the experience starts the moment you check in, where you can choose an over-sized room with either two queen sized beds or one King. Your room also boasts spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and pristine beach.

yourAfter you settle into your luxurious room you can venture forth for tennis or play volley ball and soccer on the beach. There are dance and aerobics classes and two swimming pools with two Jacuzzis. For the evening the all inclusive experience can include concerts and musical reviews in the theater or dancing to salsa in the disco past midnight. For the adventure there is kayaking in the surf or a self gudied tour of the coastline in a peddale boat

Whatever your cravings are you can be sure that you will satisfy them in Playa Blanca Resort. An International Buffet so big that you won’t be able to try it all in one day! A Japanese restaurant famous for its sushis or a Thai- Fusion restaurant right on the beach! You name it!

Playa Blanca Resort offers spectacular views in a tropical climate coupled with invigorating recreation or relaxation in privacy with discrete but attentive service. That is what “all inclusive” is supposed to mean. If one of the 219 rooms or 3 suites at Playa Blanca interests you, visit www.playablancaresort.com

Census takers will be out coming to your door starting at 7:00 AM. The whole day is allocated to taking the census.

This is very important –

YOU CANNOT LEAVE YOUR HOME UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE CENSUS FORM !!!!

The census taker will give you a “pass” when you have completed the census process and you can then leave your home. If you are caught on the street without this “pass” you will be fined. Stores and churches will be closed that day.

If you know ahead of time you will be away from your home and “uncountable” on May 16, you may go to the census office at the nearest to you on May 12 – May 15 and fill out the form.

The census worker who comes to your door may or may not know any English so if you don’t know much Spanish it is important that you prepare. The form is 12 pages long. You can read it and/or print it out by going here:

www.censos2010.gob.pa/cuestionario.pdf

The first set of questions is about the household in general including questions about the construction of the house. The second set of questions must be filled out separately by every person who slept in that house the night before (including guests).

You must give your name, but all data is used only for statistical purposes and is confidential.

This is very important to the foreign community. It will give the Panamanian government a better picture of our numbers in each area.

One of the lesser known aspects of the relationship between the U.S. and Panama extends back to the birth of this nation. When Panama was struggling to win its freedom from Columbia in the opening years of the last century, it was military support form the U.S. that turned the tide. Nearly a century of working side by side on the Panama Canal followed. This resulted in an American/Panamanian hybrid citizen that locals affectionately call “Zonies”.

Today, evidence of Panama’s close ties to the U.S. can be seen everywhere. One of the first things you will notice when you arrive in country is that there is no need to exchange money. The U.S. Dollar is the official circulating currency of Panama. As you make your way into Panama City from the airport you will see shopping malls filled with the same brands you have come to love back home. When its time to grab a bite, you will find a McDonald’s, Wendy’s. TGI Fridays, Burger King, and so on. While in town you will probably stay at the Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Hilton, or some other American hotel chain. You will probably rent your car from AVIS, Budget, National or some other U.S. based company. When shopping for your home here, you might end up living in a Trump high rise tower, or one of many others with American names like San Francisco, Pacific Coast, and Palm Beach.

While it is true that you will find many surprising connections with life back home, one thing you will be glad to leave behind is the high cost of living in the U.S. Moving your retirement dollars offshore can help you stretch your income in many ways. For example, when you retire to Panama, you will no longer have to pay taxes on income you earn outside of the country. In addition, if you buy your retirement home with the right guidance, you won’t have to pay property taxes for up to 20 years. These two factors alone will usually save upwards of 30% of the dollars you are now spending back home.

It is also important to remember that Panamanian law allows you to invest and bank in secrecy. The mechanisms that make this financial privacy possible have also produced one of the best estate management jurisdictions on earth.

The people of Panama want you to retire here. As proof, the Panamanian government has instituted one of the most generous senior discount programs on earth. Panama’s “Pensionado Program” provides qualified retirees with discounts on a wide range of good and services. You’ll save up to 50% off of regular ticket prices for entertainment options like movies, theaters, sporting events, etc. Qualified seniors also save 50% off of the price of mid-week hotel stays, 50% off of the cost of closing your home mortgage, 30% off public transport costs, 25% off domestic air tickets, 25% off at restaurants, 20% off of professional and home repair fees, 20% off the already low cost of a Doctor’s care, 5% off of your hospital bills if you are not insured, 15% off of the cost of dental and eye exams, 10% off on local prescription prices… and more!

If you are thinking about retiring in Panama or just visiting to develop an asset protection, business, banking, or investment strategy, make sure to begin by building a strong relationship with a local attorney. There are many third party sources able to help you select the best one for your needs. These groups provide unbiased reviews of providers in Panama’s professional community speeding you to a successful pairing.

