Do I need to own a car in El Valle de Anton, Panama?

If you are going to be traveling to from El Valle de Anton to Panama City, Coronado or other areas, you will need one a car. Otherwise you will be traveling by bus, which will be uncomfortable over time especially if you are doing shopping.

If you are going to be traveling to from El Valle de Anton to Panama City, Coronado or other areas, you will need one a car. Otherwise you will be traveling by bus, which will be uncomfortable over time especially if you are doing shopping.

One of the nice things about living here in El Valle de Anton is that you really do not need a car. There is one bus route that goes all around the town and it costs US 25 cents for the route. There are a number of buses that come through over time that are going back to Panama City. You can get on those to go to Coronado or all the way to Panama City. In and around here in El Valle, there are taxis all over the place, so it is quite easy to get one if you need a ride. Most of the...

One of the nice things about living here in El Valle de Anton is that you really do not need a car. There is one bus route that goes all around the town and it costs US 25 cents for the route. There are a number of buses that come through over time that are going back to Panama City. You can get on those to go to Coronado or all the way to Panama City. In and around here in El Valle, there are taxis all over the place, so it is quite easy to get one if you need a ride. Most of the local people including the expats have cheap, little bikes; bikes that are about $100, which they buy just for transportation to get around town, the supermarket, or wherever in El Valle they want to go.

I have been here for two and a half years, but I do not have a car yet, although I am buying one this winter because I have been waiting to get my papers and my papers will be ready any day now. So I will be getting a car this winter but actually, it is kind of a pleasure not having a car. For all the times that I went to Panama City, I just take the bus from one point to another. Even all the way to Boquete, going to Boquete is a six-hour ride. You can get on a double decker bus, it is air-conditioned, very roomy and very comfortable. That would cost you about $10.50 one way.

In many ways, having a car can be a burden. One of the downsides of having a car in El Valle is getting them repaired. Some people have great experiences about getting their cars repaired but most do not. Another burden on having a car in El Valle is the price of gasoline. It costs $1 per liter here (abaout $3.80 / gallon).

Therefore, in a lot of ways, I would say you do not need a car just to live in El Valle. Half of the expat population here do have cars and the other half do not.