This is so beautiful Mary! You and your husband have not stopped one moment and already planted and done so much! The mangrove and the old growth trees are unbelievably beautiful! Good thing you are not turning everything into lawns! Wild is beautiful and the waterfront is amazing! I'm happy someone with your knowledge is overseeing and preserving a big chunck of the property in it's original jungle state! Respecting the land and the water is so important! What you are doing is awesome! I'm happy you both take the time to relax...I understand you and your husband 100% It must be so satisfying at the end of each day and the pride to see how much you have done and seeing your dreams take shape, slowly, surely and wisely! Thank you for sharing your work and your dreams! This is what life is about! I'm happy for you both and your dog living a wholesome new life together!
@@IGoPanama Yeah, I was hoping the camera man would take a shot at you standing by the trunk of one of those giant trees so that people could appreciate how big they truly are. They almost look prehistoric. I always loved those types of trees. So majestic!
Wow! Thanks for the tour. I can't believe how much work you have put into this property in such a short time. It's a shame to see the damage that neglect and theft has done to the buildings over a few short years. I looked back on my computer to see if I could find the old pics of the buildings from when it was listed for sale many years ago but I had no luck finding them. This is a wonderful homesite. Congratulations on the purchase!
The jungle and the locals claim any abandoned land around here pretty quickly! But we're going to try to get it back into tiptop shape and exhibit the natural beauty this unique property has to offer.
@@IGoPanama Yeah, umm don't forget that Squatter's Rights is a law in Panama. If a land is abandoned for over a certain amount of time and squatters have moved in and can prove that they have made improvements to it and can also prove that they have lived there for a certain amount of time, the portion of the land they can prove they occupied and improved upon can become theirs. Looks like you got there just in time. haha XD This law is also to prevent people from hoarding land. Some people many years ago were simply buying property and abandoning it or hoarding it. Some would even leave the country and be gone for decades. Back in the late 60s and 70s they put an end to that practice.
Really happy for you. This was a nice video to watch because I felt your pride and happiness. Well deserved, I'm sure! Good for you. You're inspiring many.
I would love to see more of your diy/ fix it up progress..your property is unique and fascinating and your adventure spirit seems to be up for it! Count me up for sharing the journey!
Seeing how people like you choose to live under those conditions and be so glad about taking the chance, makes me not want to take anything for granted and glad for the simple things in life that bring you the most joy. Uh, I recommend watching The Nomadic Movement videos. They're actually building a farm from scratch in the foothills of Boquete, Chiriqui.
Mary this is such awesome video. As Panamanian you have my highest respect and admiration. This is a part of my country that 90% of us know very a little about it. This property is beautiful. It needs a lots of work though(TLC🤗). I commend you for taking up that project and for being brave enough for this adventure. Is going to be and interesting and beautiful journey. I am curious about the cost of the property, but not sure that is something you are willing to share. I do respect if you don't. Thank for sharing with all of us. Blessings and best of luck🤗🙋🇵🇦🇺🇲
Thank you so much for the kind words! I won't be discussing the cost of the property, as that is private financial information. Yes, this is an adventure, indeed!
Wow, fantastic spot! Congratulations on finding it. I spent a month in Jungle School ( Fort Sherman ) Jan 78 and fell in love with Panama but never managed to make it back. I now have the means to get back there so your videos are very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your place and ideas with us and best of luck. I subscribed so I'll look forward to more videos. My best, John, Burlington, West Virginia
Next time I go to Bocas del Toro I will greet you from the road 😃 When I watch your videos and see that beautiful place, I always wondered who would live down there. I always liked to see that property, in fact, from the road you can see the archipelago and all those beautiful islands. I would love to meet you and greet you personally. Keep going and enjoy our country🙌.
Stunning! The land is beautiful - and then, the glorious ocean! I love the 'restaurant' and can imagine how wonderful it is to relax there every day after working on the property. I hope you swim a lot! I lived in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) for three years and loved, loved, loved swimming in the Caribbean. Since then I have been living in land-locked Uzbekistan for 10 years but am moving to Panama in June. Cannot wait to live close to the ocean again! I do hope you will keep us updated on your progress - you are doing something I would love to do; so satisfying building and molding a place to your liking. Masses of work, but very satisfying. Bravo and congratulations!
