Although Panamanians are used to living with foreigners, a new wave of expats and retirees is coming in. As an international hub, now and forever, the country can boast a cultural diversity and booming economy that are very different from its Central American neighbors.
For a second consecutive year International Living has declared Panama as the number one place in the world to retire, a country where you can live a more relaxed life within a tropical climate after years of work and effort. This is clearly manifested everywhere, especially in expat hot spots such as Boquete, Coronado or Chame, locations where many foreigners have chosen to reside in.
Expats from all over the world have found a (second) home in Panama. Men and women, particularly from Canada, the United States and certain European countries have found happiness here, enticed by an open and overall friendly population.
So if you decide to visit, buy or rent a property in the growing Playa Caracol beach community you’re bound to find more than a few foreigners who are just like you, meaning people who are having a nice time by the ocean or striving for a lifestyle that is more in contact with nature.
To live surrounded by both expats and locals brings the world to your door, so to speak, and enhances your perception. It also allows you to practice your language skills, either Spanish or French, and it opens you to new life experiences and different perspectives, both personally and professionally.
This attitude makes some Panamanians act or feel as honorary ambassadors to their foreign guests, allowing them to show their pride for their country as they guide or share their culture with others. These exchanges create human connections, as well as feelings of empathy and understanding.
A considerable part of Playa Caracol’s expat community are older retirees. But a younger crowd can also be found here, those “working nomads” who have remote jobs for companies around the world and choose to stay in certain locations for a determined amount of time. You can talk to all of them about new ideas, projects or even business opportunities.
Expat living in Panama is a positive experience. And all of this just adds up to your experience at Playa Caraco, where a love for the ocean and nature is just the beginning.
