http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/is-it-safe-to-buy-real-estate-in-panama.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/is-it-safe-to-buy-real-estate-in-panama.html Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500 LearnAboutPanama.com - "Is Panama a safe country?"

Yes, without a doubt. In fact Panama has been ranked one of the safest tourist destinations in the world right along side Canada. Let me give you some personal examples and then let me give you some additional reasons why I believe Panama is so safe.

For some time we lived near the village of Boquete in the highlands region. It was a daily scene - young children and young women walking many miles to work or school. My wife and I are exercise addicts and you might recall we were in the health club business. At that time there were no health clubs in the area so I purchased a used mountain bike. I just found one so my wife and I had to share. Each morning I would go out around 6am and then about 7am my wife would go. She would cycle through town and out of town on the quiet winding country roads for about 10 km. Not once did she feel unsafe. At the time my boys were just 11 & 9. They would walk out to the road and grab one of the local taxis, pay 25c each and get a lift into town where they would buy 25c ice cream. Honestly, I would not have had that much comfort and trust back in our home town in Ontario Canada. In fact I wouldn’t have done it there.
So what makes Panama so safe?

First, I believe we need to look back at Panama’s history. Panama is a peaceful republic and for most of the past century has been under the watchful eye of the United States. Today’s Panama was born of a multi-culture mix of peoples from around the world thanks to the Panama Canal. To this day the people debate “Who is the true Panamanian?” Most agree that the 7 indigenous tribes probably have the best claim. For the rest they are all immigrants of one sort or another. As a result it is difficult to tell the Panamanians from the visitors. You may see someone who looks very much like an American, a Canadian, maybe they are from India or China – the reality is they could all be Spanish speaking 2nd or 3rd generation Panamanians. Because of the multicultural mix of the country no one really stands out as a foreigner – or different. So, when you or I arrive in Panama we are immediately accepted – we tend to blend in.

The US dollar contributes to safety as well. Often when traveling in foreign countries we are taught to keep our dollars out of sight – it’s just too tempting to the locals. In a country where the local currency may be devalued, the US dollar has a certain allure. But in Panama everyone is using the same money be they a farmer, banker or tourist.
Another Safety issue many investors fail to consider is the weather. In recent years hurricanes throughout the southern US and most of Latin America have brought this issue to the forefront. As you saw in my last Letter about Safety, Panama lies in a unique region where violent weather is almost unheard of and it is the only Latin American country which is Hurricane Free – that’s right, records dating back to 1851 show that Panama is in a safe zone where hurricanes never hit. (Click on this image to see the map) As investors from Florida to Texas can attest rising insurance rates can take a dramatic bite out of your return. In Panama your vacation and your investment will never get blown away!

It's also very safe to buy Real Estate in Panama. Foreigners, whether residents or non-residents, enjoy the same rights and privileges when purchasing and selling real property as do Panamanian citizens. Foreign investors are given a 10-year stability guarantee that all legal, tax, customs, municipal and labor rules will remain identical to those in force at the time of the investment registration. Law # 54: Foreign Investor Protection Law provides these guarantees
The U.S. Embassy publishes the U.S. Government Report on Buying Panama Real Estate and says, "Titled land, and the process of buying this, is similar in concept to that in the U.S., and land and deeds are duly recorded with the Public Registry".
Buying real property in Panama is so safe that major U.S. Title Insurance companies like like Land America Title provide low cost policies in Panama.



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Are you seriously considering the purchase of a vacation, investment or retirement property? Discover the beautiful Republic of Panama with Mark Kanty! Follow the journey as he reveals the Best Places to Eat, Stay, Live and Invest and More at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/property-taxes-home-insurance-and-your-standard-of-living.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/property-taxes-home-insurance-and-your-standard-of-living.html Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
It always amazes me how people look only at the price of a product and neglect to consider the true cost of ownership. For most a car purchase is based solely on emotion and the sticker price. They never bother to check on insurance rates, cost of repairs and maintance. In Real Estate there can be an even greater impact. One which can determine whether you live like a pauper or a king.

