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About LinkBacksNot too hot, not too cold. Like spring in Colorado. The humidity is way lower than the beaches which are about 45 minutes away.
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Not too hot, not too cold. Like spring in Colorado. The humidity is way lower than the beaches which are about 45 minutes away.
Right. Why did you select Panama?
We needed to go somewhere we could afford to retire early, and where it was warm year round. That meant that we could not retire in the States. We tried Costa Rica first, just didn't fit. Panama fit.
And Panama is a heck of a lot more affordable (in the interior). Boquete is a beautiful place, great climate, and convenient to David that has all the shops that you really need. Not to mention close to Costa Rica.
So, I would assume that Boquete is a better choice than trying to live in Playa Samara in Costa Rica?
I would suggest trying them both out, creating a pros and cons list, see which one fits you best.
We moved to Colorado Springs from Panama in 1999. We can't wait to move back to Panama, although we will have to throttle back a bit on the pace of our lives (which will be a good thing!)Originally Posted by becky7474
Why did you move to Colorado Springs from Panama? You guys getting ready to go into the wet time of year now? What's that like? Everyone talk abou the slower pace of life there, I would think that is a good thing. Can't be much slower than Pagosa Springs. LOL.
Until recently, I was on active duty with the US Air Force. When you get orders to go somewhere, you go! We were just lucky it was here and not someplace worse. I've been to Pagosa Springs and things in Panama move WAY SLOWER - trust me! Now that I'm retired from the USAF, things moving slowly don't bother me as much as they used to!
Can anyone give info on the beach areas that are close to David? I understand Boquete is about 30 mins from David and David has good shopping, but I have not heard much regarding the beaches nearby. Are they nice, easy to access, etc?
We went to Playa La Barqueta about 2 weeks ago. You just follow the Las Olas signs. The sand is almost black and very hot. I had to carry the dog to get her down to the wet sand where she could walk. It took us about 40 minutes or so from David to get there. Just Google Las Olas if you want to get a better idea of what the beach there looks like.
Thanks for the info becky7474! I am googling it now. BTW- how do you like Panama and Chiriqui province? Do you live in Boquete or David area? I am going to be down in mid June for two weeks and plan to spend most/all of my time in Panamas interior with plan to spend my last 2 nights in PC just to see what its like. i am gonna wait to go there last to make sure I spend my time & $$ on what I am coming down there for-RECON!!
Whoa!! Saw a lot of really bad reviews very quickly regarding this beach. seems to be very dangerous & locals do not swim, surf or otherwise get in the water there due to such dangerous surf conditions. Is this true? how far is Azuero peninsula from David? It seems beaches are much nicer and surf much safer in this area
We saw some locals swimming when we were there. But we hear that there are some really strong rip tides that drown people. We just walked at the water's edge.
It's probably 4.5 to 5 hours to get to the Azuero beaches from Boquete. Maybe someone who has done it recently will say for sure. We stayed at a hotel down just about as far as you can go at the end of the peninsula and their beach was wonderful.
Thanks again Becky. I would like to ask a few ?s if I may.
Do you like it there in Panama?
Are you on pensionado visa or visitors?
Is David as good a shopping/food area as you need to fulfill your needs?
Are you able or do you even need to buy things off the internet and get them delivered at least somewhere nearby?
Thanks again
I love Panama, the laid back attitude fits me to a tea...my husband says the jury is still out for him, too much A type personality. We aren't old enough for a pensionado visa, so we just run to Costa Rica for 3 days. David has almost everything we need, sometimes it takes quite a bit of research to find it though...I don't do much internet shopping anymore, the mail company I use charges for everything I get. An example....right before we retired, my husband got a free DVD player from work. By the time they sent it, we had been down here 2 months. My brother-in-law shipped it to us, cost him $14. It cost us $28 to get it from our mail company....$42 for a "free" DVD player.
Thanks for the info Becky. Do you folks need income or did you get to retire early and finance is no concern? I wish I were in that boat if so. I am very serious about moving down and I have already crossed Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico off the list as after spending time in all they were not as they seemed for a variety of reasons. I really liked Puerto Vallarta, Mexico but there are too many growing security concerns and land titles very shaky to my liking. I have a lot of hope for Panama. I am ready to kick back & enjoy life without the rat race and the Caribbean/Central American culture is much more laid back like I am looking for. I hope your husband "comes around" for you!