@@IGoPanama Thank you - so much to do to get ready to move. I really admire risk-takers who care about the environment and dive into adventures. I hope you and the property will nurture and support one another for many years to come.
Beautiful! congratulations on all your work. Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your attitude and belief that there is a place for everyone. I am looking for mine...
Looks like a really great spot! Have you considered putting a profile on WorkAway or even WWOOF? They are great programs that allows usually young people to travel on the cheap by exchanging around 4 hours a day of work labour for room and board. Could be a fun way of getting more of the work you want done for a lot cheaper. Could even throw in some local flora and fauna teachings to sweeten the deal!
We've considered it, but I need to do further research on the laws here in Panama to see if it's allowed here. Plus, we like to keep our local guys employed. :)
Also, by you building up the hill and not immediately by the water, aside fro the nice breeze and being far away from the swampy side with the chitras, if you have adequate drainage for the rainy season, you also might not have to put your house up on stilts, which is a common occurrence in that region. My great aunty's house was on stilts. I once lives in a house on stilts. :D
We have just over 13 acres in the western mountains of NM with a 40+ mile view over the San Agustin plains to 9000+ high mountains beyond...but yours is mo baeda! We are going to sell this place and move there, undecided where but had ruled out Bocas area, too remote. Love the Caribbean too ...!
We enjoyed watching your videos while walking (treadmill walking). There are walking videos that people have made like walking in Hawaii walking in New York actionkid . Walking in Bahamas. I think some are making money. Great videos ******* Thank you for sharing ****
Zowie! That's quite the property! You seem to have the right attitude for it, may your dreams come true. My wife and I have been here (El Valle area) for thirteen years. We love the sense of freedom and over the years have adapted well to Panama's ways. Saludos!
I know, it's like a dream property. It has a little bit of everything. The sea, a hill, a dock, a creek, a view, beautiful wildlife, access to the main road. It's like a smorgasbord of happiness all into one property. :D
Nice video. Amazing property. I like the seats for ever butt joke. I felt the same way when I traveled to the Panamanian countryside. Best wishes with developing it your way!
GRMS radios are becoming more popular with overlanders. I think they are legal in the Republic of Panama (trust but verify). You could set up a GMRS repeater on your property and use portable radios for comms between you and your staff.
@@IGoPanama If you can get them, the Baofeng UV-5X radios are "good enough." They are preprogrammed for GMRS/FRS and run $60 a pair. You need an FCC license to use them in the US, but you should be fine in Panama.
@@IGoPanama Here's an interesting review of some other interesting options: www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/personal-locator-beacon/gotenna-mesh
Hi Mary and Brian! I’m a little behind the times, so I’m sure your place is quite different by now. I’m happy for you both, my sister and I plan to move from Texas to Panama June ‘23 (hopefully Bocas), and who knows - we might even be able to do a short term rental from you. :-) Take care! Toni
Very nice property, really a treasure. Your time spent on research has paid off like a lottery win. Really enjoyed seeing the landscape and views instead of just watching you talk, not that I don’t like what you have to say. I know most RU-vid videos seem to be 98% selfies, just prefer seeing what’s around the area rather than continuous mug shots. Your advice and stories of your progress are fantastic, as is the progress you have made. Can’t wait to see what else you have to share. Hope I haven’t offended you, I really do look forward to Fridays now thanks to you.
Not offended at all! If I'm discussing topics like the Friendly Nations Visa or telling a story, then I'm going to be on camera. But if I'm giving a tour of an area, like in the hiking videos or this tour of our property, I'm more than happy to be off camera and let the scenery be the star! It all just depends on what the topic is. So glad you look forward to the videos each Friday- I enjoy making them. :)
Yes, the landscaping here is gorgeous. And I'm slowly adding more things now that I can see the lay of the land so to speak! We've transplanted over 50 coconut trees, a couple of avocado trees, and a few flowering plants so far.
