Buena Ventura Beach, Golf and More, Much More

Along the Pacific about 120 kms from Panama City there is a very exclusive Resort and Development; Buena Ventura and the Bristol Hotel.  For those familiar with Panama city the Bristol Hotel is a boutigue hotel situated in the heart of the banking district and it is one of the most exclusive hotels in the world.  The owner has now taken his talents and his pride and moved them out to the beach as well.  This development has some of the most gorgeous beach homes you can find.

Or maybe you prefer something in sand tones

Whatever your style you can find a fantastic lot on the edge or one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and there you can build the home of your dreams. As the Bristol Hotel is also operating here if you do not feel like cooking, you can always call and either go there for dinner or of course they will come to your home and serve you if you prefer. Having a party, call the Bristol, catering is extremely well done and readily available.

Soon Buena Ventura will be home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with one dramatic hole overlooking the Pacific ocean. Of course if you rbudget is a little smaller, there are homes ranging in price from $250,000.00. For all owners there is a Beach Club right out at the edge of the ocean and you can eat there or in the comfort of your own home. DeliGourmet is already on site so your fresh healthy bread, the finest steaks you can find and wonderful deli food of all sorts are just a short golf cart ride away from your front door. Cappuccinos are fantastic and under $2

So make your reservations at the Bristol at Buena Ventura and you may never leave.

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Where the Wealthy Buy Real Estate in Panama

This lovely property is owned by one of the world’s wealthy individuals some of whom are getting themselves positioned on some of the best beaches in the world here in Panama. A lovely cove protects the yacht and the deep sea fishing close to the Azuero peninsula is amongst the finest found anywhere in the world.

The wealthy can always be on the leading edge of development anywhere they choose as they have lots of money to risk and if their investments do not always work out it is no problem. However, choosing this beach area overlooking the Pacific ocean not far from Pedasi in the province of Los Santos is one of those investments that will likely work out very well.

In general real estate developments in this area are just now getting started but who would not want a location such as this one pictured above. The water is warm and the skies are almost always sunny especially here in Azuero peninsula where you find one of the driest regions in all of Panama. In fact a little to the north is a real true desert area. It is amazing when you think of this tiny land mass that is Panama and yet the variety of conditions that can be found, from tropical rain forest to desert, and from beach to mountainside.

near this estate lies one of the developments that is catering primarily to the wealthy of France. that develop0ment is l also located on a beautiful property perched high above the Pacific with a wonderful beach just at the foot of the cliff. While prices of some Panama real estate may slow down for a while, given the world-wide financial problems, there is no question the wealthy will still be out looking for those real estate opportunities like the one pictured above. What better time to buy then when others are fearful? However, the climate and the many gifts that Panama has been given will continue to attract people, particularly as the cost of living is so much more reasonable here than it is in most places and the climate is so much more pleasant.

if you have been to Panama and have not visited the Azuero peninsula you better return and if you have not yet been, be sure to put it on your agenda. Accommodation is still very tight as there are probably less than 300 hotel rooms in the entire peninsula, and most of them are not near the beaches. Expect that to change. Here are some of the finest beaches in the world, surely the hotels and resorts will not be too far behind particularly in this time when prices for this beach front are becoming more and more reasonable.

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Water Fun

I have no ideea why, but we get asked al the time what do you do all day in Panama?  I sometimes just turn and ask, What do you do all day in Vancouver, or Toronto or Miami?

The biggest difference for me and how I spend my day is that when I lived in Vancouver, I never swam in the ocean or walked the beach.  The beach was too yuchy and the water was WAY too cold.

Now each day I can choose to swim in the ocean, walk the beach, swim in the pool, go para-sailing or sea kayaking, go sea canoeing, rent a wave runner, go fishing or play golf.  You can even combine a couple of those things, I love my beach walk, then I enjoy dinner outside at the best time of the day, and watch a gorgeous sunset.

How do you spend your day?  The opportunity to spend a day here on the beach or golfing or maybe both, a trip to El Valle to visit a friend for lunch or maybe you would enjoy a day at the pool, or shopping in Panama City.

IN Panama it is pretty easy to feel like you have a lot to do.

What would you like to do?

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Dancing Congo with the Kids

In honor of the many black people who came from the Caribbean islands to work on the Panama Canal a style of dancing has been continued called Congo dancing.  It features colorful costumes and lots of traditions, like dancing with candles and with plates on their heads.  The music is fun and generally the people dancing have a great time.  The audience is very well entertained.

We were treated to some of this dancing one night at XS Bar and Grill, a restaurant along the Pacific Coast Highway at Santa Clara.  This is the home of Dennis and Sheila Parsick and the heart of the Educacion Primero fund, to help with children’s education in Cocle.  It turns out these young folks aged 5 – 10 needed some monies for their costumes.  EducacionPrimero and Dennis found the money and they came to say “Thank you”  What a charming evening!

Everybody dances

Dennis and the Kids

Alas it is over

The good news is at the end of the evening the young dance troupe walked away with over $146 it will provide treats and a little something extra for the dance troupe practices and hopefully, although unlikely buy this teacher somewthing special. Usually the teacher who sees the opportunity to give her students a sense of pride and a future that is different from the one that currently lies in front of them is totally consumed by her commitment.

These teachers are incredibly precious.. they are so rare.

