My catamaran experience started at 9am on a grey and rainy day. I thought the tour would be cancelled due to the weather, but Hartmut, our friendly German guide and captain decided to leave regardless, and assured us that the sun would come out later. Indeed it did, and was so peaceful to sail on mirror flat water while enjoying the surrounding views of the islands of Bocas.

Go with the flow... the captain knows the local weather better than you. If he says it will be fine, go for it and enjoy your sailing trip... or would you prefer staying in your air conditioned hotel room all day?

What initially started out as a chilly and rainy adventure eventually turned into a warm sunny day, full of sunbathing on the deck while listening to relaxing music, with fresh pineapple, cold beers to keep us “hydrated”, and plenty of snorkel stops. Once we got hungry around lunch time, Hartmut prepared us a hearty homemade sandwich.

Snorkeling with friends in Bocas del Toro's warm turquoise clear waters? Beath that!

I enjoyed this activity a lot, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a boat and snorkeling experience in Bocas del Toro. If you´re studying Spanish with us at Habla Ya Bocas, you really shouldn't miss the opportunity to join this trip during the weekend. It is great for families with children or for groups of friends traveling together. The boat even has an inflatable tire that you can lay in and let the boat gently pull you. Snorkel gear is also provided, so all you need to take with you is a towel, and plenty of sunblock (the sun gets really strong out there!). I would love to go again with a group of friends, on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Maybe next time I will try out the Trim. Thank you Bocas Sailing for such a wonderful day!

Habla Ya students and teachers enjoying a day out with Bocas Sailing

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SAILING TOURS IN BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA... »

On Isla Palenque, we wake up with the sun to a chorus of howler monkeys to take our time in leisurely enjoyment of hot hojaldres and fine Panamanian coffee – and the views of oceanic paradise laid out beyond our breakfast table.

Views to infinity from the upper tier of the pool at the Isla Palenque Villa Estate hotel.

The Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park surrounds our 400-acre island with 14,740 hectares of protected Pacific waters – which sounds nice, but does not become altogether meaningful until you’re out hopping from isle to uninhabited isle, witnessing giant sea turtles and humpback whales offshore and from the bow of your panga, or fighting with all your strength to bring an in-season yellowfin tuna home to dinner.

“Being on an island awakens that sense of adventure we all have within us, but if surrounded by buildings every day, sometimes we can forget,” says Celianis Samudio, Sales Assistant for The Resort at Isla Palenque.

First impressions of this paradisiacal locale most often invoke the words “expansive” and “wild”, or ebb away wordlessly in the absence of fitting descriptors. Throughout this year’s soft opening at the Isla Palenque Panama resort, first-time travelers to the region have reported their re-discovery of what a thing it is to have time to think and room to breathe.

Isla Palenque’s location in stunning Gulf of Chiriqui invites guests to bask in the beauty and seclusion of an oceanic paradise.

The seascape stretches to the horizon, punctuated by two-dozen islands appearing as tufts of green amid endless blue. These include Isla Palenque and the neighboring islands of Ladrones, Bolaños, and Gamez (to name just three favorite stops on island-hopping tours offered through the resort).

Isla Palenque’s Director of Tours & Activities Aristoteles Almengor characterizes his island home thusly: “...a great place to see a lot of different environments. Sometimes in one hike you can go through four or five different ecosystems – lagoon, mangrove, beach, tropical jungle, forest with trees over a hundred years – and nearby there are great places for fishing, snorkeling, to see whales…” – all things Almengor endeavors to share via the resort’s extensive menu of island, ocean, and mainland tours.

Aris Almengor, Director of Tours & Activities for The Resort at Isla Palenque (and his hiking companion, Vera)

Sheltering the larger gulf is Panama’s westernmost province of Chiriqui, a lush composition of highlands coffee farms, lowlands dairies and cattle ranches, indigenous villages and expat communities. Chiriqui serves as a breadbasket for the nation and represents one of Central America’s top ecotourism destinations, in addition to being the home of most staff members at The Resort at Isla Palenque, including Samudio and Almengor.

In Chiriqui, your territorial assets are stunning to behold and thrilling to explore: yawning expanses of ocean and dense tracts of jungle humming with the birdcalls, hoots, roars and scurryings of a biodiverse wildlife population.

Such astounding “natural amenities” challenged our development team to conceive of sophisticated ways to accommodate guests and homeowners on Isla Palenque while preserving the island’s wild character. Site-sensitive design and construction methods facilitate comfortable immersed-in-nature living in the tropics by way of passive cooling techniques, while interiors incorporate local culture and local materials through design – imparting a profound sense of place to all who choose to dwell here.

The Estate Rooms nestled between the old-growth trees along Isla Palenque’s Playa Primera

With just 6 Estate Rooms currently, and ten Tented Suites opening by the end of this year, the boutique hotel at Isla Palenque offers an intimate, authentic experience of Panama’s nature and culture set amid breathtaking surroundings.

Those who pursue sustainable lifestyles on Isla Palenque will find engaging wilderness, seclusion, and a sense of clarity and purpose that can be more difficult to achieve on the mainland; such are the advantages of island life. Even a week’s vacation can work wonders to refresh one’s perspective.

