The Future is Bright in Pedasi Panama, in this Booming Hub of the Americas

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean…on the slim precipice between the Americas…a little country with a lot to offer awaits you…

Sophisticated shopping and sublime shores…expatriate enclaves and secluded sanctuaries…rainforest canopies and rolling green hillsides …stability and safety… wilderness and adventure…

A booming economy…an affordable cost of living… the world’s best retirement incentive program… excellent weather… Panama’s attributes seem endless and there’s never been a better time in the last decade to look at relocating to Panama.

Directly across the street is a house selling Panamanian arts and crafts. I can see clay pots tinged with burnt orange and yellow precisely the shade of French’s mustard. A white woven hammock sways lazily in the light breeze, and the few people on the street seem to be in no hurry. There are no power-walkers this morning, no suit-and-ties rushing to work.

This is not a destination for rushing…or for shopping or theater-going. If you need an active night life to keep you happy, Pedasi may not be for you. But if you’re looking to retire, relocate, or just buy a second home in “the real Panama,” this little beach town may be the answer.
Pedasi is known as the “tuna coast,” and it has been a destination for sport fishermen for years (the town even hosts an annual fishing tournament). Here the coastal shelf drops off suddenly to provide deep water fishing a short distance from shore. Yellow fin tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and dorado are among the regular catches. Expat Linda Mckee says: “In Pedasi, I am in seafood heaven…clams, conch, lobster, and oysters are available daily.”

Within an hour’s drive there are 11 different beaches, all clean and easily accessible. The sands vary from deep bronze to the sparkling volcanic black. The roads to Pedasi are first-class and the sleepy village is probably one of the best maintained towns in Panama. New businesses are springing up to offer fishing, snorkeling, and diving trips. There are unlimited opportunities for small businesses and niches to be filled. The town could use more restaurants, a fish market, a deli or bakery, a bookstore, or a high-end internet café.

Local businesses are intent on making it easier for everyone to get to know Pedasi. Expat entrepreneur Casey Halloran, who owns B&B Casita Margarita, is the area’s most vocal supporter. After many months of lobbying, he convinced local airline Aeroperlas to offer flights to Pedasi. Now instead of driving four hours from Panama City, you can fly here in under an hour.

Pedasi has long been a secret (though local developers say celebrities like Mel Gibson began to invest here long ago). Ask Panamanians for beach recommendations and they’ll name Coronado, Bocas del Toro, and San Blas…but hardly ever Pedasi. Five years ago, Pedasi was hardly frequented by expats. But with new hotels, restaurants, and now flights to the area, growth seems to be accelerating and the expat community is growing. Now is the time to visit…

I’ll talk about Pedasi (and show photos) at International Living’s Live and Invest in Panama Seminar in April. You still have time to register for this event and claim the big Early Bird discounts.

Pedasi Weather

Due to its proximity to the equator, Pedasi Panama does not suffer from the frequent hurricanes (or any other natural catastrophes) that plague its neighboring Caribbean and southern US coasts.

Pedasi’s weather is separated by two seasons, the dry (or summer season), which lasts between the months of December and April, and the wet (or winter season) for the remainder of the year. Temperature variations across different regions of the country are present primarily due to their altitude and proximity to the ocean.

Andromeda is situated in one of the most stunning areas Los Santos has to offer, the Azueros Peninsula. Located on the Pacific coast of Panama, the Peninsula is frequently compared to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica for its welcoming locals, stunning scenery and attractive weather. The Azueros Peninsula is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in Panama, and the area is one of the driest in Panama which offers only two seasons; Golden and the Green.

The ‘Green season’ (June to November) will bring intermittent rainfall that will allow for lavish green scenery that Panama is famous for, while the ‘Golden season’ (December to May) will bring clear blue skies which, due to the

Even so, Pedasí falls within what is known as the ‘Arco Seco’ — literally, the dry arc — a swath of land with less rainfall, on average, than the rest of the country. Pedasí’s summer, between January and April, brings a dramatic change; grasses bleach beneath the brilliant sun, and the landscape becomes a canvas of golden hues.  Trees adapted to the four-month drought drop their leaves, and burst into brilliant bloom. This is the season of sun and sea, when the peninsula’s myriad beaches fairly cry out for lounging bodies.

