Panama Relocation Tours Reviews

We were on tour #308. This was a fun and informative tour for anyone looking to relocate to Panamá. The guides are well-informed and always available for questions. Panamá is not for everyone, and they did a nice job, and the tour guides provide an honest appraisal of the pros and cons of relocating.

My spouse and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and considered every aspect of the trip invaluable. I particularly enjoyed the knowledge, insight, and personal stories shared by our hosts. Our accommodations were all unique, comfortable, and enjoyable. We were also grateful for the opportunity to meet and interact with expats and hear their journey, tips, and challenges. We met a lot of great people including Panamanians and our fellow tourists.

Thanks to the entire team for putting together such a thorough and thoughtful “taste” of Panama. It’s obvious they have put in a lot of work over the years to make this such a wonderful experience.

I’ll cut to the chase as I apologize in advance for this lengthy review and say that after attending Panama Relocation Tour #308 I would HIGHLY recommend Panama Relocation Tours (and its included GUIDE) to anyone even remotely curious about living or retiring in Panama. The information and “boots on the ground” sampling of Panama experience that the tour provides is invaluable.

My reasons, which can be quite different from others on the tour, are many and are detailed below in no particular order. Did everything in the tour go 100% perfect as planned? NO – but pretty close all things considered. Did this fact tarnish my view of Panama as a retirement option OR Panama Relocation Tours as a resource for those wanting to retire in Panama? ALSO NO. I will also share where I could see there would be room for improvement – these will be followed by asterisks.

Here we go…

REASON 1: MANAGED EXPECTATIONS OF PANAMA AND A RELOCATION TOUR vs SITE-SEEING TOUR

As I first embarked on Panama Relocation Tour #308, one of our very wise tour guides, John, reminded us in our launch meeting of what enabled me to fully enjoy and learn through my prior vacationing, living and studying abroad in the first place: mindset. A mindset of leaving my USA expectations and assumptions behind – along with any perceived entitlements. We are a GUEST in our destination or travel country. We need to have an open mind, and LOTS of patience and perspective as our way and perspective is not always that of others. T.I.P – “This is Panama”.

As I went down the internet research rabbit hole of retiring in Panama, like many I of course viewed lots of alluring Panama Relocation Tours Videos. These really showcase the PROs of living in Panama through interviews with expats, but also very little if any of the cons are expressed (unless you get to the Q&A live video replays and the interviews with the various niche experts). This can set up some false expectations of both Panama and the tour itself. Our tour guides John and Victoria reminded us in the launch and throughout the tour that this was not a real estate tour, it was not a site-seeing vacation tour, but a RELOCATION tour. Its purpose was to give us the proper foundational info, a chance for getting “boots on the ground” to see with our own eyes and to hear face-to-face with our own ears from immigration lawyers, realtors, doctors and expats who have done what we are considering doing – relocating to Panama. It is not all of what we WANT to hear, but what we NEED to hear of how things actually work in Panama, and how the transition is done.

REASON 2: KNOWLEDGE BOMBS GALORE & OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE (1 on 1 w/ Guides)

During the tour we had to opportunity to learn about so very many topics to consider when moving to Panama. We were able to leverage the experience of our guides John and Victoria, the immigration lawyers, realtors, the tour guides in training, and EVEN a chance to meet with a local doctor of which I took advantage. Our guides barely took breaks from speaking on many topics of each area we visited while standing on the bus, yet always offered to meet with anybody after the tour breaks to answer any further questions. Our launch meeting also included a detailed presentation from an immigration lawyer in the various types of visas and ways to go about moving to and Living in Panama, and cautions on the traps you might encounter in leasing or purchasing real estate and the even down to the fastest embassies to use to process your papers. He was even generous enough to come to one of our dinners later in the tour answer more questions. Many of the expat speakers left their contact info as well.

Other topics covered were:
• Insurance options for Expats (Panamanian, Travel, Private, and Even Medicare)
• How hospital systems and doctors work in Panama
• Medical care options in various Cities in Panama
• Banking Considerations
• Advantages of Types of Visas
• Tax Considerations on Foreign and Local-Earned Income
• Driver’s Licenses (Different ways / best states to keep one in)
• Transportation options / How-To’s
• Other Infrastructure Considerations
• The different climates of Panama
• Considerations of Shipping items To and From Panama
• Buying a Car vs Shipping Your Car
• Culture considerations when living and working with Panamanians
• Pros and Cons of all of the above
• Bringing Your Pets to Panama
• Budgeting for Your Desired Lifestyle in Panama
• And more I am sure I have forgotten

REASON 3: EXCELLENT NETWORK OF RESOURCES (NICHE PROFESSIONALS & EXPATS)

One of the priceless line items on this tour is that you get to meet with and form connections some of what is a vast and vetted network of professionals that Jackie Lange put together to ease our transition to living in Panama. Drivers, private tour guides, realtors, immigration lawyers, mechanics, fixers / translators, and language tutors just to name a few. I got to meet with a doctor the tour suggested in Boquete for $15, and she gave me an hour of time, patiently answering all questions about how to best get my meds, my medical conditions, and the best hospitals themselves for my conditions. Her English was perfect, and, she gave me her private what’s app number to call with any further questions and even offered to ask some colleagues in other hospital systems on some specific questions I had asked. And – And let’s not forget the guides / expats! These people have been there and done that! The expats are volunteering their time to speak, and are willing to be a resource to help ease your way into Panama. Very generous people, and the tour guides always took extra time for my questions during tour breaks.

