Great topic. Having lived in Panama since May 2018 and living in Chitre Herrera as well as San Carlos and Bejuco Panama Oeste I can confidently vouch for what you're saying about the tranquil and crime free life living in Panama. Yes a few sketchy neighborhoods in Panama City and San Miguelito which I still confidently walked around at night alone, maybe a bit more vigilant but absolutely with a safe feeling. Now living in Colombia for only a few months after making 3 prior trips I choose to live in Barranquilla Atlantico and will be opening a service business later this year in Cartagena. I have felt safe where I'm at in a Strata 2 neighborhood that I live among Colombiano and really have tried to stay away from the Tourist or other Expat Gringo neighborhoods similar to the way I lived in Panama. I agree that Panama was an amazing choice and loved living there and I will continue to visit as I have made many local friends there, but I made the choice to move to Colombia because of the lower cost of living and better economic opportunity for right now to do business. In both Countries I found the people to be wonderful and the quality of life much better then where I was living in the United States.
And why Barranquilla if I may ask? My wife is from Barranquilla and she doesn't want to move there (we are in Spain, leaving next year, destination unknown right now, maybe Mexico).
@@ChrisJulyAdventures I understand. A friend just moved from Miami to Barranquilla and he loves it. My wife was born in Barranquilla, and even though it's safer these days, she still has memories of being an unsafe city. I've never been there, but we will go to visit her family next year and then we will see. Sounds like a great plan that you have, close to the airport, the beach, Cartagena, and Santa Marta, and not too expensive. Enjoy!
I lived and worked in RSA and Malawi years ago shipping Tobacco, Coffee and Tea. Would love to move over that region in Colombia and get away from this tyranny in OZ.
I have a number of South African friends in Panama. I understand for some countries Panama had more relaxed visa standards. After dealing with the corruption in some parts of Africa, Colombia is very manageable and Panama is a cake.
@GringoCampe sino82 Enjoyed both your videos on comparisons between Colombia and Panama. I am an elderly South African and live alone (with dogs) in a rural part of Panama. I can attest to your comments in first video about the people, cops, etc. And about the snarky gringos 😂!! Not been to Colombia (am on a very tight budget, thanks to SA exchange rate) so good to see it vicariously through your eyes. Gracias.
As much as i love Colombia its difficult to sell my house and cars in the USA because there long term visa are very insecure. Now i spend six months a year in Colombia until i figure out a way to get residency in Colombia
Do you have any problems in your area in Quindío with extorsion or with the bad guys trying to force you to make " so-called " permit payments ? Or are you pretty much left alone to live and work peacefully ?
It is a great question. I actually did some research (informal) before deciding which part of Colombia I wanted to live. In this region I personally have not had any problems. I was told by older folks here in the area that Quindio in general never had a "vacuna" problem. (That is mafia like protection payments.) As I understand there were problems like this further north, closer to Medellin. I have heard that the gorilla groups in my area would hassle farm owners who they thought didn't pay the workers well. I think the idea being they would get the working class on their side.
I've lived and traveled all over Colombia through the years, currently living in Mexico.. if I were to move back it definitely would be the Eje Cafetero... One of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth 😊
In my view, Panama or Columbia is not a good destination for a normal young man to move to. You cannot make the kind of money that you need down here. You need to be retired with a military or law enforcement pension if you want to come down here at a young age. Or, just be independently wealthy. I moved to Panama in 2010 at aged 52. I am a prison correctional officer who received a small but very early pension. I was able to move to Panama on practically no money thanx to this tiny pension. You shouldn't come down if you don't have at least a small pension. Ideally a military pension. Then you have to learn to make due. Its not really that cheap down here. Prices have gone up. Its better than in the US I do believe. But not easy.
Well said. I agree. Because I sharpened my teeth in Africa I felt ready to jump in to central and south america. But it has been a struggle for 15 years.
