Who lives in Panama?

This topic was created in the Travel forum by DMV on Monday, July 3, 2023 and has 20 replies.
I’ve been really working on my New Year’s resolution to stop waiting and start moving.

I’ve been to Bogota, Freeport and now Panama so far this year.

I’ve made some great friends while in Panama. People from all over the world. Really stretching my Sagittarius muscles.

I do believe that Saggis need to travel to exist in this world. Traveling is about 2nd to breathing oxygen. It’s how a horse re centers.

Panama has a beautiful skyline and the people are extraordinary.

Full moon in the 7th and Jupiter only ascendent has really made for a great trip
Posted by DMV
I’ve been really working on my New Year’s resolution to stop waiting and start moving.

I’ve been to Bogota, Freeport and now Panama so far this year.

I’ve made some great friends while in Panama. People from all over the world. Really stretching my Sagittarius muscles.

I do believe that Saggis need to travel to exist in this world. Traveling is about 2nd to breathing oxygen. It’s how a horse re centers.

Panama has a beautiful skyline and the people are extraordinary.


Did you go solo? Do you speak Spanish ? Thinking about a solo trip here but I don’t speak Spanish…don’t know if it’s a good idea

I just came back from Cartagena, Colombia (solo) 🇨🇴 and if I didn’t meet people there, to hang with, I would have been screwed 😂 (the people I met were fluent in Spanish)
Yep, I went solo and I speak ok Spanish. Alot of people in hotel tourism speak English and they have Uber.

I’ve been looking at Cartegena… what did you do there?
Posted by DMV
Yep, I went solo and I speak ok Spanish. Alot of people in hotel tourism speak English and they have Uber.

I’ve been looking at Cartegena… what did you do there?
Funny, I didn’t get the notification for your message 🤔

Ok…that’s what I was expecting with employees in Cartagena, but was in for a rude awakening lol

Everyone that I encountered, including my hostel, spoke very limited English. I had to use google translate in some cases, so now I’ll hold off on Spanish speaking countries like that, until I learn enough to navigate alone.

I did a free walking tour ( booked through GuruWalk), I did a good tour, mud volcano, and 3-4 island tour (with the last island being optional so I only did 3).

I wanted to do an ice cream making class but it conflicted with my other tours.

Some of the people that I met there also visited Medellin and loved it. I booked the trip the day before leaving, but if it was planned out I probably would have did both Cartagena and Medellin.

So I’m your opinion, if you were me, would you hold off going? I was solo for maybe a day and a half, and got a bit frustrated trying to communicate with staff for basic things, and don’t want to put myself through that again 😂
Forgot to add, two of my tour guides did speak pretty good English, but as far as restaurants, stores, etc…not so much.
Oh, also…check YouTube for expats in Panama 🇵🇦, I believe I saw some on their , and I heard they have expat groups on Facebook so I’m sure their has to be some for Panama.
Would you recommend it as a passport bro destination?
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Posted by DMV
Yep, I went solo and I speak ok Spanish. Alot of people in hotel tourism speak English and they have Uber.
I’ve been looking at Cartegena… what did you do there?


Funny, I didn’t get the notification for your message 🤔

Ok…that’s what I was expecting with employees in Cartagena, but was in for a rude awakening lol
Everyone that I encountered, including my hostel, spoke very limited English. I had to use google translate in some cases, so now I’ll hold off on Spanish speaking countries like that, until I learn enough to navigate alone.

I did a free walking tour ( booked through GuruWalk), I did a good tour, mud volcano, and 3-4 island tour (with the last island being optional so I only did 3).
I wanted to do an ice cream making class but it conflicted with my other tours.

Some of the people that I met there also visited Medellin and loved it. I booked the trip the day before leaving, but if it was planned out I probably would have did both Cartagena and Medellin.

So I’m your opinion, if you were me, would you hold off going? I was solo for maybe a day and a half, and got a bit frustrated trying to communicate with staff for basic things, and don’t want to put myself through that again 😂
click to expand
Tell me more about the mud volcano and ice cream making class (links if you got ‘em)

Hmm, so maybe I should do 2 days in Medellin and 2 days in Cartagena. Or a 3/2

I would go now and put yourself through it. Imo, I love that feeling of having to get over these hurdles.

Also try watching tv with Spanish subtitles.

My Spanish used to be very limited but now I get compliments from the locals.

