F A Q’s

Relocating Here

How long can I stay in the country as a tourist?
The law was changed recently to allow a 3-month stay on a tourist visa and an extension for 3 months for $15. You must then leave the country for 72 hours. This can be done indefinitely. Latin countries treat tourists much better than their captive residence or citizens. If a country doesn't want a tourist why would you want to be there.

What immigration requirements are there for a retiree?
To qualify for retiree benefits by becoming a pensionado resident of Panama there are very few requirements:
• You must be in good health and free of AIDs (blood test at local lab is $25 and doctors exam is $10), have an up-to-date passport from your country of residence; and
• You must have a verifiable minimum monthly retirement income or pension of $500.00 per month - from a government or private company fund. For dependents such as a spouse or children, you must show an additional $100.00 of income per month for each.
• You can also obtain a retirement visa by depositing $100.000 in the National Bank of Panama. The interest from this account is proof to the government that you will be guaranteed a steady monthly income for subsistence. These funds will be returned if you leave country permanently.
There is a strong organization of retired Americans in Panama, and along with its generous retired tourist incentive program, the Panamanian government provides retirees with additional benefits: special "express lanes" in all public offices for retirees. You can bring in your household goods duty free and every two years your can bring in a new car duty-free. You typically receive discounts on consumer goods and service:

What discounts are available for the pensionado?
Typical discounts:
• Recreational, movies and sports events: 50%
• Public buses: 30%
• Boat & ship transportation: 30%
• National airlines flights: 25%
• Hotels Mon. - Thurs.: 50% Fri.- Sun: 30%
• Regular restaurants: 25%
• Fast food: 15%
• Hospitals (without insurance): 15%
• Prescription drugs: 10%
• Doctor visits and surgery: 20%
• Dental work: 15%
• Optometrist visits: 15%
• Electricity (if under $50 per month): 25%
• Telephone/water: 25%
• property tax is fixed until you sell
• 20-year tax exoneration on new construction

What is the tax exemption on new building and is it transferable?
As an incentive for new construction Panama offers a 20-year tax exemption on new construction. This exemption stays with the property and not the owner so it helps in resale.

Are property ownership and rights protected in Panama?
• Property Ownership is easy - foreigners can own property with few restrictions. Ownership can be conveyed in two ways: title and rights of possession. Titled property is similar to the way property is handled under U.S. real estate law with deeds recorded in the public registry. Rights of possession are handled by the agriculture department and also recorded. The most important difference in the two forms of ownership is that rights cannot be mortgaged.
• Your property is fully owned and "titled" to you. It is yours 100% and can be left to your next of kin. There is no yearly property tax on land, valued under $20,000.00
• Constitutionally the government cannot take possession of private property without following a condemnation process similar to the U.S.; the owner must be compensated for land and improvements at fair market value.
• There are very few zoning laws or building restrictions. One man is building an honest-to-goodness castle, concrete block by block just outside Boquete.
• Construction Costs are low, obviously depending on accessibility of the building site and degree of finish-out. An average cost is estimated between $30 and $40 per square foot.
• Presently there are no real estate taxes for twenty years on any new construction excluding land value.

The technical aspects of property ownership and your best options are best discussed with a qualified Panamanian lawyer. There are many good lawyers in Panama and their costs are very reasonable - a fraction of what you might pay in the U.S.

Can I bring in my dog or cat?
You sure can and it is not difficult. When you fly into Tocuman a Vet is at the airport to inspect you animal and give it any required shots. Bring your paperwork. They will charge you $140 for the various forms and you can leave with your animal.

What about health care?
There are a number of private clinics in David that provide good US quality care at less than half the cost you will find in the US. A friend recently reported that laser eye correction surgery that is almost $4000 in the US he got for $1000 in Panama City. Same equipment used in the states and the doctor is trained in the US. Another friend recently reported a root canal and three-tooth bridgework done for $700 as opposed to $5,000 for the same work in the US.