“In under three months [since the February soft opening], we’ve hosted couples and families from the US, Canada, Europe, and Latin America – a surprising number and range, given that we are new, small, and a very unique offering in Panama,” says Ben Loomis, chief architect and founder of the eco-development at Isla Palenque. “We look forward to welcoming them back, and others, whenever they are called to our island sanctuary.”

Follow The Resort at Isla Palenque on Facebook, read their reviews on TripAdvisor, and look our for island updates on their blog, The Ambler.

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Imagine life...

Before the internet and television.

Before GMOs and harmful chemicals.

Before fashion and design.

Before semi-orthopedic mattresses and cushioned chairs.

Before refrigerators.

Before laundry machines and dishwashers.

Before stoves and ovens.

Before Big Business and making money for the Man.

Before cars.

Before farm machinery.

Before cement and bricks and drywall.

Before indoor plumbing.

Washing clothes in the creek.

I’m not trying to take you back to the Stone Age, just to the present-day Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé!

Does this surprise you, frighten you, uplift you, to know that there are people in 2013 still living this way?

I think it’s AWESOME! I think life is more REAL when it is lived this way. In my opinion, we are on information overload to the extreme in this day and age. My advice is to come and see how simple living is still carrying on for some very simple folks here in Panama.

The Ngäbe-Buglé are the largest indigenous tribe in Panama. Though the government has paid them more attention in the past 16 years after giving them their own Comarca (territory), it has been very slow with giving the people the rights that they deserve to a good education, necessary infrastructure, reliable health system, and access to a job market. This has in many ways left them “behind” the rest of us in the 21st century.

Local health clinic in the Comarca. You wouldn't believe what it looks like inside. Medicines... non existent most of the time.

Is this a blessing or a curse? Depends on who you ask. I come from a positive standpoint and count them lucky for escaping the rat race of our day. Their families are tighter-knit, they use the natural resources that are found all around us, and they use the strength of their bodies in daily chores. They keep up to date with politics and news (local and international) from the radio and converse with community members during daily visits about their lives, families, farming, the future. Isn’t this what we were meant for as human beings?

But the reality is that many of them will tell you that it’s close to impossible to live their life of poverty. They will tell you that they barely receive enough welfare money (funded by the World Bank, Panamanian government and Inter-American Development Bank) to buy necessities like laundry soap, rice, sugar, oil, which often is sold at a much higher price in the Comarca because of transportation costs, since the infrastructure in the Comarca is completely undeveloped. They do everything possible so that their children can get a good education and find jobs outside of the Comarca, since there are very very few jobs in the Comarca. What will happen to this unsustainable lifestyle if severe changes aren’t made soon?

You certainly won't get to experience conditions like this if you're doing a family home stay with us... but you can definitively get up and close with the Ngäbe-Buglé by joining a Cacao Plantation Tour or by going to Soloy.

Whichever side you are on, I thought it would be interesting to share some photos with you of how it is to live SIMPLY in 2013.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING IN PANAMA... »

Grinding cacao for drinking and selling chocolate!

100% pure organic cacao (chocolate) balls. YES!

Playing soccer on the school's field.

Natural materials are used to build houses, with the newer addition of zinc sheets for roofing and sometimes walls.

Semi-private bathroom...

Making coconut oil – a labor intensive but no-cost way to have cooking oil. They are cooking over a “fogón”, which is the traditional way to cook meals over a fire.

Finished coconut oil, YUM!

It is very common to have free-range animals for the family’s consumption.

View of some living/store spaces in Hato Chami. The zinc house is partially a small store.

No indoor plumbing means bucket bath! The stone tablets are for washing clothes.

Harvesting medicinal plants and plants used to dye fibers for the bags.

Community pitches together to build a bridge over a stream in a busy section of the village. The men do the building...

...while the women prepare and serve food!

After a long day on the farm, carrying back freshly picked vegetables, fruit, and/or firewood in the traditional bag – the chácara.

Stripping a natural pita plant down to its fibers to be used for making bags for carrying things.

The finished fiber strands drying (pita plant).

Making artisan jewelry out of coconut shells. Tiring but rewarding way to pass the day with all of your friends (and while catching a novela on the radio!).

School with 4 classrooms. At the far end is the cafeteria where mothers of the children take turns cooking (when the Ministry of Education sends food) sometimes 2 meals per day.

Sewing class funded by the government (including a donation of 8 sewing machines for the community) so that women could learn how to make their children’s school clothes and/or go into business for themselves as a tailor.

Clearing a foundation for a house using picks and shovels.

Community activity on Panama's Independence Day (November 3). The goal is to make it to the top of a greased tree trunk.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING IN PANAMA... »

For instance, it can be quite weird (to not say something else) when random guys blow you kisses in the street, call you "mami", "mi amor", or other love words in the weirdest of situations: at the cashier in the supermarket, in taxis, or at the bank for instance. The loudest whistling will definitively come from workers on construction sites (sometimes phrases that are borderline to inappropriate).

I'm aware there is a debate out there about how appropriate it is for men to whistle at women but if they're just saying nice things, there really isn't any harm in my opinion. In fact it can be flattering. Obviously this isn't the case if they are being rude, vulgar or doing something else.

