kombutz
3/5/2017 13:58 EST
Greetings! I am interested in learning a bit more about living in Panama. I visited Coronado but not quite satisified. Any help with places like Bocas Del Toro or Los Islotes at the Azuera Peninsula. I like Panama despite Cabo calling. Still haven't found a suitable location in Panama. Thanks for your help in my search. I know I will make the final decision but I just need your help with places I might not have considered which might meet my need. Again, thank you for your input.
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llseldon
3/5/2017 14:13 EST
You might take a look at the Azuero Peninsular, see: https://www.google.com/maps/@7.683423,-80.6760067,10.25z
Sonrisas PL
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Jazzmann
3/5/2017 17:02 EST
We were at los Islotes a few weeks ago. The views from the western coast of the Azuero, including Los Islotes, are some of most beautiful in Panama. Beaches are not near as nice as the east coast, for the most part. Check with whoever owns the place, but it looks like the utilities are in and roads and so forth do not appear to be too far behind. Apparently there are several phases. Several houses were under construction. My impression is that you will have to buy a lot and build your own home. Plan on traveling to Santiago for any serious shopping. With the condition of the roads that was be an hour and a half or so for us. It is beautiful though, and there are some very luxurious homes in the general area with breathtaking views. We are going to Bocas next week.
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kombutz
3/6/2017 06:36 EST
Thank you, Jazzman, looking forward to your Bocas report.. I have been looking at Los Islotes for a while now. I was just introduced to Bocas.. I do not want to be a pioneer. Maybe I need to both to get my own perspective. I was excited to visit Coronado, but realized I needed to see other areas of Panama.
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kombutz
3/6/2017 06:47 EST
Maybe I also need, in addition with your reports, to visit both to get my own perspective. Maybe you will help me to get to Bocas and Los Islotes as you did to get me to Coronado arter we arrived at Tocumen.
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stgibson
3/6/2017 14:47 EST
It would help to have a better idea of what you are looking for. Beach or Mountains? Close to conveniences, shopping, medical or out in the boonies? We live in Chiriqui and love it. Close to shopping, medical, airport,entertaiment(15 min.), Pacific beaches (45 min.) and 2 1/2 hours to Bocas for a weekend and yet it is very peaceful here. A heavy traffic day on our road is 2 pickup trucks and 3 horses. Views of the Pacific coast, Volcan Baru and the Continental Divide.
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stgibson
3/6/2017 14:55 EST
As far as Bocas goes, it is a great place to visit for a few days but I wouldn't want to live there. To isolated, poor infrastructure,Bocas town is very touristy and noisy. The other islands are much more peaceful but your only connection to the mainland is a 30 minute or more boat ride and if the sea is angry you are screwed. We were looking at Bocas 7 years ago when we moved down but wrote that off pretty quickly. I am not saying that it isn't right for you.
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dumluk
3/6/2017 20:19 EST
Im gonna have to agree with Gibson......nice fun place to visit for a few daze maybe even a week or two.....but to live? Not for many........Cant tell you how many times I went over there with my surfboards and bicycles thinking to plant myself there and ended up deciding against it for various reasons........I cant tell you how many people I know here on the Pacific side of Panama who previousy lived in Bocas but left cuz they just couldnt handle it anymore.......its dysfuncional, corrupt and expensive.......and the people are trashy, but thats a problem nationwide here, but worse over there.......and the locals are notorious for not being good workers and just looking for ways to take advantage, especially of NEW GRINGOS.....They smell coming from way off............But dont get me wrong, it has its charms, and it can seduce you........for awhile............but I would recommend taking it real slow and eazy and just hanging lite there for a spell and get the feel of it.........Easy to buy, real hard to sell..............
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kombutz
3/6/2017 21:44 EST
These two replies definitely gave me the additional input I needed to arrive at a decision. More certain now that Cabo would be my first choice. I surfed Bocas extensively and intensively. I could not get away from the infrastructure....not what would be comfortable for me. I need water and mountains ...not willing to be a pioneer. Mexico also has the Caribbean and the desired infrastructure. Thanks again for your very informative input..
