Have you ever driven down Avenida Balboa, or walked the beautiful tree-lined Cinta Costera, looked at the Panama Bay and wondered: what would a beach look like here in the city? If you have, it’s probably for good reasons. Once upon a time, for most of Panama City’s modern existence in fact, the curved banks of the Panama Bay was home to a vibrant, swimmable beachfront. For a large part of the 20th century, locals and visitors bathed, played, and took in sun along the Panama Bay, stretching from Paitilla all the way to the Casco peninsula.
As development grew during the latter third of the century, this just wasn’t logistically feasible to match the infrastructure growth and traffic, so the beach was removed. At the time, this was a decision that followed a larger trend of making urban cores more vehicle-friendly. It worked, and much like other cities, Panama expanded with density. These days, however, there’s a new “wave” of enthusiasm to bring the beach back. Will it be feasible? It’s possible!

The argument FOR and AGAINST the return of a swimmable beach on the Panama Bay

Nostalgia aside (which, to be honest, is actually still a big factor), there are legitimate arguments in favor of bringing a beachfront back to Panama City’s urban core, specifically in the area around Avenida Balboa. The primary argument is two-fold: quality of life, and tourism. Many waterfront cities (Barcelona, Miami, Los Angeles, etc.) have incredibly successful public beaches right in or near their urban core. This attracts businesses, hotels, and residential properties to invest there. It also attracts a lot of tourism, which is something that Panama is desperate for recently.
The arguments against the return of a swimmable beach in Panama City are a bit more complex. Due to the infrastructure of the “downtown” of Panama City, the parts of the bay around where the proposed beach site are some of the most car-congested in the country. Putting a public beach right in the heart of this would most certainly create both traffic issues and access issues. This is a major hot-button issue in Panama, where commuting times are some of the highest in the world, and traffic congestion is costly.
Another big argument against the beach is the cleanliness of the water, and the general safety concern of having a public beach in such a dense urban core. Panama is addressing the water cleanliness, but the timetable of when the bay will be clean enough to be able to promote swimming is questionable.

Before anything happens, the city (and country) need a solid feasibility study

Like any other major project of this scale and civic importance, before any actual action is taken to begin this project, there must be extensive studies done to test feasibility, and cost. Here’s a breakdown on the environmental feasibility study, via The Panama News:
“An  environmental impact study (EIA, for the Panama Bay beaches recovery project) which is intended to dramatically change the  sea frontage of Bella Vista  and Calidonia and boost city  tourism  by 2022  will be handled  by the Louis Berger Lac S. company
The Mayor’s Office of Panama, chaired by José Luis Fábrega, on November 14th awarded a contract for the best value tender of $120,376. The reference price was $133,750
The other company that presented, Corporación de Desarrollo Ambiental, SA (Codesa), had offered $132,758.27.”

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If you’re planning on relocating or retiring in Panama, chances are, you’ve considered whether or not to drive a car there. Driving in Panama, like anywhere, has its ups and downs, and buying or using a car in Panama depends on many factors. Before you make the decision to drive in Panama, we highly recommend you do some due diligence first. Panama has one of the largest amounts of cars on the road, per population, of any country in the hemisphere. There are also numerous laws, licenses, and regulations involved in driving in Panama, so weighing out whether is worth it is critical to your plan to relocate here. In order to keep you informed, here are the basics on what you should know.

Your foreign driver’s license is only valid for 3 months at a time.

If you are in Panama on a tourist visa, or even one of the many residents’ visas available to you, your home country’s license is only valid for the first three months you’re in the country. If you leave the country, this resets itself upon your return to Panama. Also, remember that if you’re using a foreign driver’s license, you will still need to show either your cedula (Panama ID), or passport if stopped by the police. Without these documents, you are not driving legally, and may risk losing your vehicle, and paying a steep fine.

You can get a Panamanian driver’s license if you are a legal resident

As soon as you receive your Panamanian legal residency, you can apply for a Panamanian driver’s license. This requires a short driving course from local authorities, as well as a paper test, and time to process. While this process is underway, you may drive with your foreign license, but you will be held to international license regulations until your Panamanian license is fully processed and approved. Have patience, as often this process can take longer than expected, and requires a number of trips to get approved.

Do you really need to drive?

This is a question every expat who is relocating or retiring to Panama should ask themselves. Panama is a diverse country as far as rural to urban development goes, and this affects access to efficient transportation. While many people who live in the interior, or smaller towns around the capital, choose to have a car, many in the city don’t. A car isn’t necessary in the center of the city for many people, and you may want to live without one for a few months to see if that applies to you. Panama City has clean, modern buses, a new subway, and cheap taxis, as well as ride share services like Uber readily available. It may be more cost-effective (and less stressful) to live without a car. But in the end, that’s up to the individual, and their needs.

Buying a car in Panama

The best part about moving to Panama is that you’ll learn to experience, and love an entirely new culture. Panama’s If you decide you’re going to be driving in Panama, you’ll need to start looking for a car. Buying a car in Panama is similar to buying one in North America, however, prices will be about 15-20% higher on average. There are a number of dealerships in each city, as well as ones in populated suburbs throughout the interior. You can finance both used and new cars through a local bank, or pay cash if you’re banking internationally. If buying from an individual, make sure to have your car inspected by a 3rd party first. Also, many people will offer to sell used cars that include the legal paperwork for licenses, insurance, registry, etc. If this is offered, make sure to check these documents with your lawyer first, to make sure they are legitimate and up to date.

