Panama Forum

SACrocker
Joined 2017
Posts: 10

7 years ago

Reconnaissance trip to Panama at end of May

7 years ago

Some background first before getting to my questions, so please bear with me…

My husband and I are recently retired and planning on moving to Panama as our “third act”. Our timetable, assuming we sell our house in RI easily, puts us in Panama this fall. We have been trying to get there for a reconnaissance trip for a while but family issues have prevented it, and now my husband needs a knee replacement which won’t happen until June, so I’m coming without him. Well…almost. I’m bringing my 12-year-old granddaughter, so it’s part reconnaissance and part vacation. The fact she speaks Spanish is a bonus.

My husband’s and my plans include renting for a year first to make sure of where we want to permanently live. But we do know we don’t want to be on the beach (too hot) or in Panama City (we prefer a quieter lifestyle).

Our wish list includes: moderate climate; close to good hospital/medical care; close to international airport (easy for relatives/friends to visit); established expat community (to make transition easier and provide social groups). The mountain areas of Chiriqui seem to fit the bill the most (Boquete in particular, although I know it’s getting pricey there), and I like the fact it is country’s bread basket (as a vegan I’m a big fan of fresh fruits and veggies.)

So…now to my questions—although I’m sure I’ll have more in the coming months…:

While in Panama next month, I’d like to look at 4-5 towns to get a sense of where would be best to start our adventure. Boquete and Volcan are on the list, but are there similar places that I should look at which fit our wish list (even if not in Chiriqui province)?

Once we have that list, is it possible to arrange to meet up with expats in those towns to get better sense of what it’s like to live there, get answers to questions, and get referrals to real estate agents and other service providers (attorneys etc)?

Lastly, since I am bringing my “almost teenage” granddaughter, where is the best place to go to get info on things to do? I’ve heard there’s river rafting, horseback riding, maybe even zip lining???

This forum is such a great resource and thanks in advance for any advice you can throw my way!

Sara

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