What about private health insurance?
Private health insurance is readily available and at much lower costs because of the lower doctor fees and hospital stay fees. Most of these low costs can be attributed to two major issues. Malpractice insurance is very low in Panama because the laws do not allow for frivolous lawsuits. The second reason is that the median income in Panama is around $300 a month so the health care cannot be expensive or no one would use it. Prescription drug costs are low as well. The drug companies price their products for the market. Many drugs that require a prescription in the US are available as over the counter in Panama.

What about safety and the stability of the Government?
Panama is the safest place in Central or South America (the Pinkerton Global Intelligence Agency recently gave Panama its highest rating for tourist safety). And it's the most developed place south of the United States (home to some of the top companies in the world, including 120 of the world's biggest banks, and other giants such as Federal Express, DHL, Sears, Price Costco, and Bell South).

Can I get employment in Panama?
A foreigner working in Panama requires a working visa which can be acquired as long as you are not displacing a Panamanian. In other words you cannot work unless you have a skill that no one here has. That makes it difficult to get employment.
The best way to make a living here is to become an entrepreneur. Open a business that provides products or services that people want. Here in Boquete we are in a boom. As long as you have a business that caters to the foreign market you may have success. Keep in mind that the average wage here is $250 a month so the local market is not going to buy the things the foreigners will.
How do you work here with your own business? Most people I know have a Panama Corporation and operate through that vehicle. You do not have to be a resident. Anyone can own a corporation and hire people to work there. You cannot hire yourself. You can take out profits and live on that although you would have to pay up to 30% taxes on the profits after expenses. Most people I know do not make a profit but live well.

Are there a lot of tourist's visiting Panama?
Very few foreigners, particularly Americans, consider Panama as a travel destination...and even fewer think of it as a "retirement haven." Look at the numbers:
In 1998, the last year for which the World Tourism Organization has tourist figures, the country's total overnight visitor count was 431,000…100,000 of whom came from the United States. To put this in perspective: Panama gets about as many American tourists in a year as Disneyland sees in three days! Panama has a long way to go before it can rival its northern neighbors Mexico and Costa Rica, for example, as a tourist destination. But this is good news for investors…because it means prices are still very low. And the upside potential is great.

What is the educational system like in Panama?
Private education is excellent in Panama; there are a number of accredited international schools and dozens of fine bilingual schools. At the university level, there are a dozen universities, including three U.S. universities with branches in Panama City.

What is the climate like in Boquete?
Because of the elevation, daytime temperatures rarely dip below 70, or climb above 80. Boquete is located at the base of the tallest peak in Panama, an extinct volcano called Baru. The surrounding mountains are covered with coffee, bananas, mangos, and palms. A river called the Caldera rushes through the middle of town and out to the Pacific Ocean, 45 kilometers away. From the upper rim of the valley you can see both the ocean and the Costa Rican border.

Because of the superb climate, the area around Boquete is lush and
verdant…Panamanians call it the "Valley of Flowers and Eternal Spring"…and it offers all manner of outdoor activities--hiking, biking, birding, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, trout fishing, gardening... The town is known throughout Panama for its coffee and its flowers. The Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair every January attracts thousands not only from throughout Panama, but from all over the world as well.

Coffee is picked from October through February, primarily by the Guaymi
Indians. This harvest season is a festive time when families, in traditional dress, come down from the mountains to work. The conditions in Boquete, in fact, are ideal for growing coffee, which is shipped to Europe and North America. You can sample it in the coffee shops in town.

Boquete began as a small farming community and prospered due to the rich volcanic soil and temperate climate. Development, though, has been slow in Boquete. While the nearby city of David has grown into a commercial center for production and trade of agriculture and industry in the Province of Chiriqui, Boquete has remained a quiet and peaceful place, much the way it has been for centuries.

How do I get my household furniture into the country?
The main costs associated with relocating are the transport of furniture and a vehicle. You can expect to pay between $3000-$4000 for a 40 foot container. It usually takes about three weeks to get from the states. You also must pay someone to pack it up in the US. Once here you will have to pay some duties on the goods. This will be between 5-8% depending on the items, which must be listed completely on a manifest. You can get the items in duty free if you have received a pensionado status but this must be applied for in Panama and will take a few months to be approved.
Shipping a car is more of a hassle where you will have to work with a company that ships vehicles. It is expensive and sometimes prohibitive. The duties are around 8% of the value, which is determined by the customs house here.