Do it! My Market Food Tour host spoke English and the tour was in English. Hotel spoke English. Sightseeing bus spoke English. Uber and taxi very limited English. I stayed in Panama City. The resorts along the coast, I have to come back and visit.
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Forgot to add, two of my tour guides did speak pretty good English, but as far as restaurants, stores, etc…not so much.
Yes same experience in Panama.
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Oh, also…check YouTube for expats in Panama 🇵🇦, I believe I saw some on their , and I heard they have expat groups on Facebook so I’m sure their has to be some for Panama.
Strangely this came up on the tour. They used to sell house in 2014 for $ 14000 and the US expats snatched them up.

Idk if I would live in Panama. Maybe Mexico City

I noticed that I see a lot of male tourist on you’tube but not a lot of women. Especially in Western Europe. Egypt, etc

Lastly, try writing in the Notes o your phone, the phrases you use the most in Spanish/English.
Posted by Walk_on_by
Would you recommend it as a passport bro destination?
Well, I didn’t see not one bad looking Panamanian.

The men were handsome and chivalrous.

The women were feminine and smiled a lot. Sensual.
Posted by DMV
Posted by Walk_on_by
Would you recommend it as a passport bro destination?



Well, I didn’t see not one bad looking Panamanian.


The men were handsome and chivalrous.


The women were feminine and smiled a lot. Sensual.
click to expand
Sounds glorious
Posted by GeminiJim
You could change that black hat for a Panama hat
I almost brought one
Posted by DMV
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Posted by DMV
Yep, I went solo and I speak ok Spanish. Alot of people in hotel tourism speak English and they have Uber.
I’ve been looking at Cartegena… what did you do there?


Funny, I didn’t get the notification for your message 🤔

Ok…that’s what I was expecting with employees in Cartagena, but was in for a rude awakening lol
Everyone that I encountered, including my hostel, spoke very limited English. I had to use google translate in some cases, so now I’ll hold off on Spanish speaking countries like that, until I learn enough to navigate alone.

I did a free walking tour ( booked through GuruWalk), I did a good tour, mud volcano, and 3-4 island tour (with the last island being optional so I only did 3).
I wanted to do an ice cream making class but it conflicted with my other tours.

Some of the people that I met there also visited Medellin and loved it. I booked the trip the day before leaving, but if it was planned out I probably would have did both Cartagena and Medellin.

So I’m your opinion, if you were me, would you hold off going? I was solo for maybe a day and a half, and got a bit frustrated trying to communicate with staff for basic things, and don’t want to put myself through that again 😂



Tell me more about the mud volcano and ice cream making class (links if you got ‘em)


Hmm, so maybe I should do 2 days in Medellin and 2 days in Cartagena. Or a 3/2


I would go now and put yourself through it. Imo, I love that feeling of having to get over these hurdles.


Also try watching tv with Spanish subtitles.


My Spanish used to be very limited but now I get compliments from the locals.


Do it! My Market Food Tour host spoke English and the tour was in English. Hotel spoke English. Sightseeing bus spoke English. Uber and taxi very limited English. I stayed in Panama City. The resorts along the coast, I have to come back and visit.
click to expand
The mud volcano 🌋 tour was about 45-1hr away from walled city (the centre of Cartagena)

You go up to the top of the volcano and get in like a mud bath, the workers give you a full body massage while in there, and you rinse off in the lake

FYI

I booked all my tours through Airbnb, but you can’t see an option for “experiences/tours” unless you already have a stay booked

You can also book through TripAdvisor

I will say that from reviews it might be a little better through Airbnb with Willy and his wife (bc apparently he is a guide that gets there before loads of bus tours come in and it’s too crowded)

Just google mud volcano Cartagena and scroll to Viator (the second link) shows tons of pics of the experience

It was a weird, but good 1st time experience, besides it being a natural detox, good for the skin, etc.

I definitely would recommend and of all the people I’ve talked to, everyone felt the same way

But I appreciate any experience that’s new 😐

Oh I can’t send links anymore bc I already left reviews, which then clears it from Airbnb

2/2 sounds good, but I would just say if you’re gonna do that, have an itinerary…book tours ahead so you can have them mapped out and so the ones you wanna doesn’t conflict

*I literally did everything last minute but if I didn’t, I would have been able to do the ice cream class

So the ice cream making class was taught by an older lady ( I believe she was Colombian and a chef for yrs)… they had cooking classes too

Oh, with this trip, I definitely already put myself over some hurdles, or stepped outside of my comfort zone completely

Me traveling solo (being a person who doesn’t like to do anything alone 😂🤦🏽‍♀️) to staying in a hostel with a bunch of strangers for the 1st time