REASON 4: A NICE SAMPLING OF PANAMA LOCALES, MICROCLIMATES AND REAL ESTATE*

While I did not get to do all the touristy activities I would have wanted to do, I did get what the tour intended: an informative sampling of many of the locales. Ideally, I would have liked to seen more areas, but turns out you can’t see very city or hip part of town you want to in 6 days, with a giant tour bus no less! But guess what, the guides can connect you with resources to see more after the tour if you want. That said, there was no shortage of BEAUTIFUL sites to see like nice beaches, marinas, mountains, lush nature, hotels and real estate. Between this and the knowledge shared and the tour I learned what IS and what IS NOT for me in Panama. I really believe now Panama has something for just about everyone.

*As for the real estate portions of the tour. I know some people were disappointed, even upset, by the fact that one of the properties was no longer available to see, and, that the first one we saw in Panama City was not properly matched for the tour’s audience (small, expensive, meant for YOUNG digital nomads and content creators). John was also visibly disappointed, but, I do not know how real estate operates in Panama and I guess this can happen last minute as the properties are only finalized early morning as these properties can get scooped up last minute. We DID indeed get to see some excellent properties, some that were not for me (think of when you went shopping for your first home) and very necessary centrally located and city-specific all-inclusive, modest landing pads that you can leverage to find a long term rental or home for purchase. We did get to see a home in a new development generously offered by a lovely expat couple to view, and herein lies my suggestion: incentivize your expats to be available for a stand-by showcase home should your realtor’s property suddenly not be available, and try and find comparables to be able to offer what a home like what we are seeing might cost.

REASON 5: AWESOME INCLUSIVE MEALS AND GREAT HOTEL STAYS

THE FOOD WAS AWESOME – and Pina Coladas were insanely good! I know because I tried a different one in about every city we visited. Most of the food was naturally sourced, I had some of the best seafood in a long time, and although the beef was different, less fatty and more gamey than we have back home, it was prepared in a vary tasty fashion and is likely more gamey because it is not artificially enhanced or fattened.

I know the hotels were not 5-star hotels, but many actually exceeded my expectations of what I thought I would see in a Latin American Country like Panama. They were very comfortable for the most part, the infrastructure was great – internet was faster than I had at home in the USA (1GB up/ 1GB down in some locations). The AC was definitely working solid, the staff where very helpful (even gave us suggestions on amazing local restaurants), some of the hotels were beautifully laid out blending in the local nature – beautiful plants, and even a creek running through the middle! The included breakfasts were generous except for at one hotel. That said Panama is NOT ADA and you may need to watch your step, or endure very small bathrooms. If you wanted to venture out on your own during the tour breaks, walking distance was very reasonable, and UBERs were super cheap!

REASON 6: OBVIOUS HARD WORK TO KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED AND RUNNING ON SCHEDULE**

I used to run large networking events with up to 300 people attending and 30+ vendors on the regular, as well as weekly networking groups with up to 50 members each, so I can tell when there is a ton of logistics at play as there was with this Panama Relocations Tour #308. The guides and the drivers had a lot of variables and time-pressure to manage between the speakers, the meals, hotels, the trips and bathroom breaks, potential passport checks and of course the 30+ personalities along the way just to name a few. And with 30+ personalities, it is hard to keep them all 100% happy.

** It can make for a long, physically and mentally taxing day, and I can understand where some might have seen the guides as coming across a bit abrasive or short at times (such as after trying to deal with some of the real-estate snafus). I however, honestly think I did not see it to the degree that I believe one or two others mentioned in their reviews. The guides do need a better way to get the attention of and herd 30+ adults to wrap up a bathroom break or get moving onto the next portion of the tour as I know this can be like herding cats vs clapping or whistling, perhaps getting someone to walk by and warn each micro-group that we are getting on the bus now please – or maybe one of those vibrating cup-holders restaurants use (only half-kidding). The guides should also make clear that not only are they available after the tour breaks for questions, BUT, for concerns or to facilitate any issues the tour members may be experiencing.

Our drivers Jorge and his son were excellent and the bus was smooth rolling and the AC was great (thank you sirs!). AND our driver Humberto who picked us up from the airport was great, and served as a pseudo-guide / personal driver to check out Casco Viejo (very small roads in here so we needed a private car) and the Canal was awesome. One of our guides suggested we reach out to him to help with this, and I am glad we did.

REASON 6: CHANCES TO FORM BONDS WITH OTHER TOUR MEMBERS

Many of us tour members exchanged contact info, joined WhatsApp groups, and as tour members we get access to private Facebook groups. We can all learn from each other’s experiences and I see that as a tremendous resource. The network of expats and experts that Jackie has built is invaluable, and we all have access to it now, so, hopefully we can all take advantage of it.

