Moving to Panama with IntlMOVE and the Chiriqui Province
When you are moving to Panama with IntlMOVE, you will likely be moving to Panama City.
However, there is a lot more to see in this beautiful country.
The Chiriqui Province is located in western Panama has beaches and highlands, which make it a beautiful place to live.
If you are moving to Panama and do not live close to the Chiriqui Province, it is still very easy to visit.
You will definitely want to make the trek to see the wide variety of natural attractions.
There are also Indian cultures, retirement communities and adventure sports.
Whether you are moving to retire, for a job, to teach English or just to have fun, the Chiriqui Province has it all!
Adventure Sports
IntlMOVE can ship all of your sporting equipment to Panama with your household goods when you are moving to your new country.
If you are living in the Chiriqui Province, you can go white water rafting, kayaking or hiking.
The Chiriqui Province is well-known for its rafting and if you are an experienced rafter, there are even Class 5 rapids for you to experience.
Many people travel to the Chiriqui Province to experience hiking in a cloud forest.
If you are a hiker, make sure IntlMOVE ships all of the gear you will need for these hikes in Panama.
Other Activities
Bird watching is a favorite pastime of Panamanian locals and visitors alike.
Whether you are living in Panama by yourself or with your family, there is a lot to see in the Chiriqui Province.
You can visit the Dracula Orchid Botanical Garden, which is home to more than 1,200 different species of the flower.
Horseback riding is another activity that will allow you to explore this region of Panama.
Canoe trips are also very popular for locals, tourists and expats.
Fishing for rainbow trout is another leisurely activity to enjoy when moving to Panama and the Chiriqui Province.
The Capital City of David
If you are traveling to the Chiriqui Province from Panama City, you can find a great place to spend your vacation in David.
If you are moving to the Chiriqui Province in Panama, this city is also a great place to live.
David is located right off the Panamerican Highway and it is about 45 minutes from the border Costa Rica.
It is just under seven hours away from Panama City, Panama by car and only one hour by plane.
If you are into shopping, you will find the best shopping in David in the Chiriqui Province.
There is a mall, grocery stores, furniture stores and hardware stores.
Boquete
Boquete is a great place in the Chiriqui Province to get in touch with nature.
This valley lies at the foot of an extinct volcano that reaches 10,500 feet.
The small town is filled with flowers and locals who are warm and inviting.
In Boquete, you can enjoy traditional Panamanian food with Costa Rican flair!
There are waterfalls and great hiking areas.
There are also coffee farms, which are very aromatic when the beans are being harvested.
Many magazines have chosen this picturesque city as one of the top places in the world to retire.
Although David and Boquete are the two most popular cities to move to and to visit, there are plenty of small villages for you to see.
Moving to Panama will provide you with an experience to explore another part of the country with unique customs and a unique culture.
When you want to move to Panama and the Chiriqui Province, contact IntlMOVE for your international shipping.
Moving to Panama and Activities near Panama City
Most people who move to Panama with IntlMOVE end up living in Panama City.
There are unlimited amounts of activities and the excitement never seems to stop.
Panama City is very similar to many big cities in the United States in terms of the restaurants, nightlife and career opportunities.
One thing that makes Panama City very unique is the activities you can do outside of the bustling city.
IntlMOVE has put together a list of some different places to explore and unique things to do outside of Panama City.
Embera Indian Village Tour
When you move to Panama City, Panama, you will not be living too far from a group of people with history deeply embedded in Panama.
The Embera Indian Village will offer you a glimpse into what life was like for the native people of Panama.
The village is located in the rainforest in Panama about 1.5 hours outside of Panama City.
You can see how their homes are still built on stilts from the palms of the jungle.
A visit to the village will also include a chance to participate and witness native dancing, authentic body painting and a meal.
If you want to take home a treasure from this visit, you can purchase one of the many handmade pieces of jewelry or handicrafts.
Monkey Island
When you live in the United States, there are very few places you can see monkeys living in the wild.
When you move to Panama with IntlMOVE, you can visit an island that has so many monkeys that it was named after the mammal.
To get to Monkey Island, you will need to take a boat through the Panama Canal, which will lead you through the Panamanian rainforest.
By the time you reach the island, you will likely have had a monkey visit you in your boat!