On Sun, Apr. 15, 2007 MARTHA BRANNIGAN reported in the Miami Herald, South Florida Homeowners Feel the Tax Imbalance. She writes, "Claus and her husband, Brad Wagshul, a federal law clerk, bought their 1,473-square-foot house for $215,000 in 2000. Their tax bill was $3,482 last year. But right next door, Erin Kobetz and Joshua Diem, who bought a slightly smaller three-bedroom, two-bath home on an identical lot in 2004, were taxed $6,323 -- 82 percent higher.

Among the largely comparable homes along Southwest 63rd Place, property taxes last year ranged from $2,278 to $9,432. Some neighbors -- such as those with second homes and rental properties -- aren't eligible for the precious 3 percent cap on tax increases, and they are paying the most of all.

A block away live Ximena and Kurt Prelle, who bought their home at 8215 SW 63rd Pl. in 2003 for $280,000, before the hot run-up in prices that boosted some homes in the neighborhood above the half-million-dollar mark. But you can't tell their good fortune from their property taxes. The Prelles, who are from Peru, are in the United States on work visas and haven't yet obtained permanent U.S. residency. That means they aren't eligible for the homestead exemption or Save Our Homes cap. So every year, their taxes have soared along with the rising property values. The Prelles forked over $8,550 for 2006 property taxes on their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, which was assessed at $412,134.

In Panama I have had people see home prices as an 'incredable bargain' or 'too pricey' based on where they are from. Some have even said, "I can buy a place in Florida for that!" Well, yes maybe you can but have you considered the true cost of ownership and how that affects your lifestyle?

In his Blog, developer Sam Taliaferro writes, "This weekend I had a visitor from Florida who shared with me that his insurance on his home in Boca Raton is over $7000 a year. On top of that the taxes have been increasing each year to where it is over $8000 for an under 2000 square foot home. When you compare Panama (And Valle Escondido specifically) where the insurance on a 2500 square foot home is about $450 and the property taxes are zero for the next 20 years, you can see why Panama has become so popular. You can actually live very comfortably here in a master planned community with great amenities just on the $1200 a month you save on these two expenses." (Sam Taliferro is an American expat many consider the pioneer who put Panama on the map with his first class development, Valle Escondido in the mountain town of Boquete.)

What would an extra $1,200 a month mean to your standard of lving?

Cheap Quality Health Care, Low, Low Insurance Rates, NO Property Taxes on new construction PLUS Fresh Produce, Groceries; Entertainment and Dining Out at about Half the cost of comparable American fare and you can see why Panama has become the number one retirement spot for the baby boomers!



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Are you seriously considering the purchase of a vacation, investment or retirement property? Discover the beautiful Republic of Panama with Mark Kanty! Follow the journey as he reveals the Best Places to Eat, Stay, Live and Invest and More at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-baby-boomer-wave-of-capital-is-crashing.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-baby-boomer-wave-of-capital-is-crashing.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Do you want to be there to catch it?

I love the metaphor of the wave.

Have you ever tried surfing, even body surfing or just playing on a boogie board? Do you recall those feelings when you catch a wave just right and it carries you effortlessly to the beach? It’s a great feeling isn’t it? But, do you also remember how 9 times out of 10 you miss the wave? You end up just sinking and watching that wave roll away from you to crash on the shore? Now that can be kind of a downer can’t it? What if I could show the sweet spot? I wonder how, many of you would love to know exactly where to stand and exactly when to jump so you can catch that wave and have the ride of your life?

Speaking of waves, the Baby Boom is more like a Tsunami and it’s picking up speed and it’s going to make land fall.

Have you thought about where that 78 million boomer high wave is going to hit?

Well, the demographers have plotted the course and determined it is pointing directly at Panama!

