Panama Yacht Club, located at Panama City. Is the distributor for Lagoon catamarans ranging from the 38-foot cabin cruiser, Lagoon 380, through several sizes to the 67-foot Lagoon 67. These yachts, like all catamarans, are fast sailing vessels. The Lagoon series features excellent workmanship, lots of living and workspace, and excellent performance. The Lagoon 67 has a 270 square foot cockpit and a 375 foot square saloon aft of the master cabin, which itself is sixteen and a half feet long.
Landon Marine Group of Costa Rica and Panama represents four yacht makers, Marquis, Viking, Grady White, and Riviera.
Riviera of Australia makes 400 yachts a year, including its 63-foot motor powered 5800 Sport Yacht that sleeps up to eight.
Viking Sport Cruisers include the 85 foot long V85, another motored yacht that sleeps between up to 14.
Marquis makes the seventy-foot long 70 Tri-deck that sleeps eight.
Grady White offers a wide range of cabin cruisers up to 36 feet in length.
Used Yachts listed in Panama include a 46 foot fully rigged Stratos 46 sloop with a backup 69 HP Hyundai diesel motor for only $35,000 and a 52 foot Norman Cross Trimaran fully rigged with an asking price of $200,000.
A 41-foot refitted Formosa Transworld Island Trader sloop just sold for $54,000 in Panama. These used yachts are listed through the ApolloDuck web site but are all in Panama.
There are individual listings from time to time on the Internet and even a recent billboard on Via Espana for a yacht for sale.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
On one of my many weekend shopping trips here in Panama, I found a wonderful little store in Multiplaza. Had I not sat down for a quick breather and a cup of great coffee, I would’ve missed it. Fashion Petzzz & Me is hidden down the hallway beside Sanborn’s in the new area of the mall. You can’t miss their big, pink sign when you know where to look.
My first thought walking in was that if I were an 8 year old girl; I’d be squealing, jumping up and down and clapping my hands. The store looks like a place that Barbie and the Bratz would hang out with their Chihuahuas and Poodles, feeling very posh and grown up at their very own store with their very own doggies.
Indiana Arce de Pages, one of the bi-lingual owners told me that they believe our dogs should be considered a part of the family and that many of her clients consider them to be their children. She thinks this is wonderful and encourages you to come and outfit your child with something gorgeous.
Whether your child has four legs and is precious or two legs and is glamorous, this is where you should be shopping for Christmas and Hanukah. Don’t forget to bring your furry friend with you as the ladies are always happy to meet a new pup and introduce them around.
Fashion Petz is below Life Plus in the high fashion section of Multiplaza, in Panama City, Panama. You can visit their website at http://www.fashionpetzzz.com, call them at 302-4839 or email them . They’re open from 10am to 10pm for the month of December and on the 7th and 23rd of December, they’ll be open until 11pm.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
Panama City enjoys the privilege of having one of the worlds most exquisite luxury brands of the world represented in its best shopping center. When you visit the Multiplaza Pacific mall, it will be impossible to avoid the Cartier boutique, as it is located in a prime spot at the entrance of the mall’s luxury wing.
Jewelry Display at Panama Cartier Boutique
The personalized attention of Cartier’s staff will allow you to find that special item you need to indulge yourself or to pamper that special someone. The boutique’s contemporary architecture serves as the scenery to feature the brand’s latest collections of jewelry, watches, perfumes and leather accessories.
Contemporary decor of the Panama Cartier Boutique
Panama’s Cartier boutique joins a long list of notorious shops located in the great capitals of the world such as London, Paris and New York, along with Buenos Aires, Bogota and México in Latin America. The Panamanian store is managed by the successful Motta Internacional Group.
Leather Accessories display at the Cartier Boutique
The beautiful showroom features the best of the brand’s latest collections. Jewelry lovers will be mesmerized by the royal luxury of the Inde Mysterieuse pieces and the dark seductive design of the Panthere collection. If you prefer to invest in a timepiece, take a look at the exquisite Ballon Bleu watches. Your shopping evening will end perfectly after you take in a breath impregnated with the aroma of a Cartier fragrance. For the ladies we especially recommend the sweet and luxurious Delices de Cartier.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
Multi Plaza Pacific Mall in Punta Pacifica, Panama City.