It is highly recommend that you sell most things because you can buy everything you need here and it is usually less than the US. This includes cars. There are many new car dealerships here in David. BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and more. Furniture and appliances can be bought either in David or Panama City. The second largest free zone in the world is located in Colon. Every imaginable goods can be purchased there at great prices. There are top name furniture showrooms such as Ethan Allen and Broyhill as well as a plethora of Colombian and Brazilian furniture stores. The money you save on shipping furniture and cars will go a long way to pay for new or good used.

Many items of course cannot be replaced and you can have them shipped relatively inexpensively by a freight forwarded in the US. You may spend $1000 or so for 500 lbs.

Are there any churches in the area?
There are a number of Churches nearby. Of course the Catholic Church is the largest but we have Pentecostal, Baptist and Seventh day Adventists. They all are in Spanish. As more people move to the area English speaking churches will spring up.

Is it difficult to get along without speaking the Spanish language?
There are some basic words and phrases that you need to learn and then over time you will pick it more. If you try to speak the language the people are very forgiving and helpful. Most of them really want to learn English.

Can a foreigner own fire arms?
You can own firearms here but you must get a psychological test done at a local clinic. This consists of a few questions about your past by a psychologist and a stamp. Then you can apply for a permit, which allows you to have a number of firearms.

Is there a 911 you can call for emergencies?
Here you dial 104 for police emergencies and 103 for fire. We have a local English speaking doctor that we call when we need him and for $10 he come to your house usually in a few minutes or you can go to his clinic in town. In David there are a number of public and private clinics with well-trained staff.

Is there good Internet service and what does it cost?
Cable and wireless has just installed a DSL system in Boquete. Dial up is also available. The cost of regular phone Internet access is $24 a month unlimited access. DSL is $59.00 / month and dial up is around $25.00 / month.

What is the cost of phone service?
Cable and wireless has a monopoly on the phone service here for several more years. They have several plans for residential use. One rate is $3.00 a month plus .02 per minute or fraction. Another is $5.00 a month and .01 per minute or fraction. The premier plan is $24 a month and unlimited local calls. Foreigners are required to put a $150 deposit while locals only $50. Foreigner leaving large phone bills unpaid is why this large deposit is required.

Is there Cellular phone service in Boquete?
Both Cable and Wireless and Bell South provide cellular service to the area. The rates vary depending on the plan. The per minute rate is from .11-.28 depending on which plan you have. Service is good through out the country and it can be used out to sea for many kilometers.

Are four-wheel drive vehicles required?
Fortunately Panama roads were mostly engineered by US Army personnel and are probably the best in all of Central or South America until you get to Argentina. If you were to drive down from the states you would think you are on a super highway once you cross the border into Panama compared to road conditions in Costa Rica and other Central American Countries. Many people drive regular vehicles here in Boquete. One fellow has a Mercedes 500sl because the roads are very good (and he has the money). Most people like four wheel drives here because they can go into some interesting areas inaccessible to cars and also because they are larger and safer.

Are there banks in Boquete?
Yes, we have 4 banks in this small town. One is a Panama National bank and the others are private. They issue Clave and visa cards, which give you access to cash at the one ATM in town. The interest on deposits usually is 2-3% higher than in the US. Global bank here has Internet service, which makes it quite convenient. The banks will require background information and references but they are much less stringent than the banks in Panama City. Remember that Panama is the only country where the US dollar is the official currency and the banks of course pay interest in US dollars. This is a major advantage to say Costa Rica where the Colones are the currency. You have exchange controls and charges that you do not have to deal with in Panama.

What about fishing in the Boquete area?
The only type of fishing available here is for rainbow trout. In Valle Escondido we have river for a catch and release and a pond where we feed them and you can catch and eat. Deep-sea fishing is the real water sport of the area. In less than an hour from Boquete you can be catching Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish, Marlin etc. Also diving is fabulous.

