Turning curiosity into connection
Loving Panama was born from a simple truth: Panama is one of the most underrated countries in the world, and most people know it only for its Canal. We set out to change that — to show the other Panama. The highland coffee farms, the Guna archipelagos, the Afro-Caribbean kitchens of Colón, the colonial alleys of Casco Antiguo, the hot springs of Chiriquí, the skyline that coexists with virgin jungle.
It started with a food truck.
"@lovingpanama_ was born from a food truck. But not just any food truck."
It was at Urbano 67, the gastronomic park that brought together the best of Panama's independent food scene. There, Jackeline Salazar brought the flavors of her native Colón to the table: authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine — the kind that hugs you from the inside. The tourists who came weren't just amazed by the food — they wanted to know more. More about Panama. More about Colón. Where else to go. What else to try. How to stay.
When Urbano 67 closed its doors, we didn't close the dream. We expanded it. Loving Panama is what was always behind the business: showing the world a country that most people underestimate, and that those who truly discover it fall in love with forever.
We are family. And in Panama, that means everything.
Three people. One mission.
Jackeline Salazar
Founder
Native of Colón, Panamanian at heart. Entrepreneur and content creator with deep roots in Afro-Caribbean culture. The one who cooked, the one who listened to the tourists, the one who decided Panama deserved to be told better.
Jariza Salazar
Co-Founder & Legal
Lawyer. The legal architect of the project. She makes sure that everything we build has solid foundations — because a dream without structure doesn't last.
Manuel Díaz
Co-Founder & Technology
Technology Project Manager. The one who turns ideas into systems that actually work. Behind every feature, every page and every smooth experience on this site, there's Manuel.
"I want to go to Panama but I don't know where to start."
We are travelers, expats and Panama lovers who kept getting the same message from friends around the world. The information was scattered — a blog here, a forum there, a Reddit post from 2019. Nothing curated, nothing trusted, nothing that felt like it was written by someone who actually lived there.
So we built Loving Panama. A platform that brings together the best guides, experiences, services and local knowledge — all in one place, in two languages, for travelers, expats, investors and anyone curious about what Panama really has to offer.
Made by people who love Panama
Writers, photographers, guides, local chefs, wellness practitioners and real estate professionals — all united by the same conviction: Panama deserves to be told better. Some were born here. Others arrived for a week and never left. All of us wake up every morning grateful we ended up in this corner of the world.
Our Values
Authenticity
We only recommend places we would send our own family to. No paid placements disguised as editorial.
Local first
Behind every recommendation is a real person on the ground. We work with local guides, chefs, therapists and agents.
Depth over volume
We'd rather do ten things really well than a hundred things adequately. Quality is non-negotiable.
Bilingual by design
Panama is a bilingual country and so are we. Every piece of content exists in both English and Spanish — not translated, but written natively.
One platform, every angle
For travelers
Honest destination guides, curated tours, gastronomy recommendations and seasonal tips — without the fluff.
For expats & retirees
Visa guides, neighborhood deep-dives, cost of living breakdowns and a directory of local professionals who speak your language.
For investors
Real estate market analysis, ROI data, zone-by-zone comparisons and connections with trusted local agents.
Start your Panama journey with us.
Whether you're planning a trip, considering a move, or simply curious — we're here to help.
Get in Touch