Moving to Panama

"Travel as light as you can. Open yourself to the experience of daily life where you land. Don't choose a permanent base-of-operations until you have considered EVERYTHING that is important to you, and that you've been to other areas of Panama. It's a small country with amazing diversity. Give yourself the opportunity to experience the banquet!!!," said one expat who made the move to Panama City.

"Definitely rent. When you find a short-term rental you really like and you demonstrate to the owner that you can be trusted they will probably let you reserve it a year in advance. That’s what we do, but we are considering the possibility of looking for a yearly lease which might cost about the same as 4-6 months short term. It would have to be a place where the owner lives nearby and can keep an eye on things. The advantage would be that you can furnish it the way you want and keep your stuff there when you are away. As far as I can see that would be cheaper and more convenient than buying," explained one expat living in Panama.

"Come and visit several areas before making the move. We have snakes, though I haven't seen one yet. We do not have mosquitos. If you select an International Mover, avoid Move Management. They are very efficient on the US side, but they use PIR on the Panama side. PIR can't create a ACH to withdraw funds from your checking account, nor can they swipe a debit or credit card. As Manny Rojas in Miami,says, you can always pay in cash. (his relatives in Panama City run PIR) If you do not have two thousand in cash it may take you nine days to get the cash from an ATM, meanwhile, port charges, at $50 per day, keep mounting. I was withdrawing from 2 different banks in the US banks on a daily basis. BTW, every ATM here spits out $20.00 bills. You may have to fight with your US bank to make them understand that there is no Foreign Exchange issue in Panama. Mastercard charged as much as $12 foreign transaction. They have since reduced those fees to $5 or $6. Visa charges $4. If you don't have a place for your goods to be delivered, PIR charges $500 per month or any portion thereof, even one extra day will cost you $500.00. One more thing, if you send them a wire transfer, their bank charges PIR $90, which they will gleefully pass on to you. Bring buckets of cash or avoid Move Management. Your local US contact will drop you like a hot potato as soon as your goods are on the water. There is a storage place on the way to Boquete called Chiriqui Storage run by Hellmut and Linda Pederson. One good sized locker is $100/mo. A 20 ft. container would take two lockers," said one in Alto Boquete.

"Rent first before you buy. Your paradise today may not be what you will think in 6 months. Brings essentials and sell everything else, you can get it cheaper here," explained one expat who made the move to Bocas del Toro.

"Expatriates should be aware of Panama's tropical climate and the potential challenges associated with extreme temperatures and humidity. Additionally, expats should be aware that English is not the primary language in Panama and that proficiency in Spanish is essential for daily interactions. Furthermore, a basic knowledge of Panamanian culture, customs, and their legal system is important in order to make the transition to living in Panama as smooth as possible. Additionally, expats should look into the availability and quality of healthcare services, housing, and education options that are available in the area where they plan to live. Finally, expats should research visa requirements and be aware of the cost of living in Panama," explained one expat living in Panama.