Are there a lot of earthquakes in the area?
We have minor earthquakes on an irregular basis. I have been here for almost 4 years and have felt 3-4. I remember one in particular that woke up the entire family and had us running out of the house at 3am. That quakes epicenter was in Costa Rica and was 6.5 on the scale there. There was no reported damage in the area to homes or businesses. The others have been small jolts or rumbles. You can check here or here for real time information on quakes in the area.

What about the Volcano? Is it dangerous?
Volcan Baru is reported to have erupted last about 800 years ago. NO one seems to know if this was the big one or how many times it has erupted. It is obvious from looking at it that when it blew, it took about 20% or maybe 1000 feet of material off the top and through it to the south towards the city of David. On the way from David you can see the large volume of boulders that have been turned into fencing in order to clear the land for cattle.

What about working in Boquete?
If you are going to be a pensionado and receive the benefits associated with that status you cannot by law work. You can how ever own a corporation a run it without taking a salary. Any profits you would need to pay taxes on of about 30%.

What does the term ex-pat refer to?
It is a bit of a misnomer. "Ex-pat" does not come from ex-patriot, it is an abbreviation of the word expatriate which means out of one's own country. It does not mean we are no longer patriots but that we have chosen to live and or work out of our home country.

What about bugs??
Fortunately we have no mosquitoes up here in this cool area. There are other bugs and for the most part very harmless. It is really amazing the size they can reach. Certain time of the year there will be many of one or another variety of huge moths and other unknown critters.

Are shots necessary?
The US government advises it. Most people find after arriving that it was not really needed. Take your doctors advice.

