Carnaval in Las Tablas, Panama, is a huge event. It brings around 100,000 visitors to the town -- and Las Tablas' normal population is only about 10,000. Merchants make a big chunk of their annual sales before, during and after Carnaval. Families earn some extra income by bunking in together … [Read more...] about After the Lights and Music End: The Dark Side of Carnaval in Las Tablas, Panama [Video]
Las Tablas Panama
Villas Coco del Mar One Year Later. . .
Sadly, There's Not Much Progress Last year, I wrote a piece about a promising new beachfront development near Las Tablas. It's the Villas Coco del Mar, and at the time we bumped out there on a very difficult dirt road, there was not much to be seen. Rolling hills, beautiful views, and a long … [Read more...] about Villas Coco del Mar One Year Later. . .
Some Common Questions about Las Tablas, Panama
Recently I received this email from a reader. It asks questions I see pretty often about Las Tablas, Panama, so I thought I'd answer it publicly. "I will retire in about 5 years and was thinking about buying a place in Panama - Las Tablas seems to be a good match for me (of course I need to check … [Read more...] about Some Common Questions about Las Tablas, Panama
The Pains, Perils and Joys of Buying Panama Oceanfront Property
Over this past weekend, I looked at two very different pieces of Panama beachfront property. The first belongs to an expat couple we met. They're not selling it, and I can see why. It's absolutely beautiful! Directly on the beach near Chitre, it was built as a collection of small buildings … [Read more...] about The Pains, Perils and Joys of Buying Panama Oceanfront Property
Las Tablas, Panama – What does it REALLY Cost to Live Here?
What's the cost of living? That's the question on nearly everyone's mind when they think about retiring overseas. Even if you've got a big budget, you still want to know the sorts of expenses you might run into in a new place. Naturally, your expenses and mine will never line up perfectly. … [Read more...] about Las Tablas, Panama – What does it REALLY Cost to Live Here?
Losing a Dog in Las Tablas, Panama
Less than two weeks. That's how long we had our dogs with us in Panama before potential disaster struck. Recently I wrote about our ordeals in moving our three small dogs with us to Panama. As I explained, it wasn't so much the paperwork, although you have to carefully dot all your I's and … [Read more...] about Losing a Dog in Las Tablas, Panama