A European or someone from North America will automatically feel offended, whereas here in Panama it is perfectly normal, and not considered offensive (most of the times, as long as it is not vulgar or anything else - another good reason to know the language!). Matter of fact, it can be considered a compliment!

The same is true when locals call an Asian “Chino” even though he or she may not be from China, a dark skinned person “negrito” or a heavy person “gordo” without anyone taking any offense. I love this actually, but I must admit that I was quite shocked at first. Try that in the US and you will see what happens! If you don’t get arrested for being a racist you may at the very least get slapped in the face...

Panama is a melting pot of races from all over the world. Referring to someone by the color of their skin (or amount of weight they're carrying or not) is not a crime over here.

I moved to Panama about 4 years ago, and I have somewhat learned to adapt to Panamanian culture and become more tolerant about things that are different from my own culture. I do speak Spanish now, however I have noticed that sometimes words alone don’t get the message across properly, and what you are trying to say can easily be misinterpreted if you don't say it in the right tone or use the right words (and even if you do, "latinos" in general can be a bit more sensitive). I've had my fare share of rubbing someone the wrong way without wanting to.

One of the major “culture shocks” I have felt is at the office. First of all, I have noticed that people in Panama and Latin America in general are much more sensitive to criticism than in any other country I've been to. This was probably the hardest part to get used to for me, coming from a an industry where it is quite normal to having to swallow and suck it up because of ruthless bosses, stress, or long working hours. You don’t take things personal. In Panama I have learnt to sugar coat everything I am trying to say, in order to make sure not to offend anyone when I give any sort of feedback or criticism. And when I do offend somebody inadvertently, I make sure to explain what I was trying to say and that I meant no harm (serious, I feel like a mom sometimes). It's challenging for any organization in the world to create an environment where co-workers are encouraged to give each other constructive feedback - in Panama it's A LOT more challenging!

Yes, I've made people cry without wanting to! Be quick and try to understand why you've hurt someone and get them to know you didn't mean any harm!

Sometimes we blame it on the "language barrier", when in fact it should really be blamed on the "cultural barrier". I am European, and even compared to North Americans we can come across as short when we are writing an email or asking for something. We get straight to the point, and often forget the “hello how are you” at the beginning of our sentence. We do that because in that moment we care much less about how you are doing, and a lot more about what we are asking, but that doesn’t mean that we mean to be rude. This is something I’ve learned to change since I work at Habla Ya, and I always make sure to be extra polite.

The second difficulty I came across (and still do sometimes) is the pace of life in general. I have always had zero tolerance for anyone slower than me (be it while walking, driving, talking or eating, and of course working!). Living in a tropical country such as Panama has made me slow down a bit, and has taught me to take a breath and appreciate life as it goes by. I don’t have to walk so fast all the time. It would make me sweat anyways. I do not have to inhale my food anymore during lunch break as I now have a full hour to eat (and besides it gives me a stomach ache). I do not have to stress over work being done faster because at the end of the day it all gets done regardless.

We're in the tropics: there are plenty of reasons to slow down, chill out and enjoy life!

I have to honestly recommend any newcomer to just accept this new rhythm of life, because stressing over it will only land you an ulcer. And at the end of the day who lives better? I hear a lot of expats criticize the locals for their inefficiency because as human beings we are conditioned to negatively criticize something that is different. Sometimes we may be right, but a lot of times I believe our ignorance is what makes us think that we are better.

Granted, in the so called developed countries there is always a well engineered system in place for everything, especially when it comes to customer service! But how many times have you become annoyed by call center representatives reciting the same lines with each client? Sometimes you don’t even get to talk to a person anymore.

Have you ever tried to ask a question that a robot is not programmed to answer, and felt so frustrated you wanted to throw your cell phone through the window?

In Panama things work differently. You will be treated as a human being, which is something we have lost while so desperately trying to become efficient. We are robots. They are people. They may work a bit slower, or not have reached the efficiency of "wealthier" developed countries (mainly with regards to computer systems) but they will be flexible when you ask for something. If you ask for a favor, someone will help you out even with a task they are not trained to do, whereas in Europe for example you will just be told “the computer says no”. I would much rather live in a place where some rules can still be bent.

I'm totally fluent in Spanish and know more about the culture in Panama": now I can feel the love from my colleagues!

At the end of the day you have to make a choice. Perfection does not exist! If you have relocated to Central America, then you have made a conscious choice to live a different lifestyle, so don’t expect others to adapt to you but try to adapt to them instead. Start by learning their language, then learn the culture, and you will live a much happier life.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PART TIME SPANISH COURSE FOR EXPAT RESIDENTS... »

This Mini Canyon is a popular gathering place for tourists as well as locals. Everyone appreciates the fun you can have there. First I need to get there - nothing easier than hopping on the Explora Ya shuttle and being driven there while I get to see the beautiful surroundings of Boquete and Caldera. The scenery looks stunning: wide hilly grasslands with the stunning mountain chain which is the continental divide (division of Pacific and Caribbean area) in the background.

When you're driving to Caldera there is nothing else to do but to sit back and enjoy the view

Then we get to Gualaca, the town where the Mini Canyon (or "Cangilones" as the locals know it, which means deep cylindrical bucket used to extract water from a well or water source) is located. At a dead end street on our right hand side we see the canyon. We have to climb down a staircase and then we are on the stone floor which is heated up from the sun. Be sure to wear sunscreen, the sun is quite intense!

