A great way to see everything Panama has to offer. If you are considering retirement or just being…read morea snowbird from the north, Panama might be a good fit.
I have had Panama Relocation Tours on my radar for several years. The COVID pandemic and work prevented me from scheduling a trip, so I finally decided to just pick a trip and put a down payment on it. I am so glad I did! My trip took place at the end of January 2023.
First of all, the trip is all-inclusive. Once you arrive at Tocumen Airport (PTY) at Panama City, everything is taken care of for the next week. Hotels, meals, fees, transportation - all covered. It was such a care-free experience that I didn't even bother to exchange my gringo dollars at the airport! A bonus - in spite of any safety concerns, I don't recall anyone on our tour that ever felt uncomfortable, no matter where we went.
Our tour had a mix of singles and couples, aged from perhaps the mid 30s all the way past 70 or so. Out of the 30 tourists on the trip, I would say most were middle class, with some upper class sprinkled in. Everyone was from the USA, and all spoke English, a few spoke Spanish as a second language. Attire during the trip was casual.
Our excursion started at Panama City. The first couple nights were spent at a very nice hotel. During the day, we toured in and around Panama City and the Canal Zone, looking at apartments and condos, places to rent, lease or buy. After looking in the city, soon we were on our way to places further west.
Our next stop was down the Pacific coast, at a nice condominium on the beach. Multiple units were shown, rates discussed, all questions were answered.
As we worked our way along the Pacific, we saw other real estate that was available. Each place along our trip was shown by a real estate agent who was well versed in the amenities of the location. Of the condos, apartments and houses we visited, there was something affordable for everyone.
Eventually, we reached the area where I was interested - Boquete, in the Chirique province. I had worked in the area decades prior while in the U.S. Armed Forces and wanted to visit there again. Our lodging in Boquete was great, with meals on-site. Boquete is a sort of tourist and expat destination, and we stayed in an eco-friendly hotel. Young adult backpackers were seen regularly in the city, some were single girls.The area is so very safe! English is spoken freely here, so it was possible for me to roam the streets and easily get by with the very little Spanish that I could remember.
Travel and accommodations were generally very good. Our bus driver was a Panamanian and spoke good English. As part of the team leading us, he was knowledgeable of the routes and was an exceptional driver. Meals during the week were good and plenty. You certainly will not walk away hungry from a meal on their tours. I gained weight while there.
During the week, group presentations were made at various stops. We spoke with an immigration lawyer, heard about US military veteran benefits, discussed health benefits and pricing for access to doctors, clinics and hospitals.We visited a hospital, so very modern with the latest technology. It would give the best hospitals in North America a run for their money. While on the bus, our two tour guides (Americans) educated us on so many topics, took questions, called ahead with menu selections when needed. If a problem arose, they worked tirelessly to resolve the situation.
Prior to the tour, I spent hundreds of hours researching the areas I might be interested in visiting. I especially looked at the many YouTube videos and social media provided by Panama Relocation Tours. On a related note, they generally host a live video session on YouTube every Saturday at 6pm Eastern, 5pm Central time.
As I reflect back on my time in Panama, I must say that I found the price I paid for the tour was money well spent. I highly recommend!!