As the gateway to the Americas, Panama has long been a great destination for world class shopping and super diverse dining adventures.
In recent years, Panama’s shopping, dining, and entertainment infrastructure have taken on a decidedly American flair. Three of the region’s largest malls have opened here and more are planned. Many of the stores populating these new Mecca’s of consumerism bear familiar names from back home as well as a dizzying array of local shops and handicrafts.
Panama offers word class dining.
Just outside of Panama’s new malls, you’ll find hundreds of quaint shops waiting to be discovered. On the shelves of these local treasures you’ll find an impossible to describe mix of goods from every corner of the country and the planet.
Panama is one of the most diverse countries on earth. When you walk down the street you will see faces reflecting hundreds of nationalities. Each community is well represented in the culinary offerings of this unique country. It is not unusual to find middle eastern, Latin, European, and Pacific Rim, and local cuisine within a few blocks of each other. If you find yourself getting a little homesick, you can always stroll into one of the many McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Subways, Pizza Huts, Bennigans, Wendy’s and such that dot the Panamanian urban landscape.
World class beach island in Panama.
World class convenience and breathtaking natural beauty are just a couple of the benefits that retirement friendly Panama offers in abundance. When you make the decision to spend your golden years here, you will find a long list of benefits and incentives designed just for you.
Did you know that when you buy your retirement home in Panama, you may qualify for as much as a 20 year property tax exemption? Did you know that when you become a Panamanian resident, all of the income you earn outside of the country comes to you tax free? When you move to Panama, you can bring your furnishings and other valuables with you tax free and Panamanian law also allows you to invest and bank in absolute secrecy.
Panama’s Pensionado program provides qualified retirees with a long list of discounts like 50% off entertainment options (movies, theaters, sporting events, etc.), 50% off of the price of mid-week hotel stays, 50% off of the costs of closing your home mortgage, 30% off public transport costs, 25% off of domestic air tickets, 25% off at restaurants, 20% off of professional and home repair fees, 20% discount on already low Doctor bills, 1. 5% off of hospital bills if you are not insured, 15% off of the cost of dental and eye exams, 10% off of the local prescription prices… and more!
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
Much of the fun associated with the purchase of a new home arises from the opportunity to begin again with a blank slate. You suddenly have another opportunity to paint your vision of a dream home with new furnishing, textiles, paint colors, and fixtures. So where will you find all of this in the middle of Central America? The answer is easy. You can find the same mix of home center products common to stores like Home Depot at any one of a number of home stores in convenient, modern, Panama.
It is not surprising that new retirees often express concern about their ability to access the goods and materials needed to build their new life offshore. Many nations in the region suffer from an absence of the conveniences that Ex-Pats from the U.S., Canada, and Europe have come to take for granted. This is not the case in Panama.
Many have likened Panama City to Miami. This is an apt comparison as almost anything you can find in Miami, you can also find in Panama City. The urban convenience of Panama City has reached several of Panama’s smaller cities and towns as well. Boquete, one of Panama’s most popular retirement regions, enjoys a full compliment of modern shopping as well as a world class medical center. If you can’t find something in your suburban or rural setting, not to worry—Panama is about the size of Florida. Panama City is an easy drive from just about anywhere.
One of the more significant things to remember is that the financial benefits associated with your move to Panama will help you find more money fto fund your new projects. If you plan the purchase of your retirement home correctly, you can escape the payment of property taxes for as much as 20 years. Calculate this savings against the taxes you paid back home and you’ll feel comfortable spending a few extra dollars to upgrade your new kitchen, or maybe invest in a Jacuzzi tub in the master bath.
