Pedasi Fishing

The summer months in Panama mean a relief from the rain, and in Pedasí, at the bottom of the Azuero Peninsula, the sun brings with it fish, festivities and that most valued commodity: tourism.  The dry season, as it’s also known, runs from December to April, overlapping perfectly with the coldest winter months in North America, whose shivering residents are only too happy to venture south and revel in Panama’s finest season.

Clear temperate Pacific waters, deserted sandy beaches, the charm of rural life and no end of marine life to admire from behind a snorkel mask or hoist up proudly at the end of a fishing line – these are Pedasí finest offerings in the dry season, and the perfect counterpoint to gloomy and snowy winter