Expat Testimonials
Real stories from people who made the move. What they found, what surprised them, and what they wish they had known before relocating to Panama.
On the Relocation Process
"It was eye-opening and transformative. The team gave us absolutely everything we needed to feel confident about our move to Boquete. We would have made very costly mistakes without that professional support."
Sarah and Tom D.
Expats in Boquete — 2026
"We bought the guide a year ago and have already saved more than it cost us. We used the recommended immigration attorney, bought a car and handled the licenses. Absolutely worth every penny."
Marie
Permanent resident — March 2026
"We arrived as strangers and left as family. If you're planning to move to Panama, do it well-supported — you won't be disappointed."
Gena
Relocation to Panama — January 2026
"Having legal, medical, insurance and visa advice all in one place is invaluable. It would have taken me a year to gather all that information on my own, if I'd managed at all."
Luiz
October 2025
On Real Life as an Expat
"The level of medical care surprised me. My sister, a nurse in California, traveled here alarmed; once she saw the equipment and the care, she said it was more modern than the hospital where she works. That's priceless."
Expat resident
Emergency experience in Boquete
"The territorial system radically changes the financial equation. My US pension isn't taxed here, and on top of that I get 25% off restaurants and 20% off medical visits. The real purchasing power is impressive."
North American retiree
Pensionado visa holder — Chitré, since 2024
What Most Surprised Expats
Medical quality
Private hospitals affiliated with Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic — at 5–10% of US prices.
Doctor accessibility
Doctors give patients their personal cell number for follow-up. Unheard of in the US.
Real purchasing power
Pensionado discounts stack on top of already-low prices. The savings are real, not theoretical.
Community warmth
Expat communities are active, welcoming, and organized. You're not alone from day one.
Internet quality
Fiber internet in cities and Starlink in remote areas — better than many US rural areas.
Familiar shopping
PriceSmart (equivalent of Costco), Rey, El Machetazo — familiar brands and products.
Nature richness
900+ bird species, whale watching, marine parks, and volcanoes all within a 6-hour drive.
Dollar economy
No exchange rate to track. What you budget is what you pay — just like at home.
What Expats Wish They'd Known
Rent before you buy
Almost every experienced expat says the same thing: rent for at least 12 months before purchasing property. Areas feel very different after 6 months of rainy season.
Get WhatsApp immediately
Everything in Panama runs on WhatsApp — landlords, doctors, banks, local services, expat groups. It's not optional.
Don't compare to home
Panama is not a discount US. It's a different country with its own rhythms, systems, and way of doing things. Embracing that makes the difference.
The interior is underrated
Most expats start in Boquete or Panama City. Many discover that smaller towns like Chitré, Volcán, or Pedasí offer a better quality-of-life-to-cost ratio once they're ready.
Immigration takes time
The visa process is legitimate and thorough. Budget 6 months for the Pensionado visa, 2–3 years for Friendly Nations permanent residency. A good attorney makes this painless.
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