A formal agreement has been reached with three Japanese companies to help build the third line of the Panama Metro, which will cross the Panama Canal and connect Panama City to communities in the west. Hitachi, Ansaldo STS, and Mitsubishi will lead the development of the 26.7 kilometers, 14-station monorail,…
This might be really cool or really crazy, depending on your perspective. A company called Dinner in the Sky Panama is offering people a chance to eat a fancy meal while they are dangling on a platform 45 meters above the ground. The operation has set up on Naos Harbour…
A writer for Forbes set out to list the coolest neighborhoods in the world, the areas in great cities that have maintained their authenticity and charm, with being overrun by tourists. She narrowed it down to 12 neighborhoods, including Panama City’s famed Casco Viejo, the city’s beautifully restored old city.…
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss became the largest passenger vessel to cross through the Panama Canal on Monday, in another historic moment for the recently expanded Canal. The massive 168,028-ton ship was making its maiden voyage from Germany to Seattle before starting service to Alaska. The old locks could not…
Construction is expected to start soon on a new bridge over the Sixaola River, connecting Panama, and Costa Rica. Delegations from the two countries have been busily working on the myriad of details involved in the bridge, including the border crossing. The design for the new bridge, which includes lanes…
With last week’s removal of the Trump hotel management team, a tumultuous era has come to an end for Panama City’s most iconic tower. The Trump name was synonymous with the Ocean Club tower from the start, but the last few years haven’t been easy. As president of the homeowners’…
After a lengthy and very public squabble, the Trump Organization was removed Monday as managers of the hotel operation of the Ocean Club tower. The move was initiated by Ithaca Capital Investments, the group that bought 202 of the hotel units last September. The new owners moved to oust Trump…
Marriott International Hotel says the newly-opened Santa Maria Hotel and Golf Resort is the first Panama hotel to be added to its international five-star “Luxury Collection,” which features “world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences.” The 182-room Santa Maria is the centerpiece of a fast-developing area near Costa del…
The prestigious Robb Report has put the spotlight on Ocean Reef Islands, the luxurious man-made islands accessible by a 500-foot bridge from Punta Pacifica. The islands are the “very first pair of artificial real estate islands” in Latin America, the Robb Report article notes. Ocean Reef is made up of…
Representatives of the China Railway Design Corporation and the Panama government held their first technical meetings last week to discuss the proposal to build a train route connecting Panama City to the Chiriqui district in the west. The meeting was moderated by Roberto Roy, minister of Panama Canal Affairs and…
Copa Airlines and Air China are discussing code-sharing agreements that would make Panama City the connection for China flights throughout the region. The two airlines have already announced plans to develop the first direct flights from China, connecting through Houston, which are expected to start this spring. The code-sharing agreement…
Guest post by Punta Pacifica Realty. 6 months ago, my wife, Dorina; 10-year-old son, Declan; and our Jack Russell terrier, Jazz moved into our new apartment in Naos Harbour Island Residences and Marina, on the Amador Causeway. It was a big move for my family, switching from the intensity of…
After months of speculation, Air China has announced plans to start the first direct flights from China to Panama in March. The decision was announced by the president of the National Aviation Company of China during the historic visit to China this week by Pres. Juan Carlos Varela. Direct flights…
The Chinese government has confirmed plans to develop a rail link between Panama City and the northern province of Chiriqui, in a move with wide-ranging implications for business and tourism. A train would provide a new connection between the capital and David, which is already a popular destination for tourists…
The Panama Canal Authority is taking a unique approach to cutting power costs and waste. Instead of simply installing solar panels, the Canal is experimenting with floating solar panels on water. The first attempt at a floating solar farm consists of 96 solar panels on part of the Gatun Lake,…
Coffee shops from around the world are bidding for the chance to serve a brew from a Panama bean dubbed the “world’s most expensive coffee.” In Dubai, customers paid $68 for one cup of Esmeralda Geisha 601, a product of Hacienda la Esmeralda, a family-owned coffee grower in Boquete. In…
Panama’s booming economy and growing role as the business hub of the Americas continues to draw large multinational corporations. Twelve new companies have set up operations in Panama in 2017, with several more expected by the end of the year, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries reports. The new companies…
As the plane flies over Pearl Island, it’s hard not to be struck by the beauty of the island. Located about 45 miles off the coast of Panama City, the lush landscape is the postcard image of a tropical paradise. [adrotate group=”11″] PPR president Duncan McGowan and I were flown…
The Panama government and volunteers from around the country are coming together to support Caribbean victims of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean. As part of its regional cooperation agreement, the government launched a Joint Task Force (FTC) team to aid islands that were pummeled by the storm, including St. Maarten…
One of Panama City’s most sought after penthouses has returned to the market, offering the allure of living on top of one of the city’s most fashionable towers. The 4,284-square-foot, three-bedroom customized apartment is on the 73rd floor of the Yoo Panama, the stylish tower on Avenida Balboa. The apartment,…
