Do I need to own a car in Boquete, Panama?
Giovy Rojas - Boquete Horseback Riding Eco Tour
No, you don`t need to own a car in Boquete Panama unless you live up in the mountains of Boquete. Otherwise the transportation service (taxis and buses) is reliable.
If you choose to live up in the mountain then you will probably need to own a car because the transportation to those areas is more sporadic (approximately once per hour).
No, you don`t need to own a car in Boquete Panama unless you live up in the mountains of Boquete. Otherwise the transportation service (taxis and buses) is reliable.
If you choose to live up in the mountain then you will probably need to own a car because the transportation to those areas is more sporadic (approximately once per hour).
Posted June 26, 2013
Roger J. Pentecost - Boquete Valley of Flowers Condos
In Boquete you can drive easily but also carefully! You want to know the laws and be legal, so beware. Also the rental rates beat ownership by a country mile. You can rent a car for a day for less than 40 USD. How often do most retired people drive anyway?
Taxi drivers are everywhere looking for fares and the bus is available for trips to almost anywhere. Rates are a very affordable too.
Mountain roads are...
In Boquete you can drive easily but also carefully! You want to know the laws and be legal, so beware. Also the rental rates beat ownership by a country mile. You can rent a car for a day for less than 40 USD. How often do most retired people drive anyway?
Taxi drivers are everywhere looking for fares and the bus is available for trips to almost anywhere. Rates are a very affordable too.
Mountain roads are sometimes very treacherous and difficult as many are one lane only.
Owning a car is one of those things that most people want but do not really need.
Posted October 13, 2013
Lissy Lezcano - Lissy Lezcano Attorney & Mediator
If you live in Boquete and you are in your 70s, you should get a car because if you have problems walking around or you are too slow or if you have a medical issue, it is better to have your own transportation. The tenant in the house that I rent is 62 years old and he walks from the neighborhood to town, which is about 30 minutes walking. He doesn’t own a car or a bicycle so he just walks. Only if he has some baggage like some groceries or a heavy bag would...If you live in Boquete and you are in your 70s, you should get a car because if you have problems walking around or you are too slow or if you have a medical issue, it is better to have your own transportation. The tenant in the house that I rent is 62 years old and he walks from the neighborhood to town, which is about 30 minutes walking. He doesn’t own a car or a bicycle so he just walks. Only if he has some baggage like some groceries or a heavy bag would he take a taxi. When you are taking a taxi in Boquete, you have to be aware of the rates that they charge for specific distances in town. Otherwise, the taxi drivers might try to charge you more. But if you are aware of the rates, they are fairly reasonable.
Traveling at night without a car is a problem because there is not a lot of taxi service at night. If you don’t have a friend who is a taxi driver, then you would be in trouble getting one at night. It’s even harder if it rains. Generally, however, on a normal day, it’s pretty easy to get a taxi.
(From the viewpoint of the area known as lower Boquete, pictured.)
Posted June 29, 2015
Ricord (Ric) Winstead, MD - Retirement Services International
For people who live within the town of Boquete itself, the only thing you need a car for is if you are going to drive down to David (the closest large city to Boquete; about 30 minutes away by car) for shopping, but if you don’t have a car, you can do just take a taxi. So having a car in Boquete is not really essential.Since Americans are so used to having cars, most people have them. If you live up in the hills, around the valley of Boquete, a lot of times it’s...
For people who live within the town of Boquete itself, the only thing you need a car for is if you are going to drive down to David (the closest large city to Boquete; about 30 minutes away by car) for shopping, but if you don’t have a car, you can do just take a taxi. So having a car in Boquete is not really essential.Since Americans are so used to having cars, most people have them. If you live up in the hills, around the valley of Boquete, a lot of times it’s better to have that independence to drive a car.
There are a large number of people in Boquete who do not own cars and do fine taking just buses, taxis, or just walking.
Pictured: Map of Chiriquí Province, Panama, which includes Boquete (in the mountains) and David (next to the Pacific).
Posted August 9, 2015
Linda Jensen
If you think about the expense of owning a car versus the convenience of renting you will probably rent one, not own one. Renting with full insurance is often less than $50 USD a day. I think some agencies have a preferred customer discount as well but you need to ask them if they have that program. Do the math. It all adds up: getting the documents for a Panama drivers license, a visa. Owning a vehicle means upkeep, maintenance, tags, inspections...
