Have you ever wondered what it would be like to move to a new country? This website gives you the insider's view of how to move to Panama, so you can start living your happily-ever-after life RIGHT NOW.
Choose Panama offers a multi-cultural team of Relocation Concierges. Come on in and get to know us. We'll be assisting you every step along the way... and sharing a cocktail or two once you get to Panama.
As you get to know us, you'll realize that we are living the dream. We don't just talk about it... we did it! We hope you will join us on this amazing adventure.
There are a lot of reasons we love panama. Everyone has different reasons. These are the reasons we wake up every day with a smile. What's on your list? Want to learn more, check out these fun facts about Panama.
Want to make some memories of your own? Email us and let us help you plan a custom vacation to Panama.
Choose Panama offers a multi-cultural team of Relocation Concierges. Come on in and get to know us. We'll be assisting you every step along the way... and sharing a cocktail or two once you get to Panama.
As you get to know us, you'll realize that we are living the dream. We don't just talk about it... we did it! We hope you will join us on this amazing adventure.
There are a lot of reasons we love panama. Everyone has different reasons. These are the reasons we wake up every day with a smile. What's on your list? Want to learn more, check out these fun facts about Panama.
Want to make some memories of your own? Email us and let us help you plan a custom vacation to Panama.
Abundant Natural Beauty. Panama is a small, skinny country with varied microclimates. Panama City and the expat Coronado beach community have great views of the Pacific Ocean, and where I live in Playa Bonita (just outside Panama City) has a breathtaking view of the ships entering the Panama Canal. The less inhabited side of Panama is bordered by the Caribbean Sea. Places such as Bocas del Toro give stunning views of crystal clear azure water. For those who like a cooler climate, Boquete is nestled in a tropical jungle. The stunning vistas and abundant greenery calm your senses, while the year-round 70-degree weather feels like paradise.
Dollarized Currency. Although the Panamanian Balboa is the official currency, the U.S. Dollar is the actual currency. In every place of business, a sign exists that says (and I’m paraphrasing): One Balboa equals one dollar. Aside from the Balboa coin that equals $1, their paper currency is 100% the U.S. Dollar. This makes it especially easy for Americans, but it also means a stable currency exchange for all Westerners.
The Weather. I love the weather in Panama. There are diverse microclimates that will appeal to just about everyone. The weather is very consistent, peaking at mid-day and cooling about 10 degrees each night. It ranges from very warm in Panama City and the Coronado Beach area (80-90 degrees) to spring-like temperatures in Boquete and Altos del Maria (65-75 degrees). It gets hot when the sun is shining at full strength but most days there is a cloud cover for at least part of the day. It also can get humid, but the humidity is not as bad as Houston, Texas, nor does it last for days on end. Having moved from Dallas, Texas, my skin loves the humidity. I don’t have to run for lotion 17 times per day, and plumper skin means a more youthful appearance. Plus, I only have to worry about one wardrobe of wash & wear clothes. No more dry cleaning for me!
Restaurants. Chile was the first Latin American country I visited, and I was very disappointed in the food there. Having low expectations when I arrived in Panama, I was blown away by the quality and diversity of the restaurants. There are Italian restaurants that rival the cuisine in Italy and sushi restaurants that could be located in Hong Kong. There are expensive white tablecloth restaurants where you can drop a few hundred dollars on dinner and local fondas where a meal for two could set you back all of five bucks. You can get Peruvian, Colombian, Thai, French, Spanish, and American without even trying hard.
Fresh Produce. An abundant variety of Fresh fruit and vegetables are within easy access at roadside stands and at large produce markets all over the country. Produce grown locally is a treat for your taste buds. You can get the sweetest pineapple you have ever tasted for fifty cents each. Whole coconuts, mangoes, papayas, bananas, and other exotic fruit you have never heard of are all available for nothing more than pocket change. The vegetables are worthy of poetry—tomatoes that taste like tomatoes, avocados that are twice as big as Haas, and eggplant that is much more flavorful than the big fat eggplant you buy in the US.
At the Wholesale Food & Produce Market in Panama City, you can also get gourmet items at deep discounts. For example, you can get a large bunch of flaky Ceylon cinnamon sticks at the produce market in Panama City for about $7 (a $40 savings over US prices) and Jasmine rice for just seventy-one cents per pound.
At the Wholesale Food & Produce Market in Panama City, you can also get gourmet items at deep discounts. For example, you can get a large bunch of flaky Ceylon cinnamon sticks at the produce market in Panama City for about $7 (a $40 savings over US prices) and Jasmine rice for just seventy-one cents per pound.
English Language Friendly. Americans spent almost a century in Panama. First to help build the Panama Canal, and then to help run it. Because of this, many Panamanians speak at least a little English. The funny thing is that they will apologize if their English is not fluent. I should be the one apologizing because my Spanish is so bad! Of course, not every Panamanian speaks English, but enough do that you can easily get by. And if you take the time to learn a bit of Spanish, they will go out of their way to help you.
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Investment in Infrastructure. Panama City looks like a young Miami with sleek skyscrapers and oceanfront jogging paths. Many first-time visitors are Wowed by the scale of everything.
Panama is investing billions of dollars in bridges, airports, subways, and roads. Unemployment is very low, and the economy is booming. Elegant hotels and world-class restaurants have helped define Panama City as a jewel in Latin America. Even if city life isn't your cup of chai, it's nice to know that restaurants and shopping are just a short drive away. |
Fresh Fish. Fish markets offer just-caught fish in every area of Panama, and local produce stands are easy to find. If you’ve never had just-caught, never-frozen fish, you are in for a treat. It is buttery and tender and more delicious than you can imagine. Corvina is the national white fish, but you can also get almost anything you would normally get in a fish market, including langostinos, octopus, and red snapper. Corvina costs just $1-2 per fish, and you can get exotic sushi-grade Ahi tuna for around $2 per pound.
Sunrise and Sunset. Back in the States, whenever I mentioned “sunrise” it usually referred to a drink with tequila in it. Because Panama is the land of spectacular sunsets and even better sunrises, no alcohol is required. Panama is on the equator so sunrise and sunset are consistent throughout the year. We get 12 hours of sun year-round because the sun rises about 6:30 a.m. and sets about 6:30 p.m. Plus, I can’t tell you how much I like not having to screw up my internal body clock twice a year with Daylight Savings Time. Since I’ve given up Tequila Sunrises for the real thing, I typically wake up before sunrise and drink coffee on my balcony while I watch the sun rise over the water. It’s one of the most perfect moments of each day. Well, at least until sunset.
Panamanian Holidays. Panamanians love to fiesta. They start their holidays with a parade and they always end it with fireworks. Most Panamanians work a five-and-a-half-day workweek, so it's only fair that they enjoy their many long weekends. Much of November, December, January and February is spent celebrating. Seeing spectacular fireworks and hearing festive music is a regular occurrence. Fireworks and music are such happy sounds...what's not to love.