Access Panama in-focus-panama Archives - Page 2 of 4

The 8 Best House Rentals In Panama For Vacation

April 7, 2016

8 Amazing Houses You Can Rent For Your Next Panama Vacation

Apart from my day job here at Access Panama, most of my time these days is consumed with the house we are building at Los Islotes on the western side of the Azuero Peninsula. As with most things in Panama, it’s taking longer than we anticipated. But it’s getting there.

I had hoped by now to be close to dangling my feet in the pool on my patio, margarita in hand, watching the sun set over the Pacific. Alas, that dream is still a few months away. For now, I have to be content sitting on the patio of our little rental in Mariato and watching the neighbors’ kids play football in our yard.

To console myself, every now and then I treat myself to a little fantasy—ogling the amazing properties that are available to buy and rent across Panama. And there is no shortage of

Property Prices In The Panama Pacìfico Project Keep Rising

Panama Pacifico Prices Are Up – What Does It Mean For You?

March 31, 2016

Panama Pacifico: “The Most Audacious Real Estate Project In The World”

Finally, the wider world is waking up to Panama’s potential.

Here at Live and Invest Overseas, we have been stressing for years that Panama offers some of the most promising real estate opportunities on the planet. Because of its strategic location, use of the dollar, stable government and strong economy, it offers a relatively safe harbor for folks looking to diversify their investment portfolio with international investments. We are so confident, in fact, that this year we launched this newsletter and a whole new division called Access Panama to showcase some of the country’s marquee property developments and other investments. One of those developments (which we have written about before) is Panama Pacifico, a massive mixed-use project just 15 minutes from the center of Panama City on the west bank of the Panama Canal.

So we were pleased this week to see our confidence corroborated by none other than Forbes magazine, the Bible of American capitalism. In its annual Billionaires Issue, on newsstands this week, Forbes profiles Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski, one of the men behind the Panama Pacifico project. Forbes calls it “the most audacious real estate project on the planet.”

This paragraph pretty much sums things up:

6 Best Golf Courses In Panama For The Budget Minded

March 24, 2016

Six Golf Courses In Panama Worth Sinking Your Cleats Into

A faithful reader wrote recently asking if we could do a report about the golfing scene in Panama. Not being much of a golfer myself, I handed the assignment off to a few friends who are avid players and they came back with some advice for those of you who share their enthusiasm.

Until only about five or six years ago, Panama was a one-course country. The only course was built in 1932 and lorded over by Panama’s elite. It was, and remains, a members-only facility with six-figure sign-up fees. Not terribly welcoming to casual visitors to the country. Unfortunately, the best course in Panama City at the moment—the Santa Maria Golf & Country Club in Costa del Este—is also a

Alone or in couple, Panama is a great option for living.

Panama Is A Prime Candidate For Your Post Election Move

March 17, 2016

Dreading The Next Inauguration Day? Look South, Not North

Around the Live and Invest Overseas offices we try to keep a pretty close ear to the ground. Consequently, we have noticed—even from a couple thousand miles away in Panama City—that this election year in the United States is, shall we say, a little on the strange side.

Currently contending for the office of the Presidency of the United States are an elderly socialist from Vermont, a New Yorker who looks like a human Cheeto, a grandmother from Arkansas (or is it New York?), and a Latino who wants to kick all the Latino immigrants out of the country. Oh, and someone from Ohio. Then there are all those who

The 6 Best Beach Breaks In Panama For Catching The Surf

March 10, 2016

Six Spots In Panama’s City Beaches For Surfers To Get Stoked About

It’s never too late—or too early, for that matter—to take on a new hobby. When I moved to Panama, I promised myself that retirement was going to be a new chapter (one of many to come) in my life and not a final one. Rocking chairs and shuffleboard were not part of my plan. Travel, giving back, and personal growth were.

