Think getting mail in Panama is complicated? Think again! Whether it's an Amazon delivery or grandma's cookies, I'm going to show you how it works here—and it's WAY easier than you think!
1. Forget Traditional Mail
First things first: Panama doesn’t have a traditional mail system like the U.S. or Europe. If you send something through regular postal mail, chances are … it will never arrive. That birthday card? Gone. Your Amazon package? Forget about it. But don’t worry; there’s a better way!
2. Get a Mailbox with a U.S. Address
Instead of traditional mail, expats in Panama rely on companies like Mail Boxes Etc. or Airbox Express. They give you a U.S. address—usually in Miami. Here’s how it works: your mail or packages go to Miami first, and then they’re shipped to Panama. Easy, right?
3. Amazon Shopping Made Simple
Here's the good news: ordering from Amazon is a breeze! If you have Amazon Prime 2-day delivery in the U.S., your order will typically arrive in Panama in about a week. For example, order on a Tuesday, and you’ll probably be unboxing your new gadget by the following Tuesday. Not bad for international delivery!
4. Be Prepared to Pay a Fee
Receiving mail and packages in is easy-breezy, but here’s the catch: you’ll pay a receiving fee based on the weight and value of your package. Different companies charge different rates, so shop around for the best deal. At Mail Boxes Etc., I pay a monthly fee of just under $30, which includes my dedicated mailbox and about 4 pounds of receiving weight each month. For smaller packages with a value of under $100, it’s usually pretty reasonable. For bigger items—well, let’s just say you might want to keep an eye on that shipping calculator. Which brings us to our next point…
5. Save Money When you “Ship by Sea”
If you’re shipping something heavy or bulky—like furniture or appliances—you can save money by using sea freight. It takes longer—about a month compared to a week—but the cost difference is significant. This is the perfect option for those big-ticket items you’re not in a hurry to get. To give you an example of the price difference, I bought a steam oven that was 65 pounds. Sent the normal way as air cargo, it would have been about $180 to receive this. But because it came via ship, I paid just $35 to receive it. Yes, it took an extra couple of weeks, but I saved $145.
Closing
And there you have it! Getting mail in Panama might be different than what you’re used to, but once you’ve got your mailbox and shipping options sorted, it’s smooth sailing—or should I say, smooth flying and shipping! If you’ve got questions about mail—or anything else about living in Panama—drop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, see you in Panama!
1. Forget Traditional Mail
First things first: Panama doesn’t have a traditional mail system like the U.S. or Europe. If you send something through regular postal mail, chances are … it will never arrive. That birthday card? Gone. Your Amazon package? Forget about it. But don’t worry; there’s a better way!
2. Get a Mailbox with a U.S. Address
Instead of traditional mail, expats in Panama rely on companies like Mail Boxes Etc. or Airbox Express. They give you a U.S. address—usually in Miami. Here’s how it works: your mail or packages go to Miami first, and then they’re shipped to Panama. Easy, right?
3. Amazon Shopping Made Simple
Here's the good news: ordering from Amazon is a breeze! If you have Amazon Prime 2-day delivery in the U.S., your order will typically arrive in Panama in about a week. For example, order on a Tuesday, and you’ll probably be unboxing your new gadget by the following Tuesday. Not bad for international delivery!
4. Be Prepared to Pay a Fee
Receiving mail and packages in is easy-breezy, but here’s the catch: you’ll pay a receiving fee based on the weight and value of your package. Different companies charge different rates, so shop around for the best deal. At Mail Boxes Etc., I pay a monthly fee of just under $30, which includes my dedicated mailbox and about 4 pounds of receiving weight each month. For smaller packages with a value of under $100, it’s usually pretty reasonable. For bigger items—well, let’s just say you might want to keep an eye on that shipping calculator. Which brings us to our next point…
5. Save Money When you “Ship by Sea”
If you’re shipping something heavy or bulky—like furniture or appliances—you can save money by using sea freight. It takes longer—about a month compared to a week—but the cost difference is significant. This is the perfect option for those big-ticket items you’re not in a hurry to get. To give you an example of the price difference, I bought a steam oven that was 65 pounds. Sent the normal way as air cargo, it would have been about $180 to receive this. But because it came via ship, I paid just $35 to receive it. Yes, it took an extra couple of weeks, but I saved $145.
Closing
And there you have it! Getting mail in Panama might be different than what you’re used to, but once you’ve got your mailbox and shipping options sorted, it’s smooth sailing—or should I say, smooth flying and shipping! If you’ve got questions about mail—or anything else about living in Panama—drop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, see you in Panama!
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