If you’re hoping to retire to a beach haven overseas, may we suggest Panama? The Latin American country has a great deal of culture to offer, as well as beautiful scenery and fabulous weather. And the Panama beaches are an important part of the package.

Panama has many draws as an overseas retirement location, including vibrant communities, great quality inexpensive housing, and the beaches are some of the best. In fact, one of the best things about the country is that it has beaches leading onto two oceans: the Pacific and the Caribbean. In fact, Panama has over 1,500 miles of coastline!

Panama Beaches

In the past, Panama’s beaches have often been overlooked. Many of them are very rural and remote, and they haven’t typically been popular tourist destinations. However, there are some absolutely gorgeous areas of coastline in the country, and we don’t think that you should overlook them.

If you’re thinking about visiting or retiring to Panama, take a look at these top five beach areas in the country.

Coronado

Coronado Panama

Set only an hour away from Panama City, Coronado is a beach town that is well-loved by expats and Panamanians alike. The beaches themselves are an impressive site to behold. The beaches in this area have fantastic black and white sand, and are great fun to visit.

Away from the beach, the town of Coronado also has a range of leisure facilities including bars, restaurants, shops and a plaza area. This is a very popular area, and has a great expat community. This area is very different from the rest of the beach areas on the list: purely because of how developed it is. Coronado is the destination for you if you want to be able to shop in an American-style grocery store and meet up with friends for a nearby round of golf.

Boca Chica

Photo by Boca Chica Island

The Boca Chica area is wonderful if you’re looking for a rural, romantic spot to spend time with a loved one. The landscape here is made up of hills, valleys, and banana plantations. It also has a perfectly tropical climate. In the past, this was a very remote area, but it is fast becoming the next up and coming spot. The new airport in nearby David will soon be accommodating direct flights to the United States and Canada, which will make traveling here very easy.

The beaches in Boca Chica benefit from fine sand, dark beautiful water, and a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Factor in the Chiriqui Marine Park, and the coast at Boca Chica is very attractive.

Bocas Del Toro

Bocas Del Toro is an area that’s made up of six islands, along with a number of uninhabited islets. It’s a beautiful part of the country, and is described by Conde Nast as “the Caribbean that time forgot.”

This area is popular with tourists and expats for many reasons. It has a great community, and is also home to some of the most typically beautiful beaches in the whole of Panama.

Here, you can expect to see flawless white sandy beaches and clear, turquoise water. Because of this, the beaches in this area are particularly popular snorkelling destinations.

Santa Catalina

The Lonely Planet has reported that Santa Catalina has the potential to be the next great Central American beach destination.

This laid-back town is mainly populated by laid-back Panamanian fishermen, but it does have a huge draw for tourists and expats alike: great surf! The beaches of Santa Catalina offer incredible surfing opportunities. Because of this, the town is growing, and is developing more and more facilities for expats.

Because of the relaxed atmosphere of the town, it also has a growing reputation for having a healthy attitude. There’s a real focus in the town on healthy food, as well as yoga. Santa Catalina is one of the few places in Panama with this sort of vibe.

Pedasi

Pedasi is a small town set in the outback of Panama. It’s a relaxed, low-key place with a rich history of folklore. If you visit the town, you can expect to be greeted by friendly residents, great food, and maybe even a beach party or two. There’s also something a little out of the ordinary waiting for you at Pedasi. In this area, some of the beaches feature beautiful lava covered sand.

But it’s not all quiet here. There are also a great deal of sports opportunities to choose from. Whether you’re into surfing, scuba diving, sports fishing, or horseback riding, you’ll find something to enjoy in the area.

The one downside of Pedasi is that property prices are quite high here compared to other rural areas with limited services.

Is One of these Panama Beach Areas Right for You?

Panama is a beautiful country that offers a lot more value for money than other more typical holiday or retirement destinations. It’s an inexpensive place to live, and this is true even in some of the more popular coastal areas.

If you’re looking for the ideal beach destination, to visit or even to retire to, one of these five areas might be the one for you.