Listen to what author & real estate guru Kevin Kingston has to say about Panama, “As I sit here Sunday morning getting ready for my 5th trip to Panama I just can’t stop running numbers through my head. I’m a huge fan of leveraged returns, so much so that I wrote a boo k about my experience leveraging $15,000 to over $5 million in about 4 years. Well what’s about to happen in Panama is mind numbing. There are several major trends converging on this country which will create a massive boom that only comes along once in a lifetime, maybe twice. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s partner in Berkshire Hathaway, calls this the Lollapalooza Effect. He says, if you are attentive enough to recognize these occurrences and smart, brave or ballsy enough to act on them in a major way you can make fortunes.”

Well, let’s get back to those boomers. We’re all aware that whatever they go for turns to gold. As the Baby Boom Wave of Capital crashes on Panama it’s going to turn retirement property to Gold!

And it’s just starting! Are you aware that 13,000 people are retiring every single day in the US alone? That’s one every 7 seconds! If 30,000 retirees decide to move to Panama, it would represent only 1% of the retiring population –or- only two days worth of that 13,000. That is quite a market to buy or rent investment properties and at the same time it’s probably an ultra conservative number considering all Panama has going for it.
AND, that’s based on today’s numbers. What’s demand going to be like when the wave crests in 2012? Can you see why the time is now? Can you see that Panama is the sweet spot? Are you ready to jump and ride that wave?



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Are you seriously considering the purchase of a vacation, investment or retirement property? Discover the beautiful Republic of Panama! Follow my journey as I reveal the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Explore Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro and more at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-boomers-set-their-sights-on-panama.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/the-boomers-set-their-sights-on-panama.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
According to the U.S. State Department there were just four million American expatriates a decade ago. Surveys done last fall indicate interest in emigrating has risen to almost one in five Americans – that’s 60 million people!

Adventure figured into the impulse. But equal considerations were living with less stress; disaffection for American political and social culture; and affordability, including health care. Many are drawn to Panama by specific government incentives for foreign seniors. In Panama it’s the Pensionado Visa. Take note that International Living has ranked Panama as having the Best Retiree Incentive Program and as the Best Place to Retire in the world for the past six years – oh, and to be a Pensionado you only have to be 18! That’s right any one over the age of 18 can be a Pensionado. The low cost of living is sweetened even more by this special visa which provides tax breaks and discounts on ordinary household bills and purchases.

Here's a quick Summary of the Benefits of holding a Pensionado Visa in Panama:

- Tax exemption on the importation of household goods up to a total of $10,000.
- Duty exemption for importing a new car every two years.
- 50% off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, concerts, sports)
- 30% off bus, boat, and train fares
- 25% off airline tickets
- 30 to 50% off hotel stays
- 25% off at restaurants
- 15% off at fast-food restaurants
- 15% off hospital bills
- 10% off prescription medicines
- 20% off medical consultations
- 15% off dental and eye exams
- 20% off professional and technical services
- 25% discounts on utility bills
- 1% interest rate reduction on home mortgages for homes used for personal residence

These are discounts on top of the already low prices compared to the USA, Canada, or Europe. Here's another quick comparison of prices for typical household items and expenses:

Home Insurance - $300 per year
Property Taxes - 0% for up to 20 years on new homes
Heating-A/C - 0 to $500 a year (In the popular highland areas like Boquete, heating or A/C is unneccessary due to the ideal moderate climate)
National Sales Tax - 5%
State Sales Tax - none
Estate Tax - none
Health Insurance - $1,200 per year (For two persons over age 50 in good health)
Dental Care - Cleaning $30; Root Canal $250; Filling $30
Full Time Maid - $150/month
Shoe Shine - .25 - .50 cents
Hand Car Wash - $3.00 (Interior/Exterior)
Bannas - .12 cents/lb
Gourmet Coffee - $2.50/lb
Bread - .99/loaf
Beer - .39 cents/can
Wine - $4/bottle
Fresh Fish - $1.25/pound

An ideal tropical climate; an ultra low cost of living, low crime rate, super friendly local population and a stress free lifestyle is it any wonder the Baby Boomers are escaping to Panama in droves?



