Posts Tagged ‘Panama’

Tourism in Panama

Panama is blessed with nature’s beauty. It has pristine beaches and turquoise seas, lush rainforests, and majestic mountains blessed in a hurricane and earthquake free tropical climate. It is likewise blessed in its people. They are the warmest and friendliest people in the world due the different ethnics and cultures that compound the population, with seven thriving Indian tribes co-existing peacefully with other Panamanians. Panama itself has had a long and colorful history, with unique heritage sites as reminders of that history. Panama City, one of the most sophisticated cities in the industrialized world. Throw in the Panama Canal, one of the world’s modern engineering wonders, and you have an explosion of tourism in Panama. Indeed, in Panama, you have a potent mixture of people, places, and pleasures.

Of course, the explosion of tourism in Panama is also because its infrastructure is modern and first-class, the presence of excellent tourist accommodations, ease in communicating with a bilingual people, an excellent medical care system at a reasonable price, affordable cost of living, accessibility, and an enviable peace. Tourism in Panama is taking off because of the favorable environment the country and its government has established to attract tourists.

With oceans bordering it on both sides, Panama is ideal for sun, sea, and beach lovers. With more than a thousand islands to choose from, the Pearl Islands and Boca del Toro of notable mention, you can go from public beaches to private resorts, from sunbathing to deep-sea diving. Panama’s rainforests boasts of biodiversity and even in Parque Metropolitano in the center of Panama City is an excellent place for birdwatching with 944 bird species. River sports such as rafting and kayaking also flourish in Panama, with land sports such as canyoneering, rappelling, and trekking are also present. Indeed, tourism in Panama is booming because of its growing reputation for ecotourism. Panama’s culture also lends itself well into tourism. Local culture and folklore is reflected in a colorful, cross-cultural array of festivals, dances, and traditions, with the seven indigenous Indian groups of Panama adding spice to the cultural melting pot. The heritage and historical sites of Panama such as the Casco Antiguo are important tourist destinations. The urban centers also significantly contribute to the explosion of tourism in Panama. The shopping centers, museums, restaurants, cinema and theater, the fashion scene, city architecture, and the whole gamut of sights and sounds in Panama City is a mixture of Panamanian tastes and European influence, doused with a liberal splash of American capitalism. These are enough to make you want to stay and live in Panama. Of course, tourism in Panama is complete only when the Panama Canal is visited. The Panama Canal is not only of trade value but is also of historical and engineering value, making it a tourist destination especially for cruise ships.

With all these beauty, tourism in Panama is rapidly being touted as the best exotic destination in the world. With ecotourism, adventure, culture and people, modern conveniences, and urban sophistication, one cannot help but be a tourist in Panama. Go ahead and savor the places, people, and pleasures of Panama.

Exploring Los Santos, The Beating Heart Of Panama

Despite languishing in relative obscurity behind Panama’s more prominent draws like the Canal, the Pearl Islands and Bocas del Toro, the Los Santos province of Panama should rightly be considered one of the country’s liveliest regions. It is fairly bursting at the seams with cultural celebrations, natural attractions, beautiful beaches and adventure. It is no surprise then, that it is now becoming the site of intense international interest, as celebrities and tourists flock to Panama’s heartland.

Los Santos is a curious blend of real-world cowboy country, seaside magic, folkloric charm and thousands of years of history, all of it inhabited by incredible tropical biodiversity. It’s a place where quiet pastures stretch endlessly into the horizon, bordered by miles and miles of nearly deserted sandy coastline, and occasionally broken by the dramatically rounded hills that stand guard over the southern coast.

Today, a Panama real estate frenzy is building in the quiet, rural province, in particular on the Azuero Peninsula, which takes up the lion’s share of the Los Santos territory. Surfers, travellers, international celebrities, sportfishers and real estate buyers are all making their way along the PanAmerican Highway to see what the fuss is all about.

“There’s no doubt there is a magnetic pull to Los Santos, and we find that many of our clients are those who heard about it from someone else – it’s not yet fully on the radar, but those that have been here immediately fall in love,” says Daniel Rudasevski of Andromeda Ocean Estates, a luxurious beachfront gated community under way in Pedasí,Los Santos.