@@IGoPanama And thank you for preserving and protecting the mangroves. Oh, I always wondered why they call mangroves mangroves and why there aren't any womangroves. lol
That's the plan! I actually shot a new one today, so you're the first to know that Friday's video will be another episode of My Panamanian Telenovela!! :) And thank you for watching. :)
What a wonderful life you’re creating! My father has lived in Bocas Town for many years and I do plan on moving there as soon as my home sells here in Palm Springs, CA. I have three little furbabies that I will be bringing with me and I would appreciate it so very much if you have any insights and the best way to get animals (dogs) there.
Yes, I will definitely be making a video about how we got Ike, the UTV tolerant dog, here!! But it requires a lot of piecing together of pictures and documents and video and we've been so busy we haven't had time to sit down and do any major editing like that. I suspect we'll have it up and running within the next month, so keep an eye out!
With plenty of land for a building site, recommend you seriously consider a single level home, no stairs, for a few reasons: a) so, so much better as you age or have older visitors or children. b) heat gathers on higher levels, increasing the need and expense for ventilation and air conditioning. c) in tropical climates designs with sprawling single levels and abundant verandas just make for more beautiful, better, more practical designs. Most people only build up in the tropics if they lack the land to build out. Just my dos pesos. Beautiful spot!
Thanks for your "dos pesos"!! We want to build up because it would actually be cooler than to be at ground level. We get good breezes up there. Plus, it will be an open design- no concerns with heat build up in the upper stories. We don't do air conditioning. :) Also, that piece of land (actually MOST of our land!) is on a slope- easier to build up rather than out.
Lovely Mary - I'm a new subscriber and love what you do. Where exactly are you in Bocas - looks like you are close to Almirante or maybe the other side?
Beautiful property, beautiful doors. I am a retired builder developer and live in Bucaramanga Colombia. I am tired of Colombia and would love property like you have may I know a ball park price of what you paid , it looks very expensive but I dont have any idea of the cost thank you.
We purchased our property through www.rootsrealestatepanama.com. You can visit their website and get an idea of the price of properties in the Bocas del Toro area.
@@IGoPanama One thing that comes to mind would be an yoga retreat. :D Another would be like a hub for nature tour expeditions. And yet, another might be as a animal and/or plant sanctuary aligned with the Smithsonian Institution. So many ideas! I'll be here all day, week, month, year, you won;t get rid of me. I'll be like a barnacle. lawlz ok, I'll show myself the door. hahaha XD
Thats gorgeous!!!! I've been trying to place you, given your proximity to Cristobal and the mainland, will we have gone by on the watertaxi to Almirante?
You mentioned that you teach online. I do too, and I just got my FNV. I need to continue teaching, so I need great wifi. Do you have reliable wifi there?
@@321-Gone It's actually not too bad. Plus we only run it for about 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening. Brian saw them working at the end of the electricity line this week, so we might have "real" electricity soon!
Great stuff! You guys have a very nice spread to build your dreams on. I love hearing the birds while you're standing outside too. In your "Do This Before You Move to Panama, Part 1 of 2" video you mention opening an "off shore" corp. Hope to see more details in another video soon. This is something i probably need to discuss with Kraemer as I'm not sure which type of corp. to open; IBC, LLC, Panamanian domestic; off shore, etc. I've heard Panamanian corp tax is 10%; but foreign income sources are not taxed locally. I'm assuming that's where the "off shore" entity comes in. Anyway, keep up the good work - I'm entirely enjoying all your informative videos!
Glad you enjoyed it! Which to open depends on a LOT of things- like if you're planning to use it for a business (either Panamanian or US based), to hold your real estate, or just for the friendly nations visa requirement. Consult an expat tax specialist for sure if it's for business!! For the other two, talk to Kraemer.
So excited to have found your channel! I grew up in redondo beach/pv and have always wanted to get back to the beach but have never been able to afford it in my adult life. Been looking heavily at ambergris but just can’t commit to it yet. I’m nervous about being dependent on boat or air as my only options to reach my property. I didn’t know anything about panama until 3 days ago when I started binging your videos. I still have 20 years until I’m retirement age, time to figure out an online business for myself. My biggest concern at this point is that I do not speak Spanish, people even laugh at the way I say hola. Belize captured my interest initially just for that aspect. Do you think someone like me could survive in Panama? Thanks again!
