Veritas Village — food forest and community grounds. Photos: veritasvillages.com
Most expat guides to Panama give you the same options: rent an apartment in Boquete, buy a condo in Panama City, or find a house near the beach in Coronado. These are all good options. But they're not the only options.
A growing number of people moving to Panama are looking for something different — something more intentional. They want land they own outright. They want neighbours who share their values. They want to grow their own food, build their own home, and live in a community that feels chosen rather than accidental.
We went and saw it for ourselves
We had the pleasure of visiting the Chiriquí village — one of the Veritas Villages locations — and meeting CFO Don. It was such a beautiful experience. Everything was kept clean, tidy, manicured, pristine. Even the vegetable gardens. They have two full-time gardeners building out their food forest, and you can see all the work going on around you — it's not a concept or a render, it's happening right now.
They had a beautiful community area with handmade furniture. Don showed us where the pool was going in — but honestly, who needs a pool when just down the bank there is one of the most beautiful creeks we've ever seen? And coming from Australia, that's saying a lot.
While Simon and Don talked, walked, and discussed everything about the growth of the village, Tammy and the kids headed down to the creek with the two dogs and had a beautiful afternoon swimming, swinging off the tyre swing, and just being. It was the kind of afternoon you don't plan — it just happens when you're somewhere that feels right.
The land, the location, the life
We walked through the land where all the homes are planned out and mapped. You can go onto the website and see exactly what the allotments look like — it's all laid out clearly. The surrounding area was quiet and peaceful, but with all the necessities just down the road: a brand new hospital, a clinic that Don said they'd already had a great experience with when someone needed stitches after an accident. That kind of reassurance matters when you're thinking about putting down roots somewhere.
Don is someone who has seen much in his life and visited many countries. He actually lives full-time at the Chiriquí village now. He told us he never saw himself staying long term — but when he went there after they purchased the property, there was just something about it. He never really left. That says everything.
What is community living, exactly?
Think of it as a planned community — but built around shared values rather than shared amenities. Instead of a golf course and a pool, you have organic gardens, shared infrastructure, and neighbours who are there because they want the same kind of life you do.
Panama is one of the best places in the world for this kind of living. Land is relatively affordable compared to Australia. The legal framework for foreign property ownership is strong. The climate in the highlands is ideal for growing food year-round. And the country's political stability makes it a realistic long-term home.
Is it right for you?
Community living isn't for everyone. If you want the convenience of a city, the social scene of a tourist town, or the anonymity of a large apartment complex — this isn't it. But if you're drawn to any of these things:
- Owning land outright rather than renting or buying in a development
- Growing your own food and keeping animals
- Living off-grid or partially off-grid
- Being surrounded by people who share your values around freedom and self-sufficiency
- Building something that lasts — not just finding somewhere to live
…then Veritas Villages is worth a serious look. We'd encourage you to visit their website, read about their current projects, and reach out to them directly. The worst that happens is you learn it's not for you. The best that happens is you find exactly what you've been looking for.
Hear it from the CEO
Our friend Adam Hudson sat down with the CEO of Veritas Villages to talk about what they're building, who it's for, and what life actually looks like inside one of their communities. Adam's a fellow Australian who's been on his own freedom journey, and this conversation is well worth your time.
