My daughters explain how to preserve your bananas and more in the video above.
Betsy: Welcome to the 2nd video in our "Fruit in Our Yard" series.
By the way, our yard is in the charming beach town of Puerto Armuelles, Panama.
We are producing these videos in alphabetic order.
Join us as my daughters show you the Bananas In Our Yard.
[I'm Betsy from Living in Panama, the place for information and advice on being an expat in Panama. Interested? Click subscribe, and hit the bell. So you don't miss a video.]
Skylar: These are the bananas in our yard. They're a little past their prime on the tree.
We've been picking them slowly.
Normally, if you wanted to preserve the entire bunch and ripen them at your leisure, you would chop it here and hang it from a sort of a rafter or any high place you have. Then put a bag around it to protect it from the birds that might want to get at it before you.
Blaise: And what you can also do is, you can leave actually them on the tree and get some mesh bags to cover it.
And as you can see, some ripen at different times.
These are very small, just starting. These are green and these towards the top get more sun and are ripe. Like here, they are ready on this side.
Skylar: Yes. These here have been all picked and some of them have been eaten by birds.
Blaise: Like these and that.
Skylar: This is what happens when you don't preserve the bunch. So if you wanted to preserve it, as we said, you put a mesh bag around, either on the tree, or take it off and hang it somewhere for it to ripen.
[Note: you can use plastic or any other opaque bag to cover ripening bananas in order to keep birds from eating them.]
They usually ripen better off the tree actually.
Blaise: And we can show you one is still green. It has not been covered, over in our front yard.
Skylar: Okay, so this is across the yard from the earlier bananas that we showed you. But these are not quite ready to be picked or even for the birds to want them.
It's quite a beautiful bunch, honestly.
Blaise: As you can see, up there, it is starting to ripen a little bit on the higher branches.
Betsy: Where? Oh, yeah.
Blaise: You can see a little yellow. And so that is normally the time you should probably start bagging.
Actually, if you remove some of the leaves above it, it can help it as well.
Betsy: Help it what?
Skylar: Ripen more quickly of course.
Blaise: And grow.
Skylar: Yeah.
Blaise: And in the next video we'll probably be showing you how to use bananas and plantains in dishes.
Skylar: Yes, how to cook your bananas or plantains - for beginners.
Skylar & Blaise: Bye. Thank you for watching. Subscribe. And like. And share with anyone who might be interested. And click the notification bell. Have fun.
Betsy: Please click the link below for more information about Puerto Armuelles. Thanks for watching.
Our next "Fruit In Our Yard" video will feature the cashew tree.
So instead of one long video, we are making 13 short ones.
We are producing the videos in them in alphabetical order, as follows.
(1) Almonds, 2) Bananas, 3) Cashews, 4) Coconuts, 5) Crioyos (native orange) 6) Eucalyptus (rainbow type - yes, not a fruit, but its leaves are useful), 7) Lemons, 8) Mangos, 9) Maracuya (Passion Fruit), 10) Nance, 11) Papaya, 12) Pineapple, and 13) Plantains. There are many more fruits in Panama, but these are the ones that grow in our yard, or right across the street.
In this 1st video, we celebrate the tropical almond.
Transcription of the video appears further down the page.
True Almond trees do not grow in the tropics. Panama's almond tree (Terminalia catappa) is not related to the true almond tree. True almond trees are the ones that produce the almonds we buy at the store.
The tropical almond tree got its name because its seed pods look like large unshelled almonds plus its seeds/kernels resemble almonds. It also goes by many other names: sea-almond, Indian-almond, false-almond, country-almond, and many more.
However, unlike true almonds, the outside of the fruit is also edible. Plus you don't have to cook the seed to eat it. Both the seeds and the fruit of the tropical almond are edible in the uncooked, raw state,
The tropical almond tree grows by the ocean. The tree can grow in sandy soil and is mildly salt tolerant.
This large, fast-growing tree can reach, on average, 30-55 feet tall. It has large bright green leaves that turn red before falling off. The tree also produces many small, white flowers which develop into fruits. The flower's scent is barely noticeable.
The tree will produce fruit and nuts within 3-5 years. Seasonally, you can harvest up to 11 pounds of nuts (shelled) from a tree.
It is a messy tree. Leaves, fruit, and kernels litter the ground underneath it. This can be a problem because the fruit contains high amounts of tannic acid so it will stain any paving, maybe even your car, if they are under the tree too.
Interestingly, the tree does not attract much wildlife. Some tropical ants like it. Fruit bats eat the husk. And bees are attracted to the blossom, but apparently, have a difficult time making honey from them.
It's all edible. (If you know the movie Rocky Balboa, you may recognize that line.)
The fruit has a pleasant aroma, but is not especially tasty, although it is edible. The fruit ripens from green to yellow to red and has very little pulp, but a very large seed kernel. The husk is corky, thin with green flesh inside.
The ripe husks of the fruit can be eaten raw and are best when young and sweet. Although when the fruit is ripe can vary.
The seeds have an almond or hazelnut flavor.
The waterproof nature of the tree’s wood makes its lumber ideal for canoes.
The leaves and bark are sometimes put in fish tanks to increase water acidity and reduce bacterial infections amongst the tank’s inhabitants.
Medicinally, the tree has had a myriad of uses in folk medicine for everything from sickle cell disorders, leprosy, nausea, diarrhea, and as a contraceptive.
However, there is research that suggests it might be useful in treating high blood pressure. Also, leaf extracts have some anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties.
There is much more fruit in Panama than the 13 we are covering in our "Fruit In Our Yard" video series. But only those 13 fruits grow in our yard.
The following Panama fruit do not grow in our yard (although most of them do grow in our neighborhood): Avocados, Breadfruit, Cacao, Grapefruit, Guanábana, Noni, Mangosteens, Momo chinos, Tamarindo, and more.
Up Next: Bananas. Check out the banana video here.
Betsy: Welcome to the first of our series: Fruit in Our Yard.
We're doing it alphabetically.
We're starting with almonds going through coconuts, lemons, nance, papayas, pineapple, and ending at plantains, and lots and between.
Right today, we're starting with Almonds.
Subscribe Plug: Its Betsy of living in Panama, the place for information and advice on being an expat in Panama. Interested? Click subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss a video.
Skylar: Okay. So this may be cheating a little. It's a little out of our yard.
Betsy: It's across the street.
Skylar: It's across the street, but I think it's very interesting. This is an almond tree.
Blaise: It looks basically like a cashew tree, actually.
Skylar: I didn't know where almonds grew before I came to Panama. But given that I was five, it wasn't that unimpressive.
But yeah. So actually, here is one right now.
Blaise: They grow in little pods.
Blaise & Skylar: They look like this. This is a very under-ripe one.
The ripe ones are fuller and more spotted. Ripe ones are larger, yellower, more even, and they have some brown speckling. And as can see here, this has none. Maybe this one, this has one speckle, but it would be all over it and all these ridges would fill out.
But inside here. It's a little meaty on the inside. Then you have the seed, which is the almond.
Betsy: You should know that with the tropical Almond, both the seed pod and the seed are edible, without any cooking. Although it's quite the endeavor, especially to get the seed out, as the girls mention
Skylar & Blaise: It's pretty straightforward. Although, it might be a little more effort than it's worth than buying a bag. You should just buy 'em. Buy em.
The modern world is wonderful. Don't need these [raw seed pods] anymore. It's just a great tree though.
As you see...
Betsy: Join us next time as we explore the bananas in our yard.
Skylar & Blaise: Thanks for watching. Be sure to like comment, share, subscribe, and click the bell icon if you want notifications.
Betsy: For more information about tropical almonds and life in Panama. Click the link below. See you there.
It pleases me to be able to repeat what I said 3 years ago
“No. There are still no hurricanes in Panama”.
In fact, there has never been a recorded landfall of a hurricane on the isthmus of Panama, Central America.
However, back in 1969, Hurricane Martha, with winds up to 90mph, was sighted 100 miles off the Atlantic coast of the Veraguas Province of Panama.
This category 1 (1 is the weakest, 5 is the strongest) hurricane weakened to a “tropical storm” with winds below 50mph before it finally made landfall in a rural part of Veraguas and quickly died out. There was no significant impact on the human population.
That’s about it, as far as hurricane activity in Panama is concerned.
As for more current weather events, on a Tuesday in August of this year (2018), we experienced high winds in Puerto Armuelles. That night wind gusts of 30-35 miles per hour toppled trees around Puerto Armuelles and caused residents to be without electricity. Most areas only lost electricity overnight, a few areas were without power for a day or two, and in the beach neighborhoods of Corazon de Jesus and further out for a few days.
We had to hire a neighbor with a chainsaw for a couple of hours the following day, to remove one fallen tree from the roadway into Corazon de Oro. That was the extent of the damage to our property. This windstorm encouraged me to have some preventative pruning done to other trees, which were overgrown, or posed a risk to power lines or fences.
Some areas of Panama are prone to heavy tropical rains during the rainy season. Generally, these do not affect normal human activities. However, in places like Panama City, where rapid development has outpaced the municipal infrastructure, flooding can be problematic from time to time. We have never seen this first hand, we have only read about it in the paper.
In the Chiriqui Province, there are places with heavy rains, and on rare occasions, there may be a temporary road closure due to flooding. On one particularly stormy November night about 6 years ago, we were driving from David to Panaso Canoas in knee-high in water. The flooding occurred due to the culverts being clogged by a recent mowing of nearby vegetation. That night, soon after we crossed it, a bridge went out. No one was hurt.
One of the most dangerous places on earth for Hurricanes continues to be the southern and eastern coasts of the United States. The “Sunshine State” of Florida is one of the worst for Hurricanes. It is the worst on all counts: frequency, strength, duration, and damage to property.
As I've said, Panama City, Panama (and all of Panama) has never had a Hurricane. Meanwhile, it's namesake, Panama City, Florida, has the nickname "Hurricane City". Panama City, Florida has had a constant barrage of Hurricanes and tropical storms batter its beaches over the years.
In fact, since records of hurricane activity have been kept beginning in 1871, Panama City, Florida has been hit by 60 hurricanes or major tropical storms. That is a major weather event every 2.43 years, with a Hurricane every 8 years. The next predicted hurricane in Panama City, Florida is expected within this very hurricane season, which ends this month. That is too much hurricane activity for me, but I am a bit of a worrier.
If you were to look at a map of major Hurricane activity in this hemisphere, the map would look like a map of the southeastern United States. To be precise, Florida, Louisiana Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, etc all the way up to Maine. All of these areas are far more vulnerable to hurricanes than the Republic of Panama.
Thanks for reading.
Reyn
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1. First, before you move, determine if Panama is right for you. To discover that, you should be clear on what you need to have in your life? What are the most important things to you? What will help make for a happy life?
If you go ballistic when the Internet (or electricity) is out and you cannot imagine life without readily available organic food or same day Amazon deliveries, you may need to rethink your desire to move to Panama. Be honest with yourself.
There are many wonderful places you could choose to live. It doesn’t have to be Panama.
Take our "Will Panama Make You Happy?" quiz to get a sense whether Panama is right for you.
2. Are you and your spouse/partner and/or kids on the same page? Your spouse's ideas about what he or she is looking for may surprise you. Your kids will be happier with the move if they feel you really listened to their thoughts and concerns. For a successful move, it is best to quickly get everyone involved in the decision process.
3. Manage your expectations. If you expect a trouble-free paradise, you will surely be disappointed. No place is perfect. No climate is ideal. No place is 100% crime-free.
4. Do you dream of finding a life partner in Panama? You may find one. But keep in mind, if you marry a Panamanian, there will be cultural and language challenges. For instance, when you marry a Panamanian, you are also marrying his or her family. Family is of paramount importance in Panama. Family members typically spend their Sundays together - all day. There is little buffer for cultural differences when you marry into the culture. The differences will be in your face, every day. To be happy, you will need to become accepting and tolerant very quickly.
Also, you should beware the Sugar Daddy/Mommy situation. That arrangement usually never ends well.
Successful Panamanian/Expat marriages can happen. I know a few expats who have been happily married for many years to locals they met after they moved here. But I know even more in which it was a disaster.
Of course, you may also meet a compatriot while in Panama and fall in love. Then you will encounter all the joys, trials, and challenges every relationship offers.
