We sold everything and moved from Canada to a remote island in Panama

An adventurous couple from Canada have shared how they traded their city life for a remote island in Panama and have not regretted it for over a year.

Mark and Bethany Sikora lived in Calgary, Alberta, but tired of the sub-zero weather and higher cost of living and the duo began looking for an alternative place to settle.

In January 2022, the Sikoras ran into a TikTok about living in Panama and within three weeks had sold or given away almost everything they owned in an attempt to move to Central America.

To get residency in Panama, expats can invest $200,000 in local real estate and Bethany, 30, told DailyMail.com that “we basically sold our 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Canada for two acres of land with 10 buildings.” on top.’

The Sikoras’ island plot—which they found within three months of moving in—includes a home, two guest cabins, an outdoor kitchen, greenhouse, chicken coop, and a boathouse with its own dock.

There is also a storage facility with a solar power plant and a rainwater harvesting system, so they do not need to be connected to the electricity grid.

In terms of location, the Sikoras live on a remote island called Isla Cristobal in the Bocas Del Toro Province of Western Panama.

The lush outcrop has about 800 inhabitants and is only accessible by boat.

The nearest international airport is Bocas del Toro and it is about a 20 to 30 minute boat ride from there.

To make money, the Sikoras decided to market one of their guest houses Airbnb and it is currently available to book for $94 per night.

Bethany says the response to their island property has been “incredible” and they are 90 percent booked in the coming months.

To generate additional income, they offer a number of tours in the area, from dolphin watching tours to waterfall tours.

While Mark focuses on Airbnb and keeps it running, Bethany works remotely online as a recruiter in the US and Canada.

The couple also generates a small amount of money from a relationship-oriented podcast they run called Pillow talk with Mark and B.

As for the type of content they provide, Bethany said, “Since most relationships these days bring trauma or baggage into relationships, our goal is to foster healthy conversations about that with solutions and examples for other couples.”

Looking ahead, the Sikora’s goal is to be completely self-sufficient and from their plot they can fish for dinner and grow their own produce.

Currently, their only expenses are $99 a month for internet, $35 a month for their cell phones, and they pick up groceries from the local council every one to two weeks.

The cost of food varies depending on the number of guests staying.

When asked what she misses most about living in Calgary, Bethany mused, “Oh man, there really is nothing like Alberta beef. Steak in Panama just isn’t the same.

“I also miss driving a lot. Cars were always my thing when I was in Canada and now we only have boats.’

When it comes to Mark, Bethany says he’s “sunk into the hard island life and doesn’t seem to be missing much.”

She continues: “We were consciously taking this step because we wanted to get away from the media, politics, etc.

“He was a big podcaster before we left with the Lorehammer program, which focused on the Warhammer game. I think the break has been good for him. When he’s not working, he spends his time spearfishing or creating new hiking trails around the island.’

On their TikTok channel, the Sikoras have made it clear that they do not plan to have children.

For now, they have their hands full with an assortment of animals including two dogs, four cats and several chickens.

While saying their off-grid lifestyle is “a lot of hard work,” the Sikoras say they “still find time to play” and feel 100 percent they made the right decision by leaving Canada.

Asked to sum up Isla Cristobal in three words, Bethany concludes, “Paradise. Peaceful. Serene… You just have to come and see for yourself!’