Los Santos: Sea, Sun, Sand and Surf

If Panama’s more well known attractions tend to eclipse that fact that it is indeed a lush, tropical country with as much coastline as inland, a visit to Los Santos serves as an excellent reminder. An undeniably huge part of the Los Santos charm lies in the miles and miles of virtually deserted beaches that extend into the Azuero Peninsula.

“We are fortunate in having two beautiful pristine beaches framing our community,” says Mr Rudasevski of Playa El Toro and La Garita, which spill before Andromeda Ocean Estates, “but in truth there is so much to choose from here – the peninsula is ringed with great beaches.”

The Pacific waters are warm year-round, lapping onto more than 50 miles of light and dark sand beaches. At night, pregnant sea turtles lumber up sandy slopes to lay their clutches of eggs; during the daytime, they can be seen lingering in shallow waters, along with brightly coloured tropical fish, majestic rays, and vast schools of game fish.

Of note is Isla Cañas, thickly fringed with mangroves, which receives thousands of nesting turtles on its kilometers-long beaches at night.

Many of the beaches – in particular Playa Venao at the southernmost end of the peninsula in the Pedasí district – are beginning to gain notoriety in the surfing world for consistent breaks with a lot of elbow room.

A Taste of Caribbean Splendor: Isla Iguana

If miles of pristine beaches and curling waves aren’t enough to grip the imagination, then Los Santos has another trick up its sleeve: a postcard-perfect Caribbean island, set mysteriously in the Pacific Ocean.

Isla Iguana, an island nature reserve in sight of the peninsula’s southern coast is Pedasí’s sweetest calling card: blinding white sands, swaying palm trees, and a heartbreaking coral reef fanning out beneath crystal-clear waters.

Isla Iguana sits in full view of Andromeda Ocean Estates, and was a significant factor in choosing the site.  “This took our location from special to extraordinary,” says Mr Rudasevski.

Day-trippers can visit Isla Iguana easily by hiring a local panga to make the 20-minute trip from the mainland, and spend the day snorkelling in warm, shallow waters thronging with colorful marine life, or languish on the islands two power-soft beaches, while watching storms of frigate birds circle endlessly overhead.The island is a major nesting site for the frigata magnificens, and home to several species of iguanas and lizards.

Drop Me a Line: the Sport-Fisher’s Boon

The waters off Los Santos are a fisherman’s bounty, offering plenty of big game fish – sailfish and marlin, for example – and many more tasty dinner catches, such as yellowfin tuna and red snapper. The south end of the peninsula is so well-travelled by big schools of tuna migrating and spawning that it is known as the “Tuna Coast”, bringing notoriety to Pedasi fishing.

“You hardly need to leave the shore to start hauling in big game,” marvels Mr Rudasevski. “There’s no doubt this is a major attraction for our homeowners – you can catch a delicious meal in less than an hour, and be home to cook it minutes later.”

Birds to Bikes: the Wilder Side of Los Santos

Though much of the original tropical forest cover was cleared to make way for cattle pastures, there remains plenty of wildlife to fascinate the dedicated animal lover. In particular, Panama is the home to, and a stop for, nearly a thousand bird species, including some of the world’s rarest. Amateur ornithologists will find themselves well rewarded at the pond in Pocri, just north of Pedasí, where dozens of bird species alight to court, mate, raise young, or just rest their wings for a moment.

Scuba divers will find a plethora of marine life in the coastal waters, particularly around Isla Iguana and the Frailes Islands. Several species of rays, including manta rays, sharks, trumpetfish, sea turtles, seahorses, octopus and a thousand variegated fish congregate in the balmy waters.

For those who prefer more activity, the smoothly-paved hilly roads are the perfect base for long-distance cycles, with plenty of opportunity for heading off-road. For a more organic means of travel, horseback riding is possibly the preferred choice in Los Santos cowboy country – you’re unlikely not to share the road with horses and riders rounding up a herd of cattle, or making their leisurely way home at the end of a long day in the field.

Three’s a Crowd, Four’s a Party: Los Santos Fiestas

No mention of Los Santos would be complete without the colorful outbursts that punctuate every town, seemingly every weekend: the fiestas. There are no end of reasons to celebrate in Los Santos, whether religious or commemorative, or simply a matter of long-held tradition. The most riotous celebration of all is the five-day Carnival, and the town of Las Tablas is renowned for its frenzied merriment, with lavish parades presided by lovely girls in traditional hand-stitched gowns called polleras, dancing, fireworks, masks and traditional music.