5. Panama is a different culture and lifestyle. The lifestyle issue is especially hard for Americans to come to terms with. The specific lifestyle issue I am taking about is convenience and customer service. If you are from the States, you are used to a level of convenience that no other country on earth offers. For example, many stores in Panama (and in many places in the world) are closed on Sundays. Also, in Panama and many other places, government offices close for lunch and many holidays. The entire country of Panama took the day off when the national team qualified for the 2018 World Cup. You need to get used to stores and offices being closed at inconvenient times.
Panama’s businesses are not set up to make the customer’s life easier and more convenient. It is something you need to get used to and plan for. Along those same lines, keep in mind that in Panama (and other places in Latin America and elsewhere) appointments and schedules are simply a goal, not a firm commitment. Expect to wait - not only to wait, but to wait without being annoyed about waiting.
6. Don’t drink and buy property. It can happen. You arrive in the land of palm trees, hammocks, margaritas, and cheap beer and your common sense tends to drift away. You meet a guy at a hotel bar, he buys you a few drinks. Then he's driving you around showing you property you could buy. “Look at that view”, he’ll urge you. “Feel that breeze. Boy, it doesn't get better than this. And, you know, there are only two lots at this price remaining. A couple of buyers are expected in town tomorrow. I'd hate for you to miss out…”
Would you buy a piece of real estate under those circumstances back home? A piece of property you are seeing for the first time, in a place you have never been to before? You need to do more due diligence when investing in a piece of property in another country - not less.
7. Speaking of buying property, there is no MLS in Panama. (Well, Panama technically has something called an MLS, but since the vast majority of property for sale does not appear on it, it does not function as an MLS as you know it in the States). In fact, only a handful of real estate markets outside the States have effective Multiple Listing Services. This means that your property search will not be very efficient, and that getting reliable information on comparable properties will be impossible.
8. Rent first. Don't buy property until you have made sure Panama is the place for you (and your companions). Even if you decide Panama is the right place for you, you may decide that a different area or neighborhood is a better fit. Renting gives you the time and flexibility to figure that out.
9. Panama might not be as affordable as you’ve heard. Where you live and how you spend will determine how affordable Panama is. For instance, Panama City used to be affordable, but not anymore. Like most major and popular cities in the world, living right on the water or downtown in Panama City can cost a lot. Expect to pay at least $1,200 to rent a decent place in the city (and that’s on the low end). In the high rent areas, your utilities and grocery costs will probably be more than you are used to paying back home, especially for items that need to be imported.
This doesn’t mean you can’t retire to Panama on a shoestring budget. You absolutely can. You just have to know how to do it. In most places in Panama, it is still very possible to rent a place for $200 - $500 a month. You can live well in many places in Panama on only $1200 a month. But you cannot do that in Panama City and it is harder to do in the more popular expat spots as well.
How and what you spend your money on also determines how affordable Panama is for you. See the next tip for more on that.
You can find more information on Cost of Living in Panama in various parts of Panama on my site and other places.
10. To save money you need to buy local brands. You have to learn to shop like a Panamanian. This means buying your fruit and vegetables from street venders. Not only will you save money on your produce, but it will be fresher. If you live in a small town where fishermen bring in their catch each morning, buy your fish off the boat, or at the local fish market. Again it is both cheaper and fresher that way.
Watch our video of buying fish off a boat in Puerto Armuelles.
If you insist on buying all the same food brands as you bought back home, you will pay more. Imported items cost more, more than they cost in their country of origin.
Also, Panama is not like the U.S., there is no Target or a Walmart where you can buy everything you need in one spot. You can do a lot of your shopping in places like City Mall, El Champion, and Discovery Center, where a they sell a wide variety of items. But you pay for that convenience. You may buy some items at PriceSmart (like Costco, but smaller), but other items at your local Romero grocery store, and still others from a street vendor.
If you learn what to do and what not to do, you can live well in Panama on a fairly low budget. Plus, you now have the time to enjoy the shopping experience.
11. Another thing about shopping, buying in bulk often costs more in Panama. In the States, if you buy a case of something, the per unit price will usually be less than if you simply bought one of those items. But not in Panama. (The exception to that rule is PriceSmart, usually, but not always).
I am not sure why. Perhaps the reasoning is that the person who can afford to buy in bulk can also afford to pay more. I know you might be shaking your head at that rationale. But Panamanians think about money and fairness very differently than most westerners. One of the many cultural differences you will get to know and, hopefully, embrace.
12. Your health insurance won't cover you once you leave the U.S. (and most other countries as well). Don't worry, you have options. Go to this link to start reading our series on health insurance in Panama.
13. Learn Spanish. Start now. Most Panamanians do not speak much English, if any. Yes, you can find English speakers at high-end hotels and tourist places, but in general you will not find much English spoken elsewhere. If you don’t speak Spanish, at least some Spanish, you will not only be frustrated, but you won’t be able to engage in the community and make friends with anyone but other English-speaking expats. Panamanian are wonderful people. It is worth the effort to learn to speak their language so they can be part of your life.
I review a few ways to learn Spanish online
14. You will regret your move - temporarily. There will come a time when you will frantically ask yourself, “What have I done! I must have been insane to leave my home and move here.” It happens to 98.7% of people who move overseas. Expect it and prepare for it. Remind yourself that nothing has changed. All the reasons you decided to move are all still true. You simply need to give yourself time to internally adjust to your new world.
15. Hire people to do stuff for you. What a joyful thought. You can now afford to have someone clean your house every week, or even every day. Don’t like yard work? hire a gardener to do it for you. It is pretty affordable. But it does have its challenges.
If you aren’t used to people making your bed and washing your dishes and clothes, it can take some adjustment. You may feel guilty or uncomfortable allowing others to do those things, especially if you are just hanging out while they are working. Think about how you will feel about lifting up your feet for someone to sweep under them while you are hanging out reading or chatting or watching TV. It can take some getting used to.
Then, there is the issue your maid putting your stuff somewhere you would never ever think of putting it. Breathe. It works best to simply learn where has decided your shoes should live. It is best to roll with these quirks of your workers. Focus on the big stuff, like learning about Panama’s employment compensation regulations, including social security payments.
Read more about hiring people in Panama.
