Thread: New member in El Valle

I am new to Panama, and renting a guest house (casita) in a villa in EL Valle since last Sept. I am from WA state in the USA originally, and lived in Costa Rica for 8 years before selling my restaurant (Cafe de Artistas in Escazu) and coming here. I was not interested in living in Panama City and wanted a better climate so settled here for now. I am still looking around the country and next i want to check out the David area. Boquete is attractive but may be out of my price range for rental. I am too young to qualify for Soc. Sec. so can not prove a guaranteed income for residency, and not well heeled enough for the other categories, so may have to stay on a visa. MY immediate problem is legalizing my vehicle from the USA. I want to stay up to speed on what is going on locally and think this is a great site for that. I will be absorbing a lot more than posting for now.

Glad to see somebody from El Valle on the site. My wife and I are planning on returning/retiring to Panama in a few years and El Valle is our first choice on where to live. We can't wait to move back!

When the snow capped mountains are highlighted against the bluest sky imaginable and the deer are standing in the yard waiting for their treat. When the starlight is bright enough to walk at night. When it's -7* I think of Panama. Thanks for the tip on El Valle.

It took me 14 months with an import agent. Not sure if it can be done smoothly outside Panama City or not. If in El Valle you will probably have to deal with that ordeal in the city.

I would not recommend my agent, his initials are AP.

Once you get a letter of intent or similar from the agent you can drive around with that in your car.

Originally Posted by daddybear

MY immediate problem is legalizing my vehicle from the USA. I want to stay up to speed on what is going on locally and think this is a great site for that. I will be absorbing a lot more than posting for now.

Hi!
Being close to El Valle (18 KM down the hill) you are in Cocle Province and not Panama Province. I would suggest you go to the ATTT in Penonomee. That is where I went to register my car here in Panama.

A friend was stopped in December with his car from the states that he drove down. They took his car to Santiago and it is still sitting in Santiago and he lives in Playa Blanca. He is having nightmares about the paperwork.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

These are all reasons why we are going to sell our vehicles before we move. I've heard of way too many unpleasant experiences with folks who have imported vehicles from the States.

TennVol: That is what I recommend to everyone coming to PANAMA!! They changed the laws around August 1, 2010 about bringing vehicles into the country. There supposedly is no duty exoneration for pensionado visas and there are all these new taxes and fees for bringing cars into the country.

Mary

I have a diesel crew cab super duty truck that I absolutely love that is paid off and it is in great shape. It is a great truck for the States. But there is NO way I would bring it to Panama. It screams "I'm a gringo", it would be almost impossible to get parts for it, the lack of qualified mechanics to work on US spec trucks, all of the expense to get it imported, and the tremendous pain in the butt to sell it once I need a new vehicle. All in all, IMHO no one should seriously consider importing a vehicle into Panama.

Just my $.02 worth and your mileage may vary!

I am glad that you have researched El Valle...it is truly a beautiful place...if you are into bird watching probably paradise. I have made some great contacts here and when you get serious about a move I can introduce you to a Panamanian who deals in real estate here who not only speaks flawless english but has impeccable credentials. The Panamanian system for retirees is unequaled. I am sure you won't regret the move to paradise.

THANKS...that is a great tip! I hate going to Panama City anyway and the Adudana can be a nightmare...I assume ATTT is shorthand for Adudana so i will have to find it. I am on a permit and i keep it up to date every 30 days, but can't do that forever.

ATTT is not going to help. They are not customs. You need a customs broker that can handle the process for you without taking your car from you.

Originally Posted by daddybear

THANKS...that is a great tip! I hate going to Panama City anyway and the Adudana can be a nightmare...I assume ATTT is shorthand for Adudana so i will have to find it. I am on a permit and i keep it up to date every 30 days, but can't do that forever.