General Information	History	Second Home Destination
Medical Tourism		References

General Information

Climate

Panama has two seasons: the dry season from mid-December until May and the green season from May until mid-December.  In the green season, there is typically a tropical shower in the late afternoon lasting about an hour.  Temperatures in the lowlands average 85F in the day, cooling off in the evenings.  In the highlands temperatures range from 60-80F.

Airlines with direct flights from the United States:  Delta (Atlanta), Continental (Houston, Newark), American (Miami), Copa (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Washington) and Spirit Air (Fort Lauderdale).  From Europe, KLM has a direct flight from Amsterdam.

Citizens of most countries including the USA, Canada and Western Europe do not need a visa. However, a passport with more than 6 months before exporation is definitely required.

Most Panamanians speak some English and many speak it fluently, especially those who cater to tourists.

Panama has one of the best road infrastructures in Latin America.  Main highways and feeder roads off the Panamerican Highway to the various popular destinations and capital cities are excellent.

Taxis are easy to catch in Panama.  You can go almost anywhere for less than $5 in Panama City.

There is regular bus service from the Albrook Terminal to all parts of the country with round-trip tickets to anywhere in the city for no more than $20.

Panama has the highest rating for tourist safety from the prestigious Pinkerton Intelligence Agency—the same rating as the United States.  Most large cities have areas where it is not advisable to walk around displaying valuables and Panama City is no exception.  Use common sense like you would anywhere.  Always carry with you a copy of your passport main pages or some ID.

Panama is the only country in Latin America where it’s completely safe to drink the tap water.

No shots or special pills are necessary if you are visiting cities and all destinations on the beaten path.

The US dollar is the unit of exchange in Panama—a great tourist convenience.  Credit cards are accepted in hotels, better restaurants and major stores in Panama City.  Outside of Panama City, you will need cash.  Travelers checks are not recommended.

You can get cash by accessing your foreign bank account at the ATM machines.  Find ATM machines at hotels, large grocery stores, the airport, etc.

Air Panama:  flyairpanama.com

Aeroperlas:  aeroperlas.com

Historical Heritage

Due to its unique geographical position as a land and ocean crossroads, Panama has a rich historical heritage.  Near present day Panama City, Balboa became the first European to view the Pacific Ocean.  Columbus dropped anchor repeatedly on Panama’s Caribbean coast, taking advantage of the protected waters of Bocas del Toro and attempting to establish a colony.  President Theodore Roosevelt came to Panama to inspect progress on the construction of the Panama Canal, which he regarded as the greatest achievement of his presidency.

Spanish Colonial Times

The gold and silver sacked by the Spanish from the Incan Empire was shipped to Panama, stored in Panama City, taken by donkey across the Isthmus on the Camino de Las Cruces and deposited in a treasure house in the Caribbean bayside town of Portobelo.  From there it was shipped to the Old World.  Panama City continued to prosper as it became the favorite target for pirates intent on looting Spanish wealth.  In 1671, Sir Henry Morgan sacked Panama City, burning it to the ground and leaving the ruins seen today.  Continuous successful pirate attacks on Portobelo’s treasure house ended the hey-day of that seaside town.  As one of the provinces of Colombia, Panama became independent from Spain in 1821.

The Panama Canal Railway

During the California Gold Rush, thousands of “49ers” (men seeking to strike it rich and tired of fighting Indians on the Great Plains) sought a safer and shorter route to the West Coast.  This resulted in the building of the Panama Railway by Kansas City Railway.  Inaugurated in 1855, the 50 mile coast-to-coast route was the world’s first transcontinental railroad and was one of the greatest achievements of its time.  The “49ers” took steamships from the US East Coast to the port city of Colon on the Atlantic Coast of Panama.  From there, they traveled by train to Panama City on the Pacific side and then boarded ships bound for California.  In 2001 the Panama Canal Railway was reopened with special observation cars for tourists.  The one hour trans-continental ride is one of Panama’s most popular tours.  Go with a tour operator or on Friday or Saturday when there is more room on the train.   Panarail.com  317.6073

Panama’s Birth as a Nation and the Panama Canal

From the time of the Spanish conquerors, men dreamed of a canal across the Isthmus.  Panama became the center of the world’s attention once again in the 1900’s when the French builder of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps attempted to build a similar sea level canal in Panama.  This catastrophic failure cost nearly 20,000 lives, mainly due to malaria and yellow fever.  In 10903, a Panamanian revolutionary junta declared independence from Columbia, with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration.  The United States had grown weary of trying to persuade Colombia to give them permission to build a canal.  In 1904, Panama signed a treaty granting the United States rights to build a canal.  Learning from the errors made by the French, the Americans succeeded due to brilliant engineering feats, superb administration of this mammoth task and the concurrent discovery of the mosquito as the carrier of yellow fever and malaria.

