Panama is fast becoming one of the world’s top retirement destinations and also a world class tourist location – particularly for adventure and eco-tourism.

Long overshadowed by its neighbors such as Mexico and Costa Rica, where mass tourism is now the norm, Panama has been relatively unknown except to travelers with special interests such as world record deep sea fishing, birding, river rafting and rain forest experiences.

The Panamanian economy is stronger and more stable than these other nations and presents a superior infrastructure throughout the country.

Panama also offers world-class modern medical facilities and treatment, and a new flagship hospital is in construction now in Azuero. Additionally, the core income of the Panama Canal adds to this stability, and given the recently approved $5.4 Billion expansion to the Canal, this will create an even further increased value, and local strength and stability for the economy and government.

There is also a regional landing strip airport in Pedasi offering flights to and from Panama City that seeks to expand to handle and increased volume of traffic.  All these exciting opportunities together with gorgeous beaches and great surfing, kayaking and diving, ensure Panama has something for everyone.

Panama has an interesting cultural background ranging from Stone Age indigenous cultures to the history of conquistadors and now a modern society with infrastructure that is world class.

With an US style infrastructure, with the USD as its official currency, Panama offers an easy transition particularly for US retirees. Approximately 75-80 million Baby Boomers will reach retirement age in the next 10 years in the US alone. US Government statistics show that most of them will not be able to sustain their current standard of living by relying on savings, assets or pensions. More than ever before, U.S. baby boomers are considering retirement outside the U.S.A.

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 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.