Escape From Panama City

Dear International Living Reader,

Long stretches of sand, kissed by emerald and blue-hued water. Coconut palms. Lots of pink, white, and beige seashells. And, during the week, hardly another person in sight. Even on weekends, most of the beaches within two hours of Panama City are rarely crowded. The population here just isn’t that large. Plus, for anywhere from $100,000 up, you can buy a two-bedroom ocean-view condo…with fine finishings and detail work.

Brandon Clogston, our Panama Insider, tells you more in the April print issue of International Living:

"Ah, the beaches. Aren’t these what people come to the tropics in search of? Well…yes and no.

"Take Panama, for instance. In a country this small, it often amazes me that some people have no interest whatsoever in going to the beach. They’d rather soak up the humidity and metropolitan atmosphere of the city or head for the cooler mountain climes of the likes of El Valle or Boquete.

"But, if you like the beach, you’ll be happy to know that Panama has extraordinary offerings. Recently, I scouted Panama’s most popular sandy escapes--most situated just a short drive from Panama City.

"It’s an easy drive. Cross the Canal from Panama City, continue over the Bridge of the Americas, then onto the Pan American Highway, and you are beach bound. Drive 50 miles or so on the Pan-Am Highway, and you arrive in tropical beach heaven. From Punta Chamé to Playa Farallón stretch 40 miles of sun-kissed Pacific beaches--perfect for surfing, sunning, swimming, snorkeling, and, yes, people-in-swimwear watching. (Take it from me, Panamanian women are among the most beautiful in the world. And the men are tough competition for a pale, beer-bellied gringo like me.)

"The beaches here are worth a look, too. They’re wide and feature salt-and-pepper sand. From Chamé, Gorgona, Coronado, Rio Mar, Santa Clara, Playa Blanca, and Farallón--to name a few--the beachcomber in you will have much to explore. Some attract surfers. Other beaches are more suited for wind surfing, kayaking, jet skis, fishing, and more."

Brandon’s main reason for scouting these beaches was to find homes for less than $100,000. International Living subscribers can read the rest of this article online right now to learn what Brandon found.

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IL is so much more than just a newsletter or magazine. It's like a portal to a new life. It opens the doors of a world of possibilities to you.

is so much more than just a newsletter or magazine. It's like a portal to a new life. It opens the doors of a world of possibilities to you.

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Sincerely,

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

P.S. I urge you to take advantage of the special offer now. And remember, you'll gain unlimited access to the members-only section of the International Living website. There you'll find the full members-only stories that you only read part of in our e-mails. You'll have complete contact information for all of our IL correspondents, resources, and local contacts for Panama real estate, retirement, living abroad, resorts, and travel.