Getting Around Malibu
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Getting in
Citizens of many countries, US citizens included, may enter Panama without a visa, but are required to purchase a tourist card on arrival (cost US$5, allows a 30-day stay). The cost is $13 (US) for a visa stamp to enter at Bocas del Toro, when arriving by airplane, as of May 2008. Entry requirements are proof of
* a return ticket out of Panama
* possession of US$500 in cash or travelers' checks
* vaccination for yellow fever--only if coming from a country where yellow fever occurs (includes most of Latin America but not USA).
In practice, border officials may be lax about checking clean-cut travelers coming from the USA or other developed countries.
Getting Around
There are two kinds of buses in Panama. The ones you find on the highway, and "city buses". The highway buses are constantly making journeys from terminals in Panama city to different destinations along the Pan American Highway, and back to the terminal. They're pretty frequent, and the buses will pick you up or drop you off at any point along their route, and most of them are air conditioned. The roughly linear shape of the country makes it ideal for a bus system, so ideal in fact that you don't really need to rent a car to get around most areas. Take a bus to the intersection on the Pan American highway that you want. You can get on a bus any place on the Pan American highway going towards Panama City, but all trips originating from within the city require a ticket. The Grand Terminal in the city is large and modern, and will remind you of an American shopping mall or airport (it actually is a shopping mall, Albrook Mall, too).
If you want to get on a bus, stand by the side of the road, hold you out your arm and make obvious pointing motions toward the ground. If you're on the bus and want to get off, yell "parada!" or tell the driver in advance. You'll get the hang of it pretty quick. The locals are very helpful with tourists on buses, and may offer help.
The highway buses are very cheap, count on a fare of about US$1 per hour traveled, sometimes less. One exception is fares from Tocumen airport, which both buses and taxis charge through the roof for (by Panamanian standards), simply because they can.
City buses are different. They are crowded, decoratively painted school buses, often unairconditioned, with a flat rate of 25 cents to any location in Panama City. They can be fun, but have a reputation for being dangerous, both in driving and the likelihood of encountering criminals. They can be fun to take a couple of times, but once you've done it, best to take a taxi, which won't be that much more expensive anyways. They definitely have a particular style apart from other Central American countries. They look as if a bunch of 60's hippies decided to drive as far south as they could go in school buses, and when they could go no further, they stopped and started a bus company. If you like Salsa Music, you'll be happy as a clam on these buses. Most locals aren't.
Taxis
If your destination actually happens to lie far off the bus route, or if you just want to be lazy, taxis are also a decent way to get around in Panama. They're not expensive at all, usually US$1.50 per ride within most of the city; and unlike the urban taxis you may be used to, they can take you way out into the country. A taxi ride from Tocumen airport to Panama City, at a minimum of US$20, can easily exceed your taxi fares for the rest of your trip combined. If you share a taxi ride with other passengers going from the airport to the city, your fare per person can be cheaper, at around US$12. You can save quite a bit of money by taking the bus to the Gran Terminal, but even the bus fares will be higher than normal.
By Car
You can rent a car and drive it around the country if you are an excellent defensive driver. Panama City is more difficult to navigate than any big city in the United States, with terrible traffic jams at rush hours, few signs for names of streets, poor street design, and a lack of traffic lights at busy intersections. You must be aggressive about positioning your car to get anywhere, yet highly alert to erratic and irrational behavior by others. Drivers have little respect for or even knowledge of traffic laws, and drivers from North America or Western Europe will be stunned by their recklessness. The Pan American Highway is paved for the entire length of the country, and has many roads which branch off to towns off the highway, most of which are paved, and most of the rest are still easily navigable in a sedan. However, road engineering standards are low, so be on the lookout for off camber turns, deep potholes, and sharp turns with no warning.
It is important to note that if you are in a traffic accident in Panama, you are required by law to remain with your vehicle until a policeman arrives. In typical Panamanian logic, you are also not allowed to move it to the side of the road, but must stop right where the incident occurred, even if this is the middle of a busy street.