Other noteworthy fiestas are the Corpus Christi, a religious festival in Ciudad la Villa de Los Santos, which blends Christian rites with dances celebration ancient pagan worship; La Mejorana in Guararé, a music festival that features the province’s traditional instruments after which the festival is named; and Easter Week, or Semana Santa, which is celebrated throughout the province and is a major national holiday. But most weekends will find some cause for festivity, and each small town will have its own distinct expression and tradition.

Those interested in even older traditions will take interest in Los Santos’ pre-colonial history, with architectural digs in the northern end of the province revealing settlements dating back thousands of years.

A Place to Hang Your Panama Hat: Buying a Home in Los Santos

All of these attractions have begun to lure real estate developers, celebrities, retirees and second-homeowners to Los Santos in search of the perfect piece of property to call their own. Celebrities such as Michael Jordan, Mel Gibson, Mick Jagger and the Prince of Liechtenstein all have properties in the Pedasí district, and many more of the rich and famous are spending time in Los Santos.

“The amount of interest this area has generated is phenomenal, but somehow it remains that quiet, out-of-the-way secret spot you’ve just discovered. It has not lost its innocence,” says Mr Rudasevski. “Andromeda Ocean Estates is intent on preserving that.”

Despite its potent charms, the Los Santos province remains true to its roots, tranquil and authentic, the perfect place to hang your hat.

Condo Hotel in Panama: $22,360 Profit Now!

Have you heard of the Panama Canal? It is in the middle of a $5 billion dollar expansion. The gateway to the World is no longer Panamaâ??s only attraction. Panama has gone from the hidden gem of Latin America to becoming a HOT tourism destination. The Pearl Islands located in Panama have been the beautiful exotic backdrop to CBS Survivor series more than once. Tropical weather, two oceans, abundance of rain forest, nature, birds, trees, all within a few hours drive to a modern city with a skyline that resembles Hong Kong.

Tourism growth in 2007 was in the teens – double digits, the tourism growth in the last 5 years has been in Steroid Hormone growth mode. While the U.S. is riding the downhill turn of the economic roller coaster with the collapse of the real estate market. Panama is experiencing times of BONANZA and BOOM. While some would expect that the Giant to the North will soon have a negative impact for Panama, itâ??s growth is fueled by investors from the Europe, U.K., Spain, Venezuela, Israel and U.S. investors looking to shift away from the U.S. and into a still emerging economy.

The economic boom in Panama is fueled by huge Investments, such as The Panama Canal $5 billion dollar expansion. Panama has always been a commercial center and global Commerce fuels commerce through Panama and the largest Free Trade Zone in this hemisphere, located in Panama, second only to Hong King.

The Real Estate markets is Booming, I would bet there are more construction cranes here right now than in any other city in the World, maybe second to Dubai. Panama has become the Airlines hub to the Americas; there are hundreds of daily flights to everywhere North, South, East, and West. The hub of global telecommunications, the hub for Call Center Headquarters, the hub for International Banking & Finance, Panama is known as the banking capital of the World. In short Panama is a Business Hub. And business is good, and the projection for the next decade can be defined as â??Panamaâ??s decadent decadeâ?.

TOURISM Traffic Keeps Growing

January and February 2008 was +11.6% thatâ??s 30,425 more tourist than last year same period, for a total of 291, 624 tourist in the first two months of the year. And the projection for 2008 is to reach over a million and several hundred thousand tourists.

All of this has created a deficit in hotel rooms. The Minister of Tourism announced that Panama has a deficit of 20,000 hotel rooms. Finding a hotel room in Panama is very difficult. Today the occupancy level of hotels in Panama is over 90%. The global average in hotels of 100 and more rooms is 84.7% , Panama is ranked no. 2 in hotel occupancy out of 165 cities from around the World according to Global Ranking Index GRI , second only to Perth, Australia with 85.1% avg. annual hotel occupancy level. These figures were audited and published recently by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu accounting firm.

Condo Hotels is my TOP INVESTMENT option in Panama

Donald Trump is already in this game, he is opening Trump Ocean Club a condo hotel in Panama City.