It was definitely scary, but also exciting, and I did, so now I’m completely ok with taking solo trips and not waiting for anyone

According to TikTok and an article that I just read, there are a lot of female solo travelers (3 in 4 women, according to the article)

The watching movies with Spanish subtitles is a really good idea, I’m definitely gonna try that

I also downloaded the app Duolingo awhile back, and did some lessons but didn’t stick with it

I’ve always wanted to re-learn Spanish again, this trip is definitely the top motivator to now

So basically same…Uber/inDrive person didn’t speak English either

FYI

InDrive is the recommended app to use there, kinda like uber, but you can actually offer an amount you want to pay

I was seeing people on TikTok saying uber is only partially legal there, but that cops have been known to stop cars leaving the airport, to check to make sure they weren’t ubering

So it was recommended to not catch it to/from the airport, but ok everywhere else (I asked my food tour guide and he agreed that it was better to use inDrive, so I downloaded it while there- I literally only paid $ 2.90 for my 20 min ride to the airport 12,000 pesos 😂)

* uber is also cheap, but the ride from the airport was $ 6 vs the $ 2.90

I did catch uber leaving the airport, but I didn’t book it, the couple I met on the plan did , and they invited me to uber with them

I used inDrive to get back to the airport when leaving
Yes in Bogota, Uber was also very frowned upon. I aranged pickup/drop off with my hotel and my tour guide met/dropped me at my hotel.

In Panama, Uber is welcomed and wait time ms are usually less than a minute. You can also hail a taxi. I got a taxi from the airport and paid the same amount as an Uber returning to the airport. Clean Ubers too.
Posted by DMV
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Oh, also…check YouTube for expats in Panama 🇵🇦, I believe I saw some on their , and I heard they have expat groups on Facebook so I’m sure their has to be some for Panama.



Strangely this came up on the tour. They used to sell house in 2014 for $ 14000 and the US expats snatched them up.


Idk if I would live in Panama. Maybe Mexico City


I noticed that I see a lot of male tourist on you’tube but not a lot of women. Especially in Western Europe. Egypt, etc


Lastly, try writing in the Notes o your phone, the phrases you use the most in Spanish/English.
click to expand
Oh 😳, is that why I’ve been seeing tons of expats on YouTube

I know just recently came across something offering a crazy amount of money to move to like. Ireland or somewhere.

I’ve watched tons of expat videos for different places recently to get ideas of where to go, along with TikTok for black female solo travelers

Mexico was listed on one YouTube video as one of top best countries for black expats

I’ve seen a ton of women tourist /expats on YouTube…as far as Egypt specifically, it was come up a lot as an “unsafe place for female solo travelers” bc of much unwanted male attention/ borderline stalking from men

I’ve seen several mentions of this, recommended if traveling there as a women, only do it with a group
Posted by DMV
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Oh, also…check YouTube for expats in Panama 🇵🇦, I believe I saw some on their , and I heard they have expat groups on Facebook so I’m sure their has to be some for Panama.



Strangely this came up on the tour. They used to sell house in 2014 for $ 14000 and the US expats snatched them up.


Idk if I would live in Panama. Maybe Mexico City


I noticed that I see a lot of male tourist on you’tube but not a lot of women. Especially in Western Europe. Egypt, etc


Lastly, try writing in the Notes o your phone, the phrases you use the most in Spanish/English.
click to expand
Saving most commonly used phrases, also another great idea, thanks 😊
Posted by Walk_on_by
Would you recommend it as a passport bro destination?
I’m sure the passport bros are already there, especially in Medellin, where most of the prostitution is 😂😂

You tryna go buy you a bitch 😂🤭
Posted by DMV
Posted by Sleepyquantro1
Oh, also…check YouTube for expats in Panama 🇵🇦, I believe I saw some on their , and I heard they have expat groups on Facebook so I’m sure their has to be some for Panama.



Strangely this came up on the tour. They used to sell house in 2014 for $ 14000 and the US expats snatched them up.


Idk if I would live in Panama. Maybe Mexico City


I noticed that I see a lot of male tourist on you’tube but not a lot of women. Especially in Western Europe. Egypt, etc


Lastly, try writing in the Notes o your phone, the phrases you use the most in Spanish/English.
click to expand
Also forgot to mention, someone I met there said it was cheaper to flight to Bogota, then fly over, and the second cheapest was to fly into Medellin , last was Cartagena, as far as price

* she lives in Vegas, just for reference