Tom Brymer

While Panama City is constantly in the news  with all that is going on in this metropolis, another area of Panama that has also gained a lot of attention over the years  is the town of Boquete in the Western highlands and the province of Chiriqui.  AARP has listed Boquete as one of the top 10 places to retire in the world for many years now.

I have lived here since 2007 and I have seen the changes to the nearby capital city of David as it grows and prospers.  A new International Airport was recently completed and the expansion is in anticipation of direct flights from Miami and Houston.  Boquete now has a highway that cost over a hundred million dollars to connect it to David.  Yes, Panama has thrown its economic might  at this small City in Central America and the town of Boquete high up in the mountains that for now boasts a population of only 20,000 people.  That too will change.

Boquete is a small town on the Caldera River, tucked into the green mountain highlands of Panama, in western-most Chiriquí Province, about 45 miles from the border with Costa Rica. Because of its altitude, some 3600 feet above sea level, its climate is refreshingly cooler than that of the lowlands. Its scenic location, temperature, and natural environment make it extremely popular with Panamanians, and with tourists from all over the world. In Spanish, the word Boquete means ‘gap or opening’. It was through this gap that curious gold seekers trekked, looking for a cheaper and quicker way to the Pacific. Farmers began settling the region near the end of the 19th Century. By the early 20th century, several villages had been populated. In addition to tourism, its main industry remains agriculture, especially the growing of coffee beans and some of the finest coffee produced anywhere in the world, recently topping $350 per pound for a top lot at auction.

Some of its landmarks include nearby Volcán Barú, a dormant volcano and, at  over 11,000 feet, the tallest point of land in Panama. Hikers enjoy a relatively easy hike up and over the volcano, along the Sendero de los Quetzales, which runs from Boquete up to Cerro Punta and Volcan, on the other side of the volcano.

Boquete has become the second home to many North American and European retirees. Some 14% of its population are of foreign origin. Ex-pats are attracted by the comfortable climate, excellent potable water, and clean air, by the tranquility, and by Panama’s relatively low cost of living.

Boquete that draws people from around the world to come here and live.  Clean air, abundant sources of water,  amazing flowers, beautiful rivers, and of course plenty of rainbows.  Our area grows 80% of the  fresh produce for Panama, offers an affordable lifestyle, good healthcare and a town where kids can go out at night and not have to worry about getting in trouble (or at least the bad kind!).  For the retiree, there is plenty to do and numerous organizations to participate in.

Another constant is wellness and fitness.  Mountain hiking and yoga retreats are very popular.

One can live here in the mountains  where it is cool but within an hour and a half, you can be on a boat headed out to islands and fishing spots in the Pacific ocean that rival the best in the world.   Boca Chica has some of the most beautiful coast line in Panama and a national marine park comprised of dozens of little tropical islands and sandy coves that remind one of Robinson Crusoe.

So, this is why I chose to live here and to sum it all up…

“Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high…There’s a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby. Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. ” – E.Y. Harburg

There is indeed a land where rainbows often grace skies that are unencumbered by pollution, life is unhurried, and retirement dreams are fulfilled for many, in the Chiriqui highlands of Panama. Here’s the story…

Ex-pats, for those who are unfamiliar with the term, are those who leave one’s native country to live elsewhere. This unique breed may have a few motivational variations for permanently traversing beyond borders, but they tend to share a common character trait – a great sense of adventure in abandoning what is socially, culturally, and geographically familiar to pursue their dream of a healthier, happier, less hectic lifestyle. And, given the current economic state of affairs, perhaps they share the collective desire to avoid a possible catastrophe.

They seek a better quality of life married to a lower cost of living. They’re confident enough to start over in a new environment, making new friends. Ex-pats likely possess a libertarian streak, a do-it-yourself mentality that propels them to create their lives anew, whether it means transforming a piece of property into a model of green energy self-sufficiency, launching a new school for local kids, or opening a new café. And characteristically, they want to integrate into a community of similar-minded souls.

What gives a particular area the gravitational pull for ex-pats? It often starts with a warm climate and beautiful scenery surrounding a charming, affordable city or town. An abundance of fresh water sources, locally grown food and reliable hydro-electric power. Add a big welcome mat to foreigners from the local people, and a government actively enticing you to stay with such incentives as no property tax for the first 20 years, a generous program for newcomers to guarantee permanent residency, equal rights under the law, discounts for products and services across the board, plus excellent asset protection and maximum privacy from the banking institutions. Welcome to Boquete, Panama, and leave the door open. There’s more coming.

WELCOME TO MY HOME IN THE LAND OF THE RAINBOWS

Tom Brymer is the author of The Panama Perspective