F A Q's Relocating Here Boquete Highlands Mortgage deals with Panama real estate, including Panama City Mortgage and Real Estate Boquete Highland Park. Whether you already have a certain interest in Panama Real Estate and ranch and farms of Real Estate Boquete Highland Park, or yet know absolutely nothing about Panama, Panama Real Estate, Panama City Mortgage, Boquete Highlands Mortgage and Real Estate Boquete Highland Park - the information presented on this page will be interesting and useful for everybody. We tried to answer here to the most significant questions that may arise when thinking about going to Panama, especially if you are thinking about becoming an owner of Panama Real Estate and interested in Boquete Highlands Mortgage offers. What will your everyday life look like and what can your account for upon residence here - we hope the information below will help you to orientate yourself in major question concerning visiting and living in Panama, arise interest in buying Panama Real Estate and serve as an essential guide to your future traveling here or possible residence on one of the beautiful ranch and farms in Boquete. How long can I stay in the country as a tourist? The law was changed recently to allow a 3-month stay on a tourist visa and an extension for 3 months for $15. You must then leave the country for 72 hours. This can be done indefinitely. Latin countries treat tourists much better than their captive residence or citizens. If a country doesn't want a tourist why would you want to be there. What immigration requirements are there for a retiree? To qualify for retiree benefits by becoming a pensionado resident of Panama there are very few requirements: o You must be in good health and free of AIDs (blood test at local lab is $25 and doctors exam is $10), have an up-to-date passport from your country of residence; and o You must have a verifiable minimum monthly retirement income or pension of $500.00 per month - from a government or private company fund. For dependents such as a spouse or children, you must show an additional $100.00 of income per month for each. o You can also obtain a retirement visa by depositing $100.000 in the National Bank of Panama. The interest from this account is proof to the government that you will be guaranteed a steady monthly income for subsistence. These funds will be returned if you leave country permanently. There is a strong organization of retired Americans in Panama, and along with its generous retired tourist incentive program, the Panamanian government provides retirees with additional benefits: special "express lanes" in all public offices for retirees. You can bring in your household goods duty free and every two years your can bring in a new car duty-free. You typically receive discounts on consumer goods and service: What discounts are available for the pensionado? Typical discounts: o Recreational, movies and sports events: 50% o Public buses: 30% o Boat & ship transportation: 30% o National airlines flights: 25% o Hotels Mon. - Thurs.: 50% Fri.- Sun: 30% o Regular restaurants: 25% o Fast food: 15% o Hospitals (without insurance): 15% o Prescription drugs: 10% o Doctor visits and surgery: 20% o Dental work: 15% o Optometrist visits: 15% o Electricity (if under $50 per month): 25% o Telephone/water: 25% o property tax is fixed until you sell o 20-year tax exoneration on new construction What is the tax exemption on new building and is it transferable? As an incentive for new construction Panama offers a 20-year tax exemption on new construction. This exemption stays with the property and not the owner so it helps in resale. Are property ownership and rights protected in Panama? o Property Ownership is easy - foreigners can own property with few restrictions. Ownership can be conveyed in two ways: title and rights of possession. Titled property is similar to the way property is handled under U.S. real estate law with deeds recorded in the public registry. Rights of possession are handled by the agriculture department and also recorded. The most important difference in the two forms of ownership is that rights cannot be mortgaged. o Your property is fully owned and "titled" to you. It is yours 100% and can be left to your next of kin. There is no yearly property tax on land, valued under $20,000.00 o Constitutionally the government cannot take possession of private property without following a condemnation process similar to the U.S.; the owner must be compensated for land and improvements at fair market value. o There are very few zoning laws or building restrictions. One man is building an honest-to-goodness castle, concrete block by block just outside Boquete. o Construction Costs are low, obviously depending on accessibility of the building site and degree of finish-out. An average cost is estimated between $30 and $40 per square foot. o Presently there are no real estate taxes for twenty years on any new construction excluding land value. The technical aspects of property ownership and your best options are best discussed with a qualified Panamanian lawyer. There are many good lawyers in Panama and their costs are very reasonable - a fraction of what you might pay in the U.S. Can I bring in my dog or cat? You sure can and it is not difficult. When you fly into Tocuman a Vet is at the airport to inspect you animal and give it any required shots. Bring your paperwork. They will charge you $140 for the various forms and you can leave with your animal. What about health care? There are a number of private clinics in David that provide good US quality care at less than half the cost you will find in the US. A friend recently reported that laser eye correction surgery that is almost $4000 in the US he got for $1000 in Panama City. Same equipment used in the states and the doctor is trained in the US. Another friend recently reported a root canal and three-tooth bridgework done for $700 as opposed to $5,000 for the same work in the US. What about private health insurance? Private health insurance is readily available and at much lower costs because of the lower doctor fees and hospital stay fees. Most of these low costs can be attributed to two major issues. Malpractice insurance is very low in Panama because the laws do not allow