Once again nature has created the perfect playground for all ages: Los Cangilones de Gualaca

Now let the fun begin: After getting rid of bags and clothes I am ready to have my first daring jump. There are different levels from which you can jump down into the refreshing river that formed this Mini Canyon. Some of them are more than 3 meters high and at first it takes me a moment’s effort to actually jump. But then it is so much fun and the water is so refreshing that I don’t want to stop! The current carries me to a shallower part of the river and there it is easier to get out and back up the Cangilones to just jump right back in.

For all those who like climbing, try to free boulder here (also known as water soloing) - no need to be scared because all that can happen is falling back into the water.

After one or two hours of fun while jumping in and climbing out of the river, I am getting tired. The sky feels the same way: the sun is not so strong anymore and a few clouds appear on the horizon I wouldn’t mind getting into the warmth now.

Even if you're a bit afraid, before you leave, make sure to get one quick jump into Los Cangilones de Gualaca

No sooner said than done: Back in the car we take the road to Caldera. Caldera means boiling pot and has this name due to the Hot Springs that can be found there. Outside of town we take a dirt road and get to a place in the woods where we leave the car and make our way by foot. After a short hike of about 15 minutes, where we walk past a small stream and a few cows, horses and the enormous water buffalo that lives on the farm adjacent to the Hot Springs, we reach the entrance.

There are two public springs here that differ in temperature. One feels like a nice warm bath, which is awesome because by now the sky went darker and darker and it started to drizzle lightly. This weather is perfect for the hot springs - it is so pleasant to feel the warmth surrounding your body. I am curious - how hot can the other one be? I make my way over the little muddy path and reach the second hot spring, which is, like the first one, surrounded by big stones to give the impression of a private bath. I hold my toe in the clear, slightly blue water - wow! It sure is hot! But not too hot for me Slowly and gradually I immerse my body into the heat. It feels comfortable once you get used to the temperature.

It's certainly not a luxurious bath tub: the Caldera Hot Springs are as natural as it gets!

After several minutes relaxing I start feeling sleepy. It’s time to wake up! I need to cool off my body and refresh my mind. So I decide to go down to the river. The river is full of huge stones and I need to be careful not to slip on them. It is really cool and I almost don’t want to get in. But once I do, I don’t regret it. After a few minutes I am all awake again. I sit down on one of the rocks with a few friends. We chat and have a cool drink.

A nice little surprise: there is a third hot spring in the actual river. It is quite shallow and hot, but it’s totally worth sitting there with one half of your body in the heat and the other half in the cool water of the river.

Yep, there is a hot spring in the river too!

The day is coming to an end and we get back into the van. I feel wonderfully relaxed now - like after a day on the beach, or even better

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TOURS AND THINGS TO DO IN BOQUETE, PANAMA... »

I am Swiss and my husband is Panamanian... our daughter is the ultimate mix. I as a Swiss person had to learn to relax, calm down and take everything very slow and easy here in Panama.

Life by the sea is definitively slower anywhere in the world, but I believe more even so in Latin America. I'm glad that my baby is growing up in this place completely free from the everyday stress of modern life... it doesn't hurt to have a bunch of beaches to our own either!

In Switzerland everything is organized for you and your baby: you have different playgroups, you have consultants that you can visit every week to ask them all kind of questions about your day-to-day life with your baby, as well as measure and weigh them. First I felt a bit lost here and missed the "consultants". But I slowly learned to listen to my instincts, not needing a consultant to ask. Here I learned to look at my baby and try to understand her needs whereas in more developed countries everything is taken care of for you. The challenge has definitively been refreshing and I feel I know my baby a lot better and have been able to bond more closely with her.

When we first got here, my husband and I often took her to the beach. She was in her little comfortable chair in the shade, listening to the sound of the ocean, watching her dad surf. On the beach she did not need her toys, she was just observing everything around her. Now as she is older she loves to play in the sand and get completely full of it (and also eat it unfortunately!!!). Yes, my beach days are much more sandy these days.

Baby can play, mommy can have drinks with the girls and daddy can surf (if you look hard you can see a tiny dot in the surf, that is my husband)... how great is that?!

Which beaches in Bocas del Toro are great for families with kids? Starfish Beach is perfect for little kids because the water is shallow and they can just sit there and play. Also we often go to Carenero beach because it is so close to town (only a 5 min boat ride) and you can just go for a quick dip in the water without all the fuss of a long journey.

When Lian was about 4 months old we went to baby swimming class every week. This was great because she was with other babies and quickly got accustomed to being in the water. The sooner a baby gets in the water the better, because they still have the instinct of holding their breath under-water from the time in the womb. So Lian learned very early to dive and to use her floaters and float on her back.

The baby swimming classes were a great way to get to know other moms as well

As soon as Lian could sit by herself, we started a new adventure - I took her on my bike and she loved it from the first day! Everyday we cruise along the beaches, sometimes into the jungle. We stop somewhere and watch the waves and surfers while drinking a delicious fruit smoothie. If my daughter has a very grumpy day, I just put her on the bike and her world is fine again.