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Are you seriously considering the purchase of a vacation, investment or retirement property? Discover the beautiful Republic of Panama! Follow my journey as I reveal the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Explore Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro and more at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/avoid-the-hustle-in-bocas-del-toro.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/avoid-the-hustle-in-bocas-del-toro.html Sat, 07 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Bocas del Toro is an island community. Instead of a car most people own and get around by boat. I've heard Bocas referred to as 'Venice of Caribbean". Although the only similarity I notice is the getting around by boat part! I would describe Bocas more like the Wild West than Venice. In fact, when we arrived in Bocas is was a little intimidating. Although there are a number of restaurants and bars in the town of Bocas on Isla Colon there is really little to do. If you are not planning on getting away from the main town don't bother going! That said, getting out into the protected waters of the archipelago is a real treat. You will experience the beautiful blue Caribbean waters and white sand beaches; wildlife including the famous Red Frogs of Isla Bastimentos and the Porpoises of Dolphin Bay, to name a few and even some of the best surfing in the Caribbean, I am told.

Bocas is one of the only parts of Panama where we encountered a bit of 'street hustle'. We were tempted by one of the local tricks - More than one fisherman, through with his morning catch, approached us and offered his 'private boat' for the day. He promised to take us to the same places as the tour operators for the same or maybe even less money, he was willing to negotiate. It sounded like a bargain especially when he talked about the tour company filling their boat with strangers and how nice it would be to have his boat to ourselves. Fortunately, we had some good advice and just said 'No thank you'. We learned that a private boat often turns out to be a leaky boat with no protection from the sun and it's not uncommon for the captain to pick up "friends who just need a lift" i.e. other unsuspecting tourists. (There are other little tricks like this about Bocas that we learned the hard way. Watch for those tips in my next Bocas letter.) So, we followed another piece of advice and went directly to the well known pro in Bocas, JJ's Tours. Their reputation is well deserved. It truly is the best place in Bocas to go on a snorkelling or island tour. We spent an entire day in and around the islands chasing dolphins and snorkelling with our bilingual guide. We even stopped for a lunch of fresh caught seafood at a restaurant built on pilings in the middle of the mangrove.

There is this great little hotel on the main street but away from the dock where the water taxis come and go. It’s quieter back here. The wood work in this little inn is incredible and they make a pretty good pizza too! The town of Bocas has a Jamaican flavor. The restaurants in town are plentiful. Our favorite one serves to tables right on the dock and we enjoyed fresh caught Pargo Rojo (Red Snapper) which is so big it hangs over each side of the plate and all for under $10! The real estate bargains appear to be everywhere here as do the real estate street vendors... "PST, hey mister. Want to buy some land, cheap!" Bocas has a well earned reputation of being the shadiest part of Panama and I don’t mean the Palm trees. It’s tough making smart decisions here. The people are so friendly and the waters so lovely. The emotions kick in but beware there is little law enforcement to protect you from the unscrupulous. I was fortunate to have my lovely wife with me. After almost signing on the dotted line I bowed to my wife’s intuition and narrowly escaped a $100,000 Teak & Noni farm (scam). Without proper guidance many a life’s savings have been lost in these magical waters.

After a couple of days of snorkelling and exploring the wonders of the rain forest we were off in the air again. This time north to the Pacific and into the highlands of Chiriqui and the village of Boquete.

Hasta Luego!



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Mark has been there and done it! With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the Republic of Panama and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Follow the journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest at href=http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/where-are-the-boomers-going-now.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/where-are-the-boomers-going-now.html Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
In 2nd Home Journal, Ellen Newbury writes, "International Markets Heat Up - Boomers Fuel Second Home Buys Abroad.

Americans are driving the second home market, and redefining it in the process. Baby-boomers continue to expand the market with their increased buying power. And they have begun to turn their attention more seriously to locales outside the U.S.

The move toward international second homes comes is no surprise to the analysts who have tracked boomers for decades. Globalization and the internet have made it easy for these adventuresome Americans to look beyond U.S. borders for investment and recreation. Boomers are being romanced by international hot spots, and they’re looking to invest in the attractive global real estate markets.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) confirms the phenomena. “We have seen this trend in Americans buying vacation homes abroad,” says Jeff Hornberger, International Market Development Manager for the NAR.