We had our 401K money in safe investments for the last couple of years, so with that and the sale of our house, we will be OK until we can draw Social Security....hopefully we will be able to draw SS....
Laid back attitude has two sides though.
They ARE paper work FASCISTS.
If you miss a $2 invoice for customs they would much rather have you do all the paperwork over again than to agree to a resonable exception.
Laid back - in other words - means that they think that you have an unlimited number of hours to complete a task.
In fact, they are so laid back, that the license plates for 2010 have been delayed until June/July of 2010 forcing people with January plates (which I have) to make a total of 6 different office visits to stay legal.
Best, Ed
PANAMA BANK GUIDE - LIST OF BANKS IN PANAMA
I wondered why we hadn't got our plates yet....we bought the car in January and are on our 2nd temporary....this new one is good until July.
There is a side to Boquete that folks seem to ignore - Baru is not extinct - far from it. It has errupted four times since about 600 AD, last time about 1600 AD. It will explode again, just a matter of when, and the area will be devastated if it goes.
In the words of Dirty Harry, "are you feeling lucky?"
US geological Survey has a report free on the web. Google USGC and Baru.
Bill
Look at the Pedasi area of the Azueros. Great small town with friendly people and world class fishing and surfing close by..scuba diving and spear fishing too if you're into that. It is very similar to the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica as it was 20 years ago. We really liked it...some much so we'll be there permanently within a year or so.
We were close to there last year, staying in Santiago. I prefer the Carribean as an ocean, but Panama is not so well developed that side yet of course.
Bill
Hi Bill,
I know it is a little behind in development but the roads around Pedasi are better than much of the rest of the country. As well, with a new airport and hospital being built, the area will very soon be as good as anywhere else in the country. That's my 2 cents anyway.
Mark
I think anyone who's visited Panama will definitely have been to Boquete. I manage a visit every couple of years and over the past 2 decades have seen a dramatic change - sadly for the worse. Yes, the influx of expats has brought some benefits but they've also brought many negatives. Examples include the drastic increase in the cost of living and house prices which the locals can't afford. Thinking about it, it could be compared to invasion of the conquistadores, only a few centuries later! Boquete used to be a place one could go for a relaxing day out and experience the true Panama, not any more!
Boquete is definitely a radically different place compared to let's say 10 yrs ago. Cost of living, cost of building, etc. Overall a perfect and extreme example of what is happening in the country in general.
For the locals, even trying to build a small shack has become almost prohibitive due to the high taxes, fees, permits costs, inspection fees, etc that the municipality charges now. It is a complex situation because the town gov is trying to cope with higher operation costs.
On the other hand the situation expats are facing: The crux of the matter was a completely uncoordinated expansion. Not enough public resources i.e. water, waste management, roads, etc. Developers came built without regulation regulation or much thought as to how public service issues were going to be partitioned. After all they see it as not their problem. Expats that moved in want their issues resolved quick, and perhaps they were given the wrong picture by developers? They paid inflated rates after all, so there is a feel of entitlement to all that was promised (rightly so!).
Panama in general is lagging behind in terms of roads, reliable mail/shipping, general health care for poor people.
The asking prices for properties are really not justified in terms of public service, infrastructure IMO.
I will be in Boquete next week creating video. Probably by Thursday if anybody wants to get together?
Hey SpineDoc. I started out like you. I first checked out CR then Panama, and now am checking out Ecuador. Have ruled out CR so now it is between Panama and Ecuador. Is seems that Quinto and Cuenca are certainly in the running.
When traveling in a car from Panama to Costa Rica you will need to have proof of LOCAL insurance, this is not expensive and you can usually aquire this very near to the border crossing locations. I have never traveled across the border on the oso peninsula side so i cant help you there. If your planning to take a car to Bocas there are daily ferry's from alimarante, although your car can also be stored in secure lots in alimarante if you dont need your car while in Bocas.
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