Baby crying? I just put her on my bike, go out for a ride and she is suddenly a little angel again!

In the late afternoon we often go to the park, which has a playground and is surrounded by beautiful trees and is located in the center of Bocas town. There she meets a lot of her friends and I meet a lot of my friends as well. We just hang out there for a while.

When Lian was smaller and lighter I just put her into the baby backpack and walked everywhere with her. I did some hikes on Isla Basimentos, visited Up in the Hill Organic Chocolate Farm and had a delicious brownie up there, or I visited Finca Los Monoso Botanical Garden and discovered the beautiful nature I am surrounded of, while my baby was sleeping.

Luckily there are a lot of babies in Bocas of same age, so Lian has a lot of friends around her. The moms often meet and do fun things together, like play dates at home or we go to the beach and on weekends we have BBQs all together. Also there are several birthday parties, which are always a lot of fun too. We even have a Bocas Moms & Babies Club on Facebook. There we post several things such as: what we do today, or any other tips.

Social skills for kids are so important. It makes me so happy that Bocas has a good group of babies like my own

Sometimes I miss the organized Swiss world but when I am on my bike with Lian, riding along the ocean, passing palm trees, beaches and jungle I am so happy and I feel it’s the right place for her. She can discover another totally different world and can grow up in paradise!

It took some convincing, but Bocas is certainly an amazing place for a young family. Here's my husband doing his part...

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR FAMILY SPANISH LEARNING VACATION PROGRAM... »

As many expats in Panama have already pointed out (click here for testimonials), learning Spanish if you are living in a Spanish speaking country makes your life a lot more fulfilling. Sure, you could choose to not learn Spanish, hang out only with the same old gringo friends (who don't know any Spanish either) and "get by" by just speaking English, or you can embrace life at its fullest and learn Spanish today!

Get to know the lovely people of Panama by learning our language and culture

Many expats choose to live in Panama to benefit from a lower cost of living, its amazing weather and natural beauty, or they're just running away from their country for any given reason (lets say politics). But the truth is, the very best part of Panama is its people. But you don't have the slightest chance of getting to know and understanding us Panamanians if you don't learn our language and try to assimilate our culture.

We're sadden when we see someone try to help out in our communities and get frustrated from not being able to effectively affect change just because of the language barrier, or simply just complain about the way things are done here (or not done here), but the truth is, if you can't speak Spanish and truly get a hold of what is really important to us Panamanians (such as family, friendship, celebrations, time off, etc), and why/how/when things are done here, you'll never be able to truly be happy here and really call Panama your home.

And please, don't get me wrong, I do not intend to generalize as I have the privilege to know loads of amazing expats (I'm even married to one) who've embraced our culture, learned our language and are such a positive force in our communities through the businesses they create, the non-profits that they lead (or support) or just by being exceptional neighbors. But the truth is, you can get caught up with things, get stuck in a little bubble of comfort, or just be lazy and not learn the language. If this has happened to you, you are definitively missing out on such an amazing adventure!

ACT NOW & CONTACT US BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF SPOTS FOR THIS PROMO... »

Year after year it has become a tradition for Habla Ya Spanish Schools, to launch a special promotion to motivate those expats who have relocated to Panama to learn or improve their Spanish. And we normally do this in September of each year. But since we firmly believe it's extremely important to help everyone within our communities to speak the language, we're stepping up our efforts and launching a special promotion earlier this year. So we once again invite EVERY new resident within Panama to: LEARN SPANISH NOW!

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US & TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY... »

This promotion is open to anyone who has relocated to Panama and wants to really learn Spanish! At only about $30 per week for a 6 and a half week course ($199 in total for 40 hours of group lessons or $399 for 40 hours of private lessons) come and grab yourself a deal at Panama's most reputable and highest accredited Spanish school!

You can do it: join us and learn some Spanish! At the astonishing rate of $5 per hour for group lessons and $10 per hour for private lessons you maybe won't be able to find lower rates at our Spanish school... ever again!

Start dates for groups of various levels, will take place on any date between April 1st and April 15th (or until we FILL UP, whichever takes place first). As soon as we have 4 students of the same level we start a group (which can take a maximum of 6 students of the EXACT same level).

Most of the residents taking advantage of our yearly promotions normally sign up for our Part Time Crash Course for New Residents (this would be a 6.5 week version of it, instead of the normal 10 weeks for this course) but you can also apply the 40 hour package offer to our Group 4 Course, or private lessons. You can even purchase more than 40 hours at the same rate with the only condition that you use them up before May 31st of this year.

If you don't live in Boquete or in Bocas del Toro, but you are a resident of Panama (and you can prove it), then we can also arrange a Spanish learning vacation for you either in Boquete's mountains or at Bocas' islands (or at both) and you can still have access to the rates in this promotion.

Students taking private lessons can combine study time at both of our Spanish schools. Students in a group can also split their course time between both schools as long as all of the members of their group are willing to spend some time at the other campus.

For our Part Time Crash Course for New Residents, classes will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for two hours each day. Time slots available are: 8 a.m. - 9:55 a.m., 10:05 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (although specific schedules at each location will depend on teacher availability).

