Expat Community > Panama

veracruz
Joined 2010
Posts: 12

Another Perspective: Coronado ALtos

13 years ago

I am in Panama right now conducting some research on where I would like to live for six months in the year now that I am no longer looking for work or income. I paid a tour guide $125 to drive me from Panama city to Coronado where I understand is the hub of the expat community.

Lots and lots of traffic leaving the city, real third world driving, anything you can get away with applies. Traffic around Chorrera 50 min from Panama city on the Interamerican highway is a total choke point. If there is an accident or construction everything stops for hours--not a good experience.
Coronado is about an hour and half drive from the city, lots of new shopping malls and development going on right off the highway, the area is clearly experiencing a building boom.
Coronado is a gated community, so security is good the police station sits right on the edge of the property.
Beautiful condos available to buy or rent with lots of choice. There is a golf course $10,000 fee and an equestrian club. But where are the people I wondered? There is nobody there. I understand the full expat community is 1,500 at peak and dwindles to 500 at ebb. I walked the beach and did not like it. Black sand no shade trees and rough waves better suited for surfers.
Of course you can get all the amenities at the supermarket but my main concern is boredom. No one to talk to or no real activities where you can make friends. If you are coming to Coronado bring lots of friends and people so you can do things together or else you may be stuck in a beautiful condo looking at movies all day.
On the way back decided to visit Altos de Maria, even more isolated. It is a good 96 km from the main road to get to altos. Half way up the road I decided this is not for me who enjoy being around people.
A lot of the rosy descriptions of Panama are accurate to a point but if living is being part of a community it is difficult to see how you can achieve that in Coronado or Altos de Maria.
Tomorrow I leave PC for David Boquete where the annual flower fair is taking place this weekend. I have been briefly in both places a year ago this time and will report my impressions.

William Russell

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Another Perspective: Coronado ALtos

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