Thread: New Member

Hello ... my name is Christine Sheridan. My husband and I live in Coconut Creek, Florida. We are planning our first trip to Panama in Jan. or Feb. '12. We plan to spend about 10 days. I have been doing a good deal of research on all the areas of Panama. We are making this trip to find out if everything is as wonderful as has been reported in many places on the web for retiring in this country. We are 65 years young and plan on a move somewhere within the next couple of years and Panama is the first on our list to check out. Although we'd prefer to totally leave Florida, we may only be able to live elsewhere for half the year.

I'd greatly appreciate any helpful information from anyone who has vacationed and/or lived there. The amount of information "out there" on this country is overwhelming. We'd like to see a lot when there, but realizing 10 days isn't much time, we'd appreciate any recommendations on the high spots to see first. It appears that the Pacific coast area is fantastic. We do not wish to stay in Panama city for more than one or two days just to get the feel of it. We are definitely interested in the areas outside of the city. We do not speak Spanish, but are working on learning useful phrases. How important is it to speak Spanish there?

We are very active and would like to do some hiking, fishing, zip lining, etc. We own and operate a scuba diving business, teach all levels of diving, own and operate our own charter boat. Any suggestions or contacts will be welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Just wondering if you have made the trip to Panama as yet.......I just joined this group today. You can go to www.panama-boquete.com if you are looking for information in Boquete.........that's my favourite spot. You can e-mail me at panamajames@gmail.com if you need some information. Thanks. Jim

No, not been there yet ... are planning the 10 day trip Jan. or Feb. in 2012. I will check out the Boquete web site you mention. Do you currently live there? If not, how long have you spent in Panama on vacation? Thanks for the info.

Learning Spanish is important if you plan to live here. There are lots of Gringos here and if you live in Boquete, there are 1000 or more new friends that you can make that speak English. My wife and I have been here for a year and a half and are quite comfortable and know most of the answers that people are asking. If you want to ask some direct questions, e-mail me at panamajames@gmail.com I don't get on forums much. You can check out a website www.panama-boquete.com Thanks. Jim

Yes, we live here now, in Boquete for the past year and a half full time. Spent 6 or 7 years visiting Panama during Canada's winters before finally settling. We were snowbirds, getting out of the ice and snow. Stayed in Panama City, San Carlos, El Valle, Penonome, The Decameron and Playa Blanca resorts, Las Lajas, Boca Chica, David, Volcan and Cerro Punta, Boquete, Dolega.........I have a house for sale in Dolega with a swimming pool if interested. It's very nice. It belongs to a friend of mine in Canada who bought it and came here, but had problems and had to go back to Canada. Too bad really. A very nice house. If you hear of anyone.....I can send pictures......Thanks. Jim

Yes, we live here now, in Boquete for the past year and a half full time. Spent 6 or 7 years visiting Panama during Canada's winters before finally settling. We were snowbirds, getting out of the ice and snow. Stayed in Panama City, San Carlos, El Valle, Penonome, The Decameron and Playa Blanca resorts, Las Lajas, Boca Chica, David, Volcan and Cerro Punta, Boquete, Dolega.........I have a house for sale in Dolega with a swimming pool if interested. It's very nice. It belongs to a friend of mine in Canada who bought it and came here, but had problems and had to go back to Canada. Too bad really. A very nice house. If you hear of anyone.....I can send pictures......Thanks. Jim

Hi!

There are many areas you can look at, but you have to decide what is important. There are only a few places to do scuba that is worth your time (Contadora & Azuerro Peninsula on the Pacific side OR San Blas & Bocas del Torro on the Caribbean side).

For hiking and ziplining I would check out El Valle area. There you are about 30 minutes down the hill to various beaches between Coronado and Santa Clara. El Valle is about 2 hours from Panama City.

Narrow your areas down and then come back and rent for at least a couple months to make sure you are going to be happy. So many people come down for 3-4 weeks or less and then move to that area only to find out they don't like it. You need to be here during the rainy season's heaviest months (October or November), windy months (January - March), hot and humid months, etc.