CONTACT US TODAY AND GET YOUR HUGE DISCOUNT OFF SPANISH LESSONS... »

"Classes are highly practical, lots of conversation is involved, we get straight on to what you really need in the real world, and last but not least: you will laugh and have loads of fun! Click here to learn more about our conversational approach..."

Committing to a 6.5 week course can have its challenges, but as we all know the best things in life require a little bit of effort! In fact if you really want to learn Spanish, we won't deny it, you WILL have to WORK HARD! You will have to practice outside of the classroom and do your homework. On the other hand, we'll make sure that you have the time of your life! At Habla Ya there are loads of extra activities, many of them included in your course fees which allows you to take advantage of them at no extra cost (such as Movie Nights, Conversational Sessions and Salsa Lessons, and the weekly Panamanian Dinners only cost $6 per person). On top of that, every Friday, we organize a meal out to a local restaurant.

Now, about the "details", to find out when we have a start date for you (with students of your same level) we need to find out your Spanish Level as soon as possible! How? Very easy...

1. If you don't know any Spanish, just let us know by contacting us or by calling us, 720-1294 for Boquete, or 757 - 7354 for Bocas, and tell whoever answers the phone: help, I don't know any Spanish! Make sure to leave your telephone number so that we can get back to you as soon as we know on which day in April will be the start date for those who don't know any Spanish
2. If you do know some Spanish, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and complete our Placement Test! Also make sure to leave your telephone number and we'll call you to schedule an oral interview to confirm your Spanish level. After that, once we got a date for you we'll call you and let you know!
3. Once we have your start date, please pass by to make payment and secure your slot. Once we fill up, the promotion is OVER!

To have access to this offer you have to prove your "Panama Citizenship"

1. Maybe you already studied at our school and you want to brush up your Spanish, so we know you live here... just show up! Make sure to pay us a visit as soon as you can. Remember the first group could start on April 1st and it could be the group for your level.
2. Maybe we've seen you at a restaurant, at a beach, at a bar... or at some other place in town: I mean, it's Boquete and Bocas, everyone knows everyone!
3. If you don't think that you've met anyone from Habla Ya, then think about a way to prove to us that you live here. It could be with a utility bill, your facebook account... be creative if you want to... all that matters is that you convince us that you are a Panama Citizen.

The only "special conditions" are:

1. You are required to sign up for a minimum of 40 hours (don't waste your money signing up for less... you won't really learn that much and we don't want you to throw your money away!)
2. You have to use the hours that you purchase before May 31st 2013. If you don't use your hours before Friday May 31st, then we're really sorry, but you've lost them! Our schools always get completely booked for the summer months of June and July so we won't have space for you.
3. No refunds will be given (but we can give you a credit that will need to be used before May 31st 2013)
4. No reselling allowed, nor can you transfer your hours to someone else!

To round it up, what do you need to do to not miss out on this opportunity?

1. prove that you live in Panama
2. complete our Placement Test, or if you don't know any Spanish just let us know by filling out a contact form or by calling us: 720 - 1294 for Boquete or 757 - 7354 for Bocas del Toro.
3. pay us a visit or call us to discuss course/schedule options
4. sign up
5. make payment

To make it worth (achieve a high Return on Investment) and to become a real "Panama Citizen" then you will have to:

1. show up for all of your lessons
2. study everyday
3. practice
4. practice everyday and study a bit more
5. and once you've finished your Spanish course, keep practicing!

And after these last 5 steps, you should be speaking Spanish...

So come on and Learn Fast, Speak Now, Habla Ya!... and become a real "Panama Citizen"...

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY! CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US... »

You can trust me on this because I had a very similar experience for an entire 2 years.

As everyone says, “talk to the locals”, “stick to the advice of the locals”, “go where the locals go.” We all hear this but how far are you willing to take it? For someone who wants to learn Spanish and experience the real culture of Panama, even the locals will advise you to stay with them! For this exact reason, many years ago, Habla Ya started a Host Family program so that our students could experience the authentic Panama.

From the very beginning, home stays with local host families have been an essential part of Habla Ya Spanish Immersion Program

Going back for a second, let me explain why I am qualified to talk about experiences with Panamanian host families.

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer here in Panamá from 2010 - 2012 and I lived with a total of 6 host families during the 27 months. All of these experiences will stay with me forever, there is no doubt.

Why joining a Spanish immersion program might this be the best decision of your trip to Latin America? For 3 important reasons. You will be able to:

1. learn AUTHENTIC Spanish
2. experience GENUINE Panamanian food and culture
3. encounter TRUE Latin American family VALUES

Though I wasn’t an anthropology major in college, I probably should have been because I love learning about and experiencing other cultures. That’s why all three of these points hit a high note with me during my time with host families and I ensure that they will sing prominently during your trip too.

Living with a local host family ensures that you make the most out of your Spanish immersion program

1. Learn AUTHENTIC Spanish

I studied Spanish for 2 years in high school and 2 years in college, yet walked away speaking only a few phrases and with a horrible accent. My writing and grammar wasn’t half bad, but what’s the point of studying Spanish if you aren’t taught to SPEAK it properly?

Peace Corps was actually my second Spanish immersion experience and there was a whole lot more pressure on my shoulders than my fun study abroad in Argentina when I was a teenager from years before – my new JOB was going to be speaking Spanish for the next 2 years! Peace Corps appropriately placed us in a small training community outside of Panama City where I lived with a local family and had Spanish classes 3 full days/week.