Hornberger says the NAR expects no slow down in the international second home market in the near future. “The foreign second home market will continue to explode in the coming years. It is not a temporary trend. The most popular destinations for Americans seem to be in Latin America, as this is where the dollar exchange is the best. Especially in Panama where the U.S. dollar is the local currency!

Panama, the third largest country in Latin America, is emerging as a popular second home destination. “The secret is ‘out’ for Panama, and Americans, especially retirees, are expected to move there in droves in coming years,” says Hornberger.

Comprised of 480 miles of terrain linking Costa Rica with Columbia, Panama is arguably the hottest investment opportunity in Central America. Scott Harris has 16 years of real estate experience, and works in sales and marketing for Red Frog Beach in Panama. Harris says, “Panama is one of the hottest international markets and Americans and other foreigners are snapping up property like crazy.”

Jaime Figueroa Navarro is President of Panama All In One, Inc. Navarro says that he has seen the trend in the booming second home market extend into his country. “…we’re experiencing robust growth…many baby boomers are looking to live here as there are many advantages not available stateside…for example, the purchase of a new home or condo comes along with a 20-year homeowner’s tax exemption.”

The local currency is the U.S. dollar, making transactions easier for Americans, as well as removing the component of currency fluctuation and potential investment devaluation.

Navarro feels that now is the time to invest in Panama. He says there are many bargains on the market and the potential returns on investments loom large. “…this is where there is the largest business opportunity for the growing number of investors and promoters. In Panama now, the rule of thumb is, if you build a quality home, it ’s sold…this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.”

Used by permission of Publisher. www.2ndhome.net



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Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark's adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com More at http://www.ReleaseDynamics.net

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/what-no-hurricanes-in-panama.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/what-no-hurricanes-in-panama.html Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Regrettably, it seems no one told Paul that Panama has no taxes on new construction*, low home insurance rates (about 1/3 of Florida's) and NO HURRICANES!
(* Tax exemptions apply to new construction and last for up to 15 years. The exemption is transferable. The exemption just recently changed to 15 years. In past years it was 20 years. So, resale homes built in the last few years may still have transferable exemptions left for up to 18 years!)

I'll address the cost of living issues in another article but for now let's talk about hurricanes and violent weather - how they can affect your vacation, your retirement, your investment and your peace of mind!

Hurricanes are essentially tropical phenomena, that are driven by the evaporation of a large pool of very warm water somewhere not too far from a shoreline. Local geographic conditions may cause them to strike (i.e. cross the shore) in non-tropical locations, e.g. Florida, Louisiana, Atlantic coast, as well as Japan or Taiwan (where they are called typhoons). Hurricanes can strike the Pacific coast, but less commonly than the Caribbean, typically between about Acapulco and Panama. Source: MadSci Network: Earth Sciences

It's almost something we expect each winter season: we hear horror stories about cancelled trips or worse being stuck in a hotel room, "Riding out the Storm"; we still have those haunting images of poor familes lost and homeless in Louisiana, Florida or some tropical local. Well, your Panama vacation will never be re-scheduled due to natural events and your property investment will always be safe from hurricanes and earthquakes. This translates into lower insurance rates - lower risk, and lower tax rates - the government doesn't need to pool revenues for that inevitable clean up. Panama is blessed by nature, unlike the rest of her Central American neighbors, with no hurricanes - amazingly it’s in a special climate area that is hurricane-free. It also has no major earthquakes.





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Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark's adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/getting-around-panama-travel-tips.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/getting-around-panama-travel-tips.html Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
In Panama city it's typical to pay less than $5 for a taxi ride to just about any reasonable distance from your hotel including the regional airport. In the small communities of Boquete and Bocas taxi fares drop to $2 or less. Although the town of Bocas is small dragging luggage down Main Street in the heat and humidity can be a pain. Here te taxis will typically charge 50 cents to take you to your hotel.

