Panama: Meeting People & Helpful Contacts

[BILL PIATT]

My wife and I will spend a month in Panama studying Spanish, beginning in January. We will split three weeks between Bocas & Boquete, then have 4-5 days to meander our way back to Panama City for our departure. We are ex-Peace Corps from Africa, very culturally curious and physically active.

How do we make contact with IL experts (like you, Jessica) and other IL “groupies” while we are in country to learn about the realities of life there? We are particularly interested in 1) interesting things to do that we might overlook, 2) talking with full time residents to learn about their daily routines, 3) exploring details regarding real estate rental vs ownership, 4)renting vehicles/drivers for excursions from Boquete, and 5) renting a vehicle for 5-7 days to meander our way back from Boquete to Panama City.

Muchas Gracias!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Bill,

Sounds like you are excited and gearing up for a wonderful time here. Please read the below carefully and let me know if you have additional questions.

Best regards,

Jessica

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Resource Rolodex

Real estate: International Living does not sell or broker real estate or rentals, so for real estate queries, contact Pathfinder International Real Estate, exclusive real estate marketer to International Living:

Pathfinder International Real Estate
Tura Murdock
tmurdock@pathfinderinternational.net
info@pathfinderinternational.net
Website: http://www.pathfinderinternational.net

Advertising: To learn more about advertising in International Living magazine and other publications visit https://internationalliving.com/about-il/advertise-with-us/.

Rentals: Panama has a growing number of rental management companies. One of the first on the scene was Panama Sol:

Panama Sol
Email: panama@panamasolrealty.com

Legal assistance: Whether you plan to live, invest or retire in Panama, you’ll need a Panamanian lawyer to assist you with legal matters. If you don’t already have one, send your legal questions to:

The Law Offices of Rainelda Mata-Kelly
Suite 406-407, Tower B, Torres de las Americas
Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama
Local tel: +(507) 216-9299
From the U.S. or Canada tel: (011 507) 216-9299
Email: rmk@mata-kelly.com
Website: http://www.mata-kelly.com

Expat forums and groups

Though International Living does not arrange meetings between expats, there are a great many ways to meet expats in Panama. There are many online tools you can use.

One popular online forum is Viviendo en Panama which means “Living in Panama.” It’s a forum on Yahoo Groups for English speaking expats who discuss living and working in Panama. It has an extensive collection of files and links about Panama, and a searchable message archive where you can search for the answer to your Panama questions (and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, post a new question.)

To find and join the forum you will have to have/sign up for a free Yahoo e-mail account. Visit Yahoo Groups, website: http://www.groups.yahoo.com, to learn more or try this link:
http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/viviendo_en_panama/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=3. Viviendo en Panama is not owned or moderated by—nor is it affiliated in any way with—International Living.

Or search for other Panama-related groups and blogs online. You’ll find sites (on yahoo and on other platforms) for different areas of Panama, from El Valle to Boquete and beyond.

Networking tools like LinkedIn (website: http://www.linkedin.com), Twitter (Twitter.com), and Facebook (website: http://www.facebook.com) are extremely popular in Panama and great ways to grow your network. You can create a profile for free and search Panama-related groups.

(The International Living Panama Facebook page is a great place to start, visit http://www.facebook.com/internationallivingpanama and “like” the page to begin posting or reading past posts. My photo album containing flyers on Fun Things to Do in Panama may be of interest).

Attending expat and local events is also a great way to get involved and meet new people. There are many websites where you can find out more, including:

• The Visitor, website: http://www.thevisitorpanama.com.

• Playa Community (Pacific beach communities): website: http://www.playacommunity.com.

• Expat Explorers: http://www.expatexplorers.com/

• Young Expats: http://www.facebook.com/YoungExpatsinPanama

All of the above are great resources if you want to find out what hangouts are popular with expats…places like Picasso in Coronado, the Tuesday Market in Boquete, and Rana Azul in Bocas del Toro.

If you have special interests, you can often find like-minded groups, from the Canadian Association to the local Kabbala or Harley/motorbike enthusiasts. Just search them online!

Expat contributors, writers, bloggers and more

• Jane Ellis lives, works and volunteers in Panama City’s Ancon sector. Her children go to one of the city’s excellent international schools. Check out her blog at http://www.Panamajama.com.

Elizabeth Slagle and her husband Larry opened a restaurant called Big Daddy’s Grill, Boquete. Check out the menu, photos, and Elizabeth’s irreverent blog here: http://slaglesatlarge.blogspot.com.

• Frauke Schnell de Muñoz is an expat living in Sora who also has a few cabins for rent there. Her e-mail address is fraukeschnellmunoz@yahoo.com.

• Linda McKee divides her time between Boquete and her eco-farm and lodge in Rambala, Bocas del Toro, where visitors sometimes volunteer in exchange for lodging. Her website is http://www.rambalajunglelodge.com.

• Susan and Jason Thomas own the Boquete Garden Inn in Boquete, website: http://www.boquetegardeninn.com.

• Richard Detrich owns a home in Boquete’s Valle Escondido development and a coffee farm. To read his blog visit: website: http://www.richarddetrich.wordpress.com.

• Sarah Booth lives in Coronado and owns properties for rent in Coronado and Panama City. To contact Sarah visit: website: http://www.panamaholidayhomes.com.

• Paul Haney develops property in Cerro Azul, where he lives with his son. Contact him at; cell +507 6695-4095; e-mail: paulfranklinh@yahoo.ca.

• Casey Halloran built B&B Casita Margarita in Pedasi and owns a regional travel agency; tel. +507 995-2898 or (866) 393-4192 (from the U.S. or Canada); e-mail: casey@costaricapages.com; website: http://www.pedasihotel.com.

• Cynthia Cudmore-Mulder owns Cerrito Tropical, apartments for rent and a restaurant on Taboga Island; website: http://www.cerritotropicalpanama.com.

• Patrick McGreer owns the Lost and Found Eco-Hostel in Chiriqui; e-mail pmcgreer@yahoo.com; website: http://www.lostandfoundlodge.com.

• Don Williams retired to David, Chiriqui in 2003, and writes an informative blog called http://www.chiriquichatter.net.

• Becky Thormahlen lives in El Valle, where she and her husband Larry run the famous Golden Frog Inn (also known as the Rana Dorada, in Spanish), website: http://www.goldenfroginn.com.

• Ingrid Senne lives in Pedasi with her husband, Roy. She owns the Buena Vida Language school in Pedasi, website: http://www.pedasispanishschool.com.

• Don Winner posts news translations (more geared toward residents who already know local politics, etc) and editorials at his website Panama Guide: http://www.panama-guide.com.

Choose your sources wisely
We’ve met and interviewed a great many expats over the years, most of whom are wonderful people, generous with contacts, information, and advice. However, past experience has taught us that many potential expats let down their guard when traveling and meeting locals or other expats. Be outgoing and make friends, but use the same good judgment you employ back home. Again, in our experience, most people are great. But it is also true that some people will only be “nice” because they want to sell you something or get something from you. Some people will try to convince you, after one too many margaritas, that you should buy their land without taking the time to do your due diligence (we call this the “margarita effect”). Some people will even have ulterior motives for bad-mouthing or praising Panama to you.
Take “free advice” with a grain of salt. Seek out local friends and resources that have nothing to gain from your decisions. And for news and editorial on Panama, trust reputable sources. Remember that bloggers, website owners, and forum posters aren’t generally monitored by any authority, whereas books, newspapers, and vetted news sources are kept in check by editors, publishers, and professional associations. So take blogs and website posts with a grain of salt, too.

KINDLY NOTE:

As Panama Correspondent I travel the country in order to write about it. Though I really enjoy meeting readers when I can, this usually happens for me at the two or three International Living events in which I am featured as a speaker every year. Because my focus is on writing, and because I’m often on the road, it’s nigh impossible for me to offer individual appointments. For example, I do not offer any consulting, concierge, or travel-related services.

Planning a visit? Here is some important information about Panama travel and resources:

Arriving/Departing: Most travelers fly into Tocumen International Airport, aka, the Hub of the Americas. Located in Panama City, Panama (call letters PTY), Tocumen is Panama’s only major international airport for commercial flights. Panama’s international airline, Copa, is Latin America’s largest airline and has helped transform Tocumen into the region’s busiest hub, with a plethora of direct and connecting flights.

The Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in Panama City (also referred to as Albrook, after the neighborhood in which it’s located) is a hub for domestic airline Air Panama.

The Enrique Malek airport in David, Chiriqui offers flights to and from Costa Rica; all other flights to and from David are domestic.

There are also small domestic airports or airstrips elsewhere in Panama, including the newly completed Rio Hato airport, the San Blas/Kunayala region, Chitre/Pedasi, Contadora Island, and Bocas del Toro.

Customs and Immigration: U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a passport to visit Panama. No visa application required.

Citizens from visa waiver countries, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay, may also visit Panama for up to 90 days without a visa*.

*This list is subject to change. Please always check with your nearest Panamanian consulate or your home country’s foreign affairs office prior to travel to ensure you have the latest information.