Great topic. Having lived in Panama since May 2018 and living in Chitre Herrera as well as San Carlos and Bejuco Panama Oeste I can confidently vouch for what you're saying about the tranquil and crime free life living in Panama. Yes a few sketchy neighborhoods in Panama City and San Miguelito which I still confidently walked around at night alone, maybe a bit more vigilant but absolutely with a safe feeling. Now living in Colombia for only a few months after making 3 prior trips I choose to live in Barranquilla Atlantico and will be opening a service business later this year in Cartagena. I have felt safe where I'm at in a Strata 2 neighborhood that I live among Colombiano and really have tried to stay away from the Tourist or other Expat Gringo neighborhoods similar to the way I lived in Panama. I agree that Panama was an amazing choice and loved living there and I will continue to visit as I have made many local friends there, but I made the choice to move to Colombia because of the lower cost of living and better economic opportunity for right now to do business. In both Countries I found the people to be wonderful and the quality of life much better then where I was living in the United States.
Thanks for the input. I agree
And why Barranquilla if I may ask? My wife is from Barranquilla and she doesn't want to move there (we are in Spain, leaving next year, destination unknown right now, maybe Mexico).
@@ChrisJulyAdventures
I understand. A friend just moved from Miami to Barranquilla and he loves it. My wife was born in Barranquilla, and even though it's safer these days, she still has memories of being an unsafe city. I've never been there, but we will go to visit her family next year and then we will see. Sounds like a great plan that you have, close to the airport, the beach, Cartagena, and Santa Marta, and not too expensive. Enjoy!
I lived and worked in RSA and Malawi years ago shipping Tobacco, Coffee and Tea.
Would love to move over that region in Colombia and get away from this tyranny in OZ.
I have a number of South African friends in Panama. I understand for some countries Panama had more relaxed visa standards. After dealing with the corruption in some parts of Africa, Colombia is very manageable and Panama is a cake.
@GringoCampe sino82
Enjoyed both your videos on comparisons between Colombia and Panama.
I am an elderly South African and live alone (with dogs) in a rural part of Panama. I can attest to your comments in first video about the people, cops, etc. And about the snarky gringos 😂!!
Not been to Colombia (am on a very tight budget, thanks to SA exchange rate) so good to see it vicariously through your eyes. Gracias.
As much as i love Colombia its difficult to sell my house and cars in the USA because there long term visa are very insecure. Now i spend six months a year in Colombia until i figure out a way to get residency in Colombia
Agreed, it is very difficult to get the visa. Maybe the next government will change things
Do you have any problems in your area in Quindío with extorsion or with the bad guys trying to force you to make " so-called " permit payments ?
Or are you pretty much left alone to live and work peacefully ?
Good Question. Would like to know about that also.
It is a great question. I actually did some research (informal) before deciding which part of Colombia I wanted to live. In this region I personally have not had any problems. I was told by older folks here in the area that Quindio in general never had a "vacuna" problem. (That is mafia like protection payments.) As I understand there were problems like this further north, closer to Medellin. I have heard that the gorilla groups in my area would hassle farm owners who they thought didn't pay the workers well. I think the idea being they would get the working class on their side.
I've lived and traveled all over Colombia through the years, currently living in Mexico.. if I were to move back it definitely would be the Eje Cafetero... One of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth 😊
In my view, Panama or Columbia is not a good destination for a normal young man to move to. You cannot make the kind of money that you need down here. You need to be retired with a military or law enforcement pension if you want to come down here at a young age. Or, just be independently wealthy. I moved to Panama in 2010 at aged 52. I am a prison correctional officer who received a small but very early pension. I was able to move to Panama on practically no money thanx to this tiny pension. You shouldn't come down if you don't have at least a small pension. Ideally a military pension. Then you have to learn to make due. Its not really that cheap down here. Prices have gone up. Its better than in the US I do believe. But not easy.
Well said. I agree. Because I sharpened my teeth in Africa I felt ready to jump in to central and south america. But it has been a struggle for 15 years.
A challenge and defo expensive.