For getting around the country you can go back-packer-frugal and get from one end of the country to the other for under $20 but the best way to get around is by air.

Panama has two regional airlines - Aeroperlas and AirPanama. They flit around the country to dozens of locations each day and for a pleasantly low amount. A week ago I took a taxi from the Atlanta Airport to a hotel in Suwannee, about a 30 minute ride. The one way fare was over $100. In Panama I can fly all the way from Panama City to David or Bocas del Toro, about a 1 hour flight, for just $75!

On our first visit we were focused solely on Bocas del Toro. While perusing the EscapeArtist website I discovered some really exciting articles about getting rich growing Teak & Noni while living the good life in the Caribbean. If you read my letter about Bocas at LearnAboutPanama.com you now know it was a scam. However, the scam artist himself did give us one good piece of advice. He suggested that if we were coming to see Bocas we might as well check out the rest of the country. He recommended a town called Boquete in the mountains, said is was lovely and quite different. If that suggestion had not been made we would never have discovered our piece of Panama Paradise. That led us to create our Panama Travel Triangle. We would fly from Panama City to Bocas then across to David and return to Panama City from David. It really is a very convenient way to explore most of the country in a short period of time. PC to Bocas costs $75, and Bocas to David $39 inclusive of taxes.

Another adventure is taking the train from Panama City to the Port of Colon - the Freezone. The train leaves Panama from the Corozal terminal around 7AM. It takes about 45-60 minutes to get to Colon. The return leaves Colon at 5:30. The last time I checked it was about $35 round trip and $20 one way. It's a good idea to buy your tickets in advance as the train is often booked full by Cruise Ship passengers. This railroad was originally built to connect the city of Colon on the Atlantic (Caribbean) to Panama city on the Pacific. This was the very first transcontinental railroad in the Americas. A cautionary note - an entire day is a long time to spend in Colon. Although you can get some great deals in the Freezone this is one of the worst parts of Panama for crime. I suggest you plan ahead to get out of Colon City as quickly as you can. You might want to explore the beautiful Caribbean communities and islands on the coast. Look to Portobello or even a day on the beach at Isla Grande.

The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana), commonly known as the Inter-Americana, stretches from the Costa Rican border in the west across the country into the heart of the Darien province. There it stops about 50 miles from the Columbian border. The Darien Gap is this area along the border between Colombia and Panama. It is a lush rain forest with one of the highest degrees of bio-diversity in the entire world. The Pan-Am Highway is a real treat by Central American standards, and in some cases even North American standards! It is well maintained and there are plenty of food and gas stops all the way across the Isthmus. The trickiest part of driving in Panama is in the cities and getting out of Panama City itself. Taxis are so cheap I recommend getting about by cab within the city and then picking up your rental car when you are just ready to leave.

Buen Viaje! Happy Travels!



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Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark's adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/getting-around-and-out-of-panama-city-3.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/getting-around-and-out-of-panama-city-3.html Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600
The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana), commonly known as the Inter-Americana, stretches from the Costa Rican border in the west across the country into the heart of the Darien province. There it stops about 50 miles from the Columbian border. The Darien Gap is this area along the border between Colombia and Panama. It is a lush rain forest with one of the highest degrees of bio-diversity in the entire world. This region, its wildlife, and its indigenous inhabitants are protected by the national reserve status in both countries.

The Pan-Am Highway is a real treat by Central American standards, and in some cases even North American standards! It is well maintained and there are plenty of food and gas stops all the way across the Isthmus. The trickiest part of driving in Panama is in the cities and getting out of Panama City itself. Many vehicles, including buses and taxis, are not well maintained so city driving can be an adventure. Taxis are so cheap I recommend getting about by cab within the city and then picking up your rental car when you are just ready to leave.

Getting out of the city can be fun too! The first time we drove into Panama City from Boquete it was a lovely drive and a breeze to make our way right to the Miramar Hotel on Avenida Balboa. Getting out was another story! We found ourselves circling in and out of Casco Viejo for over an hour before a helpful Panamanian motioned for us to follow her and led us to the Bridge of the Americas. Later we were told the easy, but unmarked route directly out of the city.

