Denise
@ddmcghee
American expat in Panama
Forum posts
1970
Contacts
9
About me
American, Married
Lives in Alto Boquete, ChiriquÃ, Panam
Speaks English
Registration: 15 May 2017
About
My husband and I are currently living in Alto Boquete, Panama. Previously, we were expats in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, from July 2020 until the end of 2025.
Occupation
I am retired for retired
Education
Georgia State University
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Operations Management
1996
Georgia State University
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Human Resource Management
1989
My expat journey
Alto Boquete, Chiriquí, Panama
Las Terrenas, Samaná, Dominican Republic
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Activity
Relocating to Boquete and bringing my small business by gandalfwz
I am considering relocating to Boquete and possibly bringing my small business with me. My wife and I are very active 70 yr olds still working and enjoying outdoor activities like kayaking. We're exploring the idea of relocating to somewhere with a ...
@gandalfwz There is at least one shoe repair shop in Bajo Boquete (downtown). I've not been, but when I mentioned fixing a pair of Keens with Shoe Goo, a friend suggested checking it out. Read More
Most common payment methods in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Moving to Panama, even simple things like paying for groceries or a coffee can feel different. In order to help fellow expats and soon-to-be expats better prepare for their daily transactions, we invite you to share your insights ...
We use credit cards for almost all purchases. When we buy at the markets or from small mom and pop places, we try to use cash.For paying contractors and for services (utilities, HOA, etc.), we use our bank app to make a free transfer. Read More
Honest legal assistance for residency by Mendac
Hello, I'm fron the UK and I'm looking to obtain residency through the retiree programme. Any recommendations for lawyers and an location that is affordable on a pension.Phil
@gandalfwz Our attorney is Javier Perez, in David. In addition to residency, he's also assisted us with creating a Private Interest Foundation to hold our home and with the closing on our house. Read More
Home building in Boquete area by gandalfwz
Can anyone list two or three moderately price new home developments being built in the Boquete area? My wife and I are likely visiting Boquete in a month or two and would like to look at areas where new homes are being built to get an idea of the ...
There are a ton of microclimates in and around the Boquete area. I strongly recommend spending some time in the area before buying or building a home.We're in Alto Boquete, but we're in an area that is warmer (our preference) than some areas of Alto ... Read More
Navigating friendships as an expat in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Moving to Panama reshapes many aspects of life, and friendships are often one of the biggest changes. Whether you're maintaining lifelong bonds back home, building new local relationships, or forming connections with fellow ...
@Cheryl I think it was because, even though the area I was in was full of expats, most were French, Italian, German, and French-Canadian. Not many English speakers! Read More
Our Move to Panama by cleoh85
Hello!We're Mike and Cynthia. We're arriving in Panama in November of this year. We are hoping to settle in the Boquete area. Mike is from the UK and I'm from the U.S. We'd been living in Australia the past 17 years and are looking forward to ...
@cleoh85 Hello!My husband and I have been in Alto Boquete since January, after 5.5 years in the Dominican Republic. I'm happy to answer any questions or to meet for a coffee once you get here. Read More
Banking in Panama by efcrocker66
I'm looking at moving to Panama from the U.S. can anyone suggest a good/reputable bank to work with?
We have an account with Global Bank. We've been happy so far. Their fee for depositing a US check is only $10, the lowest I found amongst all the banks with branches in Boquete. Read More
New members of the Panama forum, introduce yourselves here - 2026 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Panama forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your ...
@gandalfwz Sorry for the delay - I haven't logged on in a few weeks.There are many neighborhoods being built that are very affordable. While there are some expats moving to these neighborhoods, I think they are primarily targeted toward middle-class ... Read More
Relocating to Boquete and bringing my small business by gandalfwz
I am considering relocating to Boquete and possibly bringing my small business with me. My wife and I are very active 70 yr olds still working and enjoying outdoor activities like kayaking. We're exploring the idea of relocating to somewhere with a ...
@gandalfwz We’ve been in Alto Boquete for 8 months now, expats for just over 6 years (mostly in DR). I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about living in this area. As far as bringing your business, you need to research the ... Read More
Rental nightmares in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Finding a place to live in Panama can be exciting, but it doesn’t always go as planned. From misleading listings and apartments that look nothing like the photos to strange landlords, hidden rules, unexpected roommates, or ...
@gandalfwzi highly recommend renting for a while before buying here, especially if this is your first expat experience! Even after extensive research, there are many who take the leap, buy a house, then determine that expat life is not for them. ... Read More
New members of the Panama forum, introduce yourselves here - 2026 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Panama forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more on your ...
@gatorleachWelcome to the forum! Originally from the U.S., we’ve been in Alto Boquete since January, after 5.5 years in the Dominican Republic. Here are a couple of options for news in ... Read More
Health food store Las Terrenas by rfortinsz
Hello everyone! I am new to Las Terrenas and searching for a health food store to buy organic products. Google Maps hasn’t given me any clue, nor have my searches online. I have been to Sirena and Jumbo- no bueno! Maybe in another ...
@rfortinsz Try Bonita Bodega. It’s a small shop, but they carry a decent selection of healthier products including vegan and gluten free items. Finding organic produce will be more difficult - it’s my understanding that there is no ... Read More
MiniMed enrollment? by wondering9
Hello all, apologies if this has been asked before but I did search and didn't see anything -- I'll be arriving in Panama on August 1. I've been reading about MiniMed and especially the "expat membership" and would really like to have an enrollment ...
Mila Otero is the new expat membership person. You can reach out via WhatsApp at +507*** or +507 *** for enrollment details. Read More
Navigating friendships as an expat in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Moving to Panama reshapes many aspects of life, and friendships are often one of the biggest changes. Whether you're maintaining lifelong bonds back home, building new local relationships, or forming connections with fellow ...
I've found it to be very easy to meet people and make friends in Panama, much more easily than when I was in the Dominican Republic.Because I am still struggling to learn Spanish, most of my friends so far are Expats. My neighborhood is mostly ... Read More
Cruffman - Mike Logan by planner
I have just learned that Mike has passed away! Mike helped many many expats get the vehicles they were looking for. He was a wealth of knowledge in the car industry and will be missed! He was also a really nice guy, humble as hell and very ...
I'm so sorry to hear this. The long-term effects of COVID can be devastating. My stepdad has been dealing with it for over five years now. Read More