for frivolous lawsuits. The second reason is that the median income in Panama is around $300 a month so the health care cannot be expensive or no one would use it. Prescription drug costs are low as well. The drug companies price their products for the market. Many drugs that require a prescription in the US are available as over the counter in Panama. What about safety and the stability of the Government? Panama is the safest place in Central or South America (the Pinkerton Global Intelligence Agency recently gave Panama its highest rating for tourist safety). And it's the most developed place south of the United States (home to some of the top companies in the world, including 120 of the world's biggest banks, and other giants such as Federal Express, DHL, Sears, Price Costco, and Bell South). Can I get employment in Panama? A foreigner working in Panama requires a working visa which can be acquired as long as you are not displacing a Panamanian. In other words you cannot work unless you have a skill that no one here has. That makes it difficult to get employment. The best way to make a living here is to become an entrepreneur. Open a business that provides products or services that people want. Here in Boquete we are in a boom. As long as you have a business that caters to the foreign market you may have success. Keep in mind that the average wage here is $250 a month so the local market is not going to buy the things the foreigners will. How do you work here with your own business? Most people I know have a Panama Corporation and operate through that vehicle. You do not have to be a resident. Anyone can own a corporation and hire people to work there. You cannot hire yourself. You can take out profits and live on that although you would have to pay up to 30% taxes on the profits after expenses. Most people I know do not make a profit but live well. Are there a lot of tourist's visiting Panama? Very few foreigners, particularly Americans, consider Panama as a travel destination...and even fewer think of it as a "retirement haven." Look at the numbers: In 1998, the last year for which the World Tourism Organization has tourist figures, the country's total overnight visitor count was 431,000…100,000 of whom came from the United States. To put this in perspective: Panama gets about as many American tourists in a year as Disneyland sees in three days! Panama has a long way to go before it can rival its northern neighbors Mexico and Costa Rica, for example, as a tourist destination. But this is good news for investors…because it means prices are still very low. And the upside potential is great. What is the educational system like in Panama? Private education is excellent in Panama; there are a number of accredited international schools and dozens of fine bilingual schools. At the university level, there are a dozen universities, including three U.S. universities with branches in Panama City. What is the climate like in Boquete? Because of the elevation, daytime temperatures rarely dip below 70, or climb above 80. Boquete is located at the base of the tallest peak in Panama, an extinct volcano called Baru. The surrounding mountains are covered with coffee, bananas, mangos, and palms. A river called the Caldera rushes through the middle of town and out to the Pacific Ocean, 45 kilometers away. From the upper rim of the valley you can see both the ocean and the Costa Rican border. Because of the superb climate, the area around Boquete is lush and verdant…Panamanians call it the "Valley of Flowers and Eternal Spring"…and it offers all manner of outdoor activities--hiking, biking, birding, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, trout fishing, gardening... The town is known throughout Panama for its coffee and its flowers. The Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair every January attracts thousands not only from throughout Panama, but from all over the world as well. Coffee is picked from October through February, primarily by the Guaymi Indians. This harvest season is a festive time when families, in traditional dress, come down from the mountains to work. The conditions in Boquete, in fact, are ideal for growing coffee, which is shipped to Europe and North America. You can sample it in the coffee shops in town. Boquete began as a small farming community and prospered due to the rich volcanic soil and temperate climate. Development, though, has been slow in Boquete. While the nearby city of David has grown into a commercial center for production and trade of agriculture and industry in the Province of Chiriqui, Boquete has remained a quiet and peaceful place, much the way it has been for centuries. How do I get my household furniture into the country? The main costs associated with relocating are the transport of furniture and a vehicle. You can expect to pay between $3000-$4000 for a 40 foot container. It usually takes about three weeks to get from the states. You also must pay someone to pack it up in the US. Once here you will have to pay some duties on the goods. This will be between 5-8% depending on the items, which must be listed completely on a manifest. You can get the items in duty free if you have received a pensionado status but this must be applied for in Panama and will take a few months to be approved. Shipping a car is more of a hassle where you will have to work with a company that ships vehicles. It is expensive and sometimes prohibitive. The duties are around 8% of the value, which is determined by the customs house here. It is highly recommend that you sell most things because you can buy everything you need here and it is usually less than the US. This includes cars. There are many new car dealerships here in David. BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and more. Furniture and appliances can be bought either in David or Panama City. The second largest free zone in the world is located in Colon. Every imaginable goods can be purchased there at great prices. There are top name furniture showrooms such as Ethan Allen and Broyhill as well as a plethora of Colombian and Brazilian furniture stores. The money you save on shipping furniture and cars will go a long way to pay for new or good used. Many items of course cannot be replaced