Retirees, working expats, and locals, have long sought after Panama’s beach communities as the ideal place to live both full-time and part time. In recent years, and especially today, many of these communities are going through a major Real Estate boom. This is great for the local economy, and is really driving investment and revenue into Panama’s top beach locations. The only downside is that with all of the development, many communities are becoming crowded, and more importantly, expensive. They are also moving further and further away from the city as land becomes less available. And that may not necessarily be a bad thing, especially for people looking for an authentic, natural experience. The problem is, once you bring the city to the beach, it loses some of its authenticity.
For many expats who move to Panama, there is a need for something a little quieter, and away from the hustle and bustle of modern beach development. And there’s a huge demand for eco-friendly areas that are unspoiled by cookie cutter developments and rush hour traffic. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, but still a quality, safe beach community, Panama’s got a lot of unique options for you. From Isla Grande on the Caribbean side, to Pedasi in the Azuero Peninsula, there are some great finds when it comes to Real Estate. There is one area, however, that’s attracting a new kind of attention, and for all the right reasons.
Playa Venao: Clean, unspoiled beach living
Whether you’re looking to retire, rent, or just vacation, you’ll find that Panama’s “off the radar” beach communities offer the perfect fit for what you’re looking for. One of our favorites, and one that’s been picking up steam recently, is Playa Venao. Playa Venao is located on the Azuero Peninsula, in one of the southernmost regions of Panama. “El Azuero”, as locals call it, is surrounded by hundreds of miles of Pacific beaches, with the peninsula’s interior being dominated by rolling hills, and dense tropical forests.
Playa Venao is located about a 4-5 hour drive from Panama City. There are no direct busses that go there from the capital, but there are a number of daily routes that service nearby Las Tablas and Pedasi. You can also fly from Albrook (Panama City) to Pedasi. From there, there are regular busses and shuttles to the beach, as well as car rental options should you want to explore on your own. The town itself is very small, but the surrounding green space and undeveloped land is enormous. Even better, both the interior land and beach area are nearly completely free of mass development. That is to say, that the development that is there is done with eco-friendly building in mind, as well as incorporating sustainable wildlife and reforestation projects.
