Sneaking A Peek At Panama’s Resort Communities

Panama is just one of six countries we will explore on our 180 Day Amazing Journey in search of the world’s best places to live and retire.

In this post we “sneak a peek” at some of the destinations we will visit in Panama and what we will be on the lookout for – with our note pad, our camera, and all six senses tingling…

Coronado – Playa Blanca

Coronado

This area represents a long stretch of residential beach developments and resorts beginning about one hour west of Panama City and continuing for an additional 45 minute drive west along the Inter-American highway.

As these are the closest recreational beaches to  Panama City, Panama’s wealthy class have gobbled up most of the  beachfront land and have begun spinning it into gated developments, high-rise condo towers, and luxury resorts.

Amazing Journey Mission: In Coronado we will be checking on availability and prices for beachfront condos, and getting updates on some of the rather ambitious projects that were launched during the boom.  Does Coronado have a real expat community yet or is this area simply a row of gated communities disconnected from one another?  What is coming up in the future?

Bocas Del Toro

Bocas Del Toro

Panama’s Caribbean playground, known by the locals simply as “Bocas”, offers a laid-back atmosphere and a burgeoning tourism industry.

The advantages of Bocas are its many secluded beaches, wild jungle terrain, outstanding surfing, marinas for sailors, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and the availability of a host of other water related activities.

For nature lovers, wilderness seekers, and beach bummers, surfers and sailors, Bocas Del Toro is a must-see.

Amazing Journey Mission: While in Bocas, we’ll be checking on the progress of a few of the bigger residential real estate projects – are they as  green and sustainable as they promise in the glossy sales brochures?

We’ll also have an eye out for how the local environmental movement has functioned to stifle development in Bocas.  Have the locals and expats reached a comfortable Caribbean balance that would make Bob Marley proud?

Can we still buy a slice of oceanfront in Bocas at an affordable price?

Sora

About 75 minutes west of Panama City lies a gorgeous range of mountains with a year round spring-like climate similar to that of Boquete and Volcan on the west end of the country.

The small hamlet of Sora first made its claim to fame after the Altos Del Maria development was launched with much fervor back in 2002.

The pride of Sora are its fine ocean views from landscaped building sites, which have been popular for those looking for a country home in a peaceful setting.

Amazing Journey Mission: In Sora we’ll be checking with local residents about their perception of Altos Del Maria as a place to live vs. private property in the surrounding countryside.

Have real estate prices began to drop to realistic levels from their preposterous highs circa 2007?  Has Internet service improved here?  Are rice and beer still the only things you can buy in Sora without driving 25 minutes to Coronado?

El Valle
El Valle (pronounced El Vaiyeh) is about 90 minutes from Panama City and is in many ways more quaint than Sora. El Valle has long served as a cool weekend getaway for Panama’s wealthy elite and a few of the well-groomed streets and vistas are reminiscent of alpine Switzerland or Germany.  Real estate here is priced at a premium compared with most of Panama, especially for property close to the center of town.

Amazing Journey Mission: In El Valle we want to know if any of the big new residential projects advertised as “paradise” have actually broken ground yet, or are they still “paradise in waiting”?  Are there any fine estate homes or coffee farms we may want to call home in El Valle?

Boquete

Boquete went from sleepy coffee country village to international retirement haven in about two years flat.  From a lifestyle perspective, Boquete has a lot to offer.

The natural basics are unsurpassed… clean air, gorgeous climate, and quality local inhabitants.  However, many people realize that there really isn’t much to do here over the long-term and boredom can begin to set in.

Amazing Journey Mission: We want to know if the liveliest bar in Boquete still shuts down at 10 PM.  We also want to check on the progress of the Boquete’s second golf course, and we may even play a round of golf in Valle Escondido.  We’ll investigate the rumors of increased crime that have been circulating around town.  Is the lifestyle getting better here, or worse?

Cerro Azul

The quickest way to a cool climate from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City is Cerro Azul.  Visitors will notice a dramatic reduction in temperature and humidity upon reaching Cerro Azul.  Cerro Azul is most attractive for people who want to live in a cooler climate with Panama City’s amenities about 45 minutes away.

Amazing Journey Mission: In Cerro Azul we want to know if anyone actually lives here yet, and if they do, do they like it?  Are their any signs that this area may one day explode into a retirement mecca and should we be investing here now?

Los Santos

Los Santos offers many recreational beaches, the Isla Iguana wildlife refuge, and the quaint Spanish colonial towns of Las Tablas and Pedasi.  One of the best surf beaches in Panama is located at Playa Venao just 20 minutes from the town of Pedasi, where annual international surf competitions are held.

Amazing Journey Mission: Here we will be checking on the handful of beachfront developments underway and whether or not any of them have running water or electricity yet.  We want to find out about the new international airport rumoured to be under construction.

Have all of the best surf breaks near Pedasi become too crowded or is our secret place still a secret?

Portobelo

Panama has hundreds of kilometers of Caribbean coastline, but only a fraction of it is accessible by anyone other than Indiana Jones.

Portobelo is one of only a few Caribbean villages accessible from Panama’s mainland, and it may begin to enter the world stage now that the highway from Panama City to Colon has been improved – a highway that was formerly known as the most dangerous highway in Panama due to all of the x-rated signs advertising lingerie for sale up ahead in the Colon Free Zone.

Amazing Journey Mission: In this area we will be keen to identify any reasonably priced property for development and whether or not Portobelo has begun to attract any tourists yet.  We hope to do some snorkeling and eat seafood doused in coconut juice.  We’ll show you where to find it.

Panama City

How could we forget? The heat, the traffic, and the pollution may not be conducive for a tranquil, stress-free lifestyle.  However, after three weeks of lying in a hammock, or watching coffee grow, many would-be retirees long for busy Italian restaurant, live Cuban salsa, or an evening of wine and jazz – and in these endeavors, Panama City delivers.

Michael Manville

Michael is the author of the Panama 101 – E-Book Guide To Living and Investing In Panama, just one more Free Download you will receive when you upgrade your Retire Worldwide Membership.

Let us be your eyes and ears as we explore all of these destinations on your behalf. Post your questions about Panama in the comments section of this page. Upgrade your Retire Worldwide Membership to receive full coverage of Panama as we discover it.