For more information on retirement, banking, estate management, taxation, employment, forming a Panamanian foundation or corporation, real estate, trade policy, local economics, vessel registration, obtaining legal counsel, or any other topic related to doing business in Panama… click here

You have probably seen pictures of massive container ships with stacks of metal boxes perched precariously on deck. Well, this is how the world moves. The boxes you see on deck are called cargo containers. They are about 40 feet long and they hold a lot of stuff.

When it is time for you to move, a shipping company will drop one a cargo container right in your drive way. Just drive your car right on in then pack everything else around it. When you done, call your shipper to let them know that your box is ready for pick up. A few weeks later, the your container will be sitting in your driveway in Panama.

There’s more good news. Unlike many nations in the region, when you move to Panama your personal possessions can be imported free from taxes or tariffs. Some exceptions apply, just ask your Panamanian attorney. You will pay a small tax to import your car. These dollars help Panama to improve its infrastructure, including roads.

The idea of an offshore move to Panama can be daunting and a little bit scary, but it is important to note that millions of others have made this journey. They will tell you that the effort involved was less than imagined, and well worth it in the end.

If you are thinking about retiring in Panama or just visiting to develop an asset protection, business, banking, investment strategy, make sure to begin by building a strong relationship with a local attorney. There are many third party sources able to help you select the best one for your needs. These groups provide unbiased reviews of providers in Panama’s professional community speeding you to a successful pairing.

For more information on retirement, banking, estate management, taxation, employment, forming a Panamanian foundation or corporation, real estate, trade policy, corporations, tax benefits, local economics, vessel registration, obtaining legal counsel, or any other topic related to doing business in Panama… click here

Expo Logistics is an International Logistic and Multimodal Transportation Exhibition based on the experience developed by the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CCIAP – due to its acronym in Spanish) on the organization of Expocomer as the main trade exhibition of the region.

The CCIAP is a business association, established on May 17th, 1915 and it is formed by members of 15 commerce, industry, agriculture and service sectors of our country. Promotes the defense of its member’s interests from measures that affect the principles of business freedom and private initiative. The CCIAP tries that the ethics and the good will are observed on all the transactions and activities and collaborates with the national government on the initiatives and the negotiations oriented to obtain Panama’s socioeconomic development.

The Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture’s Exposition and Events Direction is in charge of Expo Logistics execution, they promote and spread information about the event at the national and international level, making Panama known as a country with a logistic platform.

Expo Logistics is part of the joint projects that the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CCIAP) develops together with the National Secretariat of Sciences, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT – due to its acronym in Spanish) with the purpose of promoting and developing exchange programs and projects on the scientific research and technological innovation field.

Floor Plans:

Start Time: Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 12:00pm
End Time: Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8:00pm
Location: Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA

http://www.expologistica.org/

When making these decisions, it is important to note that shopping for goods of any kind can be accomplished with the same level of ease and convenience in Panama as it in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Panama offers an abundance of first world shopping options including three of the largest malls in the region.

If you run the math, you will find that shipping most larger sized items will cost you about half of what you would spend to replace it. In most instances, new arrivals opt for an out with the old, in with the new, strategy. They will use the money garnered from an estate sale back home to purchase all new appliances, furnishings, and even automobiles. You will find all of the brands you are comfortable with and pricing in Panama is on par with most first world countries.

When planning the economics of your move, don’t forget that your new life in Panama will begin providing come very substantial financial benefits from day one. If you plan the purchase of your retirement home correctly, you can escape the payment of property taxes for as much as 20 years. Calculate this savings against the taxes you paid back home and you will have more than enough to furnish your new home.

The financial benefits of life in Panama are well known. For starters, you will not pay taxes on income you earn outside of the country. This means that the money you earn from social security, pensions, investments, and business conducted offshore is not subject to local taxes. Panamanian law also allows you to invest and bank in absolute secrecy while providing the mechanisms required to create one of the best estate management strategies on earth.

Another big plus for retirees is called the Pensionado Program. This government backed effort provides qualified retirees with a long list of discounts like 50% off entertainment options (movies, theaters, sporting events, etc.), 50% off of the price of mid-week hotel stays, 50% off of the costs of closing your home mortgage, 30% off public transport costs, 25% off of domestic air tickets, 25% off at restaurants, 20% off of professional and home repair fees, 20% discount on already low Doctor bills, 1. 5% off of hospital bills if you are not insured, 15% off of the cost of dental and eye exams, 10% off of the local prescription prices… and more!

