Guide12 min
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Panama: Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know: local vs. international plans, real prices, and how to choose based on your situation.
Read more20 articles
Articles
Health insurance analysis written for people living in Panama, plus travel guides for Panama City locals. No sponsored content.
Health insurance
Real scenarios, fine print and decisions with numbers.
Analysis8 min
You Pay $200/Month and Can't Choose Your Doctor. There's Another Option.
The real problem with local insurance: closed networks, limited specialists, weeks of waiting. The alternative costs $50 less.
Read moreReal Scenario6 min
Your Child Has a Fever at 10pm. Does Your Insurance Let You Go to the Best Pediatrician?
Real scenario: a late-night emergency with your child. The difference between your insurer assigning a clinic and you choosing the best one.
Read moreDeep Dive7 min
The Red Card That Changes Everything: How PassportCard Works in Panama
Full breakdown of the red card system: a Visa Debit the insurer loads in real time. No reimbursements, no paperwork.
Read moreImportant5 min
Over 55? ASSA Won't Accept You Anymore. But There Are Options.
Every local insurer caps enrollment at 55. PassportCard accepts up to 64. Cigna has no age limit.
Read moreData4 min
Your Dental Crown Costs $800. Does Your Insurance Cover It? (Probably Not)
One crown nearly covers the entire price difference between ASSA and PassportCard for a full year. The numbers that matter.
Read moreComparison9 min
ASSA vs MAPFRE vs SURA Panama: Which to Choose in 2026?
The only independent comparison of Panama's 3 major local insurers. Full table: prices, medical network, max age, maternity, and a clear verdict.
Read moreRetirees10 min
Retire in Panama: Which Health Insurance Do You Need in 2026?
Complete guide for retirees: Pensionado Visa, age limits, insurance combinations and what options remain when you're over 55.
Read moreTravel guides
Escapes from the capital with real prices and what nobody tells you before going.
Local Destination10 min
Playa Caracol: The Definitive Guide for Panama City Locals
Consistent surf, beachfront apartments and 75 min from the capital. Everything you need to know before going: timing, potholes, tides and how to avoid Friday traffic.
Read morePearl Islands10 min
Contadora Island: The Luxury Beach Day 90 Minutes from the Capital
9 beaches, snorkeling with nurse sharks, humpback whales June–October and golf carts to explore it all. Panama Pacific's best kept secret.
Read moreAzuero12 min
Pedasí and Playa Venao: The Pacific that Few Panama City Locals Know
Panama's best surf, humpback whales July–October, nesting turtles and the most authentic Azuero town. 5 hours from the capital, worth every kilometer.
Read moreWeekend Escape11 min
El Valle de Antón: Panama City Locals' Favorite Escape
Inside a volcanic crater, 2.5h from Panama. Waterfalls, thermal springs, mountain coffee and the country's best craft market. Complete guide with real prices.
Read moreGuna Yala12 min
San Blas (Guna Yala): The Real Guide for Panamanians
No ATMs. No wifi. No hotel chains. 365 islands run by the Guna people. What it really costs, how to get there, what to bring and what nobody tells you before going.
Read moreNearby Island9 min
Isla Taboga: The Perfect Escape 30 Minutes from the Capital
Ferry from Amador, the oldest Pacific-coast mainland church in the Americas, Canal views and calm beaches. No car, no stress, complete guide for Panama City locals.
Read moreCaribbean11 min
Portobelo and Isla Grande: Caribbean 2 Hours from the Capital
Free UNESCO colonial forts, Panama's most famous Black Christ and the white-sand island Panama City locals keep as a secret. Don't enter Colón, honest guide to Panama's Caribbean.
Read moreSurf · Diving12 min
Santa Catalina: Panama's Surf Mecca and Gateway to Coiba
World-class waves at La Punta, diving in Coiba National Park (UNESCO) and the country's most unpretentious town. 7 hours from the capital, worth the trip.
Read morePanama City10 min
Casco Viejo: The Guide That's Not on TripAdvisor
La Bárbara speakeasy, Pedro Mandinga artisanal rum, Sisu Geisha coffee and Mercado San Felipe. The second visit that makes you understand why Casco is genuinely special.
Read moreItinerary14 min
What to See in Panama in 7 Days: Complete 2026 Itinerary
Panama City, Casco Viejo, Bocas del Toro and Boquete in one week. Hotels, transport and daily budget.
Read moreDestination11 min
Bocas del Toro: Complete Travel Guide 2026
The best beaches, overwater hotels, where to eat and how to get there. Everything you need to plan your visit.
Read moreNature13 min
Boquete: Geisha Coffee, Quetzals and Volcán Barú: 2026 Guide
The town of flowers, the world's most expensive coffee and the quetzal in its natural habitat. Complete Boquete guide.
Read moreLooking for the plan, not the article?
The full comparison shows 24 plans with price by age.