The Coronado Gorgona beach area of Panama has earned its rightful share of press. The expat-friendly and amenity-packed region is home (whether part-time or full) to hundreds of foreigners– primarily from the U.S. and Canada. While still unknown to the masses, anyone scrutinizing comfortable beach towns in Central America will have seen photos of the luxurious oceanfront buildings and world-class golf course.
It’s enough fanfare to make you wonder– is it all it’s cracked up to be? Nothing’s perfect, so they say, and Panama is certainly no exception. After almost a decade living in the Coronado area, here is my detailed run-through of this beautiful and quirky community.
An Ever-Evolving Community
It can be difficult to keep up with the Coronado-Gorgona area because the community is always evolving. If you head home for a season and return the next year, you’ll likely find a new array of restaurants, businesses, boutique shops, and of course each year’s wave of experimental expats.
When attempting to paint a picture of daily living, I normally begin by pointing out its proximity to Panama City and Tocumen International Airport. “About an hour,” I say and then add, “but sometimes traffic can be difficult, especially if it is a national holiday and a lot of locals drive out to take advantage of the beach.” I think that gets them to the beach.
“The area is very expat-friendly so you have people from around the world. More Canadians than Americans,” I explain, “but you have Europeans and more and more people from South America moving into the area. English is widely spoken, but it’s also fun to hear other languages here and there. The other day I sat between one table speaking French and the other Italian.
Shopping in the Coronado-Gorgona Area
“There are four American-style groceries to do your food shopping,” I continue. “There is the Riba Smith, which is the smallest and a bit more high-end with mostly North American brands. The Super 99 and El Rey are much bigger and they have many of the exact brands you’ll find in similar stores in the States and Canada.
The biggest difference between those two groceries would be that one sits on the right side of the street and the other on the left. You will see lots of expats at both stores along with Panamanians. There is organic food, fresh meats cut by the butchers on-site, all types of cleaning and laundry products, a very large assortment of wines and liquor along with a deli and on-site bakery,” I continue adding that the wines are considerably less expensive in Panama than in North America.
Farm-to-Table Produce and Fresh Seafood
You can also buy your produce directly from farmers, who set up their stands on popular roadways in the area. For a true Farmer’s Market, take the short drive into El Valle where a sprawling outdoor market sells everything from vegetables pulled from the ground that morning along with art and fresh brewed coffee. I like to go to the El Valle market about once a week; it’s one of those charming and connective experiences that make you appreciate the culture around you. Plus, everything is so fresh I know the produce will last.
Back in Gorgona, you can pick up fresh-caught fish at the co-op within walking distance of the Royal Palm building. Local restaurants have purchasing arrangements with the fisherman, but there is always enough for individual purchase. They cut it into filets for you– the corvina or sea bass goes for about $2 a pound and it’s as fresh as it gets.
Healthcare in Coronado-Gorgona
“There is a modern healthcare clinic if you need medical care,” I continue, “and all types of specialty physicians in Coronado. A visit will normally run about $15 and almost everyone in the medical profession speaks English. The pharmacies are incredibly inexpensive compared to prices in the States and you receive the exact same medication in the packaging from the drug company. Most of the grocery stores have a pharmacy, but there are also several free-standing ones.”
Of course, if you need more healthcare options, Panama City is only an hour away with its world class hospitals and vast range of specialists. People travel from all over the world for medical tourism in Panama, as the quality of care is excellent and many treatments are more affordable.
Community and Giving Back
I explain there are all types of social activities in Coronado-Gorgona. “The expats you’ll find at the beach, generally love to give back. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities ranging from helping to spay and neuter dogs and cats to volunteering at a local children’s shelter,” I continue. “There are clubs like the Rotary and lots and lots of people play golf every single day” I explain, “Others love to partake in fitness classes like yoga or zumba, and a small group of us train for a triathlon every year.”
“There are also all kinds of happy hours and special promotions aimed at the expats,” I tell people about the area. “You have a movie theatre, just about every type of restaurant from fast food to more upscale. There is a relatively new Greek restaurant and the long-tenured and fabulous Italian place, Luna Rosa.”
“The people you will find in Coronado-Gorgona are generally very interesting. Someone was born in the Himalayan Mountains and another person is an expert in off-shore logistics, another speaks six languages and a fourth is a retired cardiologist who happens to love golf.”
I am quick to point out that the beach community loves pets, especially dogs and cats. “The beach is perfect for long walks with your dog and you have many options for pet care including veterinarians and groomers.” (Yes, you can bring your pet to Panama.)
Dry Cleaners, Massages and Ice Cream
I tell people for the most part, their lifestyle can be similar to what they currently enjoy. Some prices are lower and some things like milk and orange juice are about the same. Gasoline is a little more expensive in Panama, but you won’t have any trouble finding people to repair your vehicle or just put on new wiper blades.
We have a dry cleaner, spas with inexpensive massages, tennis courts, fitness boutiques, and ice cream shops. The water is very clean and safe to drink, the electricity steady and the internet much the same as you’d have in the United States. We have cable television and good schools. Everyone has a smartphone, but our cell numbers have one extra digit—eight instead of seven and then the area code.
Panama’s personality is a bit schizophrenic because so many different countries have wanted to own us; that however, has mainly manifested in our enjoying way too many holidays. If you hate the dentist, you can hate the ones in Coronado and your hair will still be professionally cut and colored. If you like to jog, lace up your shoes and join a club and if you want to cycle, remember to bring your bike helmet. We don’t have any snow skiing.
A Completely Different World In Just Hours
The other outstanding thing about retiring outside of Panama City and on the Pacific Ocean is that you can be in a completely different environment in just a few hours. “In addition to the cosmopolitan and cultural offerings of Panama City, you can take a 50-minute flight and be in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots Bocas del Toro. You can hike to the top of a volcano, play a round of golf there and then get back on the road and find a lovely Swiss restaurant nestled next to the rain forest.
“What your daily life in this area will be like, will be up to you,” I tell people. “There will be things you’ll need to get used to—like the fact we don’t have door-to-door postal service or that everyone is almost always laid back even when you think they should be a little more reactive.
You can hire domestic help to clean for you very inexpensively and if you want to read all day you can. If you want to cook gourmet meals, you absolutely can. If you want to travel, Panama is a perfect base with international flights leaving every day for top spots in Europe, North, South and Central America. You can be as social or as alone as you desire. You can really create whatever kind of life you would like in the Coronado-Gorgona beach area, which is what makes it such a special place and unique option for expats.