16. Loud music is a part of life here. Stores will blast stereos in an attempt to grab your attention. Parties especially have loud music. I have been to a number of parties in Panama where the music was playing so loudly it was impossible to talk to anyone. A general chaos of noise is tolerated here. Once I was in a restaurant where both the stereo and the TV were blaring. I had to ask them to turn off the TV. We were their only patron so it was easily asked and complied with. But in general be prepared for loud music. This is something to keep in mind when deciding where to live. If you choose to live in a dense neighborhood, you may have to deal with loud music, especially if your neighbor decides to throw a party into the wee hours of the morning.
17. You will see lots of litter. It is common in Central America. Many expats visiting Panama will express their astonishment over the amount of garbage strewn on streets and beaches. Personally, I have seen many people simply drop their juice container or plastic bag on the ground when they had finished with them. In some neighborhoods in Panama City, people will pile their garbage in one spot, as if it were a collection spot, but it is not.
The good news is that the anti-litter forces are growing. In general, there has been a gradual change of attitude about littering in Panama. You will find more and more signs posted that admonish people not to litter. And more garbage cans are being installed in public places. Panama City has bought new garbage trucks and is increasing its collection range.
A friend of mine in Puerto Armuelles says that when her local school gave prizes for cleanest yard the whole neighborhood quickly became cleaner. The kids were bringing home the anti-litter lessons from school, and telling their parents. And thankfully, the parents started picking up litter too. And it seems that more and more people are coming together to pick up litter. Maybe you will decide to keep your street or beach clean, and encourage others to do likewise.
There has even been a growing push to recycle. I’ve started to see recycling bins in public places in Panama City, Penonomé, and David.
18. Stay in contact with friends and family back "home". Separation from family and friends is frequently cited as the hardest part of living in another country. Fortunately, technology has made it easy to keep in touch.
One good way to easily keep in contact is to have the important people in your life download at least 2 of the following apps to their smartphone.
Whatsapp is the texting/calling app of choice for almost everyone in Panama. WhatsApp allows you to call and text other people with WhatsApp for free. You do need an internet connection to use it, as you do for all such technology.
For live video communication, Zoom, Google Hangouts or Skype are good options. I especially like Zoom and Google Hang outs. If you are all iPhone users you could simply use FaceTime, which comes preloaded on all iPhones.
I encourage you to figure out how you will keep in touch before you move to Panama. Explore all the apps to discover which works best for you and your friends and family.
Find out more about cell phones in Panama.
19. Religion in schools. Religion is a part of the school system here in Panama - for both public and private schools. So, if you have school-age children, be mentally prepared for this. Whether you think religion in schools is a good idea or a bad idea, there is no escaping it (unless you homeschool).
Read about our experience with Panama schools
20. The customer is NOT right in Panama. You cannot expect to get the same level of customer service in Panama that you are used to back home. Of course, sometimes you will get great service in Panama. But it is best for everyone if you don’t expect it. Customer service is particularly bad at restaurants and retail stores. Service can sometimes be slow and seemingly unfriendly.
I think it is a cultural thing, graciousness is not necessarily emphasized in Panama. It is not that they mean to be rude, it is just that they don’t consider their actions rude. It is only rude through the prism of our culture. Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier or less frustrating to deal with. The real problems begin if you start to make a stink about it. If you thought that you had bad service before, you will most likely get worse service if you insult your server.
Keep in mind, bad service is not limited to restaurants and retail stores, you may also get it from businesses and governmental offices. If the electricity will be turned off because they are working on the lines, don’t expect any notification. They will just turn it off. It is usually only the expats that get up in arms about this behavior. The locals just shrug it off. The same is true of small businesses. For instance, if you hire a contractor they may show up late, or maybe not at all. They will not contact you about this.
You can treat the lack of good customer service as as minor annoyance or let it drive you up the wall. Most people adjust, but if you cannot, maybe Panama is not the right choice for you.
21. Need to make money? Come with a plan. If you are coming to Panama to retire on a fixed income, then this will not apply to you. But if you need to make money in Panama, it’s important to have a good idea of how you will make a living to support your lifestyle in Panama. Coming to Panama without a plan of action often ends in disaster.
There are a lot of money making opportunities for expats in Panama, especially if you are an entrepreneur. Just keep in mind that you must have a work permit, even if you only plan to work in your own business. (Note: If your work is solely online, you do not need a work permit.)
You may want to check out my articles about making money in Panama for more advice.
Think you will find a job here? Then you need to know that local salaries are low. Most jobs pay less than $1000 a month. Is that a workable budget for you? Of course, if you can find a multi-national or US company, with an office in Panama to hire you, you will likely get paid more.
You are unlikely to find a company to hire you and sponsor your work permit, unless you have a valuable skill to offer. Getting you a work permit costs them both time and money. In addition, the number of foreigners a company can hire is limited; most companies can only have 10% of their staff be non-Panamanian.
Also, if you are coming down here on job offer from a company, make sure to do some research first. Make sure that the company is reputable and that other expats have had good experiences working for them. You don't want to move down here, only to find that the job evaporated or the work permit never comes through.
22. Pay attention to your instincts. All your online research and calculations cannot substitute for the your gut reaction to being in a place. It is important to do research, but it won't give you the whole story.
I strongly recommend you visit Panama, especially the parts of Panama that most interest you, sooner rather than later. You will save yourself alot of time and emotional energy that way.
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Sources:
Our experiences, including being reminded of good tips by reviewing similar lists made by Kathleen Peddicord of Live and Invest Overseas and Chris at Panama for Real.
Here it is:
Foreign buyers are pushing up property prices in Panama. The average dwelling sales price surged by 21% from January 2015 to June 2017 in Panama's metropolitan area, according to the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) as reported by La Estrella de Panama.
Foreign buyers tend to be from the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America.
Yet at US$2,050 per square meter (sq. m.) in June 2017, the average price of residential properties in Panama still looks very reasonable, with metropolitan prices ranging widely from US$ 928 to US$ 2,892 per sq. m., according to Capac.
In Punta Pacifica, a collection of exclusive waterfront skyscrapers, high-end apartment prices are rising by 6% to 12% per annum, due to a shortage of available units. The average price in Punta Pacifica stood at around US$ 2,300 per sq. m. as end-2017.
Sales and construction were both up in 2017, says Maria Arias of TDI Real Estate. Arraiján and La Chorrera, where property prices start at around US$30,000, are specially active, due to infrastructure developments in Panama West and Panama East's constant growth.
It is a big turnaround. After the global financial crisis in 2008, Panama's dwelling prices declined by an average of 20% to 30%, according to Kent Davis of Panama Equity Real Estate.
