Hi GATORLEACH, Here are some important facts and thoughts: As others have mentioned here - thank you all for chiming in - Panama runs the Panama Canal, not China. Panama was prepared by the US to run the waterway over a 20-year transition period, as laid out in the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Thus Panamanian engineers, geologists and others were already working at the Canal alongside Americans long before Panama took over running the Canal. Panama has been running the Canal extremely successfully since Panama officially took over in 1999 (so we're talking over two decades, 25+ years) (Though the original Canal was completed by the US in 1914, the new sector of the Panama Canal expansion completed by Panama in 2016, after it was approved by the people of Panama in a nationwide referendum, is the only section that can accommodate newer, larger post-Panamax sized ships. I do understand that many have concern because of comments the type of which are unprecedented by a US president or president-elect. I may not be able to predict exactly what's in store but we have good reason to expect that on a macro level things won't be changing much. Some may be justifiably concerned because there just isn't a lot of LatAm foreign policy info or past examples to go on. Over the past years particularly with the covid crisis as a major concern, LatAm has not received nearly as much attention from the US government and now we're seeing new focus and interest. But I agree with the experts who say: Looks like it’s all about 1- pressuring countries like Panama to do even more to try stem the refugee tide and 2- the always popular topic of tariffs and trade. Not any real belief that any US leader could rally enough support to “invade and annex Panama” or "take back the Canal." With Panama's stellar track record and long history of close ties with the US (and a long list of other countries) I like many others here am still feeling great about my decision to live in this incredibly peaceful country often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America. (This moniker stems from Panama's commitment - as home of the Panama Canal - to stay neutral. Panama has no military. As a non-political "autonomous" entity the Canal is not affected by changes in presidents/administrations.) Panama became a sovereign republic with major support from the US over 100 years ago, in 1903. Panama has used the US dollar for over 100 years. The long history of friendship and respect between the US and Panama cannot be overstated. In my experience Panamanians aren't generally the type to judge all Americans by the actions of any one person. Sure, you might find some unfriendly people here (or anywhere else) but as a whole, overwhelmingly, Panamanians have continued to be welcoming and friendly to Americans, whether after the invasion in 1989, Wild Bill in 2010, or over the past month, so I feel confident that will continue. Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch

Hi Julie, Pedasí, Venao, Isla Iguana, and Cambutal are among the exciting places you can explore on the Azuero peninsula; if you have a chance check out the June 2024 issue of IL magazine for articles about Venao, Cambutal, and Alaya (glamping in Cañas). Best, Jess Ramesch IL Panama editor

Hi ASHWEEE, In my experience Panamanians aren't generally the type to judge all Americans by the actions of any one person. Sure, you might find some unfriendly people here (or anywhere else) but as a whole, overwhelmingly, Panamanians have continued to be welcoming and friendly to Americans, whether after the invasion in 1989, Wild Bill in 2010, or over the past month, so I feel confident that will continue. Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch

Thanks for the good response.

We own a home just north of Coronado at Play Caracol. Our beach access is fantastic, the food is wonderful and it is quite with the most beautiful and longest beach on the Pacific side. It depends on what you want. Panama city is a big modern city where prices are similar to California where we live. We love the beach and the restaurnts in Coronado are great. It is all about what you want out of your time off in Panama. I love making our own food from fresh Longostina and fish 15 minutes away at Punta Chame and the quite of our home in Playa Caracol. We can always drive to Panama City for the day it ia 1.5 hours away for excitement.

specialists must be Panamanian citizens which means you would not be able to practice in these professions if you become a legal citizen?

Thanks for the on-the-ground input, Jess. For others with the same question for locations around the world, I find that Wikipedia has great charts that show monthly temperature ranges, preciptiation amounts, sunlight hours, etc. Just go to their site and look for the climate section; somtimes it is under geography. Michael

Jess, We are planning on attending the Panama conference in February 2025. We anticipate checking out areas to rent for 3 months next summer. We love the beach and a more laid back location. Any suggestions on how we should begin our search? David S

this is living idias so it is nice idiad!

Hello DANIYEL.FIRESTONE You'll find plenty of rentals in and around Bella Vista, along the waterfront and within a short walk of the bayside promenade called the Cinta Costera. Short-term you can try online listings sites like Airbnb or reach out to Pangea, contact info below. The longer you stay the more you can try to negotiate a lower rate. If and when you decide to rent long-term (a year) you'll encounter much lower monthly rates. You can get car rental costs from larger outfits like National Car Rental and/or ask in specific expat communities outside the city about smaller local companies that might be cheaper; this will depend on which communities you visit. Some expats depending on length of stay did decide it would be more cost-effective to buy a used vehicle sourced through the expat grapevine and then re-sell it when moving on. One of the most popular beach communities with easy access from the city is Coronado, that's about 65 miles away. Playa Caracol is about 55 miles. IL has resources that cover beach regions and other parts of the country, legal aspects of renting to avoid potential pitfalls, money matters, infrastructure, banking, healthcare/insurance, and other important considerations. See your IL products page if you've already got the Escape to Panama book or visit the IL Bookstore www.ilbookstore.com and/or consult your Panama attorney (info for an attorney below). Enjoy your time in Panama! Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch Real estate/rentals: International Living does not sell/broker real estate/rentals. You can write to Pangea, exclusive real estate advertiser to IL, to request broker information or to ask questions about real estate, developments, and renting: Email: info@pangearesearchgroup.com Website: https://pangearesearchgroup.com VISAS/ATTORNEYS: If you plan to live or buy a home here, you'll need a reputable, reliable Panamanian lawyer to assist you with legal matters. You can send legal questions (about residence, real estate, business, estate planning, etc.) to: Rainelda Mata-Kelly Mata-Kelly & Partners Local tel: +(507) 216-9299 From the US/Canada: (011 507) 216-9299 rmk@mata-kelly.com www.mata-kelly.com DAVID GOLD Casco Antiguo Spanish School US Tel: (203) 820-2234 Email: David@cascospanish.com Website: www.cascospanish.com

