You question my sources; well it’s no secret that Panama has a very strong wealth division. You can check the Gini index but you can also use your common sense: haven’t you noticed things in Panama are either way cheaper than in Costa Rica or way more expensive? Two markets: rich and poor.

We have more people like that Costa Rican guide you saw giving the tour in Coiba Park: not rich, not poor, speaks a couple languages and has his own small house somewhere in San Jose.

I don’t know anything about the monkeys and macaws you mention, so I’ll go ahead and believe you. It actually makes some sense.

Bigger middle class in CR than Panama?, maybe you want to check your source of information, by the way there are as many if not more Universities in Panama than Costa Rica.

One thing you have to give Costa Ricans, they are good at telling lies to visitors and sell their country as the best place in the world.

They claim to have the largest national park in Central America but fail to mention that Darien in Panama is actually the largest.

Have you been to Costa Rica and been show the ENDEMIC Quetzal and the ENDEMIC Scarlet Macaw, the funny thing is that you find those ENDEMIC Costa Rican especies in the other Central American Countries, LOL

I was once in Coiba National Park in Panama, a tour ship arrived and had Costa Rican guides, they have told their guest that Coiba National Park was actually part of Costa Rica, they wish!!!!

By the way:
Species of birds in Costa Rica : around 800
Species of Birds in Panama : Over 900 close to a 1,000

Species of Monkey in Costa Rica : 4
Species of MOnkey in Panama : 8

Species of Macaws in Costa Rica : 2
Species of Macaw in Panama: 5

Now if we go to the History: Panama offers a lot more history, from Conquistadors, privateers, 49ers, etc…

Culture: 7 very well defined Indigenous groups, rich in culture and traditions.
By the way, have you ever bought a MOLA that says Costa Rica?, they are all over Costa Rica, The Kunas and their MOLAS are from Panama and Colombia, but any Costa Rican Guide will sell it to you as part of their culture.

One thing we have to accept is that both economies are very strong and you see very few Panamanians migrating to Costa Rica or Costa Ricans to Panama looking for jobs.

Which country is best?

Mmmmmm You ask me Panama, of course I am Panamanian.
You ask Costa Ricans, Costa Rica, of course, they are sooo good at telling those lies that they have convince even themselves that they live in the best country in the world.

in other parts of the world the territory where panama and costa rica are located would be probably the same country.

in one thing we most agree, panama and costa rica are by far the best destinations in all Central America. and some of the best in the entire continent.

If you are into old civilizations research and anthropology i truly recommend you to go to Guatemala or Mexico.

First of all, Costa Rica is not a famous banking center and it will never be; it would be really stupid to claim otherwise. Banking sucks in Costa Rica, everything takes 2 or 3 permits and several weeks.

Second of all, the post from March 9th DOES say that Panama is “second largest international banking center” therefore comment on the 19th.

Third of all, Panama is only modern if you look at the few blocks of the financial district and maybe some nice neighborhoods like Costa del Este, Paitilla, etc. May I remind you Panama has 75000 km2, how much of that is modern? … Not to mention that if (by mistake) you drive into the ghetto areas they make Costa Rica’s worst neighborhoods look like child play. It happened to me, I got lost and drove to “Chorrillos” (or something like that)… I almost shit in my pants.

Forth of all, I never said the author of this article was Panamanian or desperate, I wasn’t talking about him. I think it’s pretty obvious to everyone who reads this site he’s not Panamanian, he’s probably Northamerican.

Fifth of all, if Panama is so much better, why is it so hard to find skilled labor in Panama? How come Intel hasn’t moved to Panama? How come most Ticos in Panama are hired by call centers but most Panamanians in Costa Rica are taxi drivers? How come most of your skilled labor comes from other countries? How come Costa Rica still gets better Gini Index values and better Quality-Of-Life rankings? How come we are happier?

But to be fair, Panama gets shit done. Costa Rica doesn’t. Panama has a well defined high class that runs the country, to their benefit of course, but at least they DO something. Here in Costa Rica everything takes forever. You see, I’m criticizing Costa Rica now… very few Panamanians would dare criticize Panama publicly in a website like this one; that has been my point all along.

I have read a great deal of comments coming from tourists, which are not Panamanians and not Ticos and most of them have come to the conclusion that Panama is far better than Costa Rica and that is something which you cannot cope with.

You talked about our beaches. Boy let me tell you something about our beaches. They are unbelievable. No comparison whatsoever. Both in the Pacific and in the Caribbean side of Panama.

You also mentioned the ignorant claims that most Panamanians make in a desperate attempt to make Panama look “cool” to the rest of the world. Did you actually read that comment? Did you understand that comment? The author of that remark clearly stated that he wasn’t Panamanian or Tico. He was from a third party, meaning a third country; therefore, I see no reason for you to type what you typed. Why did you have to offend Panamanians calling us ignorants? when it wasn’t a Panamanian who made this statement.

Panama is not the second largest banking center in the world. We have never claimed that, however, we are the first one in LATAM.
We do have the second largest duty free zone in the world. Second to Hong Kong and first one in the western hemisphere. Probably that is what sread tried to say. But my question for you would be: Is Costa Rica a famous banking center? if so? How many banks are operating there right now?

Second largest international banking center? You see! that’s what I’m talking about! Most panamanians will make ignorant claims like this in a desperate attempt to make their country look “cool” to the rest of the world.

Let me tell you about international banking centers: New York City, London, Tokio, Frankfurt, Paris, Switzerland. According to you, only one of those is bigger than Panama and all the others are smaller, did I get that right? LOL.

Panama’s only a banking center because we all hide our money there to avoid paying taxes, yes sir, myself included.

in 2008 I chose Panama to settle in because it was more akin to my trade (engineering) and the inmmigration proceeeds where simple and expeditious. Both economies are service oriented but with evident spaces for subtantial improvements, if benchmarked against other latinamerican emerging economies (Chile, Brasil, Mexico etc..). In both cases I have witnessed a growing trend of commercial competitiveness but outside the realm of bussiness of the established Who’s Who (economical and political status quo). If anyone in planning to settle in either Costa Rica or Panama, his business plan necessarily consider foreign markets as well.

Twenty years later the Arenal has grown a twin crater. From a certain angle it looks like a beast with two heads. It’s great to have a drink soaked to one’s chin in pool of hot springs and watch the beast breathe fire.

I’ve never been to Panama and I’m sure it is nice there, but Costa Rica cannot be equaled.