Panama is rated as one of the top five places in the world for retirement and a second home.

Mick Jagger, Donald Trump, and Brad Pitt—not to mention 007—have a soft spot for Panama, says Teresa Machan, so the rest of us may be surprised to find that its charms are remarkably affordable.  “I thought I’d woken up in paradise,” says Philippe James, recalling his first morning in Panama.  James, a 59-year-old property developer from Devon, discovered Panama by accident.  “Within a month I’d bought a 43,000 pound lagoon-front property and a yacht which I keep in my garden,” he says.  James, who bought his first property in Colon province, has just purchased a second property in Panama City’s up-and-coming old quarter, Casco Viejo.

Living In Panama

“It’s no surprise that travelers to Panama are going back in search of second homes, plots of land and much longer stays.  Panama, small and manageable, is a vacationers paradise with a little bit of everything.”

The Advantages of Living in Panama

In Panama, you’ll never feel too far from home.  When you stay for extended periods of time in another country, you want to feel away from it all, but not completely.  It’s important to have familiar services and the comforts of home within easy reach.  No other country in the world fits this bill better than Panama.  Why?  Because a ninety year American presence gave Panama a modern American style infrastructure.

Panama Is Safe

Panama has the lowest rates of crimes against tourists in the region and relatively low crime rate in general.  One of the first things foreigners who live in Panama will tell you is how safe they feel compared to other places in Latin America.  In Panama City, petty street crimes that hinder tourists in other countries are uncommon.  Panama City, like every big city has some neighborhoods best to avoid, but in general you can go about Panama City day and night without a worry.  This is also true for the rest of the country.

American-style Infrastructure a By Product of a Historical Relationship

Yes, one of the best things about living in Panama is the American-style infrastructure:  50,000 Americans made their home in Panama until 1999 when Panama took control of the Panama Canal.  Those Americans call Panama their “Paradise Lost”.  Panama has a distinct, delightful Caribbean Latin culture, but many feel at home because American influences abound.  And you won’t be alone—19,000 Americans already live in Panama.

The Panamanian People—Globalized, Peaceful, Friendly, and Fun-Loving

Another reason why Panama is a great place to live is because of the Panamanian people themselves.  To begin with there is a saying that Panama was “born globalized”.  As a historical crossroads, Panama is home to immigrants from everywhere.  The different communities comprised of different nationalities have grown and gotten along amicably for many years.  Most people are “mestizo” or the European-Indian population typical to Latin American countries.  Blacks, who originally came to help with the construction of the Canal, make-up the large Antillean population.  European, American, Chinese, Jewish and Hindu communities also enjoy a strong presence.  You will find that Panamanians are friendly and fun-loving.  Of special note is their predilection for aesthetic beauty and elegance.  This sense of beauty is visible in many ways—from the delicacy of the Indian’s handicrafts and beautifully groomed women and in the Panama City’s many well- appointed neighborhoods.

Panama Is Close

Panama is easy to get to.  Located in Central America, it is just 4-5 hours by plane for the States.  Non-stop daily flights from Miami, New Your, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando are offered by Delta, Continental, American, Copa and Spirit Airlines.  From Canada, Air Transat has a weekly charter flight out of Toronto and Montreal.

The Dollar as the Currency:  A Great Convenience

The convenience of having the U.S. dollar as the unit of currency cannot be underestimated—it makes daily life that much more hassle free for foreigners.  The U.S. dollar as its currency is also a major contributing factor explaining why Panama boasts the lowest inflation rate and the most stable economy in Latin America.