Only after 2012 did foreign buyers return to the market.
Now it is the opposite story. Many infrastructure projects are approaching completion, and Panama's economy will continue to accelerate in 2018 and 2019.
Another boost to the market will be the new property tax law to be implemented from January 2019, which gives tax exemption to all primary residences worth more than US$ 120,000 (previously US$30,000), and generally reduces property tax rates.
Read about the new Panama property tax law
Tourist arrivals rose by 7.5% to about 2.5 million people in 2017, says the Panama Tourism Authority, with European visitors up 8.1% (though tourist spending only rose 3.8% to US$ 4.5 billion in 2017).
According to the Panama Tourism Authority, these numbers are expected to rise further since Air China now has direct flights to Panama. This will attract Chinese tourists.
Foreigners can own real properties in Panama, and are accorded with the same property rights as Panamanians. However, mortgages can be difficult to obtain, especially for foreigners, and the purchase process can take two to three months. More than 80% of real estate transactions involving foreign buyers are in cash.
Panama house sales rose 7.7% to 8,864 units in 2016 from a year earlier, according to the National Board of Housing Developers (Convivienda), though transaction values fell by 6.3%. House sales in 2017 reached around 10,958 units, 23.6% up on the previous year, with total value of sales expected to have risen by 23.6%, to PAB 979.65 million (US$ 983.10 million).
Beach apartments are increasingly in demand by both local and foreign buyers. The most popular areas include Punta Chame, Playa Blanca, Farallon, El Palmar (Hato River), Santa Clara, and Rio Mar (San Carlos).
Demand is supported by a stronger mortgage market. "The improvement in conditions for residential mortgages in recent years has been the principal promoter for housing," says the Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá. Residential mortgages granted rose 10.1% to PAB 14.08 billion (US$ 14.13 billion) in 2017, as low interest rates and higher average terms increased the purchasing power of families. The interest rate on housing loans was 5.5% in December 2017, unchanged from the same period last year.
It requires only six days to start a business in Panama, according to the World Bank’s 2017 survey. Panama is the 2nd most competitive country in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018.
Panama draws multinational companies and foreign investors with significant tax breaks, the free-trade zone, improved infrastructure, and a low cost of living. The expansion of the Panama Canal, which was opened in June 2016, is expected to bring in over US$2 billion in annual revenues by 2021.
“There are so many new businesses moving to Panama,” said Kent Davis of Panama Equity Real Estate. “It’s one of the reasons people are coming down – because there is still money to be made, locally, and as a regional base of operations.”
“People aren’t just moving here to relax,” Davis added. “They’re coming here to work because there is so much business around.”
Panama encourages foreign direct investment (FDI) in real estate by offering various incentives such as property tax exemptions, according to Jeff Barton of Punta Pacifica Realty.
Panama has the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) share of GDP in Latin America, at more than 10% of GDP, according to a United Nations report. Panama is also the largest recipient of FDI in Central America, with 44% of 2016's regional FDI total of US$ 11.97 billion. In 2017, the country's FDI rose by about 1.8% to about US$ 5.319 billion from the previous year, according to the Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama.
"The international community recognizes that Panama is a stable democracy and it is the fastest-growing country in Latin America," said Economy and Finance Minister Dulcidio De La Guardia.
For what it is worth, International Living’s Global Retirement Index names Panama as one of the world’s best places to retire in 2018, due to its convenience (ease of access from US, currency in US dollars, English is widely understood), world-class amenities, good beaches, and affordability.
But let's look at the dark side too. Despite economic growth and a GDP per capita of US$14,409 in 2017, poverty and social inequality continue to worsen in Panama. Elite families of European descent control most wealth and power, while about one-third of the population lives below the poverty line.
Panama has been removed from Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) "grey list", but money-laundering is still rampant.
In June 2014, Panama was placed on the "grey list" of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of countries not doing enough to fight money laundering. FATF officially took Panama off its money laundering and terrorism financing watch list in February 2016, after new government regulations.
Despite this, money laundering and terrorist financing are believed still rampant in Panama. No real controls prevent funds moving through Panama to terrorist organizations, nor are do money laundering prosecutions actually take place. Moreover, Panama's powerful criminal syndicates remain fully operational.
In a recent report by the Latin America Financial Action Task Force (Grupo de Acción Financiera de Latinoamérica – GAFILAT), GAFILAT noted that the government's anti-laundering efforts are good, signalling progress in fighting money laundering. However, the report also pointed some deficiencies that the government must work on.
According to the GAFILAT report, the country was observed to be more susceptible to illicit streams of revenue from foreign sources than domestic ones. The GAFILAT enumerated the sectors of real estate, banking and corporate services, and free trade zones as the most vulnerable sectors to money laundering.
The task force also identified almost 730,000 businesses in the country that are considered at "high risk" of partaking in money laundering, during its investigation in May 2017.
Panama City is divided into two main areas – the old colonial town of Casco Viejo, and the modern business and shopping district of high-rise buildings and malls.
House prices vary considerably depending on the location, size, and quality of the property.
Panama's gross rental yields are still good, despite having declined over the past few years. Rental yields are range from 5.7% to 7.3%, with smaller apartments tending to yield more, based on the Global Property Guide research in November 2016.
Most properties in Panama City are apartments.
Based on the figures from Encuentra24, 2016 apartment prices in Panama City were:
Inland apartments ― ranging from US$ 1,900 per sq. m. to almost US$ 2,500 per sq. m.
Beachfront apartments ― ranging from US$ 1,800 per sq. m. to US$ 3,600 per sq. m.
Boquete, in Panama’s mountain highlands, has a fast growing expatriate community. The popular option here is to buy land and build a home, but there are many completed homes on offer.
Sample property prices for Boquete are as follows:
2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home, about 1,600 sq. ft. – US$90,000
3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, about 1,500 sq. ft.– US$179,000
Another desirable location is Coronado, a popular beach town and relaxed community for expats, and only an hour from Panama City.
Sample property prices for Coronado are as follows:
3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, about 1,300 sq. ft. – US$132,000
2-bedroom, 1-bathroom furnished condo, about 850 sq. ft. – US$135,000
Panama is now in a state of permanent construction boom.