We had people from all walks of life, political ideologies, ethnic backgrounds and at least one different country come on the tour. We all had some similar and many different reasons to connect here, so we all had at least one thing in common – being open to the idea that somewhere other than the USA may be where we spend our Golden years, for one reason or another. It was funny that we were encouraged to leave politics behind, yet, it was inevitable in some conversations, and still yet, we ALL were here on this tour. There is always common ground to be found if you open your ears, your mind and your heart.

Thanks again to Jackie Lange, her guides John and Victoria, and her crew for making this an option in my journey to exploring Panama.

My husband and I just finished taking the 7-day relocation tour (#308) in Panama to catch a glimpse of what it would be like to become expats in another country. For those contemplating moving outside the U.S., this type of tour specifically points out the positives and negatives of immigrating abroad as you visit locations around the country. Some people move to seek a more affordable place to retire. Others move for political reasons, and yet others on the tour want to find a destination to be snowbirds in the winter that isn’t Florida, California, or Arizona.

After going down the rabbit hole watching Panama Relocation Tours (PRT) videos on YouTube, we decided to check out the expat lifestyle in Panama. We both prefer a warm environment close to the ocean but with an international airport (like PTY) that makes it easy to visit other continents.

This is a well-organized tour that included our airport transfers, private bus transport around the country, 7 nights of lodging in 4 different hotels (think Comfort Inn standards), almost all meals, tips for the restaurants and guides, and access to the PRT guide that summarized all the information and Panama contacts that were discussed throughout the tour.

Some of the highlights of our itinerary included:

– Arrival into PTY on the first day, shared shuttle transfer to the Courtyard by Marriott next to a luxury mall called the Multiplaza. The only meals we paid for during the entire 7 days were the lunch and dinner on our arrival day.

– A 90-minute lecture / discussion in a conference room at the Courtyard by Marriott. The lead tour guides, John and Victoria, are expats themselves. They gave a comprehensive overview of the tour and discussed general procedures of how the tour will go.

– Tour of a world-class private hospital (The Panama Clinic) in Panama City. Later in the tour, participants had the chance to visit a Panamanian physician and pay $15 to discuss their own health conditions and meds and how those would be affected when moving to Panama. Of note, many of the Panamanian physicians give out their cell phone numbers to their patients.

– A 90-minute presentation by an immigration lawyer, who discussed the different types of visas available to Americans and the details of how to apply for them, as well as the costs of obtaining a visa.

– Visits to apartments and houses available for rental / purchase in various parts of Panama. The locations of the real estate showings included Panama City (the “Miami of Central America”), Vista Mar (a beach/marina/golf community on the Pacific), Chitré (a small town near the coast), Penonomé (a town in the low-lying geographic center of Panama), Volcán (a village near an old lava flow that sits at 4,617 feet), and Boquete (a temperate mountain town). Some of the rentals we saw were considered “landing places”, i.e. residences where an expat could move to temporarily while making the transition to Panama.

– Lectures given by John and Victoria on the bus during our 90-minute stretches on Inter-American Highway. The topics included health care in Panama (from obtaining health insurance to comparisons of the public vs. private hospital experience), how to ship your stuff from the U.S., how to bring your pets to Panama, buying a car and getting a Panamanian driver’s license, using rideshare apps and taking public transportation, and assimilating into the Panamanian culture as an expat (e.g. pack a lot of patience because workmen don’t always show up when they say they will, don’t always expect to have hot water or air conditioning where you move).

– Visits to grocery stores and PriceSmart (Panama’s Costco equivalent), so that we could get an idea how the prices differed compared to the U.S.

– Meet and greets with expats living in Panama. The expats would join us during our meals and discuss why the moved to Panama, what it’s like to live in the area they chose, and the breakdown of their cost of living in Panama vs the U.S.

Overall, we were glad we experienced this special tour. The hotels were not luxurious, but they were clean and suited our needs. We were among the youngest people on the tour, but everyone in our group was very friendly. The physical and online guide PRT provided has contact information for lawyers and realtors who have already been vetted, making the expat process easier. Even if we don’t end up moving to Panama for retirement, PRT opened our eyes to the nitty gritty details to consider before making the move, which, in itself, is priceless.

I joined the Panama Relocation Tours in June 2025 with my mother, who uses supplemental oxygen. We were committed to moving to Panama but weren’t sure which area would suit us best. My mother had done most of the research, so I entered the tour with limited knowledge.

From the start, I was impressed by the depth of information provided. Our guides—Americans who had successfully relocated to Panama—shared firsthand insights, and Jackie’s expertise was invaluable. Transportation was comfortable, and our driver was highly skilled. The PRT team was not only informative but also patient and engaging, making the experience enjoyable.

The tour answered questions we didn’t even know to ask. The Facebook group and guidebook are excellent resources, and the food throughout the trip was varied and plentiful. If you want to explore multiple areas or confirm your choice before moving, this tour is ideal. Even if you can’t attend in person, the guide alone is worth every penny.

We moved to Volcán in October 2025, and I’ve already recommended PRT to several people considering the move. It’s truly the best way to start your Panama journey.
Panama.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 18 months since I shared my initial review of Panama Relocation Tours! I felt it was the perfect time to offer an exciting update on my journey.