My Top pick for My Readers and Clients: THE PLAZA

This is a very upscale 5 Star oceanview 150 room condo hotel & 44 Exclusive Residences located in a Panama City, in Costa del Este, just 15 minutes from the International airport, 45 minutes to Pacific coast beaches, 20 minutes to Johns Hopkins Punta Pacifica Hospital, and the ultra hip Multi Plaza Mega Mall with the Worldâ??s top fashion specialty boutique brand stores like Cartier, Hugo Boss, Fendi, Carolina Herrera, Lacoste, Mont Blanc, supermarket, and restaurants. The Plaza is Residence and Condo Hotel with contemporary design. The development will offer state of the art technology, wireless internet, interactive intelligent lobby with online concierge service, health center, Business center, Infinity pools, waterfalls, International restaurants, sky lounge, and exotic amenities such as a Luxury 100 foot yacht that takes condo owners and guests to the beautiful Pearl Islands Contadora island every day, seven times per week. Famous celebrities like Enrique Iglesias, Justin Pasek Miss Universe 2003 , Salsa super star: Gilberto Santa Rosa, and the lead singer for MANA, one of Latin Americas favorite rock band. One of the features of this condo hotel & residences is the SKY-BEACH at the roof top with view to the Pacific Ocean.

The current Pre-Sale price on the 473 sq. ft. Plaza Condo Hotel units is $193,600.

Keep reading- Our price per unit, for a limited time is the lowest in the market.

Condo Hotels top Investment in Panama

I love the condo hotel investment option. You are buying the unit, you own it 100% Titled Property. You are putting your unit into a pool of hotel rooms to be managed and maintained by a professional experienced hotel company. They rent it out, market the hotel, handle reservations, bookings, cleaning, maintenance, everything is turn-key. And you can book the unit for yourself to use two weeks out of every Year. As the condo owner you get to keep 60% of the rental income, so this is an investment that pays for itself and generates income for you.

I have reviewed the Return on Investment numbers and this is the scoop: At a conservative occupancy level of 75% and a nightly rate of $225 per night, rates at the Marriott = $291, Miramar InterContinental $341, Radisson $286, per night , you can achieve Positive Income on your investment of $23,034.38 per year on your condo unit.

Or you have a second option which guarantees you 10% ROI. GUARANTEED in writing in the purchase contract. This Guarantee is for 5 years including the construction period of the project.

You not only make money from the rental income, you also make money from the resale VALUE of the property. And you can use your unit 2 weeks every year for FREE.

EXCLUSIVE ThinkPamama OFFER

Limited Time Offer, Limited units at this offer.

I can make you $22,360 in weeks, and $23k per year income.

$3,000 discount ONLY available for ThinkPanama.com

Our price per unit : $190, 600.

I was also made aware by THE PLAZA sources insiders Information , there is 10% Price Increase coming in 4 weeks, and there are two more price increases planned. My dear reader: This means that the Plaza units will raise price to $212,960, a hike increase of almost $20,000, with our special $3,000 discount, I can make a Profit of $22,360 in a few weeks, and $23,000 per year income.

This is a limited time offer. And for those of you wanting to make money in the Panama Boom, The time is now!

I can help you to lock into this offer with 30% down payment. For more information on The Plaza visit our Panama real estate properties page.

13 Not-so-conventional Reasons to Love Panama

Most of us have already read the myriad of articles about Panama, not to mention the â??About Panamaâ? section on the websites of every real estate agency promoting property in the region.

There is no doubt that Panama possesses numerous advantages, including its strategic geographic location, incentive program for retirees and a relatively low-cost of living, amongst others. However, some of the reasons that I particularly enjoy living in Panama cannot be when searching for the most obvious reasons, such as the Panama Canal (After showing my 4th visitor the Miraflores Locks, the outing becomes slightly monotonous) or its proximity to Miami (Iâ??ve never been to Miami in my life!). Certain pleasures can only be recognized after living in Panama as a foreigner for some time.

Though I appreciate the similarities that Panama and the â??Western Worldâ? share, I also cherish the differences, since they are what makes my life here truly unique and exciting.

