For anyone interested in retiring in Panama, I highly recommend Panama Relocation Tours. Craig and I took the tour in August 2018 and were very impressed. Let me say that so many of your questions and concerns will be answered by Jackie Lange, the owner. You will receive your own personal Guide Book that you can refer to after the tour. You will meet an immigration attorney who will answer your questions, meet expats who have made Panama their home, and visit various places from Panama City, to Coronado, to Las Tablas, David, Boquete, and more.
Almost immediately after the tour, we initiated the Visa process with Attorney Marcos Kraemer. I cannot say enough nice things about our experience with him. I will report on this in another post.
While on the tour, we met some great people from various places throughout the US and Canada, and also South Africa. Some of these people are in the process of getting their Residency Visas as well. It was wonderful meeting so many people from all over, all with the desire to live in Panama being our common denominator.
You will be greeted on the first day of the tour in Panama City where Jackie will meet and greet everyone on the tour and give a talk. You will also get a chance to talk to an immigration lawyer and ask him/her questions. After that, you head out into a very comfortable air conditioned Panama Relocation Bus. While we drive, Jackie picks different topics each day to talk about. You learn not only the good things, but the not so good as well. And for us, the good far outweighs the not so good. If you have questions she can’t answer, she will find out for you and have an answer for you. Even after the tour, Jackie will respond to your questions and continue to help you. You will also have access to a private Facebook Group for Relocation Tour Alumni where you can chat with other alumni and is another vital resource.
If you are looking to get away from the cold northern winters and are looking for a warm escape for retirement, I recommend you have a look at Panama. You can have it all there…from the metropolitan city of Panama City, to David, the 2nd largest city, to sleepy beach towns, expat communities, mountains towns where the climate is spring-like all year long. And, you don’t have to be a millionaire, there are many affordable options, from being in a gated community and having all the amenities you are used to, to very inexpensive options.
I also want to mention that Panama Relocation Tours WILL NOT try to sell you real estate! They are a pure “Boots on the Ground” tour in which you will get to see “The Real Panama.”
Our experiences with the people of Panama are pretty amazing. Life is at a slower pace and it shows. The smiles on everyone’s faces show how much they love their country. We met a lot of warm and friendly Panamanians who we like to call friends.
In my opinion, there really is no other way than to invest in taking this tour. You will become equipped with the knowledge to help you move forward with your decision to move to Panama.