Home
About
Sign Up Now
Log InQ&A Categories
Find a Question:
Ecuador vs Panama
Nov
24
2011
This past Sunday on the Ecuador Insiders Newsletter I covered Ecuador vs Panama… where I am now… and I got some very interesting reader comments… see them below, and leave yours now! Whats your opinion?
Answer #2
In just recently coming here to Ecuador , from Panama I find your comparisons reasonable insofar as the Panama City
or east end of the country pertain to…., however…, in my own experiences of trying to avoid the “BIG CITY” asspect
of my time there , from Aug. 08 until June 2011 , I found my travels to the westend of the country…, from Santiago to
David and into the higher elevations such as Volcan and/or Boquete to be much more accomodating and even friendlier
to both person and pocketbook ! I paid $1200. a month for a very nice Panama City apt…, but only $400. in Boquete
for an apt. in a large private home with my own gated entry and exclusive garden surroundings and over looking view of
the Caldera River and vally and small town of Boquete ! And all properties are far less to secure there and to tour the
coast(s) from there are both from a more favorable exploratory asspiration ! It would be my recommendation to anyone
wanting to explore Panama , who is NOT interested in the business asspects of life to investigate the westend of the
country to get the complete feeling of that peticular country ! It is as different as black and white…, and realizing you
are still in the same country ! And both coasts mentioned are spectacular…(but not cheap either) , but good deals
are still possible for those who wish to look around….
Warm Regards
Answer #3
Domenick, your report as far as Panama goes is pretty much on the mark. Think if you were there a lot however, you would come to find the weather very hot and oppressively muggy a lot. Not as much in Panama City, because of the thinness of the Peninsula and its correspondent winds– but even there, it can be a real cooker with that humidity for many many months each year. As for the women, I have hardly ever run across a truly beautiful women there who did not turn out to actually be Columbian or a girl from Caracas. As the Panamanians tend to be fairly short, brown and ahhhh….. a bit thick in the waste and calves. They are Mayan descendants mostly much like in Honduras. Hotels were cheap until three years ago, but since then prices have exploded something like double what they were.
My favorite mid-price place Hotel Exjeutivo was 65 per night but is now $155 plus. Titty Bars are by far the most expensive in all of central America. Really laughably farce expensive. While taxies tend to be dirty low end affairs with out meters and the public buses in the city are awful. Oddly, however the city to city buses are really pretty nice with solid AC and comfortable lay back seating. Shopping, prices are bout the same for most things as in the US but if you go over to the Atlantic side trade free zone in Colon many things are mind boggling cheap– by any international standard.
Panama City is not a pretty place it self, as the bay is dirty, highly polluted, brown and has a huge tidal flow meaning half the time the view from the expensive sky scrapers is of nothing but dirty salt water mud flats.
If you go up to David try the Hotel Del Sol, it has been when I was there, hyper clean, has a nice restaurant, is inexpensive, safe and right off the main square.
PC is however a very safe town to move around in, even on foot at night in probably 90% of the city. Traffic congestion around the major business districts i.e. Via Argentina is God awful, astoundingly bad– morning and late afternoon. Air pollution levels like something in China there that time of day. Service levels in restaurants and bars is however quite good most places. And you can drink the city water out of the tap as the water system was built by the good old US corps of Engineers. Bit to much chlorine in the water for my taste, but you do not get sick drinking it or eating food washed in it. Internet is very good as are international mail send and receive services, same for telephone communications, lastly there is even an American Airlines Admirals club at the airport!
Enjoy your blog regularly, I am finally coming down to Ecuador this spring and look forward to meeting you.
All the best
Answer #4
Having lived in Panama for about a year before moving to Ecuador, I agree with much of what has been said. Because of close ties to the US and a very low import duty, Panama offers familiar high quality brands at prices far less than can be found in Ecuador. When we were renovating our house in Cuenca, I made several buying trips to PC which ended up well worth the cost and time as compared to what was available price and quality wise.
Answer this Question
You must be Logged In to post an Answer.
Not a member yet? Sign Up Now »
Star Points Scale
Earn points for Asking and Answering Questions!
[1 - 25 
]
[26 - 50 
]
[51 - 500 
]
[501 - 5000 
]
[5001 - 25000 
]
[25001+ 
]
Answer #1
I actually think Ecuador (Cuenca) is safer than Panama. That’s why we bought in Cuenca this year and am trying to sell my house in Panama. Also, Ecuador is much cleaner, the people are more friendly and helpful than Panamanians. And the beer (Pilsner and Club) are much better than Panamanian beer.