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outsidecleanupset
3/9/2017 14:43 EST
I 've been living here in panama with my wife for 8 years {retired fireman from a big city} Bocas 2015, drove over the mountain to see and surf with my buddy along with my wife and son. Last nite in town there , My wife and son went out to get pizza and I went to hang with the one of the Mayors of Bocas to have some beers and say our good bys . Went back to my buddys house where we always stay. Only to find my wife lying lifeless in the ditch outside the gate. I thought she got hit by a car. Its 9;30pm. she had caught a cab because she felt sick and our son stay at the pizza joint. They poison her with that date rape drug [Rohypnol} I have seen this stuff plenty of times in my job. the cab driver threw her out to the ditch because she threw up in the cab. thank god for the ditch ,because the ditch had her head down. keeping her from aspiration. After sending my buddy to find my son and going to ER to get some fluids flowing . We got up and took it back to the house, Hell of a nite! OK the moral of the story. To the original poster. If you look at all the areas of crime in Panama . look at the color of the side you see the crime . Oh by the way my sons friend was in bocas a week before on honeymoon ,got robed at gunpoint by a tall black guy walking that trial behind Red frog
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Panama2017
3/9/2017 14:48 EST
outsidecleanupset, what do ypu mean by the statement "look at the color of the side you see the crime"?
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kombutz
3/9/2017 15:17 EST
Outsidecleanupset...what an ordeal for your family. Please accept my sympathy. I trust all is well now with your family especially your wife. Wouldn't be at all surprised if you decided against ever seeing that place again. However, the more I read these posts, the more I realize 'all that glitters is not gold". Carefully look over my current living situation and determine whether overseas living is for me. International Living and other publications about overseas living ought to have more posts from forums like these about the reality of living abroad...to give a sensible approach to a completely different life style. Guess I am just rambling.
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kombutz
3/9/2017 15:27 EST
Beach and mountain view would be preferable with the amenities....shopping, medical, close to conveniences...definitely not the boonies....remember..not a pioneer....relatively close to airport. Despite all the hoopla about sun and surf...I still need some type of good infrastructures. I do not have to be right in them ...but reasonable close. Maybe I ought to research Chiriqui. Cabo is looking ever so good..but I need to explore all options and places that interest me.
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stgibson
3/9/2017 19:09 EST
Again, I don't know exactly what you are looking for. Chiriqui is definately worth looking into. I live about halfway between David and Boquete. The elevation is about 1500' and from my porch I see the Pacific towards Boca Chica which as the crow flys is about 25 KM. During the day I get breezes of the Pacific and in the evening the cool temperatures from the 11,400' volcan Baru glide down. I have no A/C and don't need it. The coastal areas in Central America and even Cabo are hot and humid and you need A/C. I have friends that live in these areas and their electric bills are $150-$250/month. Mine is Mid $40's per month. The way I look at it is this, I have a Mitsubishi diesel pickup. Saving $110 - $210/mo. on electric translates to 3.5 to 7 tanks of fuel/mo. @ 500KM/tank. So the way I look at it is, I live in a beautiful place, close to conveniences and if I want to go to the beach and surf then I can go 3 or 4 days a week and still come out ahead of the game and still come home and sleep like a baby.
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kombutz
3/10/2017 07:37 EST
I also would want to hear from the writer of that comment exactly what he meant. Here in these United States after a major political speech.....pundits line up to say what the speaker really meant/explain the speech. It is really demeaning to the speaker to explain his/her speech without being asked directly.
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Panama2017
3/10/2017 09:01 EST
At the risk of sounding like a pundit, haha, I think we all know what outsidecleanupset meant by that statement.
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kombutz
3/10/2017 13:48 EST
Thanks, Stgibson. I will have a look at Chiriqui. Did you understand what was meant by 'color of the side' as it relates to crime in Panama?
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kombutz
3/12/2017 21:04 EST
Positivlysmb....how does naivete tie in to the request for further comment on a specific comment? Speaking in tongues should only be done with an interpreter. Wanna be your own interpreter...go on then, and don't forget to be smug about it. Guys hiding behind this forum....speaking and not able to further shed light on their inane comments.
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kombutz
3/12/2017 21:07 EST
Stgibson....I did some preliminary research into Chiriqui...and am interested to do some more. I am now on the gated community at Coco Beach. Any insight about any other gated beach and mountain view communities would be very appreciated. Thank you.
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positivlysmb
3/12/2017 22:07 EST
And you're responding to something I typed--2 days ago? My words are clear and plain, if you don't grasp--so be it. Leave it alone. Besides, this is not Facebook.
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stgibson
3/12/2017 23:02 EST
Personally I wouldn't live in one but there are several in the Boquete and David area. The best thing to do anywhere is keep a low profile. You can't stay locked up in a gated community forever and if you think criminals don't watch people coming and going from high end neighborhoods then you had better reassess your thinking.
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kombutz
3/13/2017 07:41 EST
Positivlysmb... i try never to assume.....ass-u-me...I always ask for clarification. Every time I assume I am wrong. Again...this is not facebook...what in the world are you trying to say? My retirement life does not include publicizing it on facebook. I value privacy, respectability and responsibility. That is why I value so much your responses. Life would be so much better if we KISS...keep it super simple. Anyway...you have a good day.
