American Expats in Central America;
Our Trip Reports, Travel Tips & Expat Life Insights
Our life as American Expats In Central American began in Panama and Costa Rica, where we spent three months as budget-conscious slow travelers. Our two year plan is to spend months in each destination to really get a feel for what it’s like to live there, beyond just the tourist spots. We’re excited to share our experiences, travel tips, and insights into expat life with you.
From navigating Panama City’s busy streets to escaping to the peaceful mountains of Boquete, and from exploring the lively streets of San José to experiencing the laid-back vibes of Puerto Viejo, on this page you’ll find a collection of our most exciting stories and practical advice for anyone considering a similar path.
While Bocas del Toro wasn’t quite our vibe, every destination has taught us something new. Join us as we continue exploring, reflecting, and sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between on our adventure through Central America.
Our Experiences In Panama as Nomadic American Expats:
Rain, Tacos, and Humidity: Our First Weeks in Panama City
Follow our journey from Oregon to Panama City, Panama. This blog post shares insights into our experiences during the initial weeks of international nomadic living, covering everything from…
Our Tour of Panama Viejo
As a couple exploring potential retirement destinations on a modest budget, Panama’s affordability factor was a major draw. We were also intrigued by Panama Viejo’s UNESCO World Heritage…
Our Visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center – Smithsonian Wildlife Experience in Panama City
We’ve always been avid travelers, but this year marks our first year as fulltime travels, living abroad and discovering new destinations. On a rainy Saturday Panama morning we…
We Wander around Panama City’s Old Town – Casco Viejo
Our first weekend in Panama we had a bit of a wander around Panama City’s Old Town, Casco Viejo, including drinks and a snack at a rooftop bar….
Our Take on the Biomuseo in Panama City
The Biomuseo: A Guide to Panama’s Natural History On our trip to Panama City, we visited Panama City’s natural history museum, a Frank Gehry-designed marvel that’s become a…
Our Review of the Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City, Panama
Welcome to our in-depth review of Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City, Panama! In this blog post, we’ll take you through our decision-making process, the details of our…
Our Visit to a Coffee Farm Tour in Boquete
Labeled as one of the top things to do in Boquete we knew we wanted to tour a small family owned and operated coffee farm when we were…
7 Things We Did, or at least tried to do, in Boquete Panama
Nestled amidst the majestic mountains of Panama, Boquete (pronounced boh-KEH-theh) beckons travelers with its refreshing climate*, breathtaking scenery, and a smorgasbord of outdoor activities. We, Jeff and Sandra,…
Videos for our time in Panama
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Our experiences, travel tips, and insights from our time in Costa Rica as Nomadic American Expats:
If it’s not one thing…..
As we wind down our time here in Panama we we find ourselves reflecting on the intricacies of a nomadic lifestyle planning because yet again we are making…
Leeeaaving on a….. short bus….
(My apologies to Peter, Paul and Mary….. Or if you’re slightly younger, John Denver….) Today’s grand narrative is about travel schedule changes and budget considerations. We originally booked…
Is San Jose Walkable? – 11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica on foot!
Travel rarely goes exactly according to plan, and that’s certainly the case for us. Our Costa Rica itinerary got a little shuffled around, leaving us with some unplanned…
Our Visit to the National Theater of Costa Rica
The National Theater of Costa Rica, located in the heart of San José, is a must-visit landmark for anyone interested in the country’s history and culture. Built in…
San José, Costa Rica: A 3-Day Itinerary That Worked for Us (and Might for You)
We didn’t have huge expectations for San José. Let’s be honest—most people pass through on their way to beaches, volcanoes, or jungles. But we found plenty to keep…
Dinosaurs to Butterflies: What We Learned and What to Expect at Costa Rica’s Natural Science Museum
Since we had a few extra days in San Jose, Costa Rica, we decided to venture off the beaten path and check out a museum that doesn’t make…
Our Puerto Viejo Accommodation Review: Brisas del Caribe
If you are visiting Costa Rica, especially the Caribbean side, it’s probably for the beaches and you’re probably thinking Puerto Viejo. Peaceful, quiet villages, beautiful sunny weather, black…
The #1 Reason Why We Think You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica = the National Museum of Costa Rica
Our initial plan was to spend a month relaxing at the beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, but we soon realized that laying on a beach fulltime wasn’t…
Videos from our time in Costa Rica
Please Note: We’re real people, just like you, and we’re still out here living the full-time travel life. Sometimes that means it takes us a bit longer to share all our stories and insights from each place we visit. But don’t worry, we’re working on it! Stay tuned for more as we continue our journey and bring you the inside scoop from every corner of the world.
👋 New Here? We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expat and senior nomads, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment. Sometimes that means checking out local activities and visiting museums and historical sites; other times, it means finding out which local restaurant has the best pizza or empanadas and which grocery store sells peanut butter.
This life isn’t always glamorous; but it’s ours—and we’re here to share with you what we learn.
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Fun things to do in Central America
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