Other wildlife you might see while on this excursion includes crocodiles and birds.
Tour groups that take you to the island will also serve you an authentic Panamanian lunch.
Gamboa Rainforest Resort
If you want to get up close and personal with the wildlife and exotic plants in the Panamanian rainforest, take a tour of Gamboa Rainforest Resort.
Gamboa is home to a variety of different ecological experiences.
You can take a ride on the tram that take you through the rainforest or you can even eat a meal outside on a terrace surrounded by the beauty of the rainforest.
There are nature exhibits, learning experiences and exploration opportunities galore!
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort even offers you some fantastic views of the Panama Canal.
Summit Point Golf Club
Have IntlMOVE ship your golf clubs to Panama along with the rest of your household goods.
Summit Golf Club is a stunning golf course surrounded by lush tropical foliage and jungle.
The 18-hole course is located 30 minutes outside of Panama City, so you get the tropical experience that makes you feel like you are on vacation.
There are many international tournaments that take place at Summit Point Golf Club, so it is a world-class course.
Afterwards, if you get hungry, you will want to check out their famous restaurant in the club house.
When you move to Panama City, you will find that that untouched tropical wilderness is a lot closer than you think.
Let IntlMOVE help make your move to Panama easy by letting them handle all of your international shipping needs.
Moving to Panama with IntlMOVE and Obtaining a Visa
When you are moving to Panama with IntlMOVE, you will need a visa to stay in your new country.
There are many different kinds of visas that are available to foreigners in Panama.
IntlMOVE has put together a brief description of the visas to help make your move to Panama easier.
You will want to visit your consulate or embassy to get more details if you are interested in applying for any of these visas.
New Business Visa
Getting a new job in Panama can be difficult if you are not a citizen or a permanent resident.
However, if you want to start a business in Panama, you can get an investors visa.
If you want to apply for a new business visa, you will need to have the capital to start a business in your new country.
Panama requires that you deposit a minimum of $160,000 in a Panamanian bank to show that you have the liquid capital available to you to start a business.
You must also hire a minimum of three permanent Panamanian employees.
Small Business Investor Visa
The small business investor visa is a provisional visa that requires a minimum of a $40,000 investment.
Like the new business visa, you will have to hire 3 permanent Panamanian employees.
This visa has to be renewed each year.
Private Income Retiree Visa
Retirement visas are probably the easiest to get if you want to move to Panama permanently.
You can get a retirement visa regardless of your age as long as you meet the minimum requirements.
You need to prove that you earn a minimum of $1,000 per month.
Person of Means Visa
If you want to live in Panama on your own means, there is a visa available to you.
You have to deposit $200,000 or more into a Panamanian bank.
If you are purchasing a home, $80,000 of the $200,000 can be used towards a home.
If you do decide to apply for this visa and you need to ship your household goods to Panama, make sure you contact IntlMOVE to help you ship your personal belongings to your new country.
Reforestation Visa
If you have an interest in reforestation, you can not only pursue your environmental endeavors, but you can also get a visa in Panama.
This requires a $40,000 investment in a Panamanian reforestation project.
When you are offered a job in Panama, your new employer will help you get the visa you need to work in your new country.
Many people choose to teach English in Panama if they do not have the financial means to support themselves.
You can also visit Panama as a United States citizen for 90 days without a visa.
If you want to go to Panama and search for a job, you can use this option available to you.
When you have applied for your visa and you are ready to move to Panama, contact IntlMOVE to help you with your international shipping needs.
Moving to Panama and Square Watermelons
Moving to Panama with IntlMOVE provides a grand opportunity to join the country in its endeavor to supply niche markets across the globe with square watermelons.
There are over 1,200 types of watermelons, yet none are as uniquely shaped as certain watermelons grown in Panama.
The cubing technique has been around for a few years and the shape is thought to have been invented for reasons such as making the product fit precisely into refrigerators, allotting more space when shipping and distributing or because it seems that square melons are easier to slice.
Panama Fruit Producers, Inc. expects that it will export about 3,000 of the molded melons this year.It grows the square crops on about 75 acres, using cost-effective methods for fertilization and transportation.
High care is taken in regards to sanitary conditions, which eliminates pests and pathogens. Plans for further expansion and market testing are already underway.