September, however, replenishes the dry earth, bringing overcast days, fitful showers and the occasional tropical downpour. This does not faze the local landowners, most of whom raise cattle or cultivate sugarcane and rice, who continue their work tending to fields and fenceposts and newborn calves. Many can be seen sporting the handwoven, handpainted straw hat particular to the region; a finer version, exquisitely crafted and detailed, is worn for carnivals and other big events.

Pedasi Panama

As prime beachfront land in Pedasi Panama grows ever scarcer, investors and developers have been looking to this sleepy stretch of coastline on Panama’s central Pacific for the next wave of development, and discovering in the Azuero Peninsula the very heart of Panama.

Because Panama allows titled property right up to the waterfront, beachfront parcels are being snapped up at a dizzying rate in areas like Pedasi and Playa Venao at the very tip of the peninsula.  Despite its long, sinuous shape, Panama’s coasts offer relatively few truly golden beaches. Much of the Pacific coast is fringed with mangrove swamps, where clouds of mosquitoes billow up to prey on the unwary, while on the Caribbean side, where there is also a thick tangle of mangroves, much of the coast is battered with constant rains, or under the territory of Panama’s aboriginal tribes and not open to outside development.

While there are several excellent beaches close to Panama City, most of these are well-developed or well on their way. The first two hours’ drive west on the PanAmerican Highway are littered with signs for beachfront resorts, villas and condos, offering dreams of oceanview lifestyles, but many of these have taken on an almost suburban feel, as the developed stretches now begin to crowd and bleed into one another.

At the bottom of the Azuero Peninsula, however, one feels almost at the end of the world. There is a timeless quality to daily life there, a blend of the ultra-modern with the centuries-old traditional ways. Impeccably paved highways slink through endless green fields and tiny clustered towns, colourful and tranquil; because they tend to hug the highway, very few towns have sprung up along the many beaches here, and the waterfront is largely deserted but for the fishing boats that moor in shallow waters to haul their catches ashore.

Join the ranks of celebrities and many others from around the world who have chosen Pedasi Panama as their newest first or second-home destination. Looking for an active lifestyle? Choose from a multitude of readily accessible water sports and wildlife opportunities.

The Pedasí area offers world-class surfing, diving, snorkeling and hiking, and nature lovers can explore Pedasí’s rich natural heritage, a utopia of wildlife exploration. Pedasí’s waters are also well known for fantastic sport-fishing, yielding record catches of blue marlin, big-eye and yellow fin tuna, Pacific sailfish, wahoo, mahi-mahi, grouper, snapper and amberjack.

As prime beachfront land in Panama grows ever scarcer, investors and developers have been looking to this sleepy stretch of coastline on Panama’s central Pacific for the next wave of development, and discovering in the Azuero Peninsula the very heart of Panama.

Because Panama allows titled property right up to the waterfront, beachfront parcels are being snapped up at a dizzying rate in areas like Pedasi Real Estate and Playa Venao, at the very tip of the peninsula.

Despite its long, sinuous shape, Panama’s coasts offer relatively few truly golden beaches. Much of the Pacific coast is fringed with mangrove swamps, where clouds of mosquitoes billow up to prey on the unwary, while on the Caribbean side, where there is also a thick tangle of mangroves, much of the coast is battered with constant rains, or under the territory of Panama’s aboriginal tribes and not open to outside development.

While there are several excellent beaches close to Panama City, most of these are well-developed or well on their way. The first two hours’ drive west on the Pan-American Highway are littered with signs for beachfront resorts, villas and condos, offering dreams of ocean view lifestyles, but many of these have taken on an almost suburban feel, as the developed stretches now begin to crowd and bleed into one another.

Pedasi offers a beautiful town on the Azuero Peninsula about 4 hours drive or 40 minutes flight west from Panama City on the Pacific Ocean.  This area is known as the “Tuscany of the Americas” because its green, rolling hills and beautiful coastline remind many of that part of Italy.  The area is also known for its friendly people, famous festivals, great beaches, fishing, surfing, diving and all sorts of other outdoor activities.  Please see the attached documents “Why Andromeda?”, “Why Pedasi?” and “Why Panama?” for much more information.

