United’s new flight May 22 between San Francisco and Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, will take about seven hours to connect Silicon Valley and the financial hub of Central America. So what about prices? The flights have fares at $827 in economy right now, operated on Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Casco Viejo, the Canal, those skyscrapers, the shopping. It’s hard to think of a better place than Panama City to shop and tour but you want to make sure that you arrive in a peaceful time with no protests and road shut downs. If you’ve been to Panama City, then you know there’s not really any place like it, at least in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a fascinating blend of modern development. Panama’s Old City, has a magical kind of charm. If you head out to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast, you find some of the most pristine landscapes in the Basin. They also have union issues now and again so always good to read the news ahead of a trip to Panama. The majority of life in Panama is very peaceful but there are a few rough weeks now and again when Union groups go on strike and the Indigenous join in to make demands. The President of the country is always working hard to keep the peace. Boquete in the mountains is one of the world’s best locations to retire, as well as Coronado on the beaches, and while Panama is still working to develop themselves as a tourism destination, the area is managing to build up quite a network of flights. Investors from Spain place Panama City in the top 3 destinations to live in. Miami, in the United States, ranks first, followed by Santiago, Chile, and the Panamanian capital in third place, primarily due to its strategic location, air connectivity, and business environment.