It’s a no-brainer, right? You are thinking that my Spanish improved in a jiffy. Well, unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

After a couple of weeks of Spanish lessons in a Spanish speaking country you should have a pretty decent level of survival Spanish, but in no way you should think that you will have a conversational level of Spanish. To have a better idea about what you should be able to accomplish with your Spanish skills after specific amounts of study time please click here...

A simple recipe of classes and home stay is NOT the sure answer to learning Spanish. It takes a little more effort, my friends.

There are 3 Spanish immersion rules that you must grasp if you want to successfully learn a foreign language:

1. TALK (and TALK, and more TALKING)
2. ASK QUESTIONS
3. FIND FRIENDS

Does this sound simple and easy to you? For some people, it is. For others (ahm, me), it is like pulling teeth.

Experiencing a family home stay sort of forces you to practice your Spanish, but at the end of the day, you have to be responsible for practicing your Spanish the most you can. This is one of the 6 host families I lived with.

I am naturally a quiet person; never the center of attention nor do I strive to ever be the center of conversation. I can hold a decent conversation, but I probably didn’t start it! If you are like me, I beg you to please step out of your comfort zone and TALK in Spanish. Don’t worry about your terrible accent or lack of vocabulary! Panamanians are super nice and forgiving, I promise. But you must talk and listen and...

Ask questions! Learning languages has to be active or else no progress will be made. If you don’t understand something that you hear often, ask someone to explain to you what it means. Write down the answer!

The best person to ask is a Spanish teacher, so work hard to strike up a good relationship with him or her. They earn their living to help you learn Spanish and are extremely passionate about their jobs here at Habla Ya Spanish Schools! As well, you may hit it off with a member of your host family. Sit down with them at night and ask for help with pronunciation. These friends will soon become your confidants and will be your honest allies with helping you to learn Spanish. NO PANAMANIAN will correct your Spanish unless you give them permission and only if they really trust you as a friend. So find your confidant, the earlier the better!

2. Experience GENUINE Panamanian Food and Culture

Panamanians have a completely different diet than most "Western" countries – don’t be fooled! They live off of fried food for breakfast, rice/beans/meat (chicken or beef typically) for lunch and something similar for dinner. They do a great chicken soup and they do a simple spaghetti dish. But in most cases you won’t find much more variety than that. Honestly.

Fruit and green leafy vegetables are not commonly eaten in a Panamanian household. But you will get your fill of plantains and starchy white root vegetables.

Having said this, Habla Ya's Spanish Immersion Program has been happening for many years, and many host families have been working with us for 5+ years so they are more accustomed to providing fruit and veggies, as well as being more mindful of not deep frying everything. But if you're not willing to make some compromises with your meals, you might be better off preparing your own food, or just staying at one of the many hotels that we work with.

Add to this plate some good old porotos (red kidney beans) and you will have in front of yourself a typical Panamanian lunch

The serving portions are very large for most Westerners. My advice to you is to inform your host family of your preferred serving portion after the first meal. It is customary for the first meal to be served to you first (as their guest) and it will probably be a very filling portion size. Do your best to eat it all! It is considered rude in Panama to not eat everything on your plate (at the end of the day, we shouldn't really waste food). After the first meal, you can kindly show your host mom your preferred serving portion.

I would also recommend offering to help out in the kitchen (if you are a woman, not that customary for men! -sorry guys, it's just the way things are, but feel free to insist) and through this action you create an adequate moment to tell your host mom the foods that you prefer or the ones that you dislike. But please don’t be offended if you suggest a new recipe or want them to try a totally new dish and they are not open to it. Most Panamanians are not as adventurous as Westerners, especially when it comes to food.

Here at Habla Ya we will ask you to fill out a Pre-Program Interview and here you will be able to mention any specific dietary needs or preferences in your diet. These will be communicated to your host family and as mentioned above, our host families will be more accommodating in regards to meals preferences. The important thing is to communicate from the beginning and also be willing to make compromises: don't expect an entire family to adapt their lifestyle and habits to you: in any case it should be the other way around =).

3. Encounter True Panamanian Family VALUES

The experience of living with a host family will give you an insider’s look on what Panamanians value, and therefore what their culture is. From going to church (you don't have to go of course, but do give it a try from the experience point of view) to visiting with family and neighbors to watching the family’s favorite novela (soap opera), you will get your fill of what it is really like to be a Panamanian.

In Latin America, family always comes first, and Panama is not an exception to that rule

From my broad experience, I would say that the three most important values that you will find in the Panamanian family are love, family and friends. In Bocas del Toro, they highly value free time as well. Panamanians are simple people with goals and dreams just like the rest of us. But they know where they come from and take pride in that. And also, since life is more simple, they have a more difficult time loosing track of what is really important in life.

In comparison to most Western family values of security, comfort and work ethic, you will find a much different pace of life and focus in Panamanian families. Enjoy the change!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HABLA YA'S SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAMS... »

An incredible 2,25 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day (at least that is what Wikipedia says). But how much do we know about the production of this dark brown liquid that so many of us need to get out of bed every single morning? Do we even know what a coffee tree looks like? I didn’t before I came to Boquete and needless to say I didn’t even think that much about the coffee I drank every day.