The Telegraph, London.  October 2008

The terrace of Rachelle and Ben Smith’s home is one of the few places on earth with views of both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.  On clear days, they sit there and watch the ships line up to enter the Panama Canal…The couple paid $150,000 in March 2006 for their three-bedroom, three-bath home.  The house is situated on two acres of land, and it is a little more than an hour’s drive from Panama City.  The area is also something of a bird paradise.  Ornithologists regularly lead tours.  Their initial search for a new home focused on the Caribbean and Costa Rica.  Fast-growing Panama is generally considered an easy place for foreigners to buy property, compared with other countries.  English is commonly spoken, the United States dollar is the accepted currency, there are no restrictions on owning land in most areas and the government offers a long list of friendly discounts for pensionados, expatriates who have settled in Panama.  For the Smiths, Panama had an extra appeal—no hurricanes.  “We were sick and tired of running from hurricanes,” said Mrs. Smith, 52.

New York Times, December 2007

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“Owning a home overseas is the ultimate fantasy.  While most of us are content to flip through a real estate brochure when we’re visiting some exotic locale, more people are acting on the impulse to buy abroad…

In-house we say these people are going on a romantic adventure,” says Margaret Hussey, supervising producer with “House Hunters International”, a show on HGTV that trails people buying homes outside the United States.  While many still prefer the established cities and towns of Europe, there’s a whole movement of Americans downloading their home equity to buy a $300,000 place in Nicaragua, Panama, the Bahamas,” says Hussey.

San Francisco Chronicle,  November 2007

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Investors from all over the world are coming to Panama to buy anything from land to houses, from islands to haciendas, investing in logistics, trade or telecommunications, a sector with enormous potential as five underwater fiber optics cables pass across the country.  We rely on a high level broadband and a totally integrated IP technology capable of transmitting information, voice and video in a rapid, reliable and scalable way, says Ernesto Baca, General Manager of Telecarrier, a new but very successful telecommunications company in Panama that offers services of Data Transmission and Data Center.

US News and World Report Investor Guide Report 2006 

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Middle Ground:  Panama May Be Central America’s Hottest Real Estate Market

For anyone who envisions Panama as a sleepy bucolic country, the first view of the capital city may come as a shock.  The skyline of Panama City bristles with high rise business towers and residential condominiums…The countries’ reputation as a hot new destination is based as much on its capital’s high-energy urban lifestyle as on the beautiful beaches of its coasts and its lush mountainous interior.

Robb Report.  Winter 2006

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Paradise Found:  Where to Retire Abroad

Panama—Selected as one of the top five places in the world for retirement living.

Fortune Magazine Retirement Guide.  2005 

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In Panama, American Retirees Finding More Paradise for Less

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Beauty and Tax Breaks Lure Buyers to Panama

“Little wonder that Panama is increasingly lighting up the radar screens of those searching for an affordable alternative to more traditional south-of-the-border retreats…Touted as the ‘next Costa tica’ by travel magazines and newsletter like International Living, Panama is undergoing a land rush as its Tocumen Airport fills with planeloads of eager foreigners with cas in hand.”  The opportunities are appealing not only for those seeking a place to retire but also for entrepreneus.”

New York Times.  February, 2005

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Lock in a Visit to Panama for a Few Days or the Rest of Your Retired Life

It’s no surprise that travelers to Panama are going back in search of second homes, plots of land and much longer stays.  Panama, small and manageable, is a vacationers paradise with a little bit of everything.

Frommers Guide  2006 

Return

Panama:  One of the Best Places for First-Class Medical Treatments at Affordable Prices

Panama has some of the best medical care in Central America and is fast becoming a Mecca for ‘medical tourism”.  Why?  Because Panama offers first-class medical treatment by American-trained doctors in hospitals that are on a par with the USA at about 50% less cost.

A ‘medical tourist’ goes to another country to the same treatment done but a fraction of the cost.  Panama has several advantages over other countries—to begin with Panama is close to the US—a 3 to 5 hour flight.  

In Panama a medical tourist

  -Gets a medical treatment with the same techniques, facilities and medications as in the USA.

  -Chooses from a wide selection of English speaking American-trained doctors and  stay in hospitals which  compare favorably to the best US hospitals.

  -Can enjoy cosmopolitan Panama City-Central America’s safest and most modern city.

  -Gets a medical treatment with enough money left over to take a vacation.

According to the IRS, most travel expenses due to medical reasons are tax deductible.

Panamanian doctors are known as fine professionals

        Talk to Americans living in panama—they will tell you that it is a pleasure to be treated by one of Panama’s numerous America-trained, English speaking doctors.  They will tell you care in Panama is as good as or better than in the States.  Doctors are warm, knowledgeable, and unhurried.