The company says that it is eager to test consumers in markets hit hard by the financial crisis to see if they are willing to pay a high price for the fruit even though it does not keep its shape for extended periods of time.
Some have questioned whether the cube-shaped melons are a result of a genetic transformation but the fact is that as the fruit grows it becomes molded inside its square enclosure.
Fruit producers make the molds from a costly glass structure but hobbyists and enthusiast alike have indicated that just about any square object can form the melon.
Also, other produce like tomatoes can be molded— and not only into squares.
Moving to Panama with IntlMOVE allows the opportunity to enjoy square watermelons at prices significantly lower than the typical market price, which is near $75 for a medium size friut. Those who live in Panama do not have to pay the additional prices associated with exportation.
Additional fruit producers and distributers in Panama:
Chiriqui Land Company
A holding of Chiquita, Chiriqui Land Company produces much more than bananas.
Its parent company has been in business for more than a century and has partaken in numerous green initiates and social projects such as the Ethical Trading Initiative and Rainforest Alliance. Its smaller branches play a huge part in helping the community in which they are located and assist Chiquita in its global sustainably goals and outreach.
Conservas Panamena Selectas
Conservas Panamena Selectas, located in Panama City, began in 1958.
Since then, it has conquered new markets while meeting demands of the local specialty markets as well as expanding internationally.
The company specializes in tomato products, jams, marmalades, fruit juices, fruit nectars. New lines designed to meet new consumer demands include sugar-free nectar, juices of high purity and fine selections of canned juices.
Conservas Panamena Selectas is proud to be a local company with the ability and strength to compete even with top brands in international markets.
Del Monte De Panama
Located in El Dorado, Del Monte De Panama specializes in tomato, fruit and vegetable products as well as soups, baby food and snacks.
It produces a variety of traditional watermelons and specialty melons, which were introduced to meet the different tastes and expectations of customers from different regions.
Mr. Agro
Mr. Agro, also located in El Dorado, has been engaged in the agribusiness since the early 1980s. Now, supplying quality products to the demanding markets across the globe, they harvest melons such as Mikey Lee, Quetzalí, Sangria and Seedless.
Mr. Agro brands include Tropical Delights, Don Manuel and Lyly’s treasure.
When you move to Panama with IntlMOVE, you will learn to appreciate the unique cuisine, even if it is square watermelons!
How to Use Social Media to Ease Overseas Moving Experience
When you are ready to move overseas, IntlMOVE can help ship all of your household good to your new country.
However, there is a lot more to international moves than just shipping your household goods.
You need to find a place to live, find a job, find friends and find things to do in your free time.
There are many social media tools online that can help you get acclimated to life overseas.
After you have been offered a new job and you are ready to move overseas, it is time to begin your research phase.
The first thing you will want to do is research a good expat organization online.
A good expat organization offers forums, places for rent, groups and contacts to other expats who are living in your new country.
You can utilize these websites to find out where to live, where to eat, what to do and basically how to live in your new country.
Twitter is another great resource.
Twitter users constantly post articles and tips.
You can create your own list of people you follow who use Twitter to share information on your new country.
These tweets might give you some great insights into your new home overseas.
When you are moving overseas, you may want to ask your current contacts if they know anybody living in your new city or country.
If so, you may be able to connect with these people who are living overseas through email or Facebook.
You can use your friends’ acquaintances as resources for anything you need to know about moving overseas.
Facebook also touts excellent expat groups that you can join to learn and share information.
Learn as much as you can about your new country before you move overseas so you can get settled in your new home as quickly as possible.
Through these resources you can learn a lot.
When you have information to share, you can also help other expats by given them valuable lessons to make their international moves easier.
Through these networks, you can learn about schools for your children.
You can also find out what areas of town fit your needs when you looking for your new home.
Expat communities can help you find daycare, household help, career resources and just about anything you can imagine.
People you meet through these groups might even have meet-up groups, so you will have an instant group of acquaintances once you arrive overseas.
You do have to take precautions when using these social networking website to meet new people online.
Don’t’ share too much information about your personal life or your children.
If you do decide to meet with any of these people you are meeting online when you move overseas, be sure to meet in public places.
When move overseas, contact IntlMOVE to help you ship your household goods to your home.
Social networking websites can help you learn about your new country, but IntlMOVE LLC can help you get there!
