Just visited Panama City & Bocas del Toro Panama...

[supernova72]

Hello,

I'm not retired but within that 5 yr mark if things go as planned. I've considered spending part of my retirement time living in a warmer climate than Seattle WA from Jan-May timeframe.

I've visited Thailand (I know, I know) and the Philippines up until this point when I visited Panama for the first time June of 2013.

It was a quick trip with one day in Panama City being tourist for a day and 5 days in Bocas del Toro (just 300 miles away) again just being a tourist and hanging out.

Initial thoughts are living expenses would be ~ 50% less than Seattle WA. Folks are real nice and lots of ex-pat types. Nice and warm of course and not as much of the adult playground atmosphere like Thailand for PI (from what I saw).

I'm wondering if other forum members have information regarding the city "David" in Panama? Panama City is a nice big city and Bocas was more of a smallish surfer, hostel, backpacker crowd from what I could see.

So far I'm having a hard time finding a "warmer/dryer" climate that does't have a really sticky humid factor as well

Thanks in advance. Cheers.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I've never been there, but I was interested in Panama for a while years ago and read up on it.

From all accounts, David is hot-very hot, as in caliente. Sticky as well.

There are a few pix of David in this mix of photos from Google:
david panama - Google Search

Many folks from the Pacific North Wet winter in Mazatlan. We liked it.

Baja looks interesting to me lately. Ensenada is said to have a nice climate.

 

[supernova72]

I've never been there, but I was interested in Panama for a while years ago and read up on it.

From all accounts, David is hot-very hot, as in caliente. Sticky as well.

There are a few pix of David in this mix of photos from Google:
david panama - Google Search

Many folks from the Pacific North Wet winter in Mazatlan. We liked it.

Baja looks interesting to me lately. Ensenada is said to have a nice climate.

Thanks Ed TG-- I was also thinking the Baja as an option and have been to Cabo several times although that is vacation stuff vs. living stuff when I visit.

I did read one review on Trip Advisor that said David Panama was "Hot, crowded, and not appealing" by one reviewer.

Thanks again for the feedback and links to pics. Cheers.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

For retirement, you might consider Guadalajara or the Lake Chapala area. Great climate, I hear. Lake Chapala has been described as "Mexico with training wheels".

 

[NYEXPAT]

If you liked Panama then maybe you should check out Boquete!

 

[daylatedollarshort]

We saw a House Hunter's International show living in a high rise condo in Panama City. It looked like an intriguing lifestyle.

 

[sparkee]

Look around Volcan as well -- nicer climate than David and cheaper than Boquete (although I've seen reasonable prices near Boquete online recently).

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

The weather is nice in Volcan and Boquete, but there is nothing to do there.

 

[supernova72]

For retirement, you might consider Guadalajara or the Lake Chapala area. Great climate, I hear. Lake Chapala has been described as "Mexico with training wheels".

"Mexico on training wheels" that is funny and thanks for the tip on Guadalajara!! I will do some research on the interweb

 

[supernova72]

If you liked Panama then maybe you should check out Boquete!

You know, since I've been back I've heard more about Boquete. I'll check it out!!

 

[supernova72]

The weather is nice in Volcan and Boquete, but there is nothing to do there.

Shoot, the "nothing to do" part would be a drawback. I'm a fitness friendly kind of guy. Thanks for the info!

 

[heyyou]

Somewhere, latitude and altitude combine to make a steady temperature that suits many. Boquete and Volcan are candidates.

 

[supernova72]

Somewhere, latitude and altitude combine to make a steady temperature that suits many. Boquete and Volcan are candidates.

Thanks again. I did do a little research on these locations but want to do more. Altitude might be the key to cooler/less humid climate. Thanks again.

 

[papadad111]

Can you give some more compare/contrast of Panama to Philippines and Thailand. Spent much time in the latter two, both being OK retirement destinations but each with some drawbacks too (nothing perfect). Have not been to Panama, spent time only in Costa Rica. Curious about ecuador too.

