, the weather, and for my son. The lifestyle is totally different here in Boquete; it is easier to live in Boquete compared to Panama City, for example. I have a job here and it only takes me 15 minutes to get to work.
When it comes to food, fresh vegetables are grown here in Boquete. You can also find different attractions in Boquete. There are different restaurants here that you can go to. We have Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and other restaurants with different cuisines.
You are not going to find the traffic here in Boquete that you find in other countries. It’s totally different. If you want to buy a TV set, you can go to David and you can find good prices. You have everything here so you don’t need to go to Panama City.
In Latin America, when you go to a person’s house, they like to prepare food and drinks for you. They will prepare food, mangoes, and other tropical fruits. Vegetables here Boquete are cheaper and are organic.
Panamanians are very friendly. That’s kind of people I am looking for.
Here in Boquete, you will not find the rush that you find in Panama City, in other big cities, or in North American countries. Panamanians do not like to compete. Even the companies need each other so there is less of a competition and more of cooperation amongst them.
(A view of Volcan Baru, pictured.)
Posted April 15, 2015