Most beautiful places where you can live in Panama with the friendly nations visa

Once you get your residency you can live in Panama fully legally and forget about inconvenient trips and tiresome paperwork. Now ahead of you is the best part. It's time to think “what can I do in Panama” and most importantly “where should I live”. Although it's a small country, Panama has lots of charming places that you can call home.

Where can you live in Panama legally after you get your friendly nations visa

If you are a citizen among the 50 countries that are considered friendly in the Republic of Panama, you can get residency through a work contract, a real estate investment, or self-employment through your own company. In one of our latest articles, we explain why Mundo recommends the third option.

But now we're on the next stage, deciding where to live in Panama and what are the best places to live in 2023 and 2024.

Coronado

This city is only one hour away from the capital, Panama City. Its small surroundings offer big things including large beaches, a golf course, malls, and restaurants. Moreover, Coronado has become one of ex-pats’ and retirees’ favorite destinations. Since more people are choosing to become permanent residents here, the real estate prices have increased. However, they are still more affordable than the ones you would find in Panama City.

When it comes to tourism, Coronado is a great place as it's visited by residents of the capital. Since it's a short ride away, lots of Panamanians go to Coronado on Friday evenings to spend the weekend. A quite distinctive characteristic is its black sand derived from volcanic origins. 

Chitre

By the Pacific Ocean and 250 kilometers from Panama City, we find Chitre right on the Interamericana road. Sixty thousand people live in Chitre, one of the most important urbanizations in the country. The city has been growing continuously and so has its real estate sector promoted by the construction of residencies and commercial buildings.

In Chitre, you'll find lots of domestic immigrants and tourists but also a large number of expats mainly from Canada and the United States. If you choose to live in Panama, consider Chitre because it has excellent services, a wide variety of shops, and everything you need for your entertainment and daily routine. Definitely one of the best places to live in 2023, especially if you want to avoid the heavy traffic of the capital and prefer a quiet environment.

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Las Tablas

If you're wondering “what can I do in Panama”, Las Tablas is an interesting destination. Located in the Azuero Peninsula, it's one of the most affordable places to live in Panama. A colonial city next to the Pacific Ocean, Las Tablas is quite an important reference for the local culture. You'll find it a bit further away than other destinations but in a four-hour ride, you can travel from Panama City to Las Tablas. Most importantly, it’s home to some of the best beaches in Panama, which impress visitors with their size and beauty.

Tourists traveling to Panama for the first time can enjoy Las Tablas as well as residents, especially during the carnivals. The carnivals are a big deal for Panamanians particularly here, where the largest celebrations in the country take place. Las Tablas is famous for being home to a variety of traditional rhythms and music.

Boquete

Living in Boquete means that you live in Panama but away from the capital. Close to the Costa Rican border, Boquete is an 8-hour ride away from Panama City. While in larger countries this may not seem a lot, in Panama it is. Naturally, there's always the choice of traveling by plane. 

Boquete is quite a special place. It's characterized by having cooler weather than the rest of the country as well as beautiful landscapes. It's next to a volcanic crater and boasts impressive mountain surroundings and exuberant nature. Maybe this is why the area has one of the largest expat-retiree communities in the country. If you choose Boquete, you will enjoy a picturesque scenery filled with flowers and forests. A good piece of information is the fact that English is widely spoken due to the large number of foreigners. 

Bocas del Toro

Are you wondering “what can I do in Panama”? Do you want to live in the Caribbean? Do you dream of crystal waters and exuberant palm trees? Then Bocas del Toro is the right place for you. The region encompasses both continental land and an archipelago which is formed by nine islands and thousands of islets. Bocas del Toro is proud to have one of the largest biodiversities on the planet.

When traveling to Panama, visiting Bocas del Toro is a must and many expats choose to live here permanently.

This is why there's a strong expat-retiree community who were drawn here by the exquisite beauty of the place, the simplicity of its daily routine, and the vibrancy of its nightlife. Here you'll find two casinos and lots of restaurants and bars.

Panama City

Let's not forget the country's capital which is also the most populated city. Naturally, here you'll find more entertainment, business, and tuition options but also more noise and traffic. But if you like a big city, you'll totally enjoy Panama. It's home to memorable places like Panama Viejo, Casco Viejo, Via Veneto, Iglesia del Carmen, and Parque Omar, to name a few.

Let's not forget the wide offer of international cuisine and state-of-the-art malls with luxury brands including Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.

Traveling to Panama and choosing it as your second home

Once the paperwork is done it's time to enjoy yourself. This will be an important part of your decision when choosing the best place to live in 2023 and 2024. In Bocas del Toro, you can live in the Caribbean and enjoy the best beaches in Panama. In Boquete, you’ll never feel lonely as there's a wide expat community. It's also the ideal place if you prefer cool weather. Choose Las Tablas if you want a more affordable place and a lower cost of living. Finally, Panama City has it all in what the editor likes to call a perfect combination of New York and Miami. Are you thinking about traveling to Panama and establishing a second home here? Take the first step and contact your Mundo expert.

Contact your Mundo expert