and you can have them shipped relatively inexpensively by a freight forwarded in the US. You may spend $1000 or so for 500 lbs. Are there any churches in the area? There are a number of Churches nearby. Of course the Catholic Church is the largest but we have Pentecostal, Baptist and Seventh day Adventists. They all are in Spanish. As more people move to the area English speaking churches will spring up. Is it difficult to get along without speaking the Spanish language? There are some basic words and phrases that you need to learn and then over time you will pick it more. If you try to speak the language the people are very forgiving and helpful. Most of them really want to learn English. Can a foreigner own fire arms? You can own firearms here but you must get a psychological test done at a local clinic. This consists of a few questions about your past by a psychologist and a stamp. Then you can apply for a permit, which allows you to have a number of firearms. Is there a 911 you can call for emergencies? Here you dial 104 for police emergencies and 103 for fire. We have a local English speaking doctor that we call when we need him and for $10 he come to your house usually in a few minutes or you can go to his clinic in town. In David there are a number of public and private clinics with well-trained staff. Is there good Internet service and what does it cost? Cable and wireless has just installed a DSL system in Boquete. Dial up is also available. The cost of regular phone Internet access is $24 a month unlimited access. DSL is $59.00 / month and dial up is around $25.00 / month. What is the cost of phone service? Cable and wireless has a monopoly on the phone service here for several more years. They have several plans for residential use. One rate is $3.00 a month plus .02 per minute or fraction. Another is $5.00 a month and .01 per minute or fraction. The premier plan is $24 a month and unlimited local calls. Foreigners are required to put a $150 deposit while locals only $50. Foreigner leaving large phone bills unpaid is why this large deposit is required. Is there Cellular phone service in Boquete? Both Cable and Wireless and Bell South provide cellular service to the area. The rates vary depending on the plan. The per minute rate is from .11-.28 depending on which plan you have. Service is good through out the country and it can be used out to sea for many kilometers. Are four-wheel drive vehicles required? Fortunately Panama roads were mostly engineered by US Army personnel and are probably the best in all of Central or South America until you get to Argentina. If you were to drive down from the states you would think you are on a super highway once you cross the border into Panama compared to road conditions in Costa Rica and other Central American Countries. Many people drive regular vehicles here in Boquete. One fellow has a Mercedes 500sl because the roads are very good (and he has the money). Most people like four wheel drives here because they can go into some interesting areas inaccessible to cars and also because they are larger and safer. Are there banks in Boquete? Yes, we have 4 banks in this small town. One is a Panama National bank and the others are private. They issue Clave and visa cards, which give you access to cash at the one ATM in town. The interest on deposits usually is 2-3% higher than in the US. Global bank here has Internet service, which makes it quite convenient. The banks will require background information and references but they are much less stringent than the banks in Panama City. Remember that Panama is the only country where the US dollar is the official currency and the banks of course pay interest in US dollars. This is a major advantage to say Costa Rica where the Colones are the currency. You have exchange controls and charges that you do not have to deal with in Panama. What about fishing in the Boquete area? The only type of fishing available here is for rainbow trout. In Valle Escondido we have river for a catch and release and a pond where we feed them and you can catch and eat. Deep-sea fishing is the real water sport of the area. In less than an hour from Boquete you can be catching Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish, Marlin etc. Also diving is fabulous. Are there a lot of earthquakes in the area? We have minor earthquakes on an irregular basis. I have been here for almost 4 years and have felt 3-4. I remember one in particular that woke up the entire family and had us running out of the house at 3am. That quakes epicenter was in Costa Rica and was 6.5 on the scale there. There was no reported damage in the area to homes or businesses. The others have been small jolts or rumbles. You can check here or here for real time information on quakes in the area. What about the Volcano? Is it dangerous? Volcan Baru is reported to have erupted last about 800 years ago. NO one seems to know if this was the big one or how many times it has erupted. It is obvious from looking at it that when it blew, it took about 20% or maybe 1000 feet of material off the top and through it to the south towards the city of David. On the way from David you can see the large volume of boulders that have been turned into fencing in order to clear the land for cattle. What about working in Boquete? If you are going to be a pensionado and receive the benefits associated with that status you cannot by law work. You can how ever own a corporation a run it without taking a salary. Any profits you would need to pay taxes on of about 30%. What does the term ex-pat refer to? It is a bit of a misnomer. "Ex-pat" does not come from ex-patriot, it is an abbreviation of the word expatriate which means out of one's own country. It does not mean we are no longer patriots but that we have chosen to live and or work out of our home country. What about bugs?? Fortunately we have no mosquitoes up here in this cool area. There are other bugs and for the most part very harmless. It is really amazing the size they can reach. Certain time of the year there will be many of one or another variety of huge moths and other unknown critters. Are shots necessary? The US government advises it. Most people find after arriving that it was not really needed. Take your doctors advice.