In 2017, the value of residential construction rose by 12.2% to PAB 1.29 billion (US$ 1.29 billion) from the previous year, when it rose by 0.6%m, after annual increases of 21.1% in 2015, 26.8% in 2014, and 48.8% in 2013, according to the Instituto National de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), all of which follows a decade of breakneck building which raised occupied housing units by 31.5% between 2000 and 2010, according to the National Censuses.
Total credits granted to the construction sector rose by 8.2% In 2017 to around PAB 6.74 billion (US$ 6.77 billion), according to Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá.
For the 2nd consecutive year, Panama was hailed as the fastest growing economy in the Central American region, with a GDP growth of 5.4% in 2017, based on the figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama.
"This increase is explained primarily by the behaviour of economic activities related to the external sector. Among them, those of the Panama Canal, air and financial services stand out positively," noted a recent report of the Comptroller General of the Republic.
The US$5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal, which began in 2007, has experienced delays and cost overruns amounting to US$1.6 billion. But the expansion, which started operations in June 2016, has doubled the Panama Canal's capacity, with wider and deeper lanes and locks, and a new lane of traffic allowing more and larger ships. This year's tonnage of 403.8 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) was the highest in its history, and a 22.2% increase on last year.
"These record figures reflect.... the Panama Canal’s continued ability to transform the global economy and revitalize the maritime industry," says Panama Canal's administrator, Jorge L. Quijano.
Major infrastructure projects scheduled to finish this year or in early 2019 include Panama’s metro system, the first in Central America. Line 1 was completed in April 2014, while the second line is expected to be completed in 2018.
The port of Colon upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, while the construction of the second Tocumen International Airport is currently in its final phase.
All these major infrastructure projects will improve the country’s connectivity, and breathe new life to the economy and the real estate market.
The economy is expected to expand by 5.6% this year, and further accelerate by 5.8% in 2019, according to the IMF.
After more than 10% annual GDP growth in 2011-2012, Panama’s economy slowed to 6.9% in 2013, 5.1% in 2014, 5.6% in 2015, and 5% in 2016, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
The more moderate pace of recent growth reflects work delays at the Panama Canal (from August 2014, the completion date moved several times to June 2016), and the end of other public work projects, and the Colon Free Zone dispute with Venezuela and Colombia.
I have edited this Global Property Guide article slightly to make it easier to read.
Source: GlobalPropertyGuide.com
But, yes, there are real estate-related taxes in Panama.
In this post, I cover real estate-related taxes as follows: property, sales, transfer, capital gains, rental income, and gift taxes in Panama.
As you may have heard, Panama has radically revised its property tax system. It goes into effect on January 1, 2019.
Through 2018, if your Panama property is valued at or under $30,000, your property is completely exempt from property tax. In 2019, that exemption surges up to $120,000.
Learn about the current 2018 property tax rates and rules
Since most property in Panama is valued at under $120,000, most real estate in Panama will have zero property tax. Keep in mind, this exemption only applies to your primary residence.
Own 1 Property? If you only own one property in Panama, regardless of anything you own outside of the country or how much time you spend in Panama, Panama views that property as your primary residence.
Own Multiple Properties? If you own more than 1 Panama property, all but your primary residence will be taxed at the investor rate (see below). This rate is still a 50% reduction from the old Panama property tax rate. And even those properties enjoy an exemption on the first $30,000 of value.
Primary Residence Property Tax Rates
A property tax example. Say you buy your house for $350,000. You would pay property tax on $230,000 ($350,000 - $120,000) at a rate of .5%. Which means you would owe $1,150 in property taxes a year.
Investor Property Tax Rates
This "investor" rate applies to secondary residences, commercial and industrial properties.
A property's registered value is the same as the sales price. The registered value will only get updated when you sell the property. Panama has no property assessors.
ANATI is the government department that keeps records of a property's registered value. Keep in mind, only titled property is registered; and therefore, has a registered value.
Right of Possession (ROP) properties do not pay property taxes. And most property in Panama is ROP..
Most people don't title their ROP property because of cost. Not only does it cost money to title, but once you title, you are required to pay property taxes.
Learn more about ROP property.
For many people, especially Panamanians, there is little reason to title their ROP property. Titling means they will have to pay a lawyer and the government a chunk of change. And then property taxes every year after that.
But the Varela government really wants to rid Panama of its informal ROP property system. It wants to modernize its land system to include better centralized tracking and to allow for better protections of property owners.
Enter the new property tax law. The new law slashes property tax rates. Most critically, it exempts properties valued at up to $120,000 from paying any property tax whatsoever. As I've mentioned, the vast majority of real estate in Panama is under $120,000.
The Varela government is doing all it can to get property titled. It has even created mobile ANATI offices to travel around Panama to help ROP property owners to title their property. Time will tell how effective the new property tax law & government efforts are at nudging people to title their ROP homes.
Panama is also under pressure from the World Bank and other lending institutions to do a better job at collecting the millions of dollars of unpaid property taxes.
Given that Panama does a terrible job at collecting property taxes, it won't be hard to show improvement.
Many, maybe most, property owners in Panama don't pay their property taxes until they sell.
That is only time the government tries to collect property taxes - at the point of sale. At that time, the seller not only has to pay all unpaid property taxes, but all the fines accrued for the late payments.
Notification of Taxes Owed
Of course, not paying your property tax in Panama is an easy thing to do. Property owners never receive a bill or reminder to pay the tax. No instructions are given on how to pay property taxes at the time of purchase. So unless you remind yourself, it is easy to forget to pay. (FYI Panama property taxes are due 3 times a year: April, August and December.)
Starting in 2019, Panama will likely try to develop some kind of property tax-notification system. The easiest way, for those with a mortgage loan, is to partner with banks to notify owners.
However, most expats do not have mortgages. And given Panama's lack of a postal system, it is unclear how property owners with no mortgages will be notified of their tax bills. The electric company in my town, slips my power bill into my fence. But that does not seem like a viable option for ANATI. And regardless, it is certainly not a good "system". (Find out how to pay your utilities in Panama)
Panama’s has had a famous tax exoneration law.
In 2008, it allowed for a 20-year tax exoneration for properties which were built prior to January 1, 2012. Then, in 2012, the tax exoneration rules changed. You could get a property tax exoneration for houses or condos built after 2012. But not a 20 years exoneration, depending on the price, the tax exoneration varied from 5 to 15 years.