Anyone can not just survive in Panama, but THRIVE! Please watch my video about choosing between Panama and Belize- although I love Belize I don't think it's a good option for permanent living. Most places in Panama do not require boat access- just the area where I am because a large portion of the province is located on several islands. And I'll be doing a video about Spanish soon. :)
Hahaha "survive"? Both my dad and one of my grandpa came from entirely different part of the word and neither of them spoke a lick of spinnach, I mean, Spanish. They fell in love with Panama. They more than survived. And as you learn your Spanish, you will be surprised at the number of people who speak some pretty decent English. We teach an whole lot more English in our schools than the U.S. teaches Spanish. In any case, you will be more than alright and this will be much more amenable than simply surviving. Best wishes with your online business. There are so many options. Plus, don;t forget that Panama has the second largest Duty-Free zone. Maybe you can somehow incorporate some of the benefits from that zone with your online business? It's worth it to investigate, plus all of the tax incentives. The sky is the limit.
Oh, also, I recommend something called "The Pimsleur Language Method". It totally demystifies learning another language and you'll be speaking Spanish in no time and with very little effort. That's how intuitive it is. Look it up. It won't disappoint. And, best of all, you may not even have to pay for it! It's likely waiting for you right there in your local library!!
You have a beautiful piece of land. Do you mind if I ask how much it cost you to purchase? I’m interested in the Pixvae area. Heading there the end of June.
Yup just missing a small herd of horses for me and there is my dream retirement property! Congratulations! You should become a part time real estate agent for your region as a side income. You have me convinced to ditch Costa Rica for Panama lol...
HA! I always said that if I was going to go back in time and choose a new career, it would be real estate agent or lawyer! Where in CR are you? And by the way, there is a GORGEOUS property (not for sale) just down from us- a valley like you wouldn't believe. And they have a lot of horses.
@@IGoPanama Ok you got me! Is there a village near them? What is the name of the closest village I will look it up in satellite view! Planning a trip as soon as this mess cleans up a bit. Are they locals or expats?
@@madameallen1441 Almirante is about 20 minutes from us. Hardly any expats at all- in fact, on this piece of the mainland I only know of 1 other full time expat couple.
@@IGoPanama ok so you are saying there is full of horses in Almirante? Or is the gorgeous horse valley just near Almirante? Found only one AirBnB nearby. It looks great though. Funny how everything else is on the islands and almost nothing on the mainland!!! Can’t wait to explore the area.
@@madameallen1441 Not full of horses, but a lot of horses for this area. Not many people have horses around here. There are 2 airbnbs on the mainland now, and we'll be opening ours in about 2 months so that will make 3. We'll be the only one with internet and ocean access though.
We know that your lifestyle is by your choice. And I think that it is a wonderful choice. You are basically keeping things real. You are connected to our Mother Earth and you get to see both sea and land biology and get to enjoy one of the few places in the planet with so much biodiversity still left in both. Also, nobody breathing down your neck. Panamá, especially where you are, is a very "live and let live" kind of place. No hustle or bustle, cleaner air than in L.A., and because of it, you'll prolly live longer too. And although you are living remotely, you still have internet and enough infrastructure and transportation options to give you flexibility and access, not only to urban life, but also to practically anywhere else in the world, given that Panama is an hub with so many direct flights to practically anywhere around the world. Also, public transportation in Panama is super cheap. Even taxis won't break you. I'm very glad you have found awesome stomping grounds. Enjoy!
@@IGoPanama yup. I was once in the eye of an hurricane in Mississippi. Although it was extremely exciting, not exactly something I would wish to build into my routine of worry. That was Hurricane Elena.
@@IGoPanama OOOhh, that reminds me. Have you come up with a name? Please don;t say: "La Encontrada!" hahahaha No, but, seriously, you gotta give it a name. :D
Grass cutting depends on the amount of rain. On average, probably once every 6-7 weeks. We let it get pretty high before we cut it. Here's a blog about suicide showers (not mine) storyteller.travel/electric-showers-are-they-safe-how-shocking/
@@rogaineablar5608 You're so welcome! Glad you're enjoying the videos. If you have more questions, feel free to join me at facebook.com/groups/igopanama
Hi !. It's two years later. Can my wife and I rwnt the caretakers shack for long term living ? We won't be coming empty handed. Our finances are set. If you see this please respond .
