Читать книгу Cashing In On a Second Home in Central America: How to Buy, Rent and Profit in the World's Bargain Zone - Tom Hammond Kelly - Страница 21

Within an inexpensive 10to 20-minute plane ride or two-to three-hour boat ride from Panama City, there are over 90 islands that make up a chain called the Pearl Islands archipelago, made famous by the television show Survivor that was filmed there. These islands all feature exclusivity and remoteness, yet they are a stone’s throw from Panama City. The most famous of the islands is Contadora, an exclusive enclave 50 miles from Panama City that is home to famous leaders, writers, entertainers and businessmen and where the Shah of Iran lived in exile. Several hotels, restaurants and other services make it an ideal hub for exploring the rest of the islands. Taboga, or “Island of Flowers,” is also a well-known island only 45 minutes by boat from a marina on the Amador Causeway (there is frequent daily commercial service to this island).

These islands are the stuff of travel-magazine cover photos: beautiful waters, white-sand beaches with secluded coves, reefs, tropical flowers and boats passing by on their way to or from the Canal. While Contadora and Taboga are the most famous, development is happening on other islands, such as Saboga, which boasts a second-home development that resembles eco-friendly tree-houses. Golf carts replace cars. Folks leave their doors open. You get to know your neighbors. The beaches contain reefs and protected swimming waters, a rarity on the Pacific side of Panama. These are places truly to get away from it all. Due to their proximity to Panama City and beautiful settings that feel a world away, this is an area to watch. It is truly a unique second-home destination. Think of it as living in Hawaii within a stone’s throw of a small, tropical Manhattan.