In Focus: Panama

An hour's boat ride away from Santa Catalina, a surf town just east of Panama's Azuero Peninsula, is Parque Nacional...

Water rushing over rocks... lush, tropical jungle... the music of hundreds of exotic birds... This is what Frank Stegmeier wakes...

Before the pandemic, back when it never would've occurred to us that face masks would be essential parts of our...

Panama may not be known as a global environmental steward... especially when compared with its neighbor to the west, Costa...

While they both have so much to offer right now, Panama and Colombia couldn't be more different. We've been alerting...

Julia, our Simon Letter Managing Editor, is a first-generation Panama immigrant. In fact, she was the first person in her...

The Panama Canal Railway opened in 1855 and was the world's first transcontinental railroad, creating an easy way to traverse...

The first time I saw the Baha'i Temple in Panama City it made an impression... Painted brilliant white and shaped...

Bocas del Toro stands out from the rest of Panama… The vibe here is Caribbean-Calypso. The people are unfailingly good-natured,...

White sand beaches and sunny days… No snow to shovel… Leaving behind the stresses of everyday life… These are just...

Hindsight is 2020... and we’ve definitely learned a lot this year. Cities have been eerily quiet during the pandemic and...

Panama is a gorgeous, diverse country with everything from white-sand beaches on the Atlantic coast to the capital of Panama...

For over seven months I have been stranded in Canada due to COVID-19. But now that flights are allowed, I...

Depending on your perspective, New Year’s Eve celebrations in Panama are either loathsome or lovable. I take the latter point...

The other day a friend asked, “Is that ‘White Christmas’?” The song was in Spanish, but the tune was easily...

Some things we take for granted living in the United States, Canada, and other developed countries. Things that tourists and...

Theodore Roosevelt wanted to extend U.S. power and reach. He wanted a strong navy, and he wanted his naval force...

Moving a pet across international borders can be a daunting process, but not an impossible one. There are only a...

Now that Panama has reopened her borders and eased quarantine restrictions, I'm reminding myself of all the reasons this little...

Seven months into this pandemic, and we still don’t know what the “new normal” might be. Here in Panama we’ve...

Traveling has always enriched my life. Simply studying different countries and people in books and other media is eye-opening... But...

Many who visit Panama come away praising the country for its thriving economy, in which everybody benefits and products are...

I was excited to find the Mercado de Mariscos during my first year of living in Panama. I love seafood....

Panama City is still under strict lockdown. Men and women are allowed to go out on certain days, at certain...

Is it possible to cross borders by car in Latin America?... This is a question I get asked a lot...

Panama is surrounded by countless stunning islands that add to her allure. But none are as steeped in history or...

Al van Meurs decided to move from Canada to Panama due to this country's welcoming nature toward foreign investors. Soon...

The rainy season is upon us. Here in Panama this time of year, it doesn’t rain all day or even...

As the backbone of Panama's ever-expanding economy, Panama City is constantly under pressure. Many of its residents work high-stress office...

"I can find almost everything and anything here!" I said in astonishment when I found a can of ackee, one...

I have been asked countless times by those considering retiring to Panama or simply planning a vacation here, about the...

If you're looking for easy living in the tropics, Panama and Costa Rica would be your best choices. Knowing which...

New Years has come and gone, but hopefully everyone is still hanging on to their resolutions or at least deciding...

Ecology. The Environment. Recycling. These are the constant buzz words in circulation these days, and Panama has climbed aboard that...

I don’t consider myself an investment-savvy person… Or at least I didn’t when I moved to Panama in 2005, at...

Spain is quite diverse. Faced with such diversity, where should you begin your explorations? Start here.The railroad rumbles through town...

Buying a car in Panama can be an adventure. My first attempt culminated in the loss of US$6,000 and a...

Think palm trees swaying in the breeze, crystal clear water, and white-sand beaches. Then add pelicans overhead, starfish within yards...

Celebrating Christmas or any other holiday in a foreign country can be a truly enjoyable experience. Panama offers all the...

Occasionally, I get a free day in Panama City and I get a little bored because, if we are going...

The Panama Canal has long been the feather in this country's cap—not only for its huge profitability, but for the...

This time of year, the world's superstitious side comes out strongly... whether its black cats or falling brooms, Halloween seems...

Panama has long been known as one of the oldest and best-known tax havens in the world. Now the country...

"What is there to do in Panama?" "What do you do for fun there?" These are popular questions frequently asked...

You found the perfect house or the perfect lot in your dream location. There is just one problem: It needs...

The best advice for foreign investors, expats looking for the next exciting community, or people enjoying life here in Panama...

Elaborate, exotic resorts have always been alluring... but, these days, more and more people opt for small, specialized bed and...

If you've been in Panama a while or you're considering investing in Panama, you've probably heard about the road to...

While on a road trip from my home near Dolega to Volcán, nestled in the mountains of the Chiriquí highlands,...

You don’t hear much about wellness practitioners living and earning money overseas… Maybe it’s because we’re the free-spirited types, or...