Here are 13 reasons why Panama makes life so interesting:

1. Casco Viejo

-Casco Viejo is 100% different from the towering high rises scattered along Balboa Avenue. Casco Viejo has an interesting blend of architectural styles, most notably ornate Spanish- and French-influenced buildings. However, in addition to the amazing views and unique architecture, there is always something quirky going on in â??the Cascoâ?! My roommate is the president of Panama 9º80º, a lifestyle and travel magazine about Panama. Her offices are in Casco Viejo and I get an absolute kick out of dropping her off some mornings. It isnâ??t often that I get to laugh so hard I almost wet myself at 7:30 a.m. Much better than coffee! (Okay, that was an exaggeration. Sorry coffee.)

One of my favorite â??Casco momentsâ? occurred one morning as I was dropping my friend off at work. As we turned the corner onto Avenida A, we saw a little boy of about 7 years old peeing in the street. What made this pee different was that he was not facing the wall or partially hidden amongst the narrow alleyways, but was rather on the edge of the sidewalk, practically in the street, facing the traffic! As we neared the situation, we saw a projectile yellow liquid spurting from his body and said, â??That canâ??t be!â? However, it was. To this day, that little boy and his â??necessitiesâ? still put a smile on my face.

2. Wine

-South American wine, from Chile and Argentina, is much less expensive than in the United States. However, who said you can have your cake and eat it too.

My friend and I were succumbing to our vices one night, and went to buy wine and ice cream at El Rey supermarket. As we were checking out, the $3.50 appeared on the screen as the price for the wine. I said to my friend, â??How great is it to live in a country where a good bottle of wine is $3.50!?â? Then, the ice cream came, and $8.50 appeared. My friend and I were in utter shock and disbelief. Since then, we have sought out other, less expensive means to satisfy a sweet tooth.

3. Sushi Itto

-Sushi delivered to your front doorâ?¦Do I need to say anything else? If you think that there isnâ??t sushi in Panama, then you are in for a delightful surprise. Sushi Itto, in my humble, sushi snob opinion, is the best delivery sushi in Panama. Their Philadelphia rolls and Edamame are extremely scrumptious.

Whatâ??s even more interesting is when Iâ??m walking to work or walking my mini schnauzer and the Sushi Itto delivery guy honks and waves as he zooms past on his little red moto. It must be a small world after all. Or, I order a lot of sushi!

4. American Dollar

-This is a commonly cited â??reasonâ? for why Panama is so great, and I agree whole heartedly!

For the foreigner, especially Americans, it is great because it doesnâ??t become â??Monopoly money.â? It is easy to be aware of exactly how much you are spending. There is no labor-intensive addition, subtraction, division or multiplication involved to figure out the price of a soda. So, in Panama, it is easy to grasp the value of what we purchase, instead of throwing away our Monopoly money at any and every chance we get. This is especially useful if you are off to the casinos!

5. Patacones

-Patacones are twice-fried plantain patties and incredibly delicious. I had not discovered them until my arrival in Panama, and I am a self-proclaimed patacon addict!

6. Albrook Mall

-Albrook Mall is a large, air conditioned indoor shopping center that offers a wide variety of discount stores and boutiques, as well as a food court with carousel. Be sure to check out El Costo, Oca Loca and Conway for some great deals!

These stores are magnificent for retail therapy. You can walk away with about 15 shirts for $20. Even if you wear them just once, itâ??s a lot cheaper than Target.

7. Opportunities

- Panama is like the Wild West of Central America. There is a huge variety of employment, business and investment opportunities just waiting to be taken advantage of. After being in Panama for almost any extended amount of time, everyone catches the entrepreneur fever.

8. Slang

-Though I donâ??t make it a habit to use it in my everyday speech, I must confess that I get an absolute kick out of the Panamaniansâ?? faces when they see a full fledged gringa talking like sheâ??s from the barrio.

9. Cable TV with ABC and CBS

-All the great things of Panama fused with Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Greyâ??s Anatomy. Does it get any better?

10. Taxis

-Finally, inexpensive taxis! Taxis in Panama are abundant and relatively inexpensive, a fare costing from $1 to $2 to most location in Panama City. However, taxi meters are not typically used, and therefore it is recommended to negotiate the price before leaving. If you understand and speak Spanish, you can overhear and engage in a number of colorful conversations with drivers.

