Treasures of the Transit Zone
What You Can Access Here In Panama But Not in the USA: European sunscreens, OTC Ozempic, and Cuban imports.
Living in or visiting Panama comes with some surprising perks that many North Americans don't realize. Beyond the beautiful beaches, mountain retreats, and vibrant urban culture, Panama offers access to products and services that are either unavailable or require prescriptions in the United States.
Here's my own little rundown of what you can get here that might surprise my gringo friends and family:
🎁 Pharmaceutical Options
Over-the-Counter Semaglutide (Ozempic)
Perhaps the most shocking discovery for many American visitors is the availability of semaglutide medications like Ozempic without a prescription. While these GLP-1 receptor agonists require doctor's prescriptions, insurance approvals, and come with significant cost in the United States, you can walk into many Panamanian pharmacies and purchase them directly.
The pricing is often more transparent and sometimes significantly cheaper than US retail prices, even without insurance. This has led to a small but growing "medical tourism" trend specifically for these weight loss and diabetes medications.
Just because they're available doesn't mean self-medicating is wise, though. Local doctors caution that these medications still require proper medical supervision despite their over-the-counter status.
🎁 Skincare Superior: European Formulations Available
Advanced Sunscreen Ingredients
One of Panama's unexpected retail treasures is access to European-formulation sunscreens. These products contain advanced UV filters like Tinosorb, Mexoryl, and newer generation avobenzone stabilizers that haven't received FDA approval in the US, despite being used safely in Europe for years.
The practical benefit? Sunscreens that provide better UVA protection (the aging rays), feel lighter on the skin, and don't leave the notorious white cast of many American sunscreens. Brands like La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, and Avène are readily available with their original European formulations, not the reformulated US versions.
For those living in Panama's intense sun, this isn't just a cosmetic preference - its superior protection in a place where sun exposure is a daily reality.
Retinoid Products with Less Restriction
Derivatives of vitamin A (retinoids) are tightly controlled in the US, with the strongest forms requiring prescriptions. In Panama, stronger retinoid products are often available over the counter, including some formulations that would require dermatologist visits in the States.
🎁 Food & Alcohol Distinctive Features
Cuban-made Products
The long-standing US embargo against Cuba means Americans miss out on genuine Cuban products, from cigars to rum. In Panama, these aren't just available - they're abundant. Authentic Cuban cigars are sold in dedicated shops and upscale hotels, while Havana Club rum (the real Cuban version, not the Puerto Rican product sold under the same name on American soil) is a standard offering in bars and liquor stores.
European Food Products Without FDA Restrictions
Certain European cheeses made with raw milk, traditional curing methods, or specific bacteria cultures that don't meet FDA requirements are available in Panama's upscale supermarkets. These include authentic versions of cheeses that would be banned or required to use pasteurized milk in the US.
Similarly, certain food additives banned by the FDA but approved by European regulatory agencies appear in imported products on Panamanian shelves. For European expats, this means access to familiar home products; for culinary adventurers, it's an opportunity to experience authentic versions of foods that might be altered for US import.
🎁 Automotive Brand Variety
One of the most striking differences in Panama's automotive landscape is the widespread availability of Chinese car brands that are rarely never seen on American roads. While the U.S. market remains dominated by American, Japanese, and European manufacturers, Panama's roads showcase a growing fleet of vehicles directly from China's booming automotive industry.
Rising Chinese Stars in Panama
In Panama's competitive automotive market, Japanese and Korean brands still lead sales, but Chinese manufacturers are making significant inroads. Geely has secured an impressive sixth place in the market with 2,142 units sold, outperforming the established Mitsubishi brand. Other Chinese makers like Changan and Dong Feng have also entered the top ten with 1,626 and 1,497 units sold respectively.
BYD stands out as a leader in Panama's electric and hybrid vehicle segment with models like the Tang plug-in hybrid SUV that combines impressive electric range with luxury features. Geely has captured Panamanian interest with stylish models like the Coolray, while MG offers reliable choices in both conventional and electric vehicles.
