IL Postcard

Panama’s Secret Island Revealed…

Date: 08/13/2008

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008

Read more about Panama in International Living Postcards —your daily escape

Dear International Living Reader,

If you love the ocean and are looking for a more laidback lifestyle, Taboga Island is ideal.

Taboga is quiet and safe; there is a local police station, but there is rarely any crime. The people are friendly and slow-moving…after all, it is a tropical Pacific island (picture people lying in hammocks, drinking cold beer under the coconut palms).

A few of the island-lovers that live here even commute to the city to work, rather than forgo life on Taboga.

Though we like to brag there are no cars here, there are just a few…some pickups that serve as taxis, and a few golf carts. The taxis are a blessing when one disembarks the ferry from the city with bag loads of groceries.

Medical care in Taboga is minimal…there is a small clinic that offers the most basic of care. In case of a medical emergency, Taboga islanders are always willing to help and offer their boats as transport if you have no other means of getting to Panama City, where the health care is excellent.

The entertainment on this island is more interesting than movie theaters and shopping malls. Here, we have a growing expat community who meet up frequently for informal gatherings to swap stories and enjoy the easy-going island life together. The locals are also friendly and like to stop and chat. (I find that a little bit of Spanish goes a long way to allow better communication with the locals.)

Other fun activities to look forward to on this slice of paradise include hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, treasure-hunting, and beach-combing. At certain times of year, you can see humpback whales and sea turtles, and the fishing and bird-watching are superb; the wildlife reserve that occupies much of Taboga and a smaller neighboring island called Urava was created as a national protective habitat for the migrating Brown Pelican.

There may not be any banks or ATMs on the island, but they have the modern conveniences that are most important for you to stay in touch with loved ones back home: Internet and good phone lines. (And satellite television, too.)

If you wish to buy a home here, I suggest you check online or put in the legwork by asking the locals. You are sure to find some gems in the rough. I must advise you that it is hard to find a raw lot on which to build, and often expensive once you do.

If you are considering purchasing property on Taboga, a long-term rental could be your best bet while you do your research. Rent for new or refurbished properties varies from $500 to $2,000 a month. For example, one new home is available for $1,100 a month; it has a balcony overlooking the water, two bedrooms, and two baths.

For short stays, there are furnished apartments from $98 to $240 a night. Hotels and B&Bs charge from $65 to $85 a night for a double room.

Cynthia Cudmore Mulder
For International Living

Editor’s Note: If you would like to find the most hidden corners of Panama, where the living is easy and the locals are super-friendly, we can show you where to go and what you need to make your Panama dreams come true in Panama Insider. You can become a member today, by following this link.

Read related IL Postcards:

- Have You Heard of This Low-cost Panamanian City?

- Panama Secrets—and Much More—Revealed

- Ranches and Beach Houses in Panama From $65,000