Panama's tax exoneration program ends on January 1, 2019; the same date the new property tax system comes into play.
However, if you own a property that is currently built and has an exoneration, then you are good.
And if you buy a property that has a tax exoneration, you are good too. The exoneration remains with the building, not the owner. So it can be transferred from one owner to the next.
Keep in mind, the tax exoneration only applies to the improvements or construction. You will still need to pay taxes on the land.
As far as registering improvements, you need to file the value. This is done as part of the construction permit process. That is what constitutes “mejoras,” (improvements). Improvements can still be exonerated from taxes, but the filing must be done before the law changes in 2019.
Remember, after the exoneration law ends, $120,000 of your property's value will be fully exempt from property taxes.
As I mentioned above, the seller must pay any unpaid property taxes upon the sale of the property.
At the time of purchase, the following taxes must also be paid:
The capital gains tax is a little complicated. The seller will initially be charged, and must pay, 3% of the sales price. After this payment, if 10% of the actual gain is less than 3% of the sales price, the seller can then apply to the government for a refund for the difference. However, getting this refund takes time. But I know of people who have been successful.
Technically, you are supposed to include your capital gains as part of your income tax return. But that is not generally done, and you will not be penalized for not doing so.
(FYI Most expats do not file an Panama income return. You are only required to file an income tax return if you earn income in Panama. Keep in mind, income earned online, even while you are in Panama, does not count as income earned in Panama.)
Using A Corporation
If you form a corporation to buy or sell property, you don't pay a title transfer and capital gains tax.
However, you are then required to pay a 5% share transfer tax. Tax-wise it is usually a wash. You effectively pay the same amount of tax. And you lose out on getting a refund if your capital gain is less than 3% of the sales price.
In addition, you also have to pay to create a corporation and then pay an annual fee to keep it current. However, as in every country, you do gain protections from having your property in a corporation's, rather than in your own, name. (Read about the dangers of buying from a corporation)
Purchase The Corporation Instead?
If the property is owned under a corporation and the registered value of the property is significantly lower than your purchase price, you should consider purchasing the corporation. This is because, for tax purposes, the registered values do not update when the shares of the corporation are sold. Of course, this only applies if the corporation only owns the property you are purchasing.
If you rent out your property, you may need to pay tax on the income.
Rental income is taxed at the following progressive rates.
However, if you own a hotel or condo-hotel in one of the special “tourism zones,” you may be exempt from income tax for 15 years.
Deductions. Panama does allow the following deductions when calculating your rental income.
The inheritance tax does not exist in Panama. It has been completely abolished.
However, there is a gift (inter-vivos) tax on properties located in Panama.
The gift tax rate depends on the degree of relationship between the donor and the donee. You should speak with your lawyer for the details. This tax does not apply to gifted property located outside of Panama.
Overall, Panama real estate taxes are low. You can make them lower, if you pay your property taxes on time. Then when you sell your property you can avoid paying late fees. Another tax saving is to pay the whole year's property tax at once. Then Panama will give you a 10% discount.
If you are an American, you can avoid double taxation, use loop-holes and more by reading this article on how buying and selling real estate in Panama can impact your US taxes.
Buying Panama real estate can also help you qualify for one of Panama's best visa programs, the Friendly Nations Visa. This visa program allows you to get your permanent residence quickly, as well as gives you a shot at becoming a Panama citizen in 5 years.
Please note: I am not a tax accountant. While I strive to make sure everything in this article is up-to-date and accurate, you should consult a knowledgable tax accountant when making your tax-related decisions.
In Boquete, where there is such a disparity of wealth, you can feel a bit privileged by attending.
To help ameliorate that privilege guilt, part of the proceeds go to help a really excellent music program for kids. One of the days, the kids come and put on a show.
With or without, feeling privileged, I really enjoy myself there. I delight in dancing to live Blues music.
If you will be in the Chiriqui Province in late February, you should consider attending.
To find out more about the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival, click here.
Their website is greatly improved. It has a lot of easily accessible information about the events and the line ups.
The Festival runs from Feb. 22nd - Feb. 25th, 2018
This year I will have to miss the first 2 days of it.
When I said yes to speak at Live & Invest Panama conference, I didn't realize it overlapped with the Boquete event.
But I can make it to both.
By the way, if you are still in the information gathering stage about Panama, you may want to check out the Live & Invest Panama (LIOS) conference.
I would never have thought of going to such an event, but now that I have attended one, I understand its value. I wrote about the 2018 LIOS Panama event (Feb 21 - 23rd) here.
Maybe I will see you at both events.
We have written about 2 of the Boquete music festivals we have attended.
You may enjoy checking them out as well.
Our wonderfully generous guest contributor lives in the charming beach town of Puerto Armuelles, Panama.
Over the last 5 years, the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables has remained fairly stable.
Although some prices have increased. Shallots (green onions) have soared in price. Ironically, bananas, which grow here, have also gone up in price. But are still reasonable.
The price of carrots, potatoes, onions, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, chayote and regional root vegetables (i.e. yucca) have remained the same.
I spent $7 for
Enough fruits and vegetables for the week. If I had added a papaya and a pineapple it would have boost the price to $10.
The Panama government keeps price controls over what it calls a “basic food basket". So those prices have remained steady.
[Editors note: Panama's Basic Food Basket contains 22 foods, which includes, chicken, beef sausage, rice, onions, yams, potatoes, bread, beans, lentils, canned tuna, eggs, cassava, and more.]
During recent shopping trips, I have seen the following prices:
I recently paid $4.33 for 6 leg/thighs, which is enough for a week. I use the chicken in soup and other dishes. (Not all stores pass on the Government food basket "savings". These stores charge higher prices regardless of the price controls, which is why you will see a range of prices.)
[Editor's note: it is even cheaper - and more fun - to buy fish right off the boat. Check out this video of our buying fresh fish adventure.]
My water bill has remained stable. It is the same flat rate, whether you use one drop or fill an Olympic pool with tap water.
You get a 10% discount if you pay for a full year in advance. That is the price, with or without a pensionada visa.
Electricity remains basically the same, and is based on usage.
[Editor's note: Our family's electricity is typically in the $30 - $40/mo range. If you use an air conditioner, your electric bill can be in the $100 to $300 range. For more on the cost of utilities.]
