Digital Nomad Life in Panama

"At first I shunned the gringo/expat organized weekly meeting, the Tuesday Morning Informational and Networking Meeting. All the people were of retired age, I'm not. Then I started going, I found I had things to say and others had things to teach. they soon published a small book of the meetings minutes with recaps of many speakers. I learned many valuable things and shared opinions and even changed some opinions. We bonded, we drank local coffee, we bitched and moaned and rejoyced together. seek out such groups and see what you can learn or contribute to them," said one expat who made the move to Boquete.

"Besides the bars and restaurants, there are fitness classes, Spanish classes, dive lessons, Catamaran tours, Live music venues, the beaches, volunteer opportunities and just meeting people walking down the street," explained one foreigner living in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

"Expats in Panama often join niche interest groups, such as local book clubs and photography clubs. Many Internet-based expat forums and websites also offer chances for locals to meet and find activities together, such as hiking and sailing. There are also several expat-run organizations in Panama, such as the American Society of Panama. Expats also often meet each other through networking events, such as get-togethers at bars and restaurants, industry awards dinners and holiday parties, as well as volunteer opportunities with local charities and social organizations," said one in Panama.

"The Tuesday Market at the BCP (Boquete Community Players) is a good place to see and be seen. Very easy to meet others if you are at all outgoing. There is also a newcomers group that meets a couple of times a month. There is always something happening, somewhere to go, something to do. There are many non-profits looking for volunteers, so just find one that speaks to you," explained one expat in Boquete.

"The public library in Bouquete is a wonderful place to relax and sponsors many programs for both expats and Panamanians. Amigos de los Animales is a good place to volunteer if you like dogs and cats. You can always find friendly expats at the weekly farmer's market. Many native people in Bouquete speak English fluently and if you make friends with someone your social circle will expand rapidly," explained one person living in Panama.

"Definitely life revolves around family and work here. The Panamanians are very friendly and family oriented. They have many festivals and celebrate life in many ways many times a year," said one person in Bocas del Toro.

"We lived in Panama City for a short time while we were waiting for our goods to arrive. The heat is almost unbearable. We had visited Boquete on previous visits and decided that its mild weather is a good choice. Never too hot or too cold. We purchase a dehumidifier for the rainy season, but you don't need an air conditioner or space heater. A lighted ceiling fan is all you need," explained one person living in Alto Boquete, Panama.

"Most good rentals are found through people you know. Ours was never advertised, only word of mouth. Good rentals are difficult to find," said one expat in Boquete.

"We live in Costa del Este because we wanted to be very close to services without being in a noisy city and we also like to walk and Costa del Este is a beautiful place with wide sidewalks and beautiful landscaping," remarked one member in Panama City.

"One of the most popular ways to go about finding a place to live in Panama is to contact a real estate agent. Real estate agents have up-to-date databases on listings and can help you find something that fits your needs. Additionally, you can use online property listing services such as Pana Network and Encuentra24 to browse through property listings offered in Panama. You can narrow down your search by location, price, size, or amenities. You may also be able to find available rentals through online expat forums, social media, and other expatriate websites. You may want to consider visiting the location if possible to get a feel for the area and evaluate whether it meets your criteria," explained one expat living in Panama.

"The open, friendly folks, not only the native persons but also the many, many newly acquired friends of all nationalities who have chosen Panama for their new home," said one expat who made the move to Altos del Maria.

"I appreciate the excellent and affordable health care -- that doctors think of themselves as regular human beings. I appreciate that family comes first. I very much appreciate the lack of consciousness for politically correct speech. I appreciate that calling me a gringa is not derogatory but descriptive and even endearing and that because people do not take offense with such nicknames, there is very little if any racial tension. I appreciate that if I am late for an appointment due to traffic, for example, I don't have to stress because no one expects anyone to be on time. I appreciate that privacy from the government is still valued. That people still dress up a little when they leave the house to run an errand, that traditional music, dance and dress are kept alive and taught in the schools," explained one foreigner living in Santiago, Panama.

"Expats in Panama often find it challenging to integrate into the local culture, as language can be a barrier and cultural practices can be unfamiliar. Another hurdle is the perception of time, since deadlines and schedules are often viewed more loosely in Panama than they are in other countries. Additionally, social norms may take expats a while to adjust to, as the culture typically has a more relaxed attitude towards punctuality, deadlines and other formalities. Lastly, status differences in Panama, such as class and gender, may not be immediately obvious to expats and can be a challenge to navigate," remarked one member in Panama.

"Learning that now actually means later, that pinning down someone to a specific time is almost impossible. That this is a nation of many first generation drivers, that there is very little "do it yourself ability here". Maintenance is not something that most people see the point in doing. Fast service with a smile almost doesn't exist. Most stores have no idea what they have in inventory and the process of giving them money for goods is cumbersome and painful. Although labor costs are low, mandatory benefits are extensive, for example one month of paid vacation annually, an extra month of pay every year, 14 legal holidays, 25% contribution to social security with no cap. There is an absolute inability to give directions. Most people are patient to a fault," explained one expat living in Santiago, Panama.