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Disney comes to Panama

When I first moved to Panama, I was told that Disney had an option on a huge tract of land close to our community. Then there was silence. Well it turns out it was true although it is at least 30 minutes from the community where I live so we will not get the construction hassles.

But certainly it makes all the property around even more valuable and this will only increase over time. It also shows that there is lots of activity still happening in Panama. So from a development point of view it is wonderful news.

I attach the article which I saw. Not everyone agrees it is good news.

By Rodrigo Campos, Associated Press Writer Ciudad de Panama-Panama
officials confirmed today that the government of Panama has issued The Walt
Disney Company the required permits to begin construction on a $658 million
theme park near the Pacific Coast. The first phase of the project, which
will be named Disneylandia, is set to be completed in November 2012 and will
include a theme park, hotels, airport, and production studio. Located on
the Pan-American Highway near the entrance to the resort town of Coronado,
the 350 acre park is expected to significantly increase the number of
tourists entering the Central American country annually. Disney officials
cited many reasons for choosing Panama as the new location of Disney,
including a dollarized economy, strong democratic government, and the need
to give Latin American residents who find it difficult to get an American
Visa the opportunity to visit the home of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Disney
purchased the land in 2001, and plans to purchase more land in the future
for expansion. (more)

As part of a deal struck with Panamanian officials to bring the theme park
to the tiny country, the names of nearby coastal areas will be changed to
reflect Disney inspired themes. This has drawn the ire of local residents,
who claim that the government never met with them to discuss the changes.

“The government has sold out our beautiful community without telling us
anything,” says Ernesto Arosemena of Gorgona, which will soon be named
Agrabah, after the Arabian town in Aladdin. The area at the entrance to
Gorgona is slated to become a satellite parking lot, and officials plan to
build a train from there to the main entrance of the park.

Disney officials are assuring locals that they will hardly notice the
construction, officially set to break ground on December 28th. Although the
park plans to have construction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they tell
residents that they should only expect traffic delays Mondays through
Saturdays. For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2ht3po .

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Love Pottery? Find it in Arena

Did you know that there is a small town in Panama where their are literally dozens of potters all with their own kilns? The town is Arena, which is Spanish for sand. To find Arena head west from Panama City about 21/2 hours. It is a four lane good paved road so there is no problem.

You can putter along seeing many of the little places along the way or you can drive with conviction. The pace is up to you. You will pass through some interesting places, Aualdulce which is shortly before you come to the turn off to Arena is famed for sugar and salt Stop by and see the museum. If you come at the right time of year, Verano, or summer which is January, February after the hot dry winds and sun have had a chance to really ripen the sugar cane, the roads will be full of sugar cane trucks as there is a huge processing plant near Aquadulce.

After Aquadulce look for a turn off to Chitre, which is the big city just after Arena. This is in the area known as the Azuero peninsula. Take the road that leads to the city center of Chitre not the bypass and you will travle right through the heart of Arena. There is an artisan school here where the artists learn to hone their craft qand there is s co-op where you can see a lot of different wares but the street itself is a work of heart. So go slow or better Stop and park get out of your car and stroll. They will proudly show you what they have made. Eat at a little fonda like the locals or try one of the bakeries, called Panaderias. One of the things that is terrific about Panama is their commitment to cleanliness so you can eat anywhere and the water is drinkable.

Get talking with the artisans , sign language is fine, and they will show you their kilns where they make the pottery. Be sure to buy something if you see something attractive. This is their livelihood. You can bargain but they do not mark things up much so do on not expect to get things for 1/10 of what they quote you and do not be surprised if they expect full price. This is Panama and they believe in the price tag, but if you buy several pieces you will no doubt get a volume discount

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Life’s a Beach or Two or Three or more

If you think life should be about living on or very near a beautiful beach under bright blue tropical skies than the Azuero peninsula, in Panama is for you. Where exactly? Take a look at this map, See Las Tablas over there on the east side of that big peninsula that sticks out into the Pacific ocean. From there on down and around the entire tip of Azueros, there is one beach after another, after another. They all have lots of beautiful golden sand and they all are home to some of the finest surfing waves in the world.

First we went to Uvierto Beach, just outside Las Tablas.

Since I didn’t know there was a beach anywhere near Las Tablas I figured, Wow.

Then we were off to Pedasi where there are so many beaches you could never see them all, at least not in only one or two days and most of them are warm, sandy and deserted. Here el Toro was my personal favorite,

then off to Destilladeros beach. Magnificent!

Here at Destill;aderos the developers are creating one of the nicest real estate projects in Panama. Then you can enjoy the little beach at Playita resort, no surfing here but it sure is protected for swimming then the huge wonderful surfing beach at Vanau or just up along the same beach near Villa Marina the same beach area acts like a protected cove.

A green real estate project has been started here, and they promise to look after Mother Earth

There is the beach near la Caña island where the turtles come to nest and then there is… well you get the picture

If you love beaches head to Azuerzo

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Panama City from Amador

Standing on Amador Causeway looking back at Panama City as night falls is an absolute must, to see and do. The view is breathtaking. This picture really does not do it justice. And this one in daylight with the flowers, Well you’ll just have to come and ee for yourself.

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Panama’s Pacific Coast is Spectacular

Panama’s Pacific coast is blessed with miles of sandy beautiful beaches including some very good sections with waves for surfing. There are lots of resorts and charming towns and villages that dot the coastline, many of which will be reviewed and featured in this section.

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