San Francisco, Panama- FAQs
Tap water is safe in Panama. However, if you travel to more remote areas, particularly if a larger indigenous community lives nearby or if there are farms in the area, we suggest you drink bottled water.
And, if you’re in Panama City, David, Santiago, the City Beaches Area, El Valle, and many other areas where large expat communities live, tap water is generally safe.
To live in Panama full-time, you’ll need to apply for a residency visa. Most importantly, you can arrive in Panama with your U.S. passport without a visa on your first scouting trip if you plan to stay for up to 180 days.
Yes. If you live in Panama and still hold your U.S. citizenship, then you must keep up to date with your taxes same as you would if you were back home.
Expats have chosen many places throughout Panama to settle in. It really all comes down to what lifestyle you’re looking for.
For example, if you’re a city person you might be interested in moving to neighborhoods such as El Cangrejo, Avenida Balboa, Paitilla, Albrook, or Clayton.
If you’re looking to live closer to the beach, the City Beaches area is very popular. The most popular town in this area is Coronado, but places like Gorgona are becoming more and more popular.
If you’d like to live someplace with an already very well-established expat community where you can get by with little to no Spanish and a laidback lifestyle, the mountain town of Boquete is the place for you.