The financial benefits of life in Panama are well known. For starters, you will not pay taxes on income you earn outside of the country. This means that the money you earn from social security, pensions, investments, and business conducted offshore is not subject to local taxes. Panamanian law also allows you to invest and bank in absolute secrecy while providing the mechanisms required to create one of the best estate management strategies on earth.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
Lonely Planet Panama is a guidebook well worth its weight, beginning with unparalleled photographs of tropical flora and fauna in some of Panama’s sixteen national parks and offering solid travel advice for Panamanian visitors throughout.
Travelers who value planning will find historic highlights, health bulletins, guides for travel with children, where to find internet access, and guides to planning wide variety of trips through Panama. Adventurers, who plan for moments rather than days, will find phone and fax numbers for last minute reservations on flights to the shore of the Caribbean for a weekend’s scuba diving or a mountain trip to kayak in class-five rapids.
Even more important as you actually venture into a foreign venue, are Lonely Planet’s well constructed maps and solid recommendations for clean hotels and good food, in Panama’s renowned destinations. The editors offer their favorites in both lodging and meals for each region, giving insights that can be very significant in a country in which food-borne and mosquito-borne illnesses do exist.
The amount of relevant data included by Lonely Planet Panama’s well-traveled team is extensive. The travel guide chooses regional destinations in each of the provinces, and then discusses local lodging and restaurant alternatives that are offered. The options for each area are categorized as: budget, mid-range and top end; which simplifies deciding where you want to go, by highlighting the differences in amenities that your dollar buys.
One chapter of the Lonely Planet Panamanian travel guide is advice by a physician, on vaccinations recommended before traveling in Panama. The doctor included a variety of health care information, even a contents checklist for a good tropical first aid kit.
Surprisingly, the cultural diversity that Panama offers has had few proponents in travel literature. The Lonely Planet editors have provided the latest information about trips to see the celebrated 940 bird species and 125 animal species found nowhere else in the world and have offered special destinations for ornithologists and biologists.
The Lonely Planet policy of accepting and incorporating helpful hints, useful advice and meaningful anecdotes from fellow travelers, have enriched and grounded this edition, whether it’s stories of how to swim in a riptide, or hints about where the horseback riding is really good.
You can hike through cloud forests and swim in two oceans, climb mountains, or even be a delighted conservationist and delight in the four species of sea turtle nesting on this country’s unmatched seashore, and Lonely Planet Panama will help you travel wisely. Check it out.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
PANAMA CITY, Panama — Known for its famed waterway, Panama’s capital boasts more than just a spot to watch the ships cross through the engineering marvel.
Visitors can chose between a swim in the Pacific or the Caribbean, hear tales of pirates looting the city’s original site, find bargain shopping, sample tropical fruits and try their luck at the horse races in Panama City.
OUTDOORS
Head to the Amador Causeway and snap photos of Panama’s downtown or the Bridge of the Americas, where traffic crosses over while ships cruise through the canal. Once part of the off-limits Canal Zone guarded by the U.S. military, the causeway has become a favorite of locals and tourists. The thin strip surrounded by the ocean houses duty-free shops, restaurants, hotels and dance clubs. Construction signs and sites make it evident that there’s more on the way. Kiosks sell hammocks, guayaberas, hats and molas, brightly colored fabrics with elaborate, hand-sewn designs of the Kuna Indian tribe.
By day, twentysomethings and families catch the cool of the ocean breeze while biking, in-line skating, or jogging along the causeway. It’s a strenuous and humid walk, so renting multiseat bikes at the stretch’s entrance works best.
For a day of diving, snorkeling and other water sports, head for Taboga Island, on the Pacific coast. Ferries bound for Isla Taboga leave from a Balboa pier and the causeway each morning and return in the late afternoon.
MUSEUMS
Check out any of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s stations. Visit one of the island sites, such as the Barro Colorado Field Research Station, for a boat ride across the canal’s Gatun Lake and a chance to see a half-dozen native monkey species in their natural setting.
At the Marine Exhibition Center in Punta Culebra, view sloths, pelicans and other tropical forest-dwellers along with an unfettered view of the ships crossing and the rhythmic pounding of waves crashing on jagged rocks. Both kids and adults will be mesmerized watching the crab-eating shark and hearing the boas slithering in the dry forest walk within the park.