In that first review, I shared that we opted for the Online Guide rather than the 7-day tour because we had already chosen our ideal relocation area. I’m thrilled to report that since that time, I’ve made two wonderful trips to Panama that have greatly advanced our plans. During these visits, I connected with my immigration attorney, successfully obtained my temporary residency visa, and even enjoyed a personalized PRT tour with a local guide specializing in our area of interest.

On my second trip, a few months later, I achieved even more! I secured my permanent residency visa and got my Panamanian driver’s license. Plus, I had another informative tour with a different private PRT guide, which helped me find the perfect rental property. I’m excited to share that I’ve successfully locked in a rental commitment and will return in December to pick up the keys and prepare for our permanent move shortly after!

I owe so much of my success to the incredibly helpful Online Guide and the Panama Relocation Tours Facebook group, which has been a treasure trove of tips and support. The savings from my immigration attorney alone made the guide worth every penny! The community is vibrant and full of valuable insights, and I love receiving timely updates on important changes straight to my inbox.

As I mentioned before, since 2010, Jackie Lange has run an amazing operation, providing her clients with trustworthy information and connections to make a smooth relocation to Panama. The support doesn’t stop after you arrive—there’s an incredible network of friends waiting for you!

If you’re thinking about relocating to Panama, I wholeheartedly recommend Panama Relocation Tours! They are the leading experts to help guide you through this exciting journey and make your move as smooth as possible.

Panama Relocation Tours was exactly the tour I needed. It is not a vacation tour. It is perfectly designed for those thinking of possibly relocating to Panama and it excels. We visited every major town and city, got to see rentals in every budget, spoke with expats who have relocated and ate at local restaurants. We learned what was needed to relocate, heard from different immigration attorneys, and even went to a grocery store and a pharmacy. The hotels are excellent, and we enjoyed wonderful views of the countryside as we rode on the modern and comfortable bus. If you are thinking of relocating to Panama, you can’t go wrong with Panama Relocation Tours.

We had to cancel our scheduled full-length trip due to illness, but used the Guide and private Facebook Group to plan a subsequent trip when we met with a recommended attorney and secured our temporary pensionada visas. We also went on tours with several of the recommended private tour guides. The Guide and Group have been invaluable in our planning. We make a permanent move in two weeks, with all the logistics vetted through these helpful sources. We would not even have known where to start without them. Beyond amazing.

Hola from an intrigued traveler from Tour #308. Panama was a fabulous mix of upscale cosmopolitan life, downhome neighborly friendliness and everything inbetween. Videos only convey so much, and the tour coupled with the onboard tutorials by John and Victoria was a rolling school deftly navigated by Jorge and his son (Thank you!) as we traveled across the entire country in his clean, comfortable and air-conditioned bus. The accommodations reflected the different environments we visited, as John said they would – some with expected “extras” and some more spartan, providing quiet time to relax. Every single hotel offered a comfortable bed, clean bathroom and breakfast. (Tip – some shower faucets turn backwards re H/C). Special shout-out to the fabulous and friendly Onda Hotel where a river runs through it and accentuates its rustic charm and lush tropical grounds.

And the food – OMG – the food……I tell friends I literally ate my way across Panama, courtesy of PRT. From the best fish tacos I’ve ever lusted after to classically trained, chef-prepared Beef Wellington so tender it gave me new appreciation for haute quisine – and astonishingly served in a delightful mountain town of about 20K residents, according to my taxi driver, Jose. If you are worried about starving….Den Mother Jackie makes sure you are well-fed, breakfast, lunch, dinner…and snacks…..and several meals feature local expats who share their experiences and take Q/A from participants. Take a chance on an unfamiliar menu option – and discover something new to try at home. (Only one meal in the entire tour fell short, and it was graciously replaced.)

We saw “landing pads,” tiny spartan places from which to launch yourself into a home of your choice, elegant high-rise apartments, and beautiful homes for rent or sale. The real estate market is swift; available choices might not have been what I hoped for, but that is why I’m already plotting my extended return next spring, to explore a handful of towns seen, and a few we were unable to view. The overview of nearly the entire country, the experienced differences in climate/heat, and the diversity of local environments was invaluable.

We visited malls with “luxury aisles,” Panama’s version of Costo, open air stalls and local bakeries. We drove through countrysides of cattle and sheep, small villages and always, the mountains and trees in the distance. We got an extensive introduction to the immigration process from an attorney, visited a hospital, small towns and growing towns, and I was delighted to spend some time in the first public library in Panama, established in 2012.

Finally, a personal thank you to John, who additionally provided some instruction to this dinosaur and others on the use of WhatsApp, and to Victoria. These two guides shepherded and kept track of 30 travelers with grace and commitment to keep the promise of the tour – not to “show us the sights,” but to provide an introduction to the wonderful, multi-layered country that is Panama. Imagine being responsible for the welfare of 30 strangers with unknown personalities for a full week of traveling. I saw the tiredness in the faces of our guides and driver at times at the end of a day, and am grateful for their professionalism; they made all the difference.