Have fun driving, and see you on the road soon!

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No one can predict everything about the future with absolute certainty. But you can see a lot more than you think if you measure progress and gauge the probability of future plans. This is the case, at least, in Panama, where the country’s future growth is dependent on measurable improvements set to propel the country further into the spotlight. Panama is a country on the move, but it’s no accident.

In anticipation of growing even bigger, both economically and by population, Panama is busy making tangible changes to prepare for the future. They are betting big on growth, and improvement, and they have the data to back them up with their lofty goals. Here are four of the big positive changes Panama has slated for the next few years:

1. Infrastructure improvement.

Panama has been growing so fast, that the idea of new everything (roads, buildings, cinta costera), especially in the capital, has become the norm. But Panama is working just as hard as renovating and enhancing its current infrastructure to match new construction. This includes 5-year plans for highway expansion, bridge expansion/renovation, and the continued restoration of the old city to preserve its 100+ year-old architecture.

2. Panama Bay water purification.

The Bay of Panama is polluted, and the country has decided to do something about it. Despite some setbacks, Panama is rolling out a half billion-dollar water-cleaning project for the bay and its water sources. The massive project will take the current polluted water out via a state of the art pipe system, while sending back clean water in return. Some even claim this will make the bay swimmable again, but it’s impossible to tell until the project has been completed.

3. Massive airport expansion at Tocumen.

Panama’s international airport has become a busy international hub over the last few years, and they are now gearing up to meet the demand head-on. Tocumen is currently under construction, building a massive new terminal, and adding more space for future carriers to fly out of. Some of this construction was alread completed, just in time for the Pope’s arrival earlier this year. More space and better facilities will attract more business, as European, US, and Latin American airlines are looking at Panama to be their regional hub for international flights.

4. New affordable housing.

It’s hard to imagine if you look at the luxurious new construction downtown, but Panama has committed to adding around 50,000 new affordable homes over the next few years. The demand for affordable real estate is high, and the government of Panama has announced plans to fund low income housing that’s new, safe, and convenient, in order to help those who need it most. This will make the city, and country, more attractive to workers, and add to the existing middle class, as well as raising the quality of life, which is critical in a growing country.

The post The Future Looks Bright: Panama’s long-term plan for improvement appeared first on POLS Attorneys.

The geography behind Panama’s economic development, and their history, is a subtle, yet obvious marker for residents of the capital and its surroundings. Panama City is an ever-expanding metroplex where property values, logistics, and general investment rely heavily on location. This has created a boom for some areas, and a drought for others. Luckily, however, this is all changing, as certain growth areas in Panama City are oversaturated, creating ample opportunities to invest in other locations, and for a fraction of the cost. One of the biggest areas that is filling this need is Panama Oeste (West Panama). Panama Oeste is not, in fact, western Panama, but is rather the western suburbs of Panama City, and is its own province.

What’s it like in Panama Oeste, and why is it the next frontier for urban/suburban investment?

Traditionally, Panama Oeste has largely been home to the workers that staffed the Canal, and now businesses in the city. This “feeder” type status has actually hurt the area as far as investment goes, as it’s looked at more as a low and middle income residential area, rather than a good consumer market. That, however, is changing fast, and Panama Oeste is primed for big growth. With real estate prices soaring in the city, in both the residential and business sector, more middle class workers, and small businesses are looking for a more affordable market. The immediate areas of Panama Oeste are beginning to fill that need, and early investors are now laying the groundwork for future business and housing opportunities all over the suburban province.

Where investment is needed, and where it will work the best

Panama Oeste is a relatively big province, so when it comes to opportunities, the landscape (figuratively and literally) is pretty diverse. The areas that will fill the most immediate demand is the ones that are closest to Panama City. These will be Arraijan, and La Chorerra, respactively. These two communities have the highest population density, and are right on the Panamerican Highway, just a stones throw from the Canal and city. Both areas are already populated by city commuters, meaning that a viable workforce already lives there, which is great news for those who want to start a new business. They are also good areas for middle-class, and low cost residential development projects, as land is cheap, and the growing population is creating a steadily increasing demand for it. If companies move their headquarters or offices there, they will have access to the city, access to the Canal, access to qualified workers, and access to housing for them, and their business. These are huge bonuses for startups, or investors who want to lower there financial risk.

Don’t count out the beaches

Another important aspect of Panama Oeste when it comes to development and business investment is its access to some of Panama’s most popular beaches. Punta Chame, Coronado, and their surrounding beach towns all lie within reach of the bigger urban areas to the east. This means that essentially, as Arraijan and La Chorerra start to overflow, there is lots of room to expand west, without losing the appeal of both the city and the beaches. In other words, the beaches can provide both a tourism feeder to Panama Oeste, as well as a suburb of a suburb of sorts. We know this sounds confusing, but think of Panama Oeste as both a beach development spot and an urban zone, with room in the middle to meet. Housing and small business development are already growing at a rapid rate on both sides of the province, and drawing in much more attention than in years past. This is something we are keeping an eye on, and will update you as Panama’s western suburbs move towards a Renaissance.

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