11. Cayos Zapatillas, aka. Zapatila Cay

-Zapatilla Cay is a small island located about an hour boat ride from the main Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro province. Zapatilla Cay is astonishingly beautiful, including spectacular views, clear waters and white sand. Without a doubt, it is one of my favorite places in Panama.

12. Fireworks

-Back in the states, fireworks were reserved for the 4th of July, and some spectacles at Sea World. In Panama City, itâ??s not bazaar to see fire works going off every night of the week. On New Yearâ??s, the entire city, and I mean as far as the eye can see, ignites with the colorful flashes and flickers of thousands of fireworks.

13. Piropos

-Whatâ??s a piropo? I have yet to find a direct translation that suits me. Some dictionaries translate it as â??compliment,â? though that is a serious understatement. Piropo is a word that stands for what men do to a pretty girl as she walks by. Flirt, not really. Torment, could be. Most Westerners would agree that this is a â??Latin thing.â? I generally canâ??t stand it and want to flip off everybody that whistles and hisses and yells â??Ay mamiâ? as I stroll along. However, on days when I roll out of bed and my hair is astray, I must say that I feel less hideous as I waltz along and still get the â??Yeah babyâ?. I know it is done to all women. I was in a taxi once and the driver whistled and hooted at a couple of women that looked as though they were pushing 70 years old. Iâ??m not implying that they were not attractive, but the taxi driver was about 25! Moral of the story, itâ??s one place to get an ego boost.

Bonus – The Finger Wag

-You all know the finger wag, a way to indicate disapproval of something. The motion is generally carried out by wagging the index finger from left to right, considered by most incredibly rude and demeaning. Well, the Finger Wag is back in Panama! The best way to say no ever!

Internet TV about Real Estate in Panama

Quality Investment possesses 300+ listings of Panama Real Estate!

Why Buying Real Estate in Panama is Easier

Panama, a small country situated in the Southern most part of the Central America has become one of the hot spots while you are considering real estate business. Proximity to the United States, rich heritage, unchartered landscapes and virgin beaches made Panama one of the favorite tourist destinations. Each year, millions of tourists across the world flock to this country to get a glimpse of its beauty and the number is increasing daily. Thus, Panama desperately needs many hotels, casinos, resorts and clubs.

According to a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Panama will become the fastest growing economy in the Central American countries in 2009. Consequently, more office spaces and accommodation for the new employees will also be required.

Buying real estate in Panama is easier. First of all, the cost of all the things like site, building materials, labor charge are almost half the price that you can expect in the US. Unlike in other countries, buying real estate in Panama by the foreigners is defended by constitutional rights.

The most difficult task for a foreigner to buy real estate in any country is, by far, the actual information about the land. The government of Panama maintains a detailed record system of all its land. You will find the lands are divided into two categories – either the land will be titled property (that has a definite owner) and lands under government possession. As a foreigner, you need to remember that buying real estate in most of the islands or within 10 kilometers from the borders is forbidden by law. This rule is stated in the Panama law, article number 121. As a foreigner, your rights are always maintained in Panama, a separate article (Article 54) is mentioned in the government’s rule.

Panama is not overburdened by the real estate developers like other Latin America countries (Brazil, Argentina). Therefore, one can expect less competition in every field – land, construction and labor. Moreover, the government agencies like environmental enforcement agency (ANAM), department of tourism (IPAT), public works department (MOP), fire department (Bomberos) will always help you to get the best deal of real estate that suits your need out of the thousands available offer.

Panama is having a strong political atmosphere. People fear buying real estate in a country where there is unstable government. You can easily take your decision to buy a suitable real estate in Panama.

You will be better poised if you want to buy real estate in Panama and paying is cash. There will be less paper works; real estate developers love the idea. Your transaction will be faster as there will be less formality.

Another important thing is getting loan. Government and private sector banks are always ready if you want to buy real estate in Panama. Only thing you should remember that you should have all the required papers.

Panama has the largest free trade zone of the western hemisphere – the Colón Free Trade Zone. It is very easy to establish your own company after acquiring the property.

There are several authentic websites offering much information regarding real estate in Panama. You will get detailed information according to location, type of the real estate, approximate price, risk involved and many more. You can take help of them.

For more information on how you can buy real estate in Panama, please visit this link.