From a personal perspective, choose your footwear carefully. A quick-drying pair of canvas-type deck shoes or sneakers, and another sturdy pair of shoes good for walking, both with non-slip soles keep your feet happy. Also, slip a small pair of binoculars into your daypack. I often wished I’d had a pair; the birds, flowers, rivers and hillsides are wonderful. Finally, if you can, arrive early and stay late – the tour is just a taste; exploring for a few days after the tour ended was really fun.

To everyone considering a move to Panama, I do highly recommend to buy at least the Guide!
If you are independent traveler (as we are), you might not join a tour but do not doubt the value of the Guide! It is full of priceless information that otherwise you will spend countless hours searching for. Furthermore, it is permanently being updated.

With my husband we followed the advice of Jackie Lange, provided in the Guide and the abundant information offered by the PRT private Facebook group. We hired reliable lawyer recommended by Jackie, and the whole process of obtaining our E-cedulas (Panamanian I.D. numbers) took less than 6 months.
Do not hesitate and buy the Guide!

This was the most informative and most comprehensive tour I’ve ever done. I started researching on my own items to consider regarding a move to Panama when I stumbled on PRT! What a Godsend! They had accumulated all of the information I was looking for and more! John and Victoria were a huge wealth of information as our guides. Their introductions provided the group (over 30) with expectations (e.g. keep an open mind, properties would only be shown based on availability) and considerations (e.g. keep questions general and not personal, pay attention to where you’re walking) to help keep the tour on task with minimal to no injuries. John and Victoria maintained a professional demeanor even when some disregarded some of the provided considerations and/ or expectations. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone considering a move to Panama.

Being a member of a PRT tour group was incomparable. Every detail of the itinerary was beautifully planned and executed. The food and lodging were excellent. Sessions with lawyers, real estate agents, and ex-pats were invaluable. When the tour managers told us the “good and the not-so-good” about relocating to Panama, they spoke from experience as alumni of PRT. The trip was worth every penny!

5-Star Review for Lisa Badger – Panama Relocation Tours

We had a fantastic private tour of Boquete, Panama with Lisa Badger through Panama Relocation Tours. Lisa was incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and professional throughout the entire experience. She knew so much about the area and answered every question we had with patience and detail. She also went above and beyond by offering helpful tips and insider hints that made our visit even more enjoyable.

If you’re considering relocating to Panama or just want to learn more about life in Boquete, we highly recommend booking a tour with Lisa—she truly made our day unforgettable!
Thank you Lisa 🥰
Mary & Julie☘️

I just returned from PRT #308. I don’t know where to begin. I have been researching Panama for over a year now and there was something about it that I could not shake so I finally decided to take the tour. First and foremost, the tour guides (John, Victoria, Bob, Felicia) were outstanding. That job is not an easy one, especially dealing with 30 different personalities and trying to answer question after question after question……but they did it with courtesy and professionalism . Secondly, the fact that we traveled from Panama City hundreds of miles to Boquete stopping along the way in Coronado, Chitre, Volcan, and David just to name a few is just amazing to me. Expats spoke with us and shared their journey. We visited hospitals and shopping centers as well as rental homes and apartments (long and short term). An attorney spoke with us and provided a wealth of information on obtaining residency and explaining the different types of visas. There was just so much information squeezed into 6 days. There is no way I could have done this on my own. For anyone considering relocating to Panama, I highly encourage you to take this tour with PRT. It is worth every penny.

Vernadette

This tour was a wonderful adventure! I enjoyed this valuable experience and recommend it. Whether you decide to relocate or not, you will get a great overview of the country and it’s people. The tour itself and the guides we had were top notch!!

Shout out to our tour guides, John, Victoria, Becky, and of course Jorge!! The wealth of overview information is invaluable. The ability to ask questions about things that one would never think of without taking the tour is reassuring. You can be confident in the answers and they will get you an answer if they don’t know. At no time did I feel they were selling me Panama but rather educating me about Panama. The only regret I have was leaving Panama!

My wife Kenya and I recently completed our tour (Oct 17-24, 2025). We were in PRT group # 308.

Prior to signing up for tour, I did a little research on Panama and watched a few videos. It was JoLynn’s Boquete video that really intrigued us both and convinced us to take the tour. But other than that, neither of us had been to Panama nor knew much about it. I came with no expectations. Just an open mind, an open heart and an eagerness to learn.

At our group’s first meeting, our group leaders: John, Victoria, Bob & Felicia, committed to providing us relevant information to help us make an educated and informed decision as to whether Panamá was a good fit for us.

They far exceeded that commitment!

Whether on the bus, at a property, at a meal or any other stop we made along the way, our group leaders were a wealth of information. They covered everything from the types of properties (including a range of bedrooms/bathrooms & prices), medical/dental care, transportation, bringing your pet (including vet & grooming options), shopping, immigration info (thank you Javier!), climate, culture and so much more.

Even the guest speakers we had the privilege of meeting provided tons of information. They were all so welcoming, encouraging and supportive. I particularly remember something Wendell said about if you’re willing to accept Panama for Panama she will love you back.

