Panama’s Top Resort and Retirement Communities

Panama’s Caribbean playground, known by the locals simply as “Bocas”, offers a laid-back atmosphere and burgeoning tourism industry. Originally, it was Bocas that put Panama on the map as an off-the-beaten track vacation destination and is especially popular with surfers, sailors and sun-seekers. Most travel around Bocas is by boat via the calm and clear waters that engulf the area’s many islands. Island hopping, as dreamy as it sounds, can be pleasant while the sun shines, but it is not so pleasant in the rain. Bocas’ airport makes it easily accessible from Panama City in about one hour by plane. Drive time from Panama City is roughly 8 hours to Almirante and then another 45 minutes by water taxi. If you plan to transport a car onto Isla Colon (Bocas’ most populated island, you will need to get in touch with the ferry service which transports vehicles to the island. It is not common for tourists to transport vehicles to Bocas since there are limited road ways and transport by hiring boats to wherever you want to go is more convenient. 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. Seafood here can be quite tasty, and a wide range of new restaurants offering Indian, German, Italian and other cuisines are now open for business. Bocas makes for an excellent vacation getaway. It offers far more outdoor activities than any of Panama’s other destinations and the strong influx of tourists helps provide the base for an emerging expat community. For nature lovers, wilderness seekers, and beach bummers, surfers and sailors, Bocas Del Toro is a must-see. The disadvantages are more acute the longer one stays in Bocas. In Bocas, it rains frequently and since one can never be quite sure if or when it will rain, planning and preparing for rain becomes an ongoing task. Cleanliness and sanitation are neglected as most garbage and sewage ends up in the ocean untreated, with limited currents to carry in fresh water. High-speed Internet can be difficult to obtain, medical facilities are somewhat rudimentary, and grocery selection is poor. These disadvantages are easy to overlook in the short-term, but for many aging expats and retirees looking to enhance their comforts rather than retract them, Bocas may not suffice over the long-term. Real Estate In Bocas – Buyer Beware It is now easy to find a small patch of land in Bocas to call your own. Developers have relentlessly carved the coastline into bite-sized pieces for their foreign counterparts to purchase. Most property in Bocas is offered as “right of possession” whereby buyers are sold the right to possess the property, but clear title to property in Bocas (or any island in Panama) is generally not available. Currently, there is some controversy regarding land and property that was transferred to foreign buyers illegally by the previous municipal government. Purchasing real estate in Bocas is risky business and adequate legal counsel may not always be enough to fully protect your property rights. See the chapter in the Panama 101 E-Book entitled “Buying Real Estate in Panama” for more information on how to engage in right of possession land transactions and how this differs from titled property. In Bocas Del Toro, property with running water, electricity, Internet access and other basic infrastructure sells at a premium, and rightly so. Many expats buy land here with a vision of paradise, only to discover that the costs to build a livable dwelling were way more than they had imagined. Delivering construction supplies by boat, obtaining permits from the overwhelmed government agencies, and other unforeseen obstacles can make it difficult and costly to build in Bocas. Readers should be aware of these challenges before shelling out thousands of dollars to claim their slice. Panama 101 Insider Tip – First time visitors to Bocas Del Toro should not miss Isla Zapatilla. Most of the tour promoters don’t mention these idyllic islands because they are further from town and more costly to reach. However, the extra time is well worth the visit as the scenery is extraordinary and the snorkeling is among the best in the area. Dolphins are often spotted on the way so keep your eyes peeled! 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 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. The Pacific Coast beaches are just a 20 minute drive down the mountain road, making it a popular setting for a second home. The town of Sora itself has little to offer save for a couple of basic restaurants and convenience stores, and some rural Panamanian charm. Along the Inter-American Highway, just 20 minutes down the hill from Sora are facilities like supermarkets, auto mechanics, banks, and the rest of the basics one needs to survive in today’s modern age. The close proximity of Panama City makes day trips to the city feasible.