The 2023 Electric Mobility Law enacted by Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo has been a significant catalyst for Chinese EV manufacturers. As BYD's commercial manager in Panama noted, this legislation has helped the company expect a 40-50% market share growth as government agencies and companies shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric ones.
What Makes These Brands Appealing
For American expats in Panama, Chinese auto brands offer several compelling advantages:
Cutting-Edge Electric Options: BYD, which established its presence in Panama since 2013, has recently debuted four pure electric passenger cars at the Panama Motor Show including the Tang, Yuan Plus, Seal, and Dolphin models. With impressive specifications like the Tang's 509 horsepower and 635km range on a single charge, these vehicles represent the latest in EV technology.
Value Proposition: Chinese manufacturers typically offer more features and technology at lower price points than their American or Japanese counterparts, making them particularly attractive in Panama's cost-conscious market.
Innovative Technology: Many Chinese brands incorporate advanced connectivity features and driver assistance systems that would cost significantly more in Western-branded vehicles.
Design Evolution: Gone are the days of Chinese vehicles being viewed as copycat designs. Brands like Geely and BYD now showcase distinctive styling that appeals to modern tastes.
The Panama Advantage
Living in Panama gives Americans access to these rising automotive brands years before they might reach U.S. shores. While restrictive import regulations and trade tensions limit the availability of Chinese vehicles in the United States, Panama's more open market serves as a window into what could be the future of global automotive trends.
For car enthusiasts, this means the opportunity to experience models like the BYD Tang or Geely Coolray that combine advanced technology with competitive pricing – options simply unavailable back home. It's yet another example of how Panama provides access to global consumer choices that extend beyond what's available in the U.S. market.
🎁 Banking and Financial Services
Offshore Banking with Fewer Restrictions
While entirely legal when properly reported, offshore banking is significantly more accessible in Panama than for US citizens at home. Local banks offer services to foreigners with lower deposit requirements and fewer restrictions than would be encountered when attempting to open similar accounts from within the US.
This isn't about tax evasion (Americans must still report worldwide income), but rather about asset diversification and protection strategies that are simply more accessible on the ground in Panama.
Cryptocurrency Freedom
Panama has adopted a more open approach to cryptocurrency than many US states, with fewer restrictions on trading platforms and exchanges. While the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, currently Panamanians and residents enjoy easier access to certain crypto platforms that either restrict US users or must significantly limit their offerings to comply with US regulations.
🎁 Communication Services
International SIM Cards and Plans
Panama offers truly international mobile phone plans that allow free or very low-cost roaming across much of Latin America. These plans, unavailable to US consumers from their domestic carriers, make regional travel much more affordable from a telecommunications perspective.
Travelers can purchase SIM cards with pan-Latin American coverage at prices that would make US mobile carriers blush, eliminating the need for expensive international plans or constant Wi-Fi hunting.
The Bigger Picture: Why These Differences Exist
These product and service differences reflect varying regulatory philosophies more than quality concerns. The FDA and US regulatory environment tends toward extreme caution, sometimes delaying approval of products used safely elsewhere for years or decades. Panama, adopting a mix of European and Latin American regulatory frameworks, often makes these products available sooner.
Medical products in particular highlight this difference in approach, with the US requiring extensive domestic testing even for products with long safety records abroad. This caution has advantages, but it also means Americans sometimes lack access to beneficial products available to the rest of the world.
The Expat Perspective
For American expats in Panama, these differences represent one of the unexpected benefits of international living. Beyond the lower cost of living and beautiful surroundings, the ability to access products and services familiar to the rest of the world but restricted at home provides both practical benefits and a broader consumer perspective.
As a fellow American expat in Panama City shared with me, "I initially moved here for the lower cost of living, but I've come to appreciate the practical benefits like easier access to medications and consumer goods that would require jumping through hoops back home."
Whether you're visiting, living here part-time, or have made Panama your permanent home, these retail differences add another dimension to the experience - just one more way that living internationally expands your horizons beyond the familiar constraints of home.
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