Panama Goes Mainstream

Dear International Living Reader,

We've been writing about Panama for about 10 years now. But International Living is no longer alone in touting the glories of this country. Instead, a chorus of praises for life in Panama has recently been voiced by the popular press.

An article in Harper's Bazaar claimed that: "Panama is the most beautiful retreat in the world and almost undiscovered."

The Boston Globe called it "...an undiscovered tourist paradise."

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and National Geographic have also published extensive travel articles praising the undiscovered delights Panama has to offer.

Everywhere you turn, the covers of newsstand magazines are promoting Panama as a travel destination. Now...they're also catching on to its retirement incentives: Witness Modern Maturity magazine (the AARP magazine with the largest circulation of any consumer magazine in the world--upward of 20 million subscribers). It recently rated Boquete as the fourth-best retirement destination in the world.

International Living's Global Retirement Index 2005 rated Panama number-one--the best place in the world to retire.

Fortune magazine's 2005 Retirement Guide chose Boquete as one of the five best places in the world to retire.

The most recent issue of Where to Retire magazine features an article on retiring in Panama. "Pacific beach towns, Caribbean isles, and fertile highlands are among places drawing retirees," it says.

And you'll find praises for Panama from various agencies around the world as well:

* Political Risk Services named Panama one of the top three countries in the hemisphere for best-risk investments.

* According to The Fraser Institute in Canada, Panama is at the top of the list of the world's freest economies, ranked eighth with Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Plus, the inside scoop from IL's editorial headquarters in Ireland is that Panama may move up several places in the Quality of Life Index 2006. This report, detailing the best and worst places on earth to hang your hat (spend your time, or invest your money), the result of months of research, weeks of number crunching, and thousands of statistics, will feature in International Living's first (January) print edition of the New Year. No one else produces anything like it.

When you next visit Panama (if you don't have a trip yet scheduled, our advice is: plan one soon), I look forward to meeting you.

Brandon Clogston
For International Living in Panama

Editor's Note: Some news: Mandy Faircloth and Ariel Bedoya of our Panama office have moved on to new opportunities. During this period of transition, Brandon Clogston, editor of Panama Insider, is manning the fort in Panama City. If you've plans to visit Panama in the near future or if you've an appointment scheduled to consult with our in-Panama staff...never fear. Brandon is standing by to help. If you'd like to confirm a meeting, an airport pick-up, or, indeed, anything else related to travel or investment in this country, reach Brandon by e-mail at panama@internationalliving.com.

Meantime, we're actively in search of additional staff. Right now, pobre Brandon is a one-man show. Quick action is called for, so we're planning an Employment Fair. Following our Live Overseas Conference in Fort Lauderdale later this month, we're holding a two-day crash session, during which we hope to identify prospects for positions currently available not only in Panama, but also in Nicaragua, Mexico, and elsewhere. Interested in more information? Get in touch with Martina Dunphy, who's running this show: mdunphy@internationalliving.com.