There's a lot of variance. It really depends on the town/neighborhood as well as the type of property (apartment or home, luxury or mid-range, etc), so it is important to do your research based on these factors, but note this is definitely not a flipper's paradise. I bought because I wanted to live here. What I like is the stability, we don't tend to have major booms or bubble bursts. I'm confident I'll be able to sell if/when I want to (bought in 2021, planning to keep for 5 years then evaluate whether to sell and buy again). Not expecting a huge profit but I'll come out ahead versus if I'd rented. Mid-range property purchased for under $200k, coveted building with amenities (gym, pool, etc.) on a golf course in a top beach town. One bedroom (admittedly harder to sell than a 2/3 br, but I would have zero trouble renting it out and covering the mortgage and maintenance fee), just over 1,000 sq ft. Best, IL Panama editor Jess Ramesch

De nada! Thanks for posting and best of luck with all your Panama plans.

Hello, hope you had/are having a wonderful time in Panama. Rosalind Baitel was at the conference as an expat speaker, she is not a tour guide. Generally expat speakers participate in IL conferences to talk abut their full and enriching lives as expats. They do not sell real estate or offer tours. In your conference materials you have contact information for Pangea's RETA concierge who can help answer questions about neighborhoods and real estate and put you in contact with brokers who offer tours. Generally speaking you'll spend upwards of $900 a month for an apartment like that in a nice neighborhood in Pamama City and in the city electric is usually billed separately. Happy apartment hunting!

Currently Canadian citizens can visit Panama as tourists for up to 180 days without any special visa. It's a good idea to make sure each person's passport has over a year left on it if you're coming down for a six month stay. (Good rule of thumb for travel to any country: make sure your passport has more than 6 months left before it expires.) Panama is a popular destination for tourists and expats because it's generally safe and prosperous, you can read lots more more about it in International Living magazine (visit www.InternationalLiving.com, log in/click "members site" to search the archive).

I agree with Jim, above. In places like Coronado, where there are typially plenty of options, I will sometimes book myself into an Airbnb for a few days and then go to see longer-term options in person, tapping the expat facebook groups for recommendations as Jim mentions above.

THANKS for the info. ~ Pamela

Hi John, There are many veterans living in Panama who receive their payments without trouble. The U.S. Embassy here confirms that, “Veterans Affairs beneficiaries residing in Panama are eligible to enroll in the International Direct Deposit Program” to receive payments via electronic transfer. There is even a local hospital in Panama that will accept VA-FMP, TRICARE or CHAMPVA. Applying for the International Direct Deposit Program should just involve filling out a form and attending an appointment with the Federal Benefits Unit. You can see the process in detail on the U.S. Embassy’s website. For detailed information on veteran-related matters in Panama, visit the Panama Veteran’s Commission website, and contact Panama-based Healthcare Alliance via email. Bear in mind that you may have to spend some additional money to get any medication couriered into Panama. If you plan to move to the Boquete region of Panama, reach out to the Healthcare Alliance person there via email.

Hi Jonas, Whether you’re comparing crime statistics, tourist guides, or travel advisories for the region’s different countries, you’ll find that Panama is one of the safest countries in Latin America. In fact, Panama ranks at number 68 in World Population Review’s “Crime Rate by Country 2023” report—lower than the U.S., which ranks at number 56. So, does it follow that Panama is free from crime? No… I’ve traveled the globe and I’ve never encountered a country that was free from crime or corruption. In every country, there will be some dangerous areas (due to localized organized crime or gang-related activity), but also many safe ones. In Panama it’s generally very easy to tell when a neighborhood is poor and thus certain to have more crime. Most are not areas you would accidentally stumble into. In areas popular with expats, your biggest concern is likely to be petty theft or break-ins. Random violence is practically unheard of here. Panama has a large police force and crimes against tourists or foreigners are seriously dealt with. Home-invasion-style robberies can be violent, but they are rare, especially in communities favored by expats. It’s neither quick nor easy to obtain a firearm permit in Panama, and a long-running moratorium on importation has helped keep gun prevalence relatively low. Gun-related offenses have major consequences in Panama. On occasion, visitors to Panama make the mistake of letting their guard down completely—something they’d never do back home. In any unfamiliar city or town, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and to do what you can to blend in. Ask questions, use your city smarts, and you’ll see just how easy it is to live and travel safely in Panama. Read my complete guide to safety in Panama here.