If you are thinking about retiring in Panama or just visiting to develop an asset protection, business, banking, investment strategy, make sure to begin by building a strong relationship with a local attorney. There are many third party sources able to help you select the best attorney for your needs. These groups provide unbiased reviews of providers in Panama’s professional community speeding you to a successful pairing.

For more information on retirement, banking, estate management, taxation, employment, forming a Panamanian foundation or corporation, real estate, trade policy, corporations, tax benefits, local economics, vessel registration, obtaining legal counsel, or any other topic related to doing business in Panama… click here

Delight with the fresh water the river provides. At night, choose from the variety of great restaurants, or stay home and cook a nutritious meal with fresh ingredients picked a few kilometers away. Sound too good to be true? Welcome to Boquete!

Boquete, a district of the Chiriqui Province, in the western end of Panama, covers about 350 square miles and its altitude ranges from  800 to 3,000 meters above sea level. The weather is what many people consider perfect. Yearly temperatures vary from 67 to 75 Fahrenheit, with marked dry and rainy seasons. Bajareque, a light and cool drizzle brought by the north winds off the mountains, frequently caresses the locals.

Boquete is very accessible. It is 60 km from the border with Costa Rica, 30 minutes from David (the capital of Chiriqui) and around 6 hours from Panama City (there is daily flight service from Panama City and Bocas del Toro to David).

Boquete is a true melting pot of ethnicity, with native Indians, Europeans, North Americans and Spaniards among its 15,000 residents. Since its founding in 1911, Boquete has attracted a large and varied group of immigrants, including Yugoslavians, Swedish, Swiss and Germans. For this reason, Boquete’s farms and houses are reminiscent of the architectural styles of those countries.

Clean water, fresh air (some say it even cures asthma), agricultural abundance, low cost of living and its people are what make Boquete the Valley of the Eternal Rainbow.

For more information on living in Boquete, please contact us.

Labor rates for foreign workers tend to parallel those of local workers. This means that skilled retirees from the U.S., Canada, and Europe will be very disappointed at the compensation they will find in Panama. This is a function of the local labor market, not of any judgments on the relative merits of new comers.

If you would like to work in Panama, your best bet is to bring a business with you, or buy one when you get here. Panama has a long list of economic incentives for new and existing businesses willing to employ three or more Panamanian nationals. You should discuss your choice of businesses with your Panamanian attorney, but you will find that a wide range of opportunities for new ideas awaits. Panama has the fastest growing economy in the region, and the mix of tax, banking, technology, investment, and government incentives found here is the best in the world.

When you relocate or buy a business in Panama you will find that your capital position will get a boost right away. Life in here is simply more affordable than in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Just for starters, if you plan the purchase of your retirement home correctly, you can escape the payment of property taxes for as much as 20 years. Calculate these savings against the taxes you paid back home and in short order you can save the capital needed to fund the purchase of that little café you have always wanted to own.

The financial benefits of life in Panama are well known. For starters, you will not pay taxes on income you earn outside of the country. This means that the money you earn from social security, pensions, investments, and business conducted offshore is not subject to local taxes. Panamanian law also allows you to invest and bank in absolute secrecy while providing the mechanisms required to create one of the best estate management strategies on earth.

Another big plus for retirees is called the Pensionado Program. This government backed effort provides qualified retirees with a long list of discounts like 50% off entertainment options (movies, theaters, sporting events, etc.), 50% off of the price of mid-week hotel stays, 50% off of the costs of closing your home mortgage, 30% off public transport costs, 25% off of domestic air tickets, 25% off at restaurants, 20% off of professional and home repair fees, 20% discount on already low Doctor bills, 1. 5% off of hospital bills if you are not insured, 15% off of the cost of dental and eye exams, 10% off of the local prescription prices… and more!

If you are thinking about retiring in Panama or just visiting to develop an asset protection, business, banking, investment strategy, make sure to begin by building a strong relationship with a local attorney. There are many third party sources able to help you select the best attorney for your needs. These groups provide unbiased reviews of providers in Panama’s professional community speeding you to a successful pairing.

For more information on retirement, banking, estate management, taxation, employment, forming a Panamanian foundation or corporation, real estate, trade policy, corporations, tax benefits, local economics, vessel registration, obtaining legal counsel, or any other topic related to doing business in Panama… click here

Cerro Azul

Los Altos de Cerro Azul is located just 1/2 an hour from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport and on a clear day in Altos de Cerro Azul you have a phenomenal view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The project of Altos de Cerro Azul is built at an altitude of about 950 meters or 2,500 to 2,700 feet above sea level with temperatures that range between 70 degrees and 80 degrees – at night it gets very cool and you will need a blanket to keep yourself warm.