If you think about the expense of owning a car versus the convenience of renting you will probably rent one, not own one. Renting with full insurance is often less than $50 USD a day. I think some agencies have a preferred customer discount as well but you need to ask them if they have that program. Do the math. It all adds up: getting the documents for a Panama drivers license, a visa. Owning a vehicle means upkeep, maintenance, tags, inspections stickers, tires and of course, insurance. That is a lot of money every year. Another consideration is that if you go away for months on end the tires get out of round, the gas gets gunkish, and your engine and battery are not meant to sit idle for so long. Just trouble in the making. It is better to ask a friend to drive it now and then to protect the investment. (A responsible, licensed and careful driving friend if they are going to
use your car.) 
With that said you can afford to take a few days a month rental and enjoy the area in and around Boquete now and then. It can be easily budgeted to rent a car for a day in David. You could do doctors' appointments, shop, dine out and not feel like you are imposing on friends. It is easily a better way to deal with transportation than buses or taxi service for an outing or appointments.
Back to the question of do you need to own a car in Boquete: only if you want too. We are currently 68 and 75 years old and we are blessed with good health better than others our age and we love to walk. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes to reach the Central Park in mid Boquete. We live on Volcancito Road across from the La Lecha Inn. It is practically downhill all the way. The walks can take me longer just because I enjoy taking pictures, pointing out flowers and birds and this and that along the way.
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Every doctor and alternative medicine practitioner has told us over and over that walking is the best exercise for people. It evidently is true as the Panamanians seem very healthy. Walking is healthy even if you have to walk slowly and even if you have to rest a few times along the way, as every step pumps more blood to your heart and brain and body. The habit of walking has been an investment in my husband's health. He arrived in Panama unhealthy. Taking numerous medications, over weight but not obese. He is down 35 pounds; his medications are cut way down. He was taking heart medicine, blood thinner, diabetic meds, blood pressure and cholesterol pills. After over two years here he is now off most, takes less than 1/3 of the diabetic pills, a blood pressure pill every other day and an aspirin. He is so much happier than he was before we came here.
Walking is good for you. Fresh clean air is wonderful. Better fruits, more affordable vegetables, meats, and less stress all add up to better health. So why get a car and ruin it! There are taxi cabs and bus services that can tote the stuff home and you will have enjoyed a healthy walk to town one way and lowered your carbon foot print at the same time.
This photo is during a Flower Festival in Boquete. Posted August 16, 2015
Wee-Yiong Fung - Prestige Panama Realty
If you want to be only in town you can get around Boquete by using a bike or by walking. The issues with this include that you might get wet and you won’t be able to see the surrounding areas. (Waterfall seen from the gated community of Los Molinos, Boquete, Panama, pictured.)
If you want to be only in town you can get around Boquete by using a bike or by walking. The issues with this include that you might get wet and you won’t be able to see the surrounding areas. (Waterfall seen from the gated community of Los Molinos, Boquete, Panama, pictured.)
Posted January 14, 2016
Rommel H. Troetsch - Arquitectura Axioma
Greetings expats community.
If you are visiting Boquete just for a few days or weeks you don't need a car. Boquete is a perfect town to walk because everything is close.
If you are visiting Boquete just for a few days or weeks you don't need a car. Boquete is a perfect town to walk because everything is close.
If you come to live in Boquete you should get a car and here is why:
Boquete is in Panama which is in the middle of the tropics, and rains with winds are very common here so if you don't have a car you will have a hard time going to any place...
Greetings expats community.
If you are visiting Boquete just for a few days or weeks you don't need a car. Boquete is a perfect town to walk because everything is close.
If you are visiting Boquete just for a few days or weeks you don't need a car. Boquete is a perfect town to walk because everything is close.
If you come to live in Boquete you should get a car and here is why:
Boquete is in Panama which is in the middle of the tropics, and rains with winds are very common here so if you don't have a car you will have a hard time going to any place because finding taxis or buses will not be easy.
If you go to the movies or any place outside Boquete the bus system will definitely help you but it will take too much time. By bus David is one hour away and by car is just 30 minutes going at 60 miles an hour. If you want to go farther it is even more time.
Depending on which part of Boquete you are going to move to the taxis could be super easy to take or very unlikely to see.
Being such a small country you can travel and get to know all Panama and it will be nice and better to do it by car.
I hope this clears your mind and gives you an understanding about how Panama's transportation works.
Wish you all the best.
Rommel Hans Troetsch
I hope this clears your mind and gives you an understanding about how Panama's transportation works.
Wish you all the best.
Rommel Hans Troetsch
Posted January 31, 2018