I’d like to specifically shout-out John our co-group leader. He was extremely patient with us which couldn’t have been easy because honestly some of us were asking questions he’d already answered and were otherwise making things unnecessarily difficult in my opinion.

At dinner during our last day John shared with us that someone in our group wrote a negative review about their tour experience and specifically criticizing John. We’re all entitled to our opinion and I won’t invalidate someone else’s experience but I wholeheartedly disagree with their assessment.

John handled that very difficult situation with class, accountability and professionalism. I respect him tremendously for that because I’m not sure I could’ve been so composed.

I don’t want to end this review on down note so let me circle back and say thank you to John, Victoria, Felicia, Bob, Jorge (and Jorge Jr), Javier and all the guest speakers!

I wanted a honest and authentic experience to help me decide if relocating to Panama was a good fit for us and that’s exactly what I received.

I realize there will be things about the tour that aren’t for everyone. That said, if you’re willing to leave your North American expectations and standards at the border and truly embrace Panama and its differences, I think you’ll enjoy the PRT experience as well.

Tour number 232! Would highly recommend worth the money worth the experience very professional lifelong lifeline if you choose to stay or travel and come back, you always have that connection. Jolynn is the best guide ever. I would put out there…you do need to be in decent physical shape because you are riding a bus with no bathroom and doing some walking to get the best experience!

The whole experience of our tour from start to finish has been exceptional.
We would like to thank John, Victoria and Bob and Felicia as their knowledge and experience has provided a valuable insight into relocating to Panama.
We have found the hotels and food of a good standard and would recommend PRT to anyone.

Great tour! You really get a good feel for life in Panama, the pros and cons. Our tour guides were great also, Joline, Jay and Janet.

We were part of Tour #296. The thought and planning that go into these tours is amazing. So were our guides, John, Victoria, and Becky. Jorge, the bus driver, was impressive! I was amazed as he maneuvered a full size bus between other similarly sized vehicles with maybe 4″ of clearance between them! I asked him at the end of tour how often he has to service the bus, and he said, “Pretty much every day.” So he drives all day, and then has to take care of the bus afterwards. Our guides worked hard too. They spoke during bus rides on essential information for anyone planning to move there.
I connected with several people on the tour with us and really enjoyed them. When one of us fell on concrete and broke her arm, John went with her to assure she got good medical care. In his absence, Becky, who was in training at the time, stepped up and filled in with planning, and assisting Victoria.
The highlight of the trip for me was when one of John’s friends spoke after one of the lunches, about his experience having a house built for himself and his wife. We were able to ask him questions. I also enjoyed breakfasts in the hotel in Panama City (have never tasted kefir that good before or since), the garden restaurant in one of the beach cities where we stopped, the first lawyer who spoke in Panama City, and a woman who had been a teacher, but now lives in Panama. She was very informative and a great speaker.
We saw real estate, both rentals and potential purchases. It was variable in quality, depending upon the location.
We visited Dr. Gomez in Boquete with 2 other tour members. My husband wanted to talk to Dr. Gomez about his medications and health conditions to see if he thought he could get meds and insurance coverage he needs. One of the tour members had a hypertensive incident, and Dr. Gomez and his staff were great to her. It was very affordable, and just the right amount of medical intervention.
Lastly, we considered it fortunate that John had been a professional musician in the States, because he let us out after dinner the last night of the tour so my husband could go play music at a local jam. We connected with the hosts, who happened to originate from the same city in which we live. My husband had actually played music with the wife in the couple at a jam here in the states! Small world. Anyway, I was grateful that John called a taxi for us, and my husband was able to play and connect with other musicians in Boquete.
I wish we could have had more time in Vulcan to at least drive through the main drag, but I think we had to leave after stopping at the coffee shop to make our next destination on time.
The only thing I wished were different, was the condition of the motel we stayed in while in Boquete. It was kind of a ghost motel. Breakfasts there were not very good. For me, it was adequate, but there were items that needed maintenance, such as the loose faucet in the bathroom. For whatever reason, even though there were 2 of us, the staff would not stock 2 full sets of towels to the room. The walkways were poured in such a way that they were pretty big trip hazards. One of the other couples in the tour though, were placed in a room with bunk beds. None of us could understand how that happened, but they were not happy. They were a married couple. I think the motel might have been the only hospitality facility in Boquete with enough capacity to host our group, or it met cost requirements for the tour. For the amount of money we spent, it was overall, a pretty good deal.

We had a fabulous time on the 7 day bus tour. We got to see various parts of the country and received a lot of useful information. Way to go, Jackie!!

I had booked a tour in March of 2026 but was excited and couldn’t wait, so I bought the online guide. After watching all the YouTube videos, reading through the online guide, & joining the Facebook group I decided to cancel my tour and do private tours in the area I am most interested in. Jackie’s vast knowledge of Panama and her willingness to share is fabulous. Looking forward to relocating soon

The 8 days spent on the tour were excellent from start to finish. Jolynn, J and Tobias were all awesome tour guides. Their knowledge on the information they shared was excellent. This tour was a great way to get an overview of the country. This trip was well worth the cost. It was money well spent. We got more out of it than we expected. I would highly recommend taking a tour with Panama Relocation Tour.

