Panama City vs. Boquete for Gay Couples: Why We Picked the City

Is Boquete Panama a good choice for gay expats to live?

Boquete tops every Panama retirement list — cooler weather, huge expat community, coffee farms. It also has no gay bar, no sauna, and an online undercurrent that reminded us of small towns we already avoid back home. Here’s the math we did before choosing Panama City instead, and why we think other gay expats deserve to see it laid out plainly.

Is Panama Gay Friendly? The Honest Answer (2026)

Gay couple in Panama City

Panama’s Supreme Court says our marriage doesn’t exist. Panama City mostly just lets us exist — and those are very different things. We’re a gay couple actually moving there, and after twelve days walking the city as a visibly together couple, here’s the answer nobody else will give you straight.