We have been in Puerto Armuelles for 10 years now. Plenty of time to observe the lifestyle habits that seem to lead to a happy life for our retired expat neighbors. The happiest folks, share a common thread: Keep active Have hobbies Maintain community Passionate about their lives Read More
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Best Ice Cream on a Stick In Panama – La Italiana
We were in Pedasi when we were told that a passing hand cart sold the best ice cream in Panama. We had only been in Panama for about 2 months at the time. A small group of 20-somethings from Panama City shared this important fact with us. We were all hanging out in hammocks and chairs under Read More
Internet Access & Providers in Panama
I don't know about you, but one of the first things I think of when I get to a new place is internet access. Overall, Panama has pretty good internet access. It doesn't compare to the US or Canada, but for Central America it is excellent. One reason for this is that Panama, specifically Panama Read More
Puerto Armuelles – A Good Choice For Builders
We first arrived in Panama in the Fall of 2006. I felt a huge sense of relief at having taken a “side exit” out of the fast paced life of being a designer/builder in Seattle. Boy, was it a welcome change to settle into the life of a family of tourists in the tropics. Given that, I was surprised Read More
Build a $5,000 House Using Old Chiquita Buildings
30 years ago, when I was in college, one of my best friends, Paul, had a unique solution to the problem of high housing costs. “When I grow up,” Paul proclaimed, “I am going to build myself a house out of trash”. Of course, none of us took a Paul seriously at the time. (FYI - He never did Read More
Utilities in Panama – Cost Comparison & Info
I was recently asked about utility bills in Panama. In this article, I share what we pay in utility costs. I also compare our utility bills here to our bills in the US. First of all, bill paying in Puerto Armuelles has not been a big preoccupation for us. Bills here are so much lower than Read More
Ready To Move To Panama? Here’s Your Moving Overseas Checklist
YAY! You are moving abroad! Congrats. Enjoy the feeling of satisfaction, and relief, of having made that big decision. Fix it in your mind, because soon you are going to have to start on your list of things to do to make the move a reality. Take Action The critical thing is to decide what Read More
Think Carefully Before You Build A Wooden House In Panama
For over 20 years, I was designer and builder in Seattle. So I am very familiar with 2x4 “stick” construction. And the 1st building project I did in Panama was wood construction. I bought and remodeled an old Chiquita Banana house in Puerto Armuelles. It is the house we live in. However, Read More
It’s Rodeo Season In Panama (Pista de Lasso )
March 26, 2016 by Skylar Vayda and Betsy Czark The rodeo here is different from the ones you might have attended elsewhere. Unlike the rodeos in the Untied States, which include lasso tricks and events designed to test a cowboy's riding skills, the Panamanian rodeo involves just one activity Read More
Hardware Stores & Shopping Locally In Puerto Armuelles
Puerto Armuelles boasts about a dozen hardware stores. This abundance of hardware stores is one of the things that makes life in Puerto Armuelles feel like taking a step back in time, to a quieter, simpler life. It is also good news for would-be homeowners, as well as professional building Read More