Hello, I was on tour #307 with Jay, Jahlin, and Tobias. I just wanted to commend them all for their extraordinary knowledge, insight, and jovial attitudes through out our whole trip. This was the most impressive and educational trip I have ever encountered. This was my first bus tour, and I didn’t know what to expect. I am thoroughly impressed with the guides familiarity of processes and all the possible things we may encounter or need, to begin relocating.
Tobias was above and beyond, even holding a “mini impromptu class” for what’s app for those of us that are technology challenged, like myself. Jay and his stories and explanations were very entertaining and educational. Jahlin was very easy to talk to, and very matter of fact, which I personally enjoyed. Our whole group had a great time and it was because of our great guides. I just wanted to send my kudos to you and them. Thank you for such an enjoyable time.
Tiffany M.
October 2025

I am so glad I did this tour! My husband has been pushing me to relocate to Panama, and to say I had reservations is putting it mildly. On this tour we saw and heard about all the good, and not so good about Panama. At one point, it seemed to be information overload, but it was all valuable. We saw many parts of Panama, and most of it was not for us, however, there was one place that we fell in love with, and are now getting our paper work ready to apply for our visas.
Our tour guides, Joslyn, J, and Tobias (guide in training) were all expats themselves and were so helpful and informative. Thank you!
The others on the tour with us were also amazing, we felt like a family by the end of the tour. We will definitely keep in touch. We made lifelong friendships on this tour.
All in all, I highly recommend this tour in order to determine if Panama is for you.

Had a wonderful 10 days showing Panama to our daughter. We are so grateful that we had a wonderful private tour with Panama Relocation tours that helped make this monumental decision for us. Thanks Jorge! Also our thanks to Jackie for providing the information needed to make this transition as smooth as possible.

The tour was excellent from start to finish. John and Victoria were very knowledgeable. A great way to get an overview of the country if you aren’t sure yet where you want to be plus learn about everything you could possibly want to know about relocating to Panama. The hotels were all beautiful and the food! Each restaurant went out of their way to provide impressive meals. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of relocating.

I went to learn about Panamá, gain information about the different provinces, types of actual rentals. The guided were very knowledgeable. The food amazing, we stayed in a variety of hotels. Friendships made,. They did not disappoint with their knowledge the country they now call home. The real estate agents they are affiliated with are awesome. Knowledgeable about their province, and what they have available at any given time.
If you are considering moving to Panamá, take the tour, you will not be disappointed.

I got home from tour #304 last weekend and besides being great, it gave me all the tools I need to move forward with my relocation dream. It was also a lot! A lot of movement, a lot of information but also a lot of fun and new friends. This is not a vacation so don’t expect a lot of free time to go off and explore.

From the time you are picked up at the airport until the following Friday when you are flown back down to the city (if you choose) you are in PRT’s hands and well taken care of. We met with 2 immigration attorneys, realtors in different cities/towns and saw the types of apartments that are available in those areas as well as hearing expats tell us their stories. But more than that, our time on the bus was not wasted. There was a topic agenda every day and we got the complete scope of what it took to get ourselves, our families our pets and our packages into Panama. The food along the way was good, a few meals were really great and memorable. Sometimes I wish I had picked a different entree and my only complaint here would be, I wish we had more vegetables that came with our meals. I also wish we had eaten more Panamanian dishes. But I recognize that feeding 29 people 3 meals a day isn’t always easy.

I stayed a few days after the trip to see Panama City. That was really good for me as I got to check things out at my own pace but also got to be a tourist. I would recommend that people spend a day or two on the front or back end of the tour if they have the ability. It gave me the opportunity to fall in love with Panama outside of the tour.

A shout out to John, Victoria and Becky for their never ending need to herd us all and the in depth knowledge they constantly imparted, to Humberto for picking me up and coordinating my ride back to the airport, Jorge for keeping us moving in traffic that was crazy to me, and to Jackie for setting up a program that I would not have been able to easily figure out on my own.

For anyone wondering if this is worth it, YES.

Visited Panama for the first time ever in September on Relocation Tour # 304 with guides John, Victoria, Becky and excellent bus driver Jorge. They all clearly worked hard to make sure that everything and everyone was taken care of, no easy feat in a locale where the pace of work and life move more slowly than in North America. It was a good introduction to a cross section of the country from east to west and from upscale to budget priced areas. My wife and I were fortunate to have met many wonderful people on the trip, both expat and Panameno. We found the locals to be very welcoming and were impressed with the infrastructure in Panama. The trip filled in some of the gaps in my research and the stories from the guides were helpful in understanding challenges one may face in making a move to the country. Although we will return to explore a few other locations before we settle on a favored spot, I think the tour was money well spent.

