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Last week we began a tour of Panama’s top retirement havens, beginning in the gentrified city and moving westward into Panama’s rugged interior. This week, we continue the tour, moving deeper into Panama’s own wild, wild west…

Pedasí

Tourism to Pedasí has been growing steadily over the last few years… What was once a sleepy fishing village is now a burgeoning destination for visitors, investors, and second-home owners. Inward investment has helped open the area and provide quality services and tourism infrastructure.

Still, this area of about 2,500 people is traditional at its core. Its economic mainstays are still cattle ranching, farming, and fishing… Local artisans still handmake interesting products the same way they have been for generations, meaning you can find fantastic deals on anything from custom furniture for your home to earthenware that follows ancient designs.

Another bonus of living in Pedasí is the community. Locals are friendly and hospitable and go out of their way to be helpful. They love baseball, which is taken extremely seriously.

The major attraction, though, is the beach. Pedasí is surrounded by arguably some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. A short bicycle ride or a few minutes in a car can have you at any of 12 nearby beaches. Playa Venao (about 30 minutes away) is renowned as one of the best surf spots in the region… Pedasí is also one of the best places to see the annual migration of humpback whales, and watching these magnificent mammals from your kitchen window is a rare treat.

Another bonus of living in Pedasí is the community. Locals are friendly and hospitable and go out of their way to be helpful.

The major attraction, though, is the beach. Pedasí is surrounded by arguably some of the most beautiful coastline in the country.

Torio

The Azuero Peninsula’s western coast is considerably less developed than its eastern counterpart. Of the few towns that dot this side of the peninsula, the one that stands out is Torio—the de facto social center for 300-or-so foreign retirees that currently call this part of Panama home year-round.

Torio is home to a handful of small expat-run bars, restaurants, and guesthouses. It has cell and internet service (although both can be patchy) and is connected to other areas by a pitted and meandering road, including a bank and grocery shopping options in nearby Mariato… But the reason for coming here isn’t the amenities on offer: It’s the opportunity for total escape.

In western Azuero, you’re surrounded by pure, raw nature… Capuchin and howler monkeys call from the trees, sea turtles lay their eggs along the beaches, and, in season, dolphins and whales swim and play offshore.

The main attraction is the Pacific Ocean, with some of the best sunsets in the world seen from the undeveloped, west-facing shoreline. Expats on this coast spend their days surfing, swimming, diving, beach combing, fishing, and, looking for ways to get involved with the local community.

The main attraction is the Pacific Ocean, with some of the best sunsets in the world seen from the undeveloped, west-facing shoreline.

Boquete

Boquete offers a stunning natural setting, a cool climate, and a large expat community, making it a natural choice for many…

Snuggled into the side of a volcanic crater, surrounded by lush forest, and home to profusions of multi-hued blossoms, this region is nothing if not picturesque… As you make your way down the highway from Alto Boquete above the crater, you’ll suddenly arrive at the crest of a large hill, the town sprawled below. If you’re lucky, you’ll arrive shortly after a soft rain (called el bajareque by locals) and a sweeping rainbow will make the portrait complete.

Just 37 miles from the Costa Rican border, this is the far end of Panama. The climate here is springlike year-round with temperatures hovering between 65˚F and 75˚F. Nights, especially during the rainy season, can be chilly enough for a sweater or light jacket.

Expats are integral to this town’s history: Some of its first settlers were from parts of Europe and North America, who passed through Panama on their way to or from the California Gold Rush. When that came to an ignominious end, these hopefuls settled in the cool-weather respite they came across in the mountains, which is now known as Boquete.

As you walk Boquete’s streets, you’re likely to hear more English than Spanish. You’ll never lack for a fellow expat to pal around with, and your support network will be built in from the moment you arrive. On the other hand, Boquete is what some might call a Gringolandia (where the presence of expats overshadows any vestige of local culture), and property prices reflect that.

And so concludes our mini tour of some of Panama’s highlights.

If you’d like to hear more about these areas—getting the real scoop from expats who live on the ground and are willing to tell you their unedited stories… as well as practical advice for living here day to day (with detailed budgets)—then why not join us for our 2020 Live and Invest in Panama Conference? Come along and get the full story on Panama… and take a little extra time to go out and explore the hills, coasts, or other areas that appeal to you…

Kat Kalashian

Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter