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Last Updated on March 1, 2014 - by Panama Relocation Tours

Where is Panama?

A few weeks ago I returned to the United States for the first time since I moved to Panama. It was a weird experience. Within 12 hours I was completely home sick FOR PANAMA. I attended a 3 day conference then got back to Panama as fast as I could. Surprisingly, many people at the seminar asked, “Where is Panama?”

Traveling to Panama from the US takes approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes. The distance covered is 2074.8 miles or 1801.7 nautical miles if you’re travelling from the US capital, Washington DC to Panama City. Panama is located in Central America, making it an accessible destination for US tourists, expats and retirees. It is bordered by two countries, Costa Rica and Columbia, and two bodies of water, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Panama has attracted so many retirees from around the world because of its booming economy, natural beauty and low cost of living. In fact, it is currently considered as one of the best places to live in the world.

Where is Panama? Looking at a world map, you will see that Panama is exactly between 7 and 10 degrees north latitude, and between 77 and 83 degrees west longitude. It is right on the Isthmus of Panama, an S-shaped isthmus that connects North America and South America. People living in Panama often travel to Costa Rica because it is found on the west of Panama. Columbia, on the other hand, is a neighboring country on the southeast.

Since Panama is bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, the Panama Canal has been created to make international maritime trade and business easier. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean via the Caribbean Sea. This famous canal contributes significantly to Panama’s positive growth and development. It is slated for a billion-project expansion, offering more opportunities for Panama and its people.

It would be interesting to note that people nowadays have varied responses to the question, “where is Panama?” While most would reply the country’s geographical location, some would say “Panama is where many American and European expats can be found.” Tourism in Panama is growing at a fast pace because it has opened its doors to the world. The country offers the pensioners visa that allows expats from around the world to retire in Panama. With a valid proof of monthly pension from a reputable source along with certain documents, a foreigner is allowed to retire in Panama and live there for good. Expats in Panama have kept growing for the past 5 years because of the many incentives the country provides to foreigners particularly those from the US and Europe.

Another interesting response to the question, “where is Panama?” would be, “it’s a place where you can get quality medical treatment at a low cost. Unknown to many, Panama is quite famous for its medical tourism. Many Americans go to Panama for quality and state of the art medical and dental treatments because the standards are comparable to that in the US or Canada. Most Panamanian doctors are US trained specialists who can give you the best medical treatments available. You can receive top quality medical treatments at a far lesser cost than what you’d have to spend in America.

Lastly, a growing response to the question, “where is Panama?” would be, “it’s a place where one can truly live BETTER for less!” A couple with retirement funds of $1500 – $2000 a month can live a comfortable, enjoyable life in Panama. It’s a country where the basic necessities are very cheap, allowing you to still have extra money for your other needs.

To answer the question, “where is Panama?” Panama is the gem of Central America, bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the Pacific Ocean, to the west by Costa Rica, and to the southeast by Columbia. It is also home to numerous expats who are having a fun, comfortable retirement. Panama is a place where you can see picturesque views, experience tranquility and get quality healthcare. Panama is one of the best places to live in the world; you have to consider it for your retirement.

Learn more about Panama during our ALL-INCLUSIVE Panama Relocation Tour.

Last Updated on September 25, 2013 - by Panama Relocation Tours

Panama Relocation Tours – Day 2

By Richard Detrich, Author of Escape to Paradise

After breakfast at Sheraton Bijao overlooking the pools and ocean, the group boarded our bus to get on the Pan American Highway and head west. Remember, the Isthmus of Panama runs east – west connecting Colombia with Costa Rica. As we passed the new Rio Hato airport and under the main runway we talked about some of the beach developments on the Pacific side, like Bijao that attract expats to both high rise beach-side living and condos, and some exclusive projects like Ventura that have large, individual beach side properties.

We headed out the Azuero Peninsula toward Chitre, another Panama town that is booming. Along the way we stopped at the little, historic Spanish colonial town of Parita and were able to get in the beautiful old Spanish colonial church there with a ceiling of hand hewn pegged timber and amazing altar pieces and sculptures from the Spanish period.

With no bathroom facilities in Chitre we made do with what was available. A kind gentleman who was cleaning the local cantina let us use the restrooms. Like I’ve said before, this is a boots-on-the-ground tour with a chance to see the real Panama!

Now on an “authentic” roll, we had lunch at a “fonda” restaurant where everything is fresh and cooked outside over wood fire. In the outdoor kitchen chickens are being plucked, corn is being husked and soup simmers in giant pots over open wood fires. The result is amazing taste and a great culinary experience!

The area around Chitre and Las Tablas, the center of Carnival celebrations in Panama, has been increasingly attractive to expats because of the availability of stores and services. We drove by the giant new hospital under construction, and then on to one of the many beaches near Las Tablas. Although it was a weekend, we had the beach virtually to ourselves.

This is a great group and our “Girl Power” group manages to keep things lively! From the Azuero we drove back to the Pan American Highway and on to Santiago, another rapidly expanding area of Panama. We stayed at a funky, Mexican-themed Panamanian hotel and casino where we enjoyed relaxing in the pool and having dinner together.

If you are thinking of maybe moving to Panama, there are “tours” which consist mainly of “conferences” where you sit in the ballroom of a giant hotel in Panama City and here various presenters, some who pay to participate, presenting various “opportunities” for you to invest. There are other real estate tours where real estate sales people and developments, again some of whom have paid to participate, try to sell you properties. Panama Relocation Tour is neither: it is an opportunity to see and visit some of the places expats call home, to meet and get the straight scoop from real expats, and to get an overall feel for Panama. It’s a busy, boots-on-the-ground tour, but in my humble opinion it is a better way to decide if Panama is for you, or if it remains on the list of countries you may be considering.

Last Updated on March 30, 2013 - by Panama Relocation Tours

Good Friday in Panama

Panamanians take their holidays seriously, especially religious holidays.

No “adult beverages” can be bought at restaurants or stores.

I went to PriceMart today only to find out it.. and just about everything else in David… was closed.

Many Christians around the world observe Good Friday on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion and death, which is told in the Christian bible. Good Friday is the day after Maundy Thursday.

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