My wife and I took the tour which lasted a week and are now taking steps to apply for our pensionado visas. I have looked at a bunch of other companies’ Youtube videos and Facebook posts and I want to say as loud and clear as I can – look here and book here. Over the years, Panama Relocation Tours has developed one-stop source for all you need to evaluate Panama and once you move to Panama a guide to get the services you need. These companies may all look the same but here’s the difference, and you can see it for yourself. When this company Panama Relocation Tours makes a recommendation, it’s because it’s good for YOU. Too often when other companies make a recommendation it’s because it’s good for THEM. Look for yourself. Look at the tone of recommendations made here. For example, many companies who make recommendations for real estate agents, visa lawyers, mechanics, and drivers will recommend the highest bidder who pays the best kickback. This company does not take kickbacks! If they recommend a lawyer it’s because they have checked out the lawyer and they ask their clients for their feedback. They negotiate fees for the group. If a lawyer’s clients start saying to PRT that the lawyer didn’t pay close attention, or was too busy for them – they are scratched from the vetted list. Not a dollar changes hands to get on the list. One thing gets you on the PRT list: Quality and integrity. If the quality drops – they get dropped from the list. Also PRT is not trying to sell you knick-nacks. They get paid from their tour fees. As the Apostle John says in another context, test the spirit. You can even ask the other companies – do they get paid a fee for recommending this real estate agent or this landlord. Often you can tell from the tone of their comments. I have been on this group’s Facebook page for a period of time and consistently all I see is integrity. And when you’re making life decisions, and you are trusting your future to professionals in a new country, you need to know that they are honest. Honesty is what you find here. The tour was a gas and very informative. It was candid – the bad with the good. It was worth it. Also, you get access to their private Facebook page, and here’s what is unique about it: No harassment, no sarcasm is allowed – or the customer gets booted! What you find on the Facebook page is a quality community of helpers. On other lists you too often find sarcasm – why did you ask such a stupid question? Everybody knows that, are you that stupid? The owner watches the comments and people get warned. This group is a culture of encouragement. So the online community of several thousand people is pure gold, and the online directory is pure good. And you make friends on these tours, and at the meetings all over the country, with helpful people. I am not saying that no one else operates with integrity. But watch and be aware. And I strongly sqy – you can trust this company. And nobody’s giving me a dime for saying so!

I loved this tour. It is one of the best investments I made for myself. I went with two friends and my brother. We all loved the tour and plan to move to Panama. I would also like to give a shout out to the guides on tour # 303. Thank you to Jolynn, J, Michele and Janice. You did an excellent job keeping us together and informed. Everyday was exciting and fun.

My name is NPL and my tour was #304. I was in Panamá, Boquete. This trip was one of my dream vacations. I planed this trip three years ago when I first heard about PRT. I went with an open mind, wonder, anticipation and excitement. I just returned home from my tour on Friday 9/29/25. Your tore went all over Boquete which is a beautiful country. We had amazing accommodation throughout our travels. I met wonderful people from all over the US and Canada. I would like to thank Jackie for opening this lifetime opportunity for all to experience. Our tour guides John, Victoria and Becky
thank you for your vast knowledge of your beautiful country. I would like to thank John for his kindness when he came to my aid when I discovered that Distilled Water for my CAPA machine is not a staple in the grocery store or in all pharmacy’s he shared some of his with me at my panic moment. He and Victoria went a step further they assumed me they would find me what I needed the next day and to my surprise they did. Thanks to John and Victoria for your kindness. And last but not least I would like to give a special thanks to Jorge for your amazing driving skills.

Thank your PRT team!
NPL

The 300th PRT tour was outstanding. Our tour guides, John Veillon and Victoria Steichen were very professional, approachable, and helpful. Both were very knowledgeable about the country of Panama and relocating to Panama. They shared some of their personal experiences, which made them relatable. My favorite thing about Panama was the consistent weather. I enjoyed being able to go outside everyday, not having to check my weather app to see if I needed a sweater, jacket or coat for the day.

I also liked touring the rental properties in a variety of locations. This provided insight into the types of rentals Panama has to offer along with the associated rental fees.

I did have some safety concerns with the walkways at the last hotel we stayed at which could be hazardous, especially for seniors. In addition, I would have preferred to spend another day in Panama City to see more of it, tour some of the neighborhoods along with additional condos and homes. Perhaps the tour time spent in Boquete and Panama City could be more balanced.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, learned a lot about Panama, ate good, and left Panama with a smile on my face. Thanks to the PRT Team who were involved with making the 300th Tour a success.

Overall the tour was excellent. It was well planned and the itinerary was followed. This is the best way to get an overview of the entire country of Panama.
The guides were very knowledgeable and a huge anoint of information was presented.
Jorge, our bus driver, is a master at maneuvering the giant tour bus through some very narrow streets.
The restaurants were all good. A couple were great! You will not go hungry on this tour!
My criticism would be that there is almost no down time. It would have been nice if for a short time each day the bus could have been quiet be or at least the tour guides could have let the microphone rest.

My husband And I are just returning from PRT tour #304. Our guides were Victoria John and Becky, who shared their knowledge and personal experiences regarding relocating to Panama. This is not a scenic tour, your head will swim (in a good way) with all the details of an international move.

We toured rental properties, met other ex pats stories and real estate agents,, ate at local restaurants and overall good a really good idea of what life would be like living in Panama.

My husband and I are not sure if we will relocate permanently to Panama but as of now, we do plan to come back and stay a few months.

Many thanks to our amazing guides, this tour couldn’t have been better!