Nowadays, even though I don't claim to be a coffee expert, I am able to enjoy my coffee a lot more. Here I am enjoying a delicious cappuccino at Café Ruiz Coffee Shop in Boquete

Boquete’s fresh mountain air and micro-climates, with lower temperatures than most other parts of Panama, as well as its proximity to Panama’s largest volcano, Volcán Barú (volcano ash makes soil very fertile, even if it has been hundreds of years after the last eruption), make Boquete the perfect place for growing what is known as specialty coffee.

Ever since my first visit here I found out a lot more about the local coffee production – it is really important for the local economy, and there are many prestigious Fincas located in the mountains surrounding Boquete. I visited three of them already and took part in two coffee tours. There are many big and wealthy coffee Fincas here, such as Finca Lérida and Café Ruiz. I took part in Café Ruiz’s coffee tour when I first got here, but only a few weeks ago I visited a little gem – a small coffee farm called Finca La Milagrosa (The Miraculous) with Explora Ya.

The hills of the valley of Boquete are filled with coffee trees

This Finca is very special because it is one of the many small ones in the area and yet it is very successful on its own. Most small farms don’t process their own coffee and sell it to the larger estates. Almost all of the coffee produced by La Milagrosa is for export and throughout the years La Milagrosa has won many prestigious international awards. All of this despite the fact that Don Tito, its hard working owner, had to start his business all on his own without any financial backup – that is where the name of this farm comes from: it’s a real “miracle”.

From a very young age Don Tito knew that he wanted to become a coffee producer and when he had saved enough money, he bought his very own piece of land. From day one he worked very hard, until several years later, he got his first coffee plants.

Don Tito made all of the equipment to process the coffee on his own, including these roasting devices made from motor parts of his old truck

Nowadays the whole area is full of coffee trees of all different kinds and if you visit Finca La Milagrosa during harvesting season (November – February and sometimes even later during the year), you will be able to admire each tree loaded with red and yellow berries (actually they are called cherries here). I was especially surprised to see the yellow ones because I had only seen red coffee cherries before.

Our guide explained to us the physical differences of the trees (depending on the variety of coffee). All of Don Tito’s coffee trees are from the “Arabica” family, which produce better quality coffee as opposed to “Robusta” beans, which grow better on lower altitudes. Some of the coffee varieties that Don Tito has on his farm are: Caturra, Catuay, Pacamara, Borbón, Geisha, Novo Mondo and Típica. Some trees are loaded with leaves, others have branches that have so many coffee cherries on them that you might fear for them crashing down. The density of cherries and leaves helps to distinguish them, as well as the color of the leaves, the height of the trees, and many other factors.

When you walk around Don Tito's coffee plantation, you can literally feel the love put into this farm

The cherries have several layers, and once you crack open the first lawyer (red or yellow) you will be able to see the white fruit pulp and then the little beige coffee bean. You can actually taste the sweet extra layer when you suck the bean. It’s not recommended chewing the beans as they're quite hard but feel free to have a go .

Another highlight is the wildlife on the Finca – yes you heard right! This coffee farm works organically – no pesticides or chemicals are used here. Instead, birds are attracted by the sweet smell of the fruit trees that Don Tito has planted here and there, which will keep them from munching on the coffee trees themselves. And as an added bonus, these birds will also eat many insects providing even more protection to the trees. There are also chickens, that fulfill the same purpose (and on the other hand provide Don Tito with fresh organic eggs for breakfast) and geese that work as watchdogs (try to not get too close to them!).

At the end of the coffee tour you will visit the little house that Don Tito and his few workers use to separate the different beans (by size, density and quality), store them and roast them. A small percentage of the beans are also grinned here, ready for consumption (yes, you can buy fresh coffee here) and the rest is packed for exportation. And, of course, you will also get a few beans to chew – for the real caffeine boost, and a cup of freshly brewed coffee handed out by Don Tito himself, if you are lucky.

Don Tito's Coffee Tour with Explora Ya is quite hands on and leaves you wanting to drink specialty coffee every single day for the rest of your life

For me this tour is definitively a must do in Boquete, because it is a small and intimate one with many details you might not get to see on other coffee tours and Don Tito makes a great effort to keep it nice and personal.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BOQUETE, THE IDEAL PLACE TO LEARN SPANISH IN THE MOUNTAINS… »

As always, at Habla Ya Spanish Schools in Boquete and in Bocas del Toro, Panama, you will be able to prepare for and take any of the 6 DELE Exams.

The DELE Exams are the most widely recognized form of proving your proficiency in the Spanish language. At Habla Ya Spanish Schools we have an almost perfect track record at preparing our students for this exam.

We recommend preparing for the DELE Exam through private lessons, although a combination of group and private lessons can also work (and joining our Spanish immersion program doesn't hurt either). Read more about the DELE Exams and how to prepare for them here...

The following graph should give you a better idea about what to expect from each DELE Test depending on the qualification you are expecting to receive.

If you're thinking about getting your DELE Diploma, don't loose any more time and contact us today to start planning your road to success!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE DELE TEST AND TAKING YOUR DELE EXAM... »