"The difference in attitude regarding such things as appointment times - even if you agree to meet at a specific day and time, if a Panamanian has a family event, another appointment or just decides not to come, they may show up an hour or two late or the next day. You need to be prepared to schedule and re-schedule without getting too frustrated," said one person in Boquete.

"Culture....hhmmmm. Disinterested sales personnel who seem to resent being at their post. Bright colors are welcome and plentyful. Another challenge is the general physical size of the locals...as it relates to finding clothing that fits. If you are female and larger than a size 8, good luck finding undergarments. For my husband and his size 12 narrow foot, murder finding shoes," said one expat who made the move to Altos del Maria.

"If you plan to stay in Panama for an extended period of time, you will need to obtain a residency visa, also known as a visa de residencia. You must first fulfill certain requirements such as having proof of sufficient economic resources, a police record, and a current passport. You can apply for the visa in your home country before travelling to Panama, or at any Panamanian consulate abroad. Alternatively, you can apply for the visa upon entering Panama at any Immigration offices, through the National Migration Network or at the Immigration office at Tocumen International Airport," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Panama.

"Well, actually I never got around to any of that stuff. I'm a complete illegal alien. Nobody seems to care, so I don't either. The problem I see is that the attorneys you'd need help from are going to pay attention to your money. I talked to a local attorney who helps with immigration but he wanted a lot of money, so I just kind of ignored him and plopped myself down here. I don't generally recommend this method; but it works for me. I'm not the type of worry about the fine print," explained one person living in Las Tablas, Panama.

"Giving our housekeeper and gardener a raise caused quite a stir amongst the neighbors. Inviting the "help" into the house and sharing the mid day meal was also considered a no-no. Having never had any sort of hired help, I didn't know the general practice of either not feeding or giving a sandwich to them to be eaten outdoors or in the garage. For the record, I still have lunch with them, cook some of their favorite American dishes and really enjoy their company. They help me with my "Spanglish" and I help them with their English," said one person in Altos del Maria.

"Not officially asking my girlfriend out was one. Apparently you have to do it formally one night. Went 6 weeks with a girl, didn't ask her out formally (because you would assume that's it) but you have to ask here to officially make you exclusive boyfriend and girlfriend! who knew..," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Panama City.

"It is not like others want you to believe. It is not up to US standards. The one private hospital wants you to believe they are part of the Johns Hopkins network and they are not. Clinics are often store fronts, crowded and dirty. Equipment is old. ," said one digital nomad in Coronado.

"Care will not be as good unless you live in the city. Insurance will not cover pre existing," commented a person living in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

"Not great. I read a post in response to this question where someone said we have a hospital. Not true. We have a building that is supposed to be a new clinic but it is not open and there is no telling when it will open. If you want any kind of serious health care you have to go to Coronado or Panama City," explained one digital nomad living in El Valle de Anton, Panama.

"Traffic is bumper to bumper during rush hours, stop signs are useless since they don't stop and just slow down.....if you're lucky! If you drive on the highway from Panama City to Costa del Este, you feel like you are going thru a gigantic dumpster with so many garbage on the beaches. (refrigerators, tires, furnitures, etc, etc). Rivers connected to the Pacific ocean in Panana City on Balboa Street and in Coste del Este smell terrible (pee) and you can see garbage floating from these rivers to the Pacific ocean in low tide then back on the beaches (if you can call beaches) on high tide. I asked many questions about this situation as if it was a complete lack of education or lack of interest from the Panamians. Panama is carbon negative for the air so air is pure but the garbage and smell when you cross these rivers are terrible. Walking on the boardwalk of Balboa street crossing a river, you need to pinch or cover your nose, same by crossing a river in Costa del Este and any rivers," commented a person living in Panama City, Panama.

"I love he town I live in. It's small but in close proximity to neighboring towns with many dining and shopping options. We are very happy with where we live. There is a good doctor in our neighboring town that speaks English and has specialists come into his office for easy access to people in our area. For more specialized medical procedures, Panama City has many private hospitals with excellent reputations and specialists in every field. We are about an hour from Panama City so access is not very difficult. I do have minor concerns about what would happen if I had a major medical emergency (heart attack, stroke) but I don't worry about it. Our philosophy is to deal with things as they arise. Maybe not the best approach, but our approach," explained one digital nomad living in Nueva Gorgona, Panama.

"People like the beauty of nature, the quiet, relaxed atmosphere, the small town feel, the relatively close proximity to Panama City (2-3 hours drive) and the weather (not as hot or humid as Coronado). Dislikes include the frequent power outages, lack of health care facilities, overpopulation of dogs that bark all night, and lack of stores (if want want to buy anything beyond basic necessities you have to drive the curvy, pot-holed mountain road to Coronado (35-45 minutes drive). I hope this is helpful," said one member in El Valle de Anton.