If you would like to take advantage of our introductory pricing by purchasing a lot for your family, or if you would like to take advantage of our generous “Fly and Buy” opportunity to come and see this beautiful corner of the world for yourself, please contact me at your convenience.

 We would like your visit to Pedasi, Panama to be arranged as soon as possible. Upon arrival, we will be your Host for your stay Pedasi.   We would like you to stay a minimum of 1 day, and maximum of 3 days. In this way we will have time to cover all of the important aspects of Pedasi, Azuero.

Hotel Options in Pedasi*

• Casita Margarita $90/night + 10% service tax
• Villa Romana $88/night + 10% service tax
• Villa Camilla $240/night + 10% service tax

These rates are “low season”, single accommodation rates and will go up from December to April. High season rates apply for November festivities (First and last weekend of the month).

Pedasi Beaches

Playa Venao, just thirty minutes drive west from Andromeda Ocean Estates, is one of Pedasi Panama best surf spots with a consistent south swell that attracts surfers from all over the world. Just 25 miles south of the picturesque town of Pedasi and the local airport, Play Venao is a surfers dream.

One of Panama’s top surf breaks- Playa Venao is a surfer’s paradise noted for its 6 to 10 foot waves. This place is a wave machine!  Boasting waves that are world renown, Playa Venao is a surfer’s paradise.  The best sport or for those who want to learn and get an excellent workout, Venao’s year round surf season is world renown and peaks during the months of December through June.

In the months of March through May, visitors from all over the world join the world’s top surfers who battle for surf and boogie board trophies, not to mention the beautiful young people that follow the sport.  One of the driest regions, the Azuero Peninsula has just two seasons, one golden and dry, the other green and lush. In the golden season you find clear blue skies and crisp offshore breezes, while the green season hosts intermittent rain and sun to bring out the lushness for which Panama is so famous.

Playa Venao will offer an exciting mixture of old-world touches with modern amenities and luxury set within an eco-friendly community.  Set at the foot of rolling hills on a majestic bay, Playa Venao is a premier and unique community, being designed with every comfort you may desire while preserving the environment.

Take a walk in the large parks, watch the rolling surf on the beach or walk the village streets paved with European-style cobblestones. Dine on exquisite gourmet and local fare as you gaze upon red Spanish tile roofs and lush greenery with the scent of the deep blue Pacific Ocean in the air.

The beaches and waves are joyfully shared by surf lovers, jogging enthusiasts, couples strolling on the beach and children playing in the sand. All ages can be found mixing and breathing in life.

Pedasi Airport

Private charter flights out of Albrook to Pedasi Airport are available daily and the flight time is one hour from Panama City. Domestic flights out of Albrook to Pedasi Panama have been suspended since the start of the rainy season, and are scheduled to resume in November. While flying domestically on one of Air Panama’s smaller fleet planes is beyond terrifying, I still prefer cranking the seat belt tightly and riding in the breezy cabin with dangling wires then making the trek in my truck. Those with more luxurious vehicles that have working suspension and working windshield wipers usually prefer to drive.

The current airstrip is on a private farm and has been sold. As part of the transaction, the purchasers of the old airstrip, Pinnacle Properties, agreed with the government to finance and facilitate the construction of a new strip. Currently a 1.2 kilometer road is being cut from behind the school in Pedasi out into the surrounding pasture where a 1,000 meter strip will be laid (hardly long enough to be international).

The time line for the entire project which includes: the remainder of cutting of the road (almost complete); paving; the construction of the strip; and the placing of electricity is 8 months according to the engineers in charge. The implications of this project, besides the fact that I will have a new road and much desired electricity at my house, is the ability for lager charter flights to land in Pedasi. It is rumored that a consortium of international investors are working to extend the runway by another few hundred meters to enable the landing and takeoff of small business jets.

The point being with the exception of a few times during the height of the dry seasons over the past two years I have rarely seen full flights.