Altos de Cerro Azul is gated and has 24 hour security, a country club with pool, tennis courts and restaurant. Other parts of the Cerro Azul area which are non-gated. In the surrounding forests you will find exotic birds and wildlife unique to Panama as well as a series of trails that will take you through one of the oldest cloud forests in the Western Hemisphere.

In the cloud forest it is possible to see rare palm trees that are unique to only 2 other countries in the world: Ivory Coast and Haiti. No one knows how the palms were able to spread from the African coast to the Caribbean and then to the bottom of Central America – this is an enigma that is currently being studied by the Smithsonian Institute in Panama.

The flora and fauna are also unique and abundant in Cerro Azul and the following wildlife is not uncommon to the area: foxes, white-faced capuchin, ant-eater, sloth, squirrels, coatimundi, agouti, peccary and white-tailed deers, howler monkey, red spider monkey, jaguar, olingo, two-toed sloth, ocelot, jagarundi, harpy eagle and guan.

In addition to the stunning natural beauty of Altos de Cerro Azul, are also several first world amenities which include: access to high-speed satellite Internet, Direct T.V. and modern electricity and telephone services as well as the best drinking water in Panama as per a recent study conducted by the University of Panama. On the principal road from the airport to Altos de Cerro Azul is a modern shopping center with everything from fast food shops, to supermarkets, to video stores and building supply outlets.

Cerro Azul is in area of Panama that is virtually undiscovered except by locals who frequent the various spas and restaurants.

Description courtesy of panamarealtor.com

El Valle de Anton

A picturesque mountain town just two hours from Panama City, El Valle is a preferred second home destination for Panamanians and for foreigners who want to be in the mountains, but close enough to the city.

Pamanainfo.com describes it as “El Valle de Anton, known simply as El Valle has a geologically unique setting, it’s nestled in the second largest volcano crater in the world. A five by three mile crater created when a volcano blew its top off five million years ago. The result was a lovely steep valley surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and rich volcanic soil that gives way to flowers and verdant forest as a result. El Valle also boasts a near perfect year round spring climate.”

The area is growing with new boutique hotels, gourmet restaurants, and a complete eco-tourism feel with activities such as river rafting, canopy tours, bicycle and hiking tours. Famous for its crafts, El Valle’s market is a place where Panamanians and foreigners who live in El Valle and the nearby beach areas go to spend the day shopping for plants and crafts.

Altos del Maria

Altos del Maria is an exclusive gated mountain residential community conveniently located at just 1 hour and 20 minutes (113 km – 70 miles) from Panama City and only 25 minutes away (25 km – 15.5 miles) from the Pacific coast beaches with their world-class golfing and shopping.

The development is placed in 7000+ acre property so beautiful that many areas have the look and feel of a national park. Attractions include panoramic mountain, valley, green belt and Pacific Ocean views, a near perfect spring climate year round (75º F – 24 Cº), a first-class infrastructure including miles of paved roads, vast common areas, waterfalls, rivers, hiking trails, observation decks, parks, lookout points, flowers and trees everywhere.

Altos del Maria has a range of prices to meet every need. Spacious residential lots and houses are available in subdivisions with varied altitudes, views and climates.

Boquete

The town of Boquete in the Chiriqui Province of Panama has a perfect spring-like climate at an elevation of about 3,500 ft., with clean air, clear water, unspoiled nature and a welcoming community. Boquete offers much for the avid bird watcher, the elusive Quetzal is relatively easy to spot.

The valley of Boquete is filled with flowers and gourmet coffee plantations on its hills and at times the smell of roasting coffee sends wonderful aromas through the town. The town harbors quaint café’s and restaurants, as well as shops and antique stores. Boquete offers an amazing gastronomical offer, including the Small Leading Hotel of the World, The Panamonte Inn & Spa, whose chef Charlie Collins is renown in Panama.

As of 2008, the town of Boquete had a population of 600 American retirees. Dozens of Americans live in the real estate and hotel development, Valle Escondido, an enclosed residential area which has a nine-hole golf course, convenience store, high speed internet, and many other amenities.

Volcan and Cerro Punta

Volcan’s temperature and scenery is similar to that of Boquete, but there is a smaller community and the prices for real estate are more affordable than Boquete. There is visibly a lot more breathing space in this location. It is very close to the magnificent Baru Volcano and many houses have a view of the dormant volcano.

Volcan has a lush green, rolling mountain scenery that reminds you of Switzerland. In fact there is an area called Nueva Suiza (new Switzerland) on the road to Cerro Punta. In the setting sun, the evening clouds are tinged with reds and pinks, contrasting the deep emerald greens on the pine covered slopes of the surrounding hills. Anybody with a love for life and beauty would have to conclude that Volcan is truly one of the world’s special places.

