Practical answers for moving to or living in Boquete.
The basics that show up in your first month: where to get cash, where to see a doctor, how to get a SIM card, how to get around. Boquete-specific. Updated as things change. For visas, taxes, and pet importation, this page points you to a professional.
Money & banking
Panama uses the US dollar. The local balboa coin circulates alongside US coins and they're interchangeable. Bring small bills; $50 and $100 notes can be hard to break outside of larger stores.
ATMs are widely available in Bajo Boquete (Banco General, BAC, Banistmo, Banco Nacional). Most accept international cards. Withdrawal limits and fees vary by bank and home network.
Opening a Panama bank account as a non-resident has gotten harder. Most short-term visitors use their home account plus ATM withdrawals. Residents can open accounts with proper documentation. Yappy (a Panama-native mobile payment app) is increasingly common for small transactions.
We're not a tax or financial advisor. For account opening, taxes, or residency-related banking, talk to a Panama-licensed lawyer or accountant.
Healthcare
For day-to-day needs, pharmacies in Bajo Boquete handle most over-the-counter and prescription medications. Many medications that require a prescription in the US or Canada are available without one in Panama; always confirm dosage with the pharmacist.
A handful of private clinics in Boquete handle outpatient care. For anything serious, the regional hospital is Hospital Chiriquí in David, about 45-60 minutes by car. Panama City has the country's most advanced facilities.
English-speaking doctors are available in Boquete and in David. Confirm language before you book. Many expats carry a mix of Panama-based private insurance plus an international plan for serious care.
We're not a medical site. Confirm provider availability, hours, and your insurance coverage directly before relying on any specific clinic.
Connectivity
The main mobile carriers in Panama are +Móvil (Cable & Wireless), Mas Móvil (Tigo), and Digicel. Prepaid SIM cards are available at carrier shops in Bajo Boquete and at David airport with a passport. Coverage in Bajo Boquete is good across all three; outlying neighborhoods vary.
WhatsApp is the primary communication channel in Panama. Most businesses prefer WhatsApp over email or phone. Many Boquete businesses on Guía Boquete list a WhatsApp number directly.
Home internet is available from Cable & Wireless, Tigo, and Mas Móvil. Speeds of 50-500 Mbps are typical in Bajo Boquete; higher elevations (Volcancito, Jaramillo, Palmira) have thinner coverage and slower speeds. Fiber is rolling out.
Getting around
Bajo Boquete is walkable. Higher elevations like Alto Boquete, Volcancito, and Jaramillo require a vehicle. Roads are paved in town and on most main routes; rural roads can be steep, winding, and unmarked.
Taxis are abundant in Bajo Boquete. Flat rates within town are typically $1-3. A taxi to David runs about $20-30. Buses to David leave every 15-20 minutes from the Boquete terminal and cost about $1.75. Long-distance buses to Panama City take 6-8 hours and cost roughly $15-20.
Car rentals are available at David's Enrique Malek International Airport and in David city; Boquete itself has limited rental options. Foreign driver's licenses are valid for 90 days as a tourist. After that, residency and a Panama license are required to keep driving legally.
Find taxis, rental services, and transportation on Guía Boquete→
Schools
Local public schools teach in Spanish and are free for residents. A small number of private bilingual schools serve the expat community in Boquete; Boquete Academy and Mount Carmel are commonly mentioned, with tuition that varies year to year.
For international curriculum or larger schools, David has more options. Some expat families homeschool through elementary and middle school, which is legal in Panama. UNACHI (Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí) in David is the regional public university; Boquete itself has no university.
School enrollment processes vary by institution. Confirm tuition, calendar, and admission requirements directly with each school.
Housing & utilities
Monthly rentals range widely. A typical 2-3 bedroom rental in Bajo Boquete runs $800-2,500 per month depending on finishes and view. Volcancito and Jaramillo can be cheaper for the same square footage. Palmira (lower elevation, warmer) is generally the lowest-cost zone.
Foreigners can own real estate outright in Panama. The market is established but title research matters: there are condemnation and right-of-first-refusal risks in certain rural areas. Use a Panama-licensed lawyer for any purchase.
Electricity in the Boquete area is provided by ENSA. Brief outages happen in storms; many homes have surge protectors or backup generators. Water comes from IDAAN in some neighborhoods and from community aqueducts (acueducto rural) in others. Tap water in Bajo Boquete is generally safe to drink but many expats use filtered or bottled water as a habit.
Real estate decisions involve legal, tax, and zoning complexity. Use a Panama-licensed lawyer for any purchase.
Find real estate, utility services, and home maintenance on Guía Boquete→
What this page doesn't cover
Panama residency, visas, taxes, pet importation, and immigration paperwork are regulated and change. We don't cover them here because wrong information would hurt more than no information. For each of these: consult a Panama-licensed professional. We're a directory, not a law firm or an accounting practice.