A adventure-thirsty couple from Canada have instructed of how they ditched their metropolis life for a distant island in Panama they usually don’t have any regrets multiple 12 months on.
Mark and Bethany Sikora have been dwelling in Calgary, Alberta, however sick of the sub-zero climate and elevated price of dwelling, the duo began searching for another place to place down roots.
In January 2022, the Sikoras got here throughout a TikTok about life in Panama and inside three weeks they’d offered or given away nearly every thing they owned in a bid to relocate to Central America.
To get residency in Panama, expats can make investments $200,000 in native actual property and Bethany, 30, instructed DailyMail.com that ‘we basically offered our 1,000sqft bungalow in Canada for 2 acres of land with 10 buildings on it.’
Mark and Bethany Sikora ditched their metropolis life in Canada for a distant island in Panama they usually don’t have any regrets multiple 12 months on
In January 2022, the Sikoras got here throughout a TikTok about life in Panama and inside three weeks they’d offered nearly every thing they owned in a bid to relocate to Central America
The couple have been sick of the sub-zero climate and elevated price of dwelling again in Canada
To get residency in Panama, expats can make investments $200,000 in actual property and Bethany stated that ‘we basically offered our 1,000sq ft bungalow for 2 acres of land with 10 buildings on it’
The Sikoras’ island plot – which they discovered inside three months of shifting – features a home, two visitor huts, an out of doors kitchen, a greenhouse, a rooster coop and a ship home with its personal dock.
There’s additionally a storehouse that accommodates a photo voltaic power plant and rain water assortment system, so they do not need to be hooked as much as predominant provides.
When it comes to their location, the Sikoras stay on a distant island referred to as Isla Cristobal within the province of Bocas Del Toro in Western Panama.
The luxurious outcrop has about 800 residents and it’s only accessible by boat.
The closest worldwide airport is Bocas del Toro and it’s a couple of 20- to 30-minute boat journey from there.
When it comes to making a living, the Sikoras determined to market one in all their visitor homes on Airbnb and it’s at present out there to e book for $94 per evening.
Bethany says the response to their island property has been ‘unimaginable’ and within the coming months they’re 90 per cent booked.
To generate additional earnings they provide plenty of excursions across the space, from dolphin-watching excursions to waterfall treks.
Whereas Mark focuses on the Airbnb and conserving that working, Bethany works remotely on-line as a recruiter within the U.S. and Canada.
The couple additionally generate a small quantity from a relationship-focused podcast that they run referred to as Pillowtalk With Mark And B.
Referring to the kind of content material they provide, Bethany stated: ‘As most relationships lately are bringing trauma or baggage into relationships, our purpose is to advertise wholesome dialog round that with options and examples for different {couples}.’
When it comes to making a living, the Sikoras determined to market one in all their visitor homes on Airbnb and it’s at present out there to e book for $94 per evening
Bethany says the response to their island property has been ‘unimaginable’ and within the coming months they’re 90 per cent booked
Whereas Mark focuses on the Airbnb and conserving that working, Bethany works remotely on-line as a recruiter within the U.S. and Canada
The couple additionally generate a small quantity from a relationship-focused podcast that they run referred to as Pillowtalk With Mark And B
Trying forward, the Sikoras’ intention is to be fully independent and from their plot, they’re able to fish for dinner and develop their very own produce
On their TikTok channel the Sikoras have made it clear they don’t plan on having youngsters. For now they’ve their fingers full with an assortment of animals
Trying forward, the Sikoras’ intention is to be fully independent and from their plot, they’re able to fish for dinner and develop their very own produce.
At the moment their solely outgoings embrace $99 per thirty days on web, $35 per thirty days for his or her cellphones they usually get groceries each one to 2 weeks from the native city.
The price of meals varies relying on what number of company they’ve staying.
Requested what she misses most about life again in Calgary, Bethany mused: ‘Oh man, there may be actually nothing like Alberta beef. Steak in Panama is simply not the identical.
‘I additionally actually miss driving. Vehicles have been all the time my factor once I was in Canada and now we solely have boats.’
In the case of Mark, Bethany says he has ‘sunk in exhausting to island life and does not appear to overlook lots.’
She continues: ‘We have been intentional about this transfer as a result of we needed to get away from the media, politics, and many others.
‘He was a giant podcaster earlier than we left working a program referred to as Lorehammer, which is concentrated on the sport Warhammer. I feel the break has been good for him. When he is not working, he spends his time spearfishing or making new mountain climbing trails across the island.’
On their TikTok channel the Sikoras have made it clear they don’t plan on having youngsters.
For now they’ve their fingers full with an assortment of animals which embrace two canine, 4 cats, and plenty of chickens.
Whereas they are saying their off-grid life-style is ‘a variety of exhausting work,’ the Sikoras say they ‘nonetheless discover time to play’ they usually 100 per cent really feel they made the best determination with leaving Canada.
Requested to sum up Isla Cristobal in three phrases, Bethany concludes: ‘Paradise. Peaceable. Serene… You may simply have to come back see it for your self!’