Anyway, more insight helpful. thanks for post in advance. Been expat for 25 years mostly in Asia so far....doubt i will ever be able to "settle down" to retirement in USA at some point....so searching for a few alternate locations to bounce around. must be some Gypsy blood in me... can't sit still.......

 

[supernova72]

Can you give some more compare/contrast of Panama to Philippines and Thailand. Spent much time in the latter two, both being OK retirement destinations but each with some drawbacks too (nothing perfect). Have not been to Panama, spent time only in Costa Rica. Curious about ecuador too.

Anyway, more insight helpful. thanks for post in advance. Been expat for 25 years mostly in Asia so far....doubt i will ever be able to "settle down" to retirement in USA at some point....so searching for a few alternate locations to bounce around. must be some Gypsy blood in me... can't sit still.......

Sorry for the delay here. First impression of Panama City and even Bocas del Toro also in Panama is this is not a 3rd world country. With my last three trips being in SE Asia I was expecting about the same infrastructure wise but was pleasantly surprised that is was: cleaner, had sidewalks (continuous), wifi, good transportation, etc.

You won't get the full on adult playground factor but then again nothing really compares in SE Asia in that dept. So I'm guessing if Pattaya Thailand is in your wheelhouse you'd be disappointed on that front.

Costs are about half of the U.S. vs. maybe 1/3 for SE Asia. Food was good. It would help to know some Spanish but certainly not mandatory. If you have any specific questions just let me know.

 

[Kimo]

I moved to Hawaii and have never looked back.......like anywhere else, there are humid places here but also very "normal" places, except, in the winter it is 73 degrees.

 

[kcowan]

We live in PV with numerous expats from Seattle and California. January to June is definitely a problem but Nov 1 - April 30 is great. Our friends from Seattle who live there full time escape to the mountains (San Miguel de Allende) in the summer.

I think we have all concluded that no one place is good year round. Even Hawaii is very humid even though the Trade Winds cool you off. Plus it is very expensive.

 

[supernova72]

We live in PV with numerous expats from Seattle and California. January to June is definitely a problem but Nov 1 - April 30 is great. Our friends from Seattle who live there full time escape to the mountains (San Miguel de Allende) in the summer.

I think we have all concluded that no one place is good year round. Even Hawaii is very humid even though the Trade Winds cool you off. Plus it is very expensive.

Thanks for the input. I'm the OP and just for clarification on the above info it says Jan-June is not good but Nov-April is good? Maybe May-Oct is not good?

Thanks.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

We live in PV with numerous expats from Seattle and California. January to June is definitely a problem but Nov 1 - April 30 is great. Our friends from Seattle who live there full time escape to the mountains (San Miguel de Allende) in the summer.

I think we have all concluded that no one place is good year round. Even Hawaii is very humid even though the Trade Winds cool you off. Plus it is very expensive.

A very thoughtful observation, Kieth. We would rotate to Bellingham instead of SMA as long as we could.

Puebla has attracted my interest lately. 7000+ ft (means fewer bugs). Weather, industry, culture, relative security. Problem: you can't see the Pacific from there. PV is on the radar, though.

 

[papadad111]

Good insight. So as far as I can tell, Panama is likely not a whole lot cheaper than a smaller mid-west city ( typically cost of living runs about half the prices of places like SFO or Seattle in basic living costs....housing probably even less)....

So panama may not be much of a bargain place compared to thailand or philippines, But really I like the idea of an alternative to SE Asia ....may be a few hours easier to get to, less time zone management, geographic and climate diversity etc. Probably a reasonable 4 months per year place.

I intend to hop around -- 4 months stateside, 4 months SE asia, and 4 months somewhere else in central or south america..... game plan forming.

 

[kcowan]

Thanks for the input. I'm the OP and just for clarification on the above info it says Jan-June is not good but Nov-April is good? Maybe May-Oct is not good?

Thanks.

From mid-June to end of Sept., it is hot, rainy and humid. Worst in Aug-Sept. Mid-Nov to end of April is perfect. Sunny dry beautiful. May to mid-June is hot and humid but no rain, same with Oct to mid-Nov.
Keith