Country Information:

• Currency: Panama uses the U.S. dollar or $ (referred to as the Balboa or B/.). All bills are U.S. bills; you’ll find a mix of coins from different U.S. states as well as Panamanian coins (exact same size/specs as U.S. coins). Major credit cards are widely accepted in Panama City. Outside the city, you may need to use cash for some expenditures, including hotels/motels.
A good rule of thumb: A+A = Assume nothing + Ask before you go.

• Foreign exchange: this is not a country where you’ll find exchange posts around every corner. Withdraw U.S. Dollars from ATMs in Panama City, ask whether your hotel offers exchange services, or plan on getting to a bank during local operating hours.

• Climate: Panama is tropical with average temperatures of 88º F and two seasons: dry (summer) and wet (“winter”). The dry season is usually December through April. In highland regions such as Boquete, temperatures can drop to 60º F at night. No matter where you go in Panama, consider bringing a light cardigan or jacket (it can get cold on the beach when it rains and indoors due to strong air conditioning). For more information, consult Google News, The Weather Channel, or any other trusted news or weather source.

For help planning your visit contact your travel agent or make use of reduced travel websites such as Kayak.com. Low airfares are often available on Copa/United, visit: http://www.copaair.com for more information. Other airlines like Spirit also offer budget flights to Panama.

For help choosing a hotel and other information try review sites such as TripAdvisor.com. The Riande Airport Hotel (tel: +507-290 3333; website: http://www.hotelesriande.com) is close to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, but far from city conveniences.

Local tourism/travel contacts:

• Local Travel Agent: Casey Halloran, Co-Owner, Costa Rican Vacations & Panama Luxury Vacations, In Costa Rica: 1-800-606-1860 ext 401, In Panama: 1-866-393-4192, Web: http://www.vacationtopanama.com.

• Eco-tours and custom tours: http://www.anconexpeditions.com

• Road trips, tours, and ground transportation in Panama (including airport pickups): Inside Panama, email: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601; Turista Internacional, email: incentives2@turistaintl.com, website: http://www.turistaintl.com; Sealandsky Journeys, email: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847; Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, email: macoluche@hotmail.com.

• Rental Cars

There are many rental companies in Panama, including:

o National: http://www.nationalpanama.com/english/index.htm
o Hertz http://www.rentacarpanama.com/general/default.aspx
o Budget Rent A Car http://www.budgetpanama.com
o And more: http://www.panamatours.com/Services/serv_carentals.htm

* Taxis are available nearly everywhere and are very inexpensive. Fares within the greater metropolitan area are usually $3 to $5. Visits to outlying areas like the Panama Canal Miraflores visitor center can cost double.

Taxis do not use meters; they carry charts showing the price increase by district. Add $0.35 per additional person to the fare. Taxis charge extra for pickup at hotels, airports, and other tourist destinations. Any taxi can take you to the airport. Only special white “tourism taxis” are allowed to pick up passengers from the airport. Tocumen Airport fare is a flat fee of about $25. Private ground transport companies usually charge $35.

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers (unless the driver has gone above and beyond, carrying lot of luggage, acting as a tour guide, returning a lost item, etc.). Always ask the taxi driver what the fare will be before getting in.

IMPORTANT PANAMA HOLIDAYS 2013*

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 9 Martyr’s Day (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours)
February 8-12, Feb 13 Carnival & Ash Wednesday
March 28-31 Holy Week (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours Good Friday)
May 1 Labor Day (Moved to April 29 to create a long weekend)
August 15 Founding of Panama La Vieja (original city)
November 3-5, 10-11, 28 (Dec. 2) Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8 Mother’s Day
December 25 Christmas Day
* subject to change

[BILL PIATT]

Perfecto! Gracias, Jessica!

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Pleasure!

[HECTOR CONESA]

Hello, this is my first try to contact Panama Insider partners. I’ll be in Panama from March 28 to April 14, and I would like to have contact with people that could eventually match with the activities that I usually practice. I’m an argentinian, live in Buenos Aires, near to retire from my activities as a lawyer/notary. I like very much social dancing (salsa, tango, lambada, samba, and more recently lindy hop and charleston). I began recently to have kitesurfing lessons (probably I am near to stand up from water and begin to navigate). Can anyone of you help me with your advice, about where can I find places where people practices dancing and kitesurfing? I can communicate in spanish, english, italian and portuguese, and I would like to meet other people in Panama City and other locations by the sea with similar desires.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
my email: funnyh.ba@gmail.com

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Hector,

In addition to the above listed helpful contacts, you may also want to check The Visitor newspaper for dancing events (http://www.thevisitorpanama.com/) and the International Living Panama facebook (listed above) photos/albums section lists flyers for all kinds of events and organizations that you could look up and/or contact. As for kitesurfing perhaps try Nitro (www.nitrocitypanama.com) or http://www.kitesurfingpanama.com.

Regards,

[Author]

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