Here it is: Take AVENIDA BALBOA southwest along the Bay of Panama (BAHIA DE PANAMA). As you approach CASCO VIEJO watch for a Shell Gas Station on your right. Just past and beside the station take a right turn (N/NW). You will come to a busy intersection with a traffic light. Once you pass through the intersection get in the left hand lane and take the on-ramp. It seems a little odd because the ramp is on your left. It feels like you are going the wrong way up an exit ramp. Above you will see a sign, PUENTE DE LAS AMERICAS. The ramp will loop around and you will be traveling south west again along, AVENIDA DE LOS MARTIRES which will take you to PUENTE DE LAS AMERICAS (The Bridge of the Americas). This highway turns into the Pan-American highway and if you stay on it you will end up in Costa Rica!

For North - South driving from the Pacific Coast to the Caribbean side, across the continental divide there are only two routes. The Trans-Isthmian Highway will take you from Panama City to Colón and Portobelo. Closer to the west end of the Isthmus there is a wonderful highway which runs from the town of Chiriqui, just east of David, across the divide to Chiriqui Grande, Almirante and Changuinola on the Caribbean. I'm not sure what the name is but it is fairly well marketed. You will see a sign for Chiriqui when you enter this small community on your right watch for a nice paved road and the sign for Chiriqui Grande.

In my next article, Getting Around Panama, I'll fill you in on the other transportation options you will want to take advantage of. Buen Viaje! Happy Travels!



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Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark's adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

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A little further drive up the east bank of the canal you will find the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. It's a pretty pricey place to stay or eat. But, if luxury accommodations and gourmet dining in the rain forest are not in your budget don't despair. You can still plan a day trip to Gamboa and take in it's many ecological tours al la carte. On our first visit we took the Aerial Canopy Tour and checked out the 5 exhibits which showcase local flora and fauna as well as a replica of an Embera Indian village. I have to say we were a little disappointed in the Canopy Tour. It was pretty cool but it didn't produce any bird or wildlife spotting. Our guide explained that we had come at a time of the year and a time of the day when the wildlife was quiet. Later we learned that one of the best tours was a visit by boat to Monkey Island.

Although we didn't catch it on our first visit, on a subsequent trip to the city we hiked our way up Ancon Hill. It rises 654 feet from the bay and for 400 years has been a key geographical reference point in Panama. The commanding 360-degree view of the city, Casco Viejo, the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to the Panama Canal makes it a great place for taking photos.

My wife always says, "A trip to Panama City is never complete without a day or two of shopping." We discovered two beautiful modern indoor malls. The Multi-Plaza and Multi-Centro are relatively recent additions to Panama City and boast some of the best shopping in Latin America. The Multi-Centro is located in Paitlla, one of the wealthiest areas of Panama City. It's also billed as the largest shopping mall in Central America. In Multi-Centro you will find a casino, movie theatre, arcade, internet cafe, bookstores, 3 department stores and many more shops. It is also connected with the Radisson Decapolis Hotel. The Multi-Plaza is similar and is connected to the Marriott Courtyard (one of my favourite places to stay in PC). The Multi-Plaza has a similar selection of shops and also has a couple of great restaurants. Paladar serves a wonderful selection of dishes and for those missing home you can check out Tony Romas.

A great place to spend your last night in Panama City or any night for that matter is the Amador Causeway. The night time views back to the city lights are spectacular. Go out a little before sunset so you can stop by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. It's also fun to rent a bike and ride the boardwalk. Check out the shops on Isla Naos and after you have worked up an appetite and the sun has set continue out the causeway to Isla Flamenco where you will find the marina and the Flamenco Shopping Plaza. Get a table outside at Alberto's. You can enjoy great food and drink while admiring the mega yachts in the marina with the city skyline behind.

Well it’s time to say goodnight as we have an early flight to Bocas del Toro tomorrow. Ciao! Hasta Luego!



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Learn more about Mark's family adventures in Panama at http://www.releasedynamics.net

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