Internet service cost remains high. If you are lucky enough to be in an area Cable Onda is able to provide service, then you will see very favorable pricing ($30 -$37/mo).
Cable Onda is adding more towers to service the more remote areas of where I live, but that is a slow process.
Also fiber optic cables are currently being strung/laid. That should also improve service and pricing. Again, a work in progress.
Prescriptions vary in price depending on what you require. Generally they are cheaper here than in the States.
Rents are all over the map, just like always. Location is a huge factor in pricing.
Routine preventive maintenance of air conditioners, water pumps, cars, etc. will prevent costly & inopportune repairs due to a breakdown.
Prices for land purchases range, depending on the area, from reasonable to outrageous.
The key here is to find someone who is fair and honest in the approach to real estate transactions.
In January 2018, President Varela announced a 4.5% - 6.5% increase in salaries, depending on the area of the country.
Domestic help – maids, gardeners, etc. – are charging more per day than in the past. Expect to pay about,
Generally speaking set a realistic budget for yourself.
If you must buy organic food, then significantly increase the costs noted in this post. You will also need to travel to buy organic food. It takes 3 to 4 hours - round trip - to drive to Boquete or Volcan from Puerto Armuelles to purchase organic foods.
[Editor's note: If you don't want to drive, you can request weekly deliveries from the organic farm, Finca Santa Marta. I believe they deliver to Puerto Armuelles on Thursdays, David on Tuesdays, etc. And, yes, it will cost more than buying non-organic]
I am still able to manage comfortably with the budget I created for myself 5 years ago – not using organic foods.
Happy New Year!!!
I must admit that before we attended the conference, we would never have considered going to an event like this.
But now that we went. I definitely see the value in it.
We always encourage people to make sure that Panama is right for them BEFORE moving down. Which means you must do 2 critical things:
1) Visit Panama
2) Discover the good and the bad of life in Panama
Attending this conference allows you to quickly discover if Panama is right for you.
Many people waste so much time researching Panama online. Then when they finally come down to visit they discover it doesn't feel right or the facts they found on the Internet were not true.
Also attending the conference keeps you from procrastinating.
Buying tickets to this conference means you really will go to Panama. Instead of saying you will visit Panama "some day", you can say "I'm going to Panama in February 2018".
Then you can have fun mapping out your trip so you can explore your favorite spots in Panama while you are in the country.
The Live & Invest Panama Conference is an information smorgasbord on Panama.
There are presentations by bankers, attorneys, visa specialists, insurance folks, property experts, and tax advisors, shippers, property managers, experienced and successful investors and business owners. As well as people like Reyn & me. People who have lived in Panama and can share their experience and advice.
I was especially relieved by the fact that they didn't ask us to sugar coat any of our Panama advice & insights. We could say anything we wanted. And we did. And we will.
Even after 10+ years living in Panama I learned things at the conference.
Find out more about this Panama conference. Including a detailed program of events and more.
In my opinion, one of the most valuable parts of the conference were the social gatherings.
Come armed with all your questions. Some you will come down to Panama with, and some will be prompted by that day's presentations.
A great time to ask those questions is during one of the twice daily snack breaks or at one of the evening events.
Most of the speakers also attend these events. So you can ask your insurance, cost of living, or any other question you may have. Of course, you can also ask questions at the end of each speaker's presentation, but I find you solicit different types of information at these more informal social gatherings.
Also, you will get to mingle and get to know others who are also considering a move to Panama. You can learn a lot from these fellow travelers, and even become friends.
Of course, it is not like you won't get products marketed to you.
The snack food table is surrounded by vendors marketing a range of Panama-related items.
And of course, many of the speakers have their own products they'd like you to consider. Furthermore, the owners of Live & Invest Overseas, Lief Simon and Kathleen Peddicord, market their own real estate development on the Azuero Peninsula during the conference.
But none of it seems like a hard sell.
LIOS markets this conference much more strongly than what you will experience at the conference itself.
Check out what LIOS says about why you should attend this conference.
We really liked the hotel where the conference was held last time. It had amazing customer service.
But this year's hotel seems even better. It is in Casco Viejo (Old Town). It is Panama's first hotel. It opened it's doors in 1874. President Teddy Roosevelt stayed there.
It doesn't have an imaginative name: Central Hotel Panama. But its French-influenced design was recognized by UNESCO.
Check out its website, and you will see that it is pretty luxurious. I am looking forward to staying there.
When I spoke with the attendees at the last conference, it seemed there were all sorts of discounts available for the conference.
For instance, if you are a reader or member of one of LIOS's divisions, you can save $50 or $100 or even attend the conference for free.
Find out if you qualify for a conference discount on this page.
LIOS has kindly given my readers a special discount of an additional $50 off the cost of registration.
Simply use the coupon code PANAMA50 when signing up, and you'll save an additional US$50 off the cost of registration.
In addition, the Early Bird Discount is still in effect, saving you $250 per person when you register now. That is in addition to the $50 off from using the PANAMA50 code and any other discounts you may be eligible for.
Go here to see all available discounts or to register online. If you want to get the $250/person Early Bird Dicount, I recommend doing it soon.
If you come to the conference, please let me know. Maybe we could find time to grab a beer or a cup of coffee together. It is 3 days long, so I think we could make it work.
I'd also like to know what questions you have about Panama. I am sure others have the same questions. I will try to cover them in my presentation.
I look forward to meeting you there.
Disclaimer: It won't cost you anything, but if you use one of the links above to register for the conference, I may earn a few extra bucks. So if you will be going to the conference, I would appreciate you using one of my links to register. Thank you.
If you want help setting up a tour of Panama, LIOS recommends Barefoot in Panama. A good tour organization. They are also one of the venders at the event.
However, if you want to concentrate on the Chiriqui Province, I can recommend Local Travel Excursions. (The Chiriqui Province includes theses towns: Boquete, Volcan, Boca Chica, David & Puerto Armuelles.)
It will not be as luxurious an experience as you'd have with Barefoot in Panama. However, I think it will give you a better sense of what it would be like to live in the Chiriqui Province. Karen, of Local Travel Excursions, offers a wide variety of services to people moving to or considering a move to Panama.
(FYI: Karen and I both live in the Chiriqui Province. Karen in David. My family in Puerto Armuelles.
I don't benefit financially at all if you book a tour with Karen.)
You can read what we wrote about our experience at last year's LIOS Panama conference.