Check out the forum for previous postings and do your research! I have been here for 6 years from Chicago and have seen a lot of people come and go. My Spanish still sucks, but it seems like the locals are wanting to learn more English all the time--better jobs in tourism.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Okay, thanks much for the info.

Sheridan:

BTW WELCOME to the forum!!

Mary

Thanks much for the good info. Would you say that April would be a good time weather wise for our first trip? We are from the Chicago area also, but haven't lived there in 43 years! I gather by the info on the left side of your post (don't know how all this forum stuff works) that you live in El Valle; if so, have you been there the whole 6 years? From my research on that area, it certainly looks nice!

Hi!

If only coming for 10 days to do your first research I would come in October/November time frame.

We are about 1/3 of the way up the road towards El Valle (10 minutes to the PanAmerican Highway and 20 minutes to El Valle). We have the best of all worlds - close to the beaches, nice mountain breezes, gorgeous views of 300 miles of the Pacific coastline, and about 10+ degrees cooler then the beaches!

We purchased our property in 2002 and built our home in 2004/2005. Moved down here from the NW suburbs of Chicago after our house was completed (I recommend to be here during your building process!). We were lucky and had a great builder that gave us a spreadsheet and 10-20 pictures once a week on the progress of our home--we came down here twice during the building process. I even got a 5 year warranty on our home.

I have a website www.whypanama.com that if you click on webcam at the top of the page we have a 24/7 webcam pointed at the ocean or mountains or valleys.

Mary

Thanks again. Your web site is very informative; photos are great; looks like everyone is having fun! As far as your recommendation to come in October/November, I don't quite understand: everything I've read states that the dry season is Dec-May and Dec/Jan for the Pacific coast. Is this different where you live? I'm confused. We really don't mind rain, but for the first trip, I'd prefer less of it ... please advise as to the differences in times to come. Thank you.

Hey Sheridan!

Thanks!

A lot of people can't handle the October/November because of the rains. Rainy season is supposed to end the middle of Decemeber. It is like a faucet and then turns on again the middle of April. Last year was completely strange with rain because of the el nina effect and the heaviest rainfall recorded in history for Panama.

The mountain areas get rain year round, but Dec - April it is very rare and more like a mist. During their summer (January - March) they have high winds throughout the country. As I said earlier rainy season tends to start in April and crests in November, drops dramatically in December.

It seems like Panama City it is always raining year round. Temperature seems to be the same year round, just like sunrise and sunset (6:30 am to 6:30 pm). We don't have daylight saving switches here. Right now we are on Central Standard time and when you change we will go to Eastern Standard time.

I hope this clarifies your questions.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

October and November are the heaviest rainfall months of the rainy season in Panama. Unless you love rain, that is not the time to come. Accomodation would be easy to find and cheap in October and November. January and February are the best months to visit Panama, but accomodation is not as plentiful and you are in high rates season. We have 4 apartments and get booked a year ahead of time as a rule in Boquete. www.panama-boquete.com I like where Mary lives, just outside of El Valle. I have some good friends in El Valle who have a lovely house there for sale as they want to move to Coronado. Living in Cornonado would be like living in Chicago.....busy and noisy and certainly not a place to get away from it all. Where Mary is, is nice and rural, and where we are in Boquete, it is also very rural and country.....Lots of nice places to live and retire to in Panama. Thanks. Jim panamajames@gmail.com

Originally Posted by sheridan

We own and operate a scuba diving business, teach all levels of diving, own and operate our own charter boat. Any suggestions or contacts will be welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hello! This is the first time I've "quoted" so let's see if it works.
I know there are very few places to fill air for bottles around the country. Pretty sure all city people get their tanks filled in Portobelo (almost 2 hour drive from city), including major companies.
We have the capacity to fill and VIP tanks and service people from Shelter Bay Marina.
Thought I'd spread the word! SCUBA TANK REFILLS - Panamá

Thanks for the info. Are you located in Portobelo? Do you have a dive shop or fill station or both? Where is Shelter Bay Marina? We plan to be in Panama around Feb. or Mar. and start out on the Pacific coast. Any suggestions for the best dive spots on the Pacific coast? Thank you.