David Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
InDrive (highly active in David); Uber is limited |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Ciclo Aventuras on Vía Boquete; approx. $20/day for mountain bikes |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Playa La Barqueta (30 mins south); wild Pacific surf beach |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Air Panama (flying from Enrique Malek International Airport - DAV) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Copa Airlines (daily connections to Panama City PTY) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Direct access to the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) connecting to Costa Rica |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Terminal de Transporte de David (The main bus hub for Chiriquí province) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Cash-based; local buses (chivas) cost $0.35; long-distance to Boquete $1.75 |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Small buses to Boquete (45 mins) or Volcán (1.5 hours) for $2-$4 |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Hospital Chiriquí (Private); high-quality care, roughly $50 for specialist visits |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Centro Holístico Chiriquí; offering yoga sessions for approx. $10/class |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Smart Fit (Federal Mall); modern equipment, approx. $25/month |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Lavandería Myriam; approx. $5 for a medium wash/dry load |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
PedidosYa is the dominant delivery service in David |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Mono en Bijao (Chiriquí style rice and beans wrapped in a leaf) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Mana (Healthy food shop inside Plaza Revilla); organic bowls and salads |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Gelarti (Federal Mall) or local raspados (shaved ice) at Parque Cervantes |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Mercado Público de David for fresh produce at local prices |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Panafoto.com for electronics; Amazon shipping via Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Super Barú or Super 99 via PedidosYa app |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Calle F Sur or the 'Zona Viva' area for bars and late-night clubs |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Boquete Brewing Company (Available at local bars like St. Patrick’s) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Felipe Motta Wine Store & Deli (Plaza Terronal) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Empanada and Hojaidre stalls near the bus terminal; $0.50 - $1.00 |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Restaurante Ngadri for high-end Italian/Mediterranean at Hotel Ciudad de David |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Parque Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (The city's social heart) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Museo de Historia y Arte José de Obaldía (Calle 8va Este) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Barrio Bolívar (The old colonial quarter of David) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Catedral de San José de David |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Feria Internacional de David (March); the largest trade and culture fair in the region |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
The historic center around Barrio Bolívar |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Auditorio de la UNACHI (University of Chiriquí) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Mercado de Artesanías in the city center |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Live Typical (Pindín) music performances during fair seasons |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murales in the vicinity of the University (UNACHI) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Ocú Chiriquí Culinary Workshops (usually home-based/private) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Galería de Arte del Municipio de David |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The old Telegraph building (Correos y Telégrafos) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The Chiriquí Green and Red Flag representing provincial pride |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Cangilones de Gualaca (Natural river canyons, 45 mins away) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Volcán Barú National Park (entrance via Boquete, 1 hour away) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Ciclovía on the David-Dolega road |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Loma Colorada for a panoramic view of the David cityscape |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Mangroves of Pedregal (15 mins south of city center) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Las Olas Resort area (Playa La Barqueta) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) in Plaza Terronal |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Multimax (Federal Mall) or small independent shops in Plaza Revilla |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Chiriquí Table Tennis Club (Club de Tenis de Mesa) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
CELI (Centro de Lenguas de Chiriquí) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Biblioteca Santiago Anguizola Delgado |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Gimnasio Escolar de David |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Federal Mall Gaming Zone |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Fantastic Casino (Inter-American Highway) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
David, Chiriquí, Panama |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 165,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 60-100 Mbps on Fiber; providers include Cable & Wireless and Tigo |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
USD (Official: Balboa PAB at 1:1). Local banks: Banco General, Banistmo |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Generally safe to drink in David, though many nomads prefer bottled or filtered water |
| 🔌 Power |
120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (US Standard) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Tigo or Más Móvil; approx. $15 for 30 days of unlimited data |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Banco General is most popular; Revolut/Wise work at most ATMs (Global Bank/Bac Credomatic) |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Mix of modern apartments and colonial houses; Encuentra24 and Facebook Groups are primary sources |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Mostly yes in supermarkets and malls; cash (USD) is required for small fondas and taxis |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb prices average $600-$1,100/month for central apartments |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Bambu Hostel ($12 dorms, $35 privates) located in Barrio El Peligro |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
The area around Parque Cervantes for proximity to city center commerce |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Urbanización La Hacienda or San Cristóbal for quieter, safer gated communities |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
The Hub David (Calle F Sur); daily rates approx. $15, monthly $150 |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Brew Coffee Company (Vía Porras); excellent Wi-Fi, AC, and specialty Chiriquí coffee |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Chamber of Commerce (CAMCHI) business mixers; semi-regular expat meetups at St. Patrick's Pub |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Expats in Chiriqui Facebook Group organizes weekly lunches at Hotel Ciudad de David |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $1,400 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $56,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $1,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $40,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $78,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $950 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $57,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $1,250 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $100,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $850 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $68,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
25% on net taxable income |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
10% for local earnings; 5% for foreign-source earnings |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Territorial (Only income earned within Panama is taxed) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
25% (on income over $50,000) |
| 🧾 VAT |
7% (called ITBMS) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
No |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Progressive, ranging from 0% (under $120k primary residence) to 0.7% |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
2% Property Transfer Tax + 3% Advance Capital Gains Tax |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
0% tax on foreign-source income; Short-term Remote Work Visas available |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING DAVID