Panama City's Best Neighborhoods
By Jessica Ramesch
By Jessica Ramesch
When
I started apartment hunting in Panama City almost a decade ago, I
thought I knew what neighborhood I wanted to live in: the ritzy
International Banking District, where the tallest skyscrapers face the
sparkling Panama Bay. The area had undeniable cachet, and everyone I
knew was living there.
The
district is in the heart of downtown, where you'll find the best
hotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Since 2009, new pedestrian
walkways, green areas, and recreation facilities line the bay. On any
given day you'll see people jogging, buying fruit, or just sitting and
enjoying the pleasant atmosphere.
And
the International Banking District is not the only area that may
surprise you. If you take the time to look around, you'll find this city
is tremendously diverse.
Take the Ancon area on the
west end of town. Just 15 to 20 minutes by car from downtown, Ancon
feels a world away. It's covered in patches of rainforest, and you'll
see sloths and toucans if you keep your eyes open.
Skyscrapers
would look out of place here, where red-roofed homes line neighborhood
streets. There are plenty of recreation areas, from the hiking trails on
Ancon hill to the ocean-surrounded Amador Causeway.
You
can do your grocery shopping, banking, and much more without leaving
Ancon. And there's a wide variety of property to meet every need. If
you're not into skyscrapers, Ancon may strike you as Panama City's most
beautiful barrio.
Head
to the opposite end of town and you'll find Costa del Este, where some
of the city's wealthiest residents have chosen as their home. It's a
planned neighborhood...all wide avenues and gated communities, framed by
neatly lined palm trees and emerald lawns. There are schools and strip
malls, and execs go to work in office parks and shiny towers.
Apartments here can cost
double per square foot as they would in other parts of town. Finding
anything under $250,000 here, at any size, can be a challenge, but for
that you get to rub shoulders with the elite.
If
you'd prefer to spend less, however, you have plenty of choices of
attractive, central neighborhoods that offer every convenience. San
Francisco and El Cangrejo are both walkable and offer a wide variety of
property. Spend as little as $150,000 for a one-bedroom apartment or
rent for $800 to $1,500 a month.
Both
areas have their pros. El Cangrejo is on the metro line and in the
downtown area. San Francisco is older, but it's home to the vast Omar
Park and the ritzy MultiPlaza mall.
So, where did I end up?
Where I least expected. I kept an open mind, viewing apartments in all
these areas and more. In the metropolitan area's northern sector, I
found a four-bedroom apartment for which I pay $750 a month. My street
is lined with nice houses and all my neighbors are Panamanian—not an
expat in sight.
I
am just 20 minutes from downtown and a five-minute walk from the
nearest metro station. I can also walk to banks, a small supermarket,
drugstores, beauty salons...plenty of conveniences. Truth be told, I
rarely leave the area. I can't see any skyscrapers from my window and
there's barely any traffic on my street. There are mango trees behind my
building, and every morning I watch the birds and squirrels from my
bedroom window.
The
city has grown so much since I got here in 2005. Modern malls, a brand
new metro, and new roads have cemented its reputation as the region's
greatest capital. I have access to high-speed internet, reliable cell
service—all the trappings of modern life. But the city's neighborhoods
have all kept their distinct flavor.
If
you're attracted to the capital—for the nightlife, the business
opportunities, or the international crowd—there's a home for you here.
It could be in a green, quiet neighborhood, an opulent tower on the
Pacific, or the romantic colonial quarter. The choice is up to you...and
boy is there a lot to choose from.
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