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kombutz
3/13/2017 07:47 EST
Stgibson...I have been living in one for over a decade now. I am not naive as to what is out there. If you had a choice..which ones would you choose? Thank you...closer to visiting Chiriqui...I will definitely private email you
..if you have no objections.
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stgibson
3/13/2017 12:34 EST
There are a few in Boquete, Valle Escondido, Los Molinos,Lucero, and Boquete Caynon Village that I am familiar with. I understand there are a few in David also but I am not familiar with them. I wouldn't want to live in David, too hot there. The closest one to David is Los Molinos. It is about a 15-20 minute drive above David at about 2000' elevation with good views of the coast and the mountains behind it. There is a newly built 4 lane highway connecting Boquete and David. Our farm is just below Los Molinos on the other side of the canyon. I have 3 large lots at the entry of our farm for sale that are fenced and gated but no 24 hour security. We are in a small close knit community and just far enough off the main paved road (300 meters) on a gravel road that keeps the riff- raff traffic out. The neighbors are very friendly and some help with work on the farm. We have community meetings once a month where road, water and electric issues are discussed and also sightings of undesirables are reported and dealt with. We have been here for 5 years and there is a single lady living above us that has been here for 7 years. Neither she nor I have had any problems and frankly I have never heard of a problem in La Acequia. It is not a place you would want to come and build a big ostentatious house and flaunt your wealth. If that is your desire then you need to be in a gated community with 24 hour security but then that doesn't always work either. I opt for keeping a low profile.
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kombutz
3/13/2017 13:58 EST
A collective "Thank You" to all those who responded with excellent information for more detailed research. I am farther ahead than I would have been because you have been so generous with your 'on the ground' information. I have lots to do. Thanks again.
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Hopscotch
3/13/2017 16:00 EST
Why not try Penonome in Cocle as a change it's growing very rapidly near beaches and not so humid as at the sea side
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bastigin
3/14/2017 06:02 EST
What do you like to do? I live on Bastimentos in B.d.Toro Proince.I live here for the beautiful Caribbean sea.Swimming,surfing,diving,snorkeling and fishing are the Forte here.I found a beach front property in 2007 and built 2 houses for about $ 130. plus 50.for the beach front.And I mean beachfront. Bocas is beautiful.If you've not been you should visit.
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bastigin
3/14/2017 06:23 EST
Well I live in Bastimentos and I'm not trashy. I've lived here for 10 years and I'm certainly not sick of it. You have you little problems but you get over them. I am uncomfortable with the word dysfunctional, their are some strange agents out there but I think you'll find them everywhere.
I am a single woman and I buildt two houses by myself I never had problems finding help.
Whether you like or not really depends on your disposition.
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kombutz
3/14/2017 22:30 EST
Bastigin.. is it not amazing how cynics seize every opportunity to demean life and others...even their host country. Consider it a reflection of who that person is and not necessarily you or the host people/city/country. Some people seem determined to revive the 'Ugly American Syndrome. Bastigin, enjoy all the best that your living conditions allow. Let the malcontents stew in their discontent as they continue to see only the bad.
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positivlysmb
3/16/2017 21:50 EST
What are you talking about??!!! Assume nothing but, ponder this-- Are you an ass with a hole in it or a hole with ass around it? Don't come back until you have an answer.
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stgibson
3/16/2017 22:50 EST
Kombutz,
well said! but I think it is time to put this discussion to an end as is seems to be bringing the luni's out.
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Jazzmann
3/18/2017 16:08 EST
I just returned from a week in Bocas. It is a very beautiful place. and I highly recommend visiting. Not so sure that I would want to live there, however I will visit as often as I can. If you use water taxis at night be sure to travel in groups, not alone or as one couple.
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Jazzmann
3/19/2017 11:12 EST
Local water taxis (Bocas Town to Isla Carenero, etc.) should show up with one person, the Captain. We were in a boat, at night, in a particularly dark section along the coast, when another boat with four men pulled up next to us and demanded money. Just what do you think is going on? The fact that our captain stopped for (we all know the stories about the Taxi drivers in PC) didn't help any.
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bastigin
3/19/2017 12:39 EST
Do you remember the drivers name.Was he black or indian and did they get any money?
I live here and have never heard of any trouble with the drivers.
When did this happen?
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llseldon
3/19/2017 13:38 EST
I'd say Bocas is a place to stay away from, most everything out of there now is bad going back to "Wild Bill"!!
PL
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