About half the people who come on a Panama Relocation Tour want to live near a beach. The other half prefer the cooler mountain weather which we visit also. During a Panama Relocation Tour, we visit several beach communities which offer a variety of different prices.
We focus on the beach communities which offer the most amenities without driving more than 10-20 minutes to buy groceries, see a doctor, banks, hospitals with emergency rooms, restaurants and shopping opportunities like clothes or hardware stores. Of course, reliable electricity, water and internet are top priorities too. A good road to get to the communities and houses is important too.
There are plenty of other beach communities in Panama, but unfortunately, they do not have very many amenities close by, so we don’t usually visit those areas. Most people, especially retirees, do not want to drive an 30-60 minutes to go to a nice grocery store, restaurant, doctor or a hospital.
When selecting a place to live in Panama, it’s important to think 5 or 15 years ahead and whether you will still be comfortable making a one-hour drive to see a doctor or buy groceries. If you have pre-existing medical conditions it is especially important to select an area that is close to doctors and a hospital.
Most people who come on a Panama Relocation Tours are also looking for ways they can reduce their living expenses. What’s affordable for one person may be cost prohibitive for others. Driving an hour to buy groceries adds to your living expenses not to mention the hassles involved.
The three most affordable beach communities on the Pacific side of Panama, which also have plenty of amenities, are (1) near the Coronado area, (2) the Azuero Peninsula near Chitre and Las Tablas and (3) in far western Panama in Puerto Armuelles.
NEAR CORONADO
Coronado has every amenity you could possibly want or need but it is also one of the most expensive areas to live outside of Panama City. However, if you drive just a few miles east or west of Coronado there are more affordable options like:
Gorgona is more affordable than Coronado yet you are only a few miles away from all the amenities in Coronado. In Gorgona, there are a few small grocery stores, some restaurants and bars plus a nice beach where you can swim and buy fresh fish every day. In addition to houses to rent, there are several ocean front condo complexes in Gorgona.