Two more huge transnational corporations have chosen Panama as the headquarters of their Latin American operations. The Caterpillar company, as well as Sony Corp. are the latest in a continuing pattern of international corporations viewing Panama as the preferred location for Latin American operations. Panama’s fast growing economy, coupled with the dollar currency, English as a common second language, a very stable social climate and a well educated work force are all factors in understanding why so many corporate giants are choosing Panama as a place to invest.

The huge Panama Canal expansion, along with massive growth in Read the rest of this entry →

We have been hearing more and more that it is becoming nearly impossible to find a room in Panama City hotels and now there is statistical proof of the rumour. Panama City came in second place in the world just behind Perth, Australia for hotel occupancy levels.

Perth took first place with 85.1% occupancy, Panama City second with 84.7% occupancy and Qatar third with 84.5%.

This ranking was compiled from a list of 165 cities with the criteria being that the hotels have over 100 rooms.

And it appears that those rooms are being filled with more and more travellers choosing Panama as a travel destination, with a 36% increase over last year in visitors to Panama in the first 2 months of 2008. Some 542,000 people visited Panama during January and February compared with 500,000 during the same period in 2007.

Regardless of the recession that is overtaking the United States, folks are still actively persuing real estate purchases in the sunny south. We have equalled last season’s real estate and land sales and the residential project here on Dolphin Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama reached that magic number of 70% sold last week. Phase One is officially sold out with the purchase of the last remaining lot by a young couple from the Northwest US. As well, a young couple from the Southeast US has purchased a lot in Phase Three and a French couple who are already in Bocas fulltime, have purchased Lot 3 in Phase Four.

Big hearty welcomes to all our newest neighbours and thanks for helping us reach the 70% sold mark - It is a testament to the integrity of this project, as well as a definite sign that folks the world over are looking for a different approach to life and some are finding it right here at Finca Buena Vida.

Not only is there a steady stream of investors, developers and multinationals (Hewlett-Packard, Procter and Gamble, Caterpillar) arriving in Panama to take advantage of the growing real estate and business opportunities within Panama, but the national government is investing millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements and upgrades.

Witness the Cinta Costera (Coastal Belt) that has now begun construction along Panama City’s waterfront. It will forever change the look and feel of the downtown area. With some 25 hectares of landfill creating huge areas of greenspace for walking and bicycle trails, public parks, marinas, parking spaces, pedestrian bridges, kiosks and other public spaces, this project will enhance enormously the quality of life in the city.

The Panama government has earmarked $85 million for the project as well as another $13 million for a sewage treatment facility to compliment the Panama Bay cleanup effort that began a few years ago.

Below are photos of the shoreline of Panama City as it will look after completion of the Cinta and one of the progress that has already been made. Notice how the once waterfront Balboa monument is slowly becoming an inland location. It will eventually be relocated to again take it rightful place along Panama City’s waterfront.

The World Economic Forum list of tourist destinations, released in early March, ranked Panama 50th with Costa Rica (44th) outscoring Panama by just six countries. The two countries were the highest ranking in Central America. The only other Latin American nations who outscored Panama were Puerto Rico (46) and Brazil (49).

The Forum’s list is based on the responsibility of the countries and gives Panama a positive profile for fiscal responsibility and that is always good news for international investors.”

I found some useful info on the current range of worldwide airlines and flight options being offered to Panama and from Panama and thought I would post them. So in alphabetical order here are…

Aeroflot: Russia’s airline now offers flights from Moscow via Havana, Cuba.

Aires: direct flights between Cartegena, Columbia and Barranquilla with connecting flights to Aruba and Curacao.

Air Panama: direct flights between Panama and Costa Rica.

American Airlines: direct flights from Miami with connecting flights throughout the Americas.

Avianca: direct flights between all Central American destinations.

Continental Airlines: direct flights between Miami and New York.

Copa Airlines: direct flights between Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Havana, Mexico, Guatemala, San Salvador, San Jose, Kingston, Port Au Prince, Santo Domingo, Caracas, Cartegena, Lima, Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Cancun and New York.

Delta Airlines: direct flights from Atlanta.

Grupo Taco: direct flights between all Central American destinations

Iberia: Direct flights between Miami and New York with connections between Europe.

KLM: Since March 2008, KLM offers direct flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between Panama and Amsterdam.

LLOYD AREA BOLIVIANO: Direct flights between Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.

NATURE AIR: Direct flights between Panama and Costa Rica.

It’s true. I finally updated and revised the FAQ section. I also plan to put many more links to the faq section throughout this real estate and land for sale in Bocas del Toro, Panama website. By now you may have noticed a certain set of included words. Like real estate and Bocas del Toro and land for sale… I don’t have a writing tick, but it does help with google traffic, so folks like yourself can avoid the real estate agents, find us and maybe your future here at our little corner in paradise. Welcome to perhaps the most well advanced, residential real estate and land for sale project in the whole of Bocas del Toro and maybe even Panama.

Click here to read the revised and expanded FAQ section. It answers many of the most common questions we get from folks looking for titled land for sale or real estate in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

And enjoy the new and improved FAQ section!

This is one of the best shots I’ve ever captured! A few nights ago the moon rise here on Dolphin Bay in Bocas del Toro, Panama was absolutely stupendous!!! I ran down to the rancho at the end of our dock and took about 10 and got this one… very fine.

The cloud formations worked out perfectly - feels a little like those amazing shots of the universe from Hubble a few years back.

In truth the sidewalks arrived a few months ago, but I wanted to let the grass grow back in before posting photos. The resort property now feels much more connected and complete with the concrete walkways and they sure do finish off all the landscape work we have been doing around this piece of real estate. I think our son Zuul is going to get the most use out of them as his ‘car’ is just the right size to drive on them ‘fast! fast! fast!’ as he says.

This shot is taken from behind the seaside lounge heading toward the oceanfront rental cabins we have almost finished here on Dolphin Bay in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

And this shot is from cabin cuerpo.

One of our neighbours, Colleen, is fast becoming the latest pin-up girl for retirees here in Bocas del Toro. She came back from a trip to the States with a camera crew in tow. The documentary crew is following a number of pensioners here in Bocas focusing on the reverse migration that is now happening in Panama - Baby Bommer immigrants that are looking for their little piece of paradise here in the sunshine. Panama is one of the top destinations for retirees looking for a way to make their pension investments go further while maintaining a year round tan.

Go to www.impactofilms.com for more info on the documentary as well as the filmmaker’s other projects. It has funding from PBS and is scheduled to air later this year. Depending on what the editor decides, you may even see me, Luna and Zuul in some of the shots.