CUISINE
For breakfast, sip a frothy cafe con leche, made with locally grown coffee beans, or cinnamon tea. Beer connoisseurs should look for local brews Soberana, Balboa and Atlas, which have a light taste that’s thirst-quenching in the sticky climate.
Pencas offers a view of the ocean and authentic Panamanian cuisine, which is inexpensive even at many upscale eateries. On the restaurant’s menu are minitamales wrapped in plantain leaves, pesada de nance (a cereal-textured fruit dessert with bits of white cheese), dorado en salsa de coco (fish in coconut sauce) and ojaldas (a fried bread). On Wednesday nights, Pencas features a troupe of foot-shuffling folk dancers and a live band complete with accordion. As the show wraps up, dancers and some of the servers extend their hands for a dance with audience members. When I told our waiter that I didn’t know the steps, he turned to my mom and asked “Does the lady dance?”
HISTORY
History buffs should explore the remnants of Panama’s colonial past to learn about its history in the quest for riches in the Americas. Just a cab away from most points in the capital city is Panama la Vieja. In 1671, Panama la Vieja was sacked by pirates, led by Sir Henry Morgan. Red-brick streets, a cathedral spire and crumbling walls, arches and buildings of the Spanish settlement era remain.
Guided tours telling of the colony’s former grandeur and demise are available.
Some miles away is the Casco Viejo, an old colonial neighborhood with narrow streets and pastel-colored buildings in the midst of renovation. Its architecture resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Just like locals have for centuries, watch the sunset from the Paseo de las Bovedas, a sea walk along an old Spanish military fort that served as a prison. Other sites include the Catedral Metropolitana, El Teatro Nacional and the unguarded Church of the Golden Altar. Several restaurants and cafes also dot the neighborhood.
GAMBLING
Place a bet on the horse races at the Hipodromo Presidente Jose A. Remon on a Thursday afternoon and mingle with locals and visitors. The horseracing park also is open weekends and holidays.
More than a half-dozen other casinos also offer all night games of chance in Panama. Among the favorite spots is the casino at the Hotel Panama.
NIGHT LIFE
Hit the causeway or the city’s financial district for some dancing, dining and drinking.
ELSEWHERE
Panama City also connects travelers by plane, bus or boat to other provinces. You can spot large green plantain leaves and dozens of noni plants heading out of the capital city. If you roll down the car windows while driving through heavily forested areas, you might hear the monkeys shrieking.
- The province of Colon is where gold and silver from the Americas passed before being transported to Europe. Explore the cannons and the lush green Spanish fortress in Portobelo.
Bocas del Toro offers scuba diving and national parks for trekking.
- Baru volcano is Panama’s highest point at 11,408 feet. Close by is the alpine town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui.
IF YOU GO:
Panama
PANAMA TOURISM
INSTITUTE: www.visitpanama.com or (011) (507) 226-7000.
SMITHSONIAN
TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE MARINE
EXHIBITION CENTER: www.stri.org. Adults, $2; retirees, $1; children, 50 cents.
PENCAS RESTAURANT: Amador Causeway, (011) (507) 211-3671.
HIPODROMO
PRESIDENTE JOSE A. REMON RACING PARK: www.hipodromo.com/general (in Spanish) or (011) (507) 217-6060.
SAFETY: Panama is relatively safe, but be aware and don’t venture into some neighborhoods at night. The country has a special police force to help tourists.
DRIVING: Driving within the city can be erratic and some areas have few traffic signs or lights.
TAXIS: Taxis looking for a fare usually honk. Wave to flag them down and settle on price before taking trips.
Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
http://www.suntimes.com
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
PANAMA CITY, Panama — Known for its famed waterway, Panama’s capital boasts more than just a spot to watch the ships cross through the engineering marvel.
Visitors can chose between a swim in the Pacific or the Caribbean, hear tales of pirates looting the city’s original site, find bargain shopping, sample tropical fruits and try their luck at the horse races in Panama City.