To that end, I’ve dove into a number of side projects since arriving. I tutor my neighbor’s children. I’m learning the ins and outs of property sales through my work at the burgeoning Los Islotes. I’m learning a new language. There are as many opportunities for

Expats In Coronado And Panama’s City Beaches

March 3, 2016

Expats Speak: 5 Things We Love About Coronado And Panama’s City Beaches (And 2 Things We Hate)

Since it’s summer in Panama, we here at Live and Invest Overseas have been writing—and thinking, to be honest—a lot about the beaches lately. Beaches in Bocas. Beaches on the Azuero Peninsula. Beaches in the San Blas Islands. The Pacific Beaches. It’s hard sometimes to stay focused on work when there are soft sands and umbrellas and mojitos in such easy reach.

I’m of course partial to my little corner of the coastline near the Los Islotes development where we are building a house, but I understand that different people have different criteria for judging a beach. Time and again among my expat friends here in Panama I hear that I should be giving the Pacific Beaches just west of Panama City more credit—not only because of the quality of the shoreline itself, but because of the quality of life overall for resident

Sun on the Panama Azuero Peninsulas’ Los Islotes development

Los Islotes: Panama’s Azuero Sunset Coast

February 25, 2016

Breaking Ground On Panama’s Most Spectacular Shoreline

I thought my IFP readers would enjoy Kathleen’s article about the origins of Los Islotes. I was one of the people gathered around the rancho’s wooden bar with cocktail in hand admiring the view that is Los Islotes. I am excited to be a like-minded pioneer making my way to this part of the world. Five years ago with machete and GPS in hand we secured our spot in this pristine outpost. I must agree with Kathleen that the stretch of Pacific at Los Islotes is about as good as it gets.

“When did you first begin spending time here?” our friend Muriel asked as we sat down to lunch Saturday afternoon.

A dozen of us were gathered beneath the red clay-tiled roof of the small rancho atop the hill with views of the crashing Pacific Ocean beyond. It was a cloudless blue-sky day but windy. The surf hitting the beach below

Getting Around Panama: Taxis, Uber, And My Experiences

February 18, 2016

This App Solved One Of The Most Annoying Things About Getting Around In Panama

My last ride in a yellow taxi in Panama was, sadly, typical. I flag down a decrepit yellow sedan, stick my head in the window, and ask the driver how much to get to Casco Viejo. Now, I know the fare should be no more than three or four dollars, but he looks me up and down and makes note of my broken Spanish and blurts out the absurd sum of ten dollars. “Ridiculous,” I sputter. “Three dollars,” I tell him indignantly.

He rolls his eyes and tells me no way. “Seven dollars,” he counters.

“Do I look like a tourist?” I ask him.

“Well… yes,” he says. He flashes a condescending grin.

Daytripping From Panama City: Exploring Gamboa To Selva

February 11, 2016

Daytripping: From City To Selva In 45 Minutes

Occasionally, I get a free day in Panama City and I get a little bored because, if we are going to be honest with ourselves here, the capital doesn’t have a lot to offer the casual tourist.

Once you’ve wandered around Casco Viejo for a couple hours, gawked at the canal, had some ceviche at the seafood market, and lost a little money at the blackjack tables, you’ve pretty much exhausted your options. Yes, there are malls. Yes, there is the biodiversity museum at US$22 a head. But it’s telling that, of the top 10 things to do in Panama City listed on TripAdvisor, the metro ranks number four.

Panama’s Carnaval Celebrations

February 4, 2016

Mardi Gras In The Tropics: Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Carnavals In Panama

It’s that time of the year again… Love it or hate it, carnaval—the nearly weeklong party that brings working Panama to a standstill and fills the streets of nearly every town and city with throngs of drunken, dancing revelers—is upon us yet again.

Beginning Friday evening Feb. 5 and continuing until Ash Wednesday on Feb. 10, Panama celebrates what is locally known as los carnavales (gringos might know it better as Mardi Gras). And, while it officially lasts only four days, expect pretty much everyone to be on vacation for the entire week, as they partake in the festivities during the first part of the

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