Notes from the ground.
Written by people who live here, checked against sources.
The Pensionado visa, explained
Requirements, documents, timeline and the discounts the statute actually grants.
Cost of living in Panama (CAD)
Rent, food, utilities and healthcare by region, in Canadian dollars.
Healthcare in Panama for Canadian expats
Public vs private, insurance, and what a doctor visit costs.
Buying property in Panama
Titled vs Rights of Possession, closing costs, and the mistakes that cost Franklin $23,000.
Boquete vs Costa Rica
Cost, climate, healthcare and residency, compared for Canadians.
A day in the life, retired in Panama
What an ordinary Tuesday looks like in Boquete and Coronado.
The long-form versions.
Retiring in Panama from Canada: the 2026 guide
CPP, OAS, the Pensionado visa, Ley 6 discounts, which towns have a hospital — every figure sourced.
Moving to Panama from Canada
Residency routes, CRA departure checklist, banking, shipping, pets, and the timeline that works.
Living in Panama as a Canadian
What daily life costs and feels like, from groceries to the expat calendar.
Healthcare in Panama for Canadians
Hospitals, specialists, what things cost, and what your province pays abroad.
JCI-accredited hospitals in Panama
Which hospitals hold the accreditation, what it means, and how to reach their international desks.
Is Panama safe for Canadians?
The Government of Canada advisory, the areas to avoid, and the neighbourhoods expats live in.
Mexico or Panama for medical & dental care?
Advisories by city, US transit, flights, insurance and prices, compared honestly.
Ready to see Panama for yourself?
A free 20-minute call with Franklin. No pitch; just your questions, answered by someone who lives there.
