Veracuz City was founded on September 17th, 1934. Back then it was called Camaron. The name was changed in 1954 to avoid confusion with the Mexican Port of Veracruz. It is located less than 20 minutes from Panama City by car.
Veracruz is well known for its famous fried bass, small rancho-style restaurants. There you can buy an entire fried bass for no more than six dollars and an amazingly cold beer for sixty cents. Since Veracruz is a fisherman’s town, it has many fish markets. It is a picturesque fishing village. It is located in front of what used to be the Howard Air Force Base.
Veracruz real estate is bubbling up like a shaken soda drink. The oceanfront and ocean view lots are for sale at super accessible prices. This area not only offers ocean front lots, but is the close to Panama City. Buyers can live at the beach, but work in the city. This is a huge advantage over other beach front developments. Most of the other beaches participating in the real estate boom for are located at least an hour away from Panama City. Veracruz is only 15 minutes away from Balboa. Balboa is a residential area, complete with supermarkets, clinics, and first class restaurants, bars and discos .
In Veracruz you can find many attractions, but the most famous is Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa located on the main road to Veracruz. A stay at Playa Bonita Resort and Spa guarantees you a perfect weekend on the beach, right outside the city.
To book your reservation at Playa Bonita Resort and Spa click here.
Posted by Mike | Under Veracruz
The history of beach towns along the Pacific Coast in Panama is coupled to the history of the Panama Canal. Most of the population that settled these Pacific beaches came from small villages that now are under the waters of the Panama Canal. They were relocated from their hometowns and settled along the coast so that their villages could be flooded over and turned into the floor of Lake Gatun.
The major problem with the beaches in the area of the canal and just past the canal area is the debris that washes up on the beaches. Part of the debris is from the city itself and another contributing factor are the ships waiting to transit the canal. Recently Panama City began a clean up project for Panama Bay which will include a new water treatment plant and sewage system for the city. Of course, the problem wasn’t recreated overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight, but at least we begin. This should cut down on some of the debris that washes ashore. However, unless stricter ordinances are put in place and imposed with consistency on the residents and the vessel in the bay the beaches will continue to be trashy.
source: http://www.panamaexpertos.com/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1
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Posted by Mike | Under Veracruz
We’ve been talking about the Veracruz area in Panama Insider for some time now. In our February 2007 issue, we said, “There seems to be a good foundation to develop there.” And now it seems Veracruz is about to take off as predicted. Part of this is due to the nearby Howard neighborhood, designated the Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area (AEEPP) in 2004. The government gives special incentives to certain types of businesses—including technology, airline repair and maintenance, maritime cargo, and transportation logistics companies—that invest here. A master development plan is in the works that will turn Howard into a major logistics hub boasting one of Panama’s most coveted residential areas. Veracruz is little more than a rustic fishing town and beach locale just minutes away from Howard and about 25 minutes from the center of Panama City. Though the beach can be quite deserted during the week, on weekends you’ll find it full of middle-class families, surfers, and young adults. Vendors in makeshift kiosks sell fried fish, ceviche, and friend green plantains. It’s pleasant and homey…and the Panamanian jet-set wouldn’t be caught dead here with “the riffraff.” All this may be about to change…thanks to a “crazy” proposal.
The proposal is for a $2.4-billion, 43-million-square-foot project dubbed “Panamarina.” It’s the brainchild of Spanish businessman Carlos Llamas, who says he is negotiating with the Panama government to obtain permission for the project.
Panamarina calls for some 231 new buildings, hotels, and residences, golf courts, a cruise ship marina, casinos, and more…right by the tiny pueblo of Veracruz. Llamas envisions all this on an artificial island—that he would build and that would be linked to the Veracruz community by a two-mile bridge. Though he has yet to reveal who exactly will be joining him in this venture, Llamas says he has already founded a Panamanian corporation with capital from France and Spain. He also says he has lined up collaborators who have the technical experience required to carry out such an endeavor.
Urban planner Alvaro Uribe calls Llamas “delirious,” saying that the project is “science fiction…technically possible but the costs would be extremely high.”
Llamas, however, is optimistic. He says the project is feasible and promising, and would follow European models. “We propose that the government give us control over the marina, and in exchange, we’ll give $300 million in infrastructure to the community of Veracruz.” The community would benefit with a water treatment and sewage system that would “revitalize” the coastal waters here. Llamas also says he will give the community a public access beach with covered areas, machines to keep the beach clean, 2,500 homes for the community, a hospital, a school, training facilities, and new roads.
Llamas says Panama President Martin Torrijos approves of the initiative, but that it still hinges on an environmental impact study that will be presented to the National Environment Authority (ANAM) in a few days. Asked whether the project will have an impact, Llamas says, “Of course it will have an impact, everything has an impact,” adding that the positive would outweigh the negative and that the impact would be minimal because the Bay of Panama (currently undergoing a massive cleanup) is already polluted.
We looked for property in Veracruz and found a four-bedroom home, asking price $75,000, and a three-bedroom ocean-view home for $90,000. A 35.8-acre lot is also on offer; the lot is divided by the town’s main road, but 20% of the property is beachfront–asking price $1.4 million. A non-ocean-view lot near the coast is also available for $137,260. Will these prices go up in the near future? If Llamas’ project is approved, there’s a good possibility property in this area will appreciate significantly.
Contact one of our Panama real estate professionals today for more information.
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Posted by Mike | Under Veracruz