About sealodgeg9

Status:

Expatriate  

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

United States

About sealodgeg9

My wife and I sailed 3 years from San Francisco down through Central America through the Panama Canal on our 42 foot sailboat with our cat Roscoe. Out of all the countries we visited our favorite was Panama. 11 years after we sold the boat we are finally here in Panama. Living our next adventure!

My Website:

http://thepazeras.wordpress.com

Advice for New Expats

Do your home work!

I would love to live in...

6 months here and 6 months there!

Some Forum Posts:

Panama: Books?:

Try this place: http://www.yourpanama.com/bookstore-in-panama.html He had/has his place up for sale so not sure if he is still open.

Panama: Scuba Diving:

Panama DOES have some very good areas for diving. Coiba Nacional Park. There are 3 dive outfits out of Santa Catalina. http://scubacoiba.com/ All can take you there and they can get you PADI certified. https://www.padi.com/scuba-vacations/panama There are others as well. Search around on the internet. Plenty of great diving in Panama!

Panama: From U.S. to Boquete:

Our excellent attorney is Lourdes Miranda, Juan's partner in the same building. Great informative site on Chiriqui is: http://www.chiriqui.life/ Like everyone said live here for a while before you buy and start the Visa process. There is no rush to get your Visa!

Panama: cheese:

Riba Smith in PC.

Panama: Resident visa:

There is no rush to get your Visa!!! Come here and see how you like it for at least a year. We are in our second year and next year will apply for our Pensionado Visa...the least expensive option. Once you have been here for two years ( Providing you have not left the county for more than 30 days at a time....note you can leave 2-4 times and as long as it never hits 30 days you are good. Your days out of the country are not cumulative) you do not need an FBI background check. You just go and get a local police report. One less hassle. We do our 90 day border run to keep our dates up on our passports to enable us to drive. It is 90 days if you drive or 180 if not. We travel a lot so we have only done 3 border runs. We make a mini vacation out of it and simply go to Costa Rica in the highlands for a long weekend! We have several friends that have done this. Easy Peasy!

Panama: international health insurance:

Try these agents for information and quotes for health care: Gonzalo de la Guardia ( He is our agent for VUMI International Heath Coverage) He represents several companies. “International Health Insurance” Cel: 507-6671-3357 Office: 507-393-5530 gdelaguardia@gmail.com Skype: gedelaguardia Panama City, Republic of Panama http://www.detresnoinsurance.com/ Gloria Detresno…..she is our agent for auto and property insurance and represents several Health Care companies. She has been in busieess over 20 years and her service is excellent as well as Gonzalo de la Guardia! VUMI, World Wide, and Bupa and the best of the companies out there. You can chose several different plans, deductibles, coverage to suit your budget. We have not had to use our insurance so we can not personally say how the claim process is but in doing our research VUMI has a great reputation for paying claims on time and it is all done through email. VUMI is Gonzalo’s Health Insurance Company for him and his family. We know friends here that have World Wide and have nothing but praise for them after having to file claims and getting reimbursed. Our VUMI policy went up $400 this past renewal and come next renewal we will look at World Wide. Something that was very important for us: Having coverage any where in the world (we plan on doing a lot of international traveling) including the US, for our occasional visits back with family. Here is a link to our insurance experience: https://latitudeadjustmentblog.com/2015/06/29/misadventures-in-health-insurance/#more-524 Good luck!

Argentina: Visiting for first time:

Hello, We will be visiting in September and staying at an apartment in the Capital Federal District for 6 nights. ( We are staying in Montevideo for 8 nights) We then plan on flying to Iguazu Falls for a 3 night stay.Returning back to BA for an additional 3 nites. Questions: How soon should we book our airfare to the falls? How safe is the Capital District at night? Suggestion for winery visits? Fly...rent a car? Train? Walking/food tours? Thank you all! John & Susan Boquete, Panama

Panama: Pros and cons:

Totally agree. Do a search on here. You will get hours and hours of reading material. Come down and see for yourself.

Panama: Rental Property:

Have you visited here yet? If not you may want to. $600 a month if it is just for rent is doable but it will most likely be a Panamanian style house. The beaches are very HOT. You will need air condition. Plan on up to $200 a month in electrical bill to run it.

Panama: Pet Friendly Hotels:

Try this site: http://www.chiriqui.life/topic/2354-pet-care-resources-of-the-chiriqui-province-and-pet-abuse/

Date Joined:

6/15/2013

Total Posts:

101

Posts/Day:

0.07