Richly Retired: Panama Lures Pensioners South
In a world of increasing air travel and fluid borders, retiring to one of the many developing countries with year-round pleasant weather and a burgeoning economy is becoming a popular trend, and Panama is at the forefront of the phenomenon.
With the boom of so-called ‘second-world’ countries, the mass migration among those of retirement age to places like Central America has reached an all-time high. The warm, tropical weather, affordable land prices and political stability of countries like Panama, Costa Rica and Belize have lured growing numbers of middle-class to affluent baby boomers, eager to stake claim on their piece of paradise -- at a fraction of first-world costs.
Best of Both Worlds
The emergence of ‘Second-World’ countries is relatively new, an effect of global trade and commerce and an array of new technologies aimed at rural and under-developed areas. Access to modern telecommunications has fueled the rapid expansion of previously depressed economies, bringing advanced technologies to pristine natural environments.
This has created a unique setting: unspoilt beauty with access to first-world amenities.
Panama City in particular boasts modern infrastructure, excellent health care services and a dollar-based economy, allowing for an easy transition and comfortable lifestyle for expatriates. But just minutes from the convenience of the city, serene white-sanded beaches flank lush rainforests, thriving with wildlife.
Best in the World
With its low cost of living, a simplified immigration process and an impressive incentives package, Panama has consistently ranked among the best places in the world to live and retire, securing top marks from the American Association of Retired Persons and such magazines as International Living, Conde Nast Traveler and Modern Maturity.
So how does one go about settling in this tiny, tropical haven?
Retirees can apply for residency in Panama as pensionados, or pensioners. In order to be eligible for a pensioned tourist visa, applicants of any age must show proof of a $500 monthly pension (plus $100 for each dependent) from a foreign government, international organization or private company.
With an assured monthly income, pensioners are granted tax exemptions on the import of their belongings, up to $10,000, which can be a significant advantage over many other countries which tax foreign imports heavily. Most notably, residents with pensionado status can important a motor vehicle tax-free every two years.
Residents are not required to pay taxes on any foreign-earned income, including proceeds from business transactions, pensions or Social Security, and new homeowners are exempted from property taxes for 20 years.
Age Knows Best
Even without the pensioned tourist visa, seniority is a plus. Women over the age of 55 and men over 60 can take advantage of an array of discounts, including:
Transportation
- 25% off airfare
- 30% off all public transportation (including bus, boat and train)
Medical/Dental
- 20% off medical consultations and surgeries
- 15% off hospitals (in the absence of insurance)
- 15% off dental and eye exams
- 10% off prescription medication
Loans
- 50%off closing costs for home loans
- a 1% reduction on personal home mortgages
- 15 % off personal loans
Services
- 20% off professional and technical services (including lawyers, architects, nurses, physical therapists, etc.)
- 25% off utility bills
Entertainment/Accommodation
- 50% off all entertainment (including arts, recreation, cultural, sporting events, etc.)
- 50% off hotel accommodation Monday-Thursday, and 30% off Friday-Sunday
- 25% off eat-in restaurants and 15% off fast-food restaurants
Best Bang for your Buck
In addition to a wealth of incentives for settlers, Panama’s economy is strong and growing. The average growth rate of the GDP over the past three years is 5.1%, much of it fueled by a boom in the construction sector. Property values, while very low by North American standards, are appreciating steadily, and investment in real estate is proving very lucrative.
Foreigners are allowed (with few exceptions, such as near borders) to own any of the three kinds property -- titled, possession rights and concession-- in Panama, and share all the same property rights as nationals.
The diversity of properties available is staggering, suiting all tastes and budgets. Whether you are looking for a tranquil, mountain retreat, an ocean-view condominium in the bustling metropolis of Panama City, or the languor of seaside life along this tiny country’s extensive coasts, retirement has never looked so good.
About Panama