OUTDOORS: Head to the Amador Causeway and snap photos of Panama’s downtown or the Bridge of the Americas, where traffic crosses over while ships cruise through the canal. Once part of the off-limits Canal Zone guarded by the U.S. military, the Causeway has become a favorite of locals and tourists. The thin strip surrounded by the ocean houses duty free shops, restaurants, hotels and dance clubs. Construction signs and sites make it evident that there’s more on the way. Kiosks sell hammocks, guayaberas, hats and molas, brightly- colored fabrics with elaborate, hand-sewn designs of the Kuna Indian tribe.
By day, 20-somethings and families catch the cool of the ocean breeze while biking, in-line skating, or jogging along the Causeway. It’s a strenuous and humid walk, so renting multi-seat bikes at the stretch’s entrance works best.
For a day of diving, snorkeling and other water sports, head for Taboga Island, on the Pacific coast. Ferries bound for Isla Taboga leave from a Balboa pier and the Causeway each morning and return in the late afternoon.
MUSEUMS: Check out any of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s stations. Visit one of the island sites, such as the Barro Colorado Field Research Station, for a boat ride across the canal’s Gatun Lake and a chance to see a half-dozen native monkey species in their natural setting.
At the Marine Exhibition Center in Punta Culebra, view sloths, pelicans and other tropical forest-dwellers along with an unfettered view of the ships crossing and the rhythmic pounding of waves crashing on jagged rocks. Both kids and adults will be mesmerized watching the crab-eating shark and hearing the boas slithering in the dry forest walk within the park.
CUISINE: For breakfast, sip a frothy cafe con leche, made with locally-grown coffee beans, or cinnamon tea. Beer connoisseurs should look for local brews Soberana, Balboa and Atlas, which have a light taste that’s thirst-quenching in the sticky climate.
Pencas offers a view of the ocean and authentic Panamanian cuisine, which is inexpensive even at many upscale eateries. On the restaurant’s menu are mini-tamales wrapped in plantain leaves, pesada de nance (a cereal-textured fruit dessert with bits of white cheese), dorado en salsa de coco (fish in coconut sauce) and ojaldas (a fried bread).
On Wednesday nights, Pencas features a troupe of foot-shuffling folk dancers and a live band complete with accordion. As the show wraps up, dancers and some of the servers extend their hands for a dance with audience members. When I told our waiter that I didn’t know the steps, he turned to my mom and asked “Does the lady dance?”
HISTORY: History buffs should explore the remnants of Panama’s colonial past to learn about its history in the quest for riches in the Americas. Just a taxicab away from most points in the capital city is Panama la Vieja. In 1671, Panama la Vieja was sacked by pirates, led by Sir Henry Morgan. Red-brick streets, a cathedral spire and crumbling walls, arches and buildings of the Spanish settlement era remain.
Guided tours telling of the colony’s former grandeur and demise are available.
Some miles away is the Casco Viejo, an old colonial neighborhood with narrow streets and pastel-colored buildings in the midst of renovation. Its architecture resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Just like locals have for centuries, watch the sunset from the Paseo de las Bovedas, a sea walk along an old Spanish military fort that served as a prison. Other sites include the Catedral Metropolitana, El Teatro Nacional and the unguarded Church of the Golden Altar.
GAMBLING: Place a bet on the horse races at the Hipodromo Presidente Jose A. Remon on a Thursday afternoon and mingle with locals and visitors. The horseracing park also opens weekends and holidays.
NIGHTLIFE: Hit the Causeway or the city’s financial district for some dancing, dining and drinking.
ELSEWHERE: Panama City also connects travelers by plane, bus or boat to other provinces. You can spot large green plantain leaves and dozens of noni plants heading out of the capital city.
– The province of Colon is where gold and silver from the Americas passed before being transported to Europe. Explore the cannons and the lush green Spanish fortress in Portobelo.
– Bocas del Toro offers scuba diving and national parks for trekking.
– Baru volcano is Panama’s highest point at 11,408 feet. Close by is the alpine town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui.
Copyright C 2005 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Email us at The Panama Club
+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
