Ocean, Community, or City Lights? How to Choose the Best Coastal Area locations in Panama for Your Life

Panama has a funny effect on people. You arrive “just to look around”, and suddenly you’re seriously asking:

• “What are the best coastal areas to live in Panama?”

• “Where can I find homes with community lifestyle in Panama?”

• “What are the best places to buy a vacation home in Panama?”

From our experience on the ground, the real question behind all of this is:

“Where will my life actually feel good, day after day?”

Let’s walk through a few of the main coastal options—not as a brochure, but the way we would talk if you were sitting with us over coffee in Pedasí.

The Azuero Peninsula: slow mornings, real neighbors

The Azuero Peninsula is where many people fall in love with Panama for good. Towns like Pedasí still feel like real villages: kids on bikes, people greeting each other by name, a mix of locals and expats who actually talk to one another.

Pedasí gives you:

• Easy access to several beaches instead of just one

• A small but solid selection of restaurants, cafés and basic services

• A community where you don’t feel like a number

Nearby, Playa Venao adds another flavor to the mix: surf, co-working, yoga, beach bars, and a more dynamic, international vibe. Some of our clients live in or near Pedasí and treat Venao as their “playground” for surf days and social weekends. Others prefer to be right in Venao, where they can walk from their condo to the waves and back to their laptop.

If you’re the type who wants community, nature and a bit of rhythm—but not a city—Azuero is probably going to end up on your shortlist.

Panama City’s Pacific Beaches: comfort and convenience

If you like coastal life but don’t want to be far from the capital, the corridor around Coronado, La Gorgona and San Carlos will catch your eye. We call it the Pacific Riviera.

Here you’ll find:

• High-rise and low-rise condos, gated communities, golf courses

• Big supermarkets, clinics and international-style services

• A weekend flow of city families and expats

It’s a different feeling from Pedasí or Venao — more developed, more “suburban beach” than village. It’s a great option if you want to be on the coast but still close to Panama City, the international airport, international schools, and business opportunities. People who prefer being among expats and foreigners who speak English, tend to love locations like Coronado.

Many people who ask “Best real estate options for expats in Panama?” are actually

trying to choose between this corridor and the Azuero region. There’s no universal best—there’s only what fits your life (see more about lifestyle and locations HERE).

Casco Viejo and the “city by the sea” lifestyle - what is this location like?

Then there’s Casco Viejo, the historic district of Panama City. Technically, you’re not on a beach. But you are by the water, with plazas, rooftop terraces, and a completely different cultural energy.

Casco is for people who want:

• cafés, galleries, and restaurants within walking distance

• a mix of history and modern life

• easy access to the rest of the city and the airport

Some of our clients end up with a “double life” setup: a base in Casco or Panama City, and a second home in Pedasí or Venao. Work, meetings and trips start from the city; deep rest, surf and slower days happen on the Azuero side.

So… how do you actually choose the best location in Panama's coast?

Instead of asking “What is the best coastal area to live in Panama?”, try asking:

• Do I want to walk everywhere or drive?

• Do I feel better in a village, in a surf community, or in a more developed coastal area?

• Is this a full-time move, a vacation home, or a mixed lifestyle?

At Ama Panama Realty, our home base is Azuero: Pedasí, Playa Venao, Cañas and the surrounding coastal communities. This is where we know the neighbors, the builders, the stories behind the properties.

But we don’t pretend the rest of Panama doesn’t exist. Instead, we help you compare:

• Azuero vs. Coronado-style beaches

• Azuero vs. Casco + City

• Vacation home vs. primary home vs. “half and half” setups

We do it in clear language (English, German, Spanish, French, and more), so you can really feel the difference between each option.

Where to find homes with a real sense of community

If community is high on your list, tell us that upfront. We’ll steer you toward:

• Neighborhoods that actually have people living there full-time

• Areas with shared interests (surf, fishing, family, remote work, etc.)

• Places where it’s normal to greet your neighbors, not just nod in an elevator

For many of our clients, that ends up being Pedasí + its surroundings. For some, it’s a condo in Venao. For others, it’s a house in a beach community closer to Panama City.

The good news: there is no single “best place”. There is only the place where you will actually live the life you’re imagining.

If you’d like to talk this through with someone who actually walks these streets and drives these roads, that’s what we’re here for.