Volcan will surprise you. The town is small with a population of just 10,200 (2000 census), but the facilities are amazing. On the main street alone, there are four large supermarkets, four gas stations, five hardware stores, three bakeries and more than twenty places to eat.

Bocas Yoga celebrates its one year anniversary this month!  The custom-built studio is a welcome addition to making Bocas Del Toro a top tourist destination of Panama.

It offers visitors to the Caribbean islands of Bocas Del Toro a healthy outlet and a space to meet like-minded people.  It is with an open heart, full of gratitude, that I teach yoga out of this nurturing studio, and am honored when you share your practice with our growing healing community.

No experience or flexibility is required to practice yoga. Yoga is for everyone!  At Bocas Yoga you will find an air-conditioned, noncompetitive, nonjudgmental, haven in which you will have the least amount of distractions, in order for you to focus inward.  Because we are a real studio with 4 walls, there are no chitres to bite you, your privacy is assured, and the energy of your practice is not dissipated.

Since being born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1968, I’ve been on a journey, which eventually led me back to the beautiful country of Panama.  It was 28 years ago in the U.S. that I was first introduced to yoga and Indian philosophy.  Since then my quest for knowledge of yoga has taken me to study in India, Thailand, Europe, and South America.  My Yoga Teacher Training took place at the Providence Institute, in Tucson, Arizona, registered with the Yoga Alliance.  I will always be a student and continue to travel to take formal trainings.  It is my dream to someday be an “Anusara-Inspired” yoga teacher, which involves years of training, in addition to the basic Yoga teacher certification I already hold.

Yoga is a spiritual practice that makes the body stronger, more flexible, and generally much healthier. The purpose is to calm the mind, open the heart, and get us in touch with our True Selves. A toned body, stamina, longevity, detoxification, and youthful looks are pleasant bi-products of a regular yoga asana practice, however, the true meaning of yoga is to uncover and realize the pure goodness that resides within us.

The teaching style at Bocas Yoga is an eclectic mix of Hatha Yoga, which uses principles of alignment to promote safety and empower students to achieve their full potential. Each class interweaves heart oriented themes to connect students to the deeper purpose of yoga.  Classes are challenging, yet create a sense of ease at the same time, toning body and mind – incorporating the concepts of effort and surrender.

The Bocas Yoga Studio was designed using principles of Vastu Shastra, the Vedic science of architectural alignment and placement, upon which Feng Shui is based. The way of Vastu aligns the studio with the subtle energies of nature, in order to enhance health, happiness, abundance, and contentedness to those within it. A beautiful blend of science and art was implemented in designing the perfect place for you to practice yoga. The studio is a custom-built studio with hard-wood flooring, lots of natural light, a surround sound stereo system, and beautifully uplifting murals on the walls, creating a nurturing ambience without distraction.

At Bocas Yoga we believe that the body will respond beautifully when you show it kindness, compassion, acceptance, and love.  Students of all levels of ability and yoga experience are honored for their differences, limitations, and talents.  The yoga we practice has an uplifting philosophy that looks for the good in all people and all things.  It’s like saying a big “YES” to life!  The intention for our practice is for the revelation, or the uncloaking, of our true nature – an awakening to the highest spirit.  Our connection to the Universal is enhanced.

We offer daily drop-in classes integrating body, breath, and mind.  The Basics class that I teach is appropriate for beginners and ongoing intermediate students.  Anabel teaches an invigorating Vinyasa Flow Yoga that is appropriate for intermediate to advanced students.  Private lessons are also available by appointment and held at the Bocas Yoga studio only.

Find the full class schedule at WWW.BOCASYOGA.COM or drop by the studio for a printed schedule.  We are located in the big purple building on 4th Street, Bocas Town, across from La Casbah restaurant.  All regularly scheduled classes are $5 per class, or a 10-class pass for $45, or a 20-class pass for $80.  Private lessons are $35/hour, plus $5 for each additional person.  There is a 50 ¢ mat-rental fee, or bring your own.  If you are a yoga teacher and are interested in renting the studio to host a retreat, please contact Laura Kay via email at sweetlaurakay@msn.com

The law of attraction — like attracts like — influences all energy.  By focusing on positive thoughts, we create a powerful magnet that draws similar energy into our lives. It’s my sincere belief that Bocas Yoga can make Bocas Del Toro an even more beautiful place to be!

No effort on the Yoga path is ever lost, nor can any obstacle ever hold one back forever. Just a little progress on this path can protect one from the greatest fear. – “Bhagavad Gita” Chapter 2, Verse 40