Three coffees from Panama have earned international acclaim in the Great Taste awards, a tribute to this country’s under-appreciated coffee industry. The winning coffees entered by England’s Dark Woods Coffee were micro-lot coffees sourced from La Huella (Cafe de Panama) in Boquete, Panama. Two of the Panama coffees won the…
As Panama City continues to grow, property investors are looking for new opportunities. In recent months, potential buyers are starting to show more interest in projects on the edge of the city, such as Amador Causeway, which offer convenient access, without the noise and congestion. Brokers throughout the city are…
Panama is ramping up efforts to promote Panama as a cruise destination, as work progresses on a new cruise ship terminal on the Amador Causeway. The Panama Tourism Authority, Copa Airlines, and Pullmantur Cruises recently announced a new deal to market Panama as a cruise destination, primarily in Latin America.…
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made a six-hour stop in Panama on Thursday, using the opportunity to emphasize the close ties between the two countries. During his quick Panama tour, Pence said Pres. Trump wants to increase trade and investment with Latin America, countering the image of the Trump administration…
More signs of the next segment of the metro are taking shape around Panama City, as construction moves forward at a rapid pace. Metro Line 2 is about 50 percent completed and should be ready for passengers by May 2019, Agustín Arias, director of projects and planning of the Panama…
The Trump Ocean Club has a new breakfast spot. The entrepreneurs behind the popular La Vespa Vista Mare on the tower’s ocean terrace last weekend opened the Deluca Euro Café Bar, bringing a European flair to the building’s ground floor shopping and restaurant district. “Finally, a great place for coffee,…
Good news for Panama City commuters. The city is rolling out free Wi-Fi at 50 public transportation stops around the city, as the city upgrades its technology infrastructure. [adrotate group=”11″] The new service, dubbed Smart City, helps establish Panama City as a technology leader in the region. The infrastructure has…
Years from now the Panama real estate industry will look back on 2016 as a turning point, a key year in the evolution of the business. In many ways, Panama City came of age as a mature market, with deal activity and pricing reflecting the growing interest in Panama real…
After weighing all the factors, you’ve decided to sell your property. Now what? Whether a family property, a second home or a prized investment, the decisions you make can save or cost you thousands of dollars. The process in Panama is secure and straight-forward, but it’s essential to take the…
Here are seven questions that you should always ask a landlord—and the answers you want to hear: 1.What’s included in the rent? You always want to confirm exactly what you are getting for your money. Typically there are four different kinds of deals in Panama City—turn-key, with everything included except…
Panama tourism is about to get a boost in Europe. The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) has signed a deal with German airline Lufthansa to spend $4 million promoting Panama to European travelers. The agreement is for three years and focuses specifically on Lufthansa’s frequent fliers, La Prensa reports. Panama will also…
Copa Holdings is launching a new budget airline based in Colombia, that will offer cheap flights throughout the region beginning Dec.1. [adrotate group=”11″] The new airline, dubbed Wingo, will initially fly to 16 destinations and 10 countries, including Panama City. Wingo will fly out of Panama Pacifico, west of the canal,…
Investors have been closely following the Panama office market, which has been going through a rapid growth phase in recent years. But a wave of new construction led some analysts to suggest there would soon be an oversupply of space, despite the healthy demand. But that isn’t happening, new data suggests. Colliers…
Representatives of major public and private organizations from throughout Panama recently came together to focus on new plans to promote the Amador Causeway, which is developing as the next center for tourism and residential development in Panama City. The meeting was chaired by the Administrative Unit of Reverted Areas (UABR) and…
After an unprecedented growth spurt, Panama City is undeniably the skyscraper capital of Latin America. Even the giant cities of South America, such as São Paulo, Santiago and Buenos Aires, can’t compare to the skyline of the Panama capital. There are 59 buildings taller than 150 meters in Panama City, according to…
Panama will soon add one of the fixtures of tropical luxury to its tourism menu—overwater bungalows. Viceroy Hotel Group has announced plans to build Viceroy Bocas del Toro Panama on 457 acres on coastline in Bocas del Toro, including 42 overwater villas. Beyond the unique accommodations, which will be a…
A new exhibit in Panama City will spotlight the connection between legendary surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and food. The show, entitled “The Dinners of Gala,” which opened July 12 at Cultural Center of Spain-Casa del Soldado, focuses on lithographs Dalí created in 1971 to illustrate the cookbook Les Diners de Gala. Only…
England’s shocking decision to withdraw from the European Union is sending shockwaves through markets around the world. After a steep drop in the first few days, stocks have stabilized, but analysts around the world are scrambling to discern the short and long term impact of the vote. Central America seems far…
Panama’s homegrown Copa Airlines has quadrupled its capacity since 2006, making it one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, according to data in a new analysis. The airline now serves 74 destinations, up from 33 a decade ago, with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and more than 1,100…
The Amador Causeway is one of the coolest locations in Panama. It’s basically a land bridge that connects three islands by the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. It was created with huge rocks extracted during the excavations of the Canal. For some, Amador is a friendly, breezy, exciting tourist hotspot, an…
