Thread: Costal Living

Hello


Great site you have here.


I am a 58 YO from Seattle area who is looking for a warm climate to warm my bones. I like Thailand but Panama would be much easier for family to come and visit.


I am looking to rent a furnished 2 bedroom home or apartment for 6 months to a year. I would like to be within walking distance to the beach and market. I am not looking for the high rent areas as my needs are more humble.


Does it make sense to rent ahead of arriving?


Also, is it safe to ride bikes. I am an avid cyclist and don't want to give up the habit.


And I only speak English; how big of a problem will that cause?


Your thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jim

If you rent in advance, you will be getting a tourist rental, and paying tourist prices.

Your desired location leaves open a LOT of possibilities; Panama has a couple thousand miles of coastline. You need to fine-tune that wish-list a bit more. What do you need in the way of infrastructure? (internet, hospitals, shopping, dentists, cinema, etc. etc. etc.) How far are you willing to be from an airport? How far are you willing to be from Panama City? (Wherever you live, it is guaranteed you will have to make *some* trips to PC on occasion.)

Bikes: Safety is relative. Bikes are not common here, and people drive crazy, and therefore you take some risk. And, the only good roads are the major highways, where you definitely don't want to ride. In short: You can certainly bike here and have fun, but Panama is definitely not a biker's Top Ten destination.

English: Again, depends on what you want to do with your life, and where you want to live. Outside PC, you will find few people who speak English. Of course, there are ex-pat communities, and you can join those as little or as often as you wish. In short: Yes, you can survive just fine without Spanish, but it will be very very difficult to thrive.

#1 RECOMMENDATION: Buy the Moon Guide to Panama. Great book, great maps, and reasonably up-to-date. Don't rely on opinions (like mine) from unknown strangers (like me) on BBs (like this one).

Exilio thanks for the response. I will order the book today.


I will try to fine tune the wish list a bit.
Yes to internet. Wireless at home would be deal but am not opposed to using internet cafe as along as it is secure.
A town or city somewhere between 5,000 -20,000 would seem about to have all the amenities and comforts.
Public transportation to PC as I would likely wait on purchasing a car until I am sure I like living in Panama. An hour and a half from PC would seem about right.


I take your advice on not basing important decisions on internet BB but it is a good way to gather additional information. I am also looking at other countries but am warming up to Panama the more I learn.

"Walking distance to the beach" and reliable internet are a bit hard to find in the more reasonably priced areas. To hit everything on your list -- including easy access to PC -- I'd suggest the San Carlos area, which includes Gorgona, Punta Barco, and El Palmar (and others). There's a mix of housing there, from thrifty to presidential, but I think it would offer all that you want -- and DSL is available. Be forewarned, however, that there's a lot of development in that area, so prices are about double what they were just 2-3 years ago. Also, all the reasonably-priced rentals will expect a 1-year contract.

I will check out the area, thanks for you help.

Also I ordered the book you recommended.

My wife and I recently spent a month in a rental in Gorgona. It fit all the criteria you mentioned. The home we rented had wifi, plenty of roads there where cycling would not be a problem (light traffic), about 1.25 hrs from PC, lots of small supermarkets in the area and not too far from a fairly substantial supermarket (Rey) on the Panamerican HWY just at the entrance to Coronado. Good number of English speaking Panamaians in the area plus a lot of expats in general especially in Coronado ( 1/2hr on bike). Banks, etc, etc.

We rented through some American folks who act as agents for a large number of homes available in the area.

Website: Panama Coast Rentals

Also you can google Panama homes or rentals but narrow the search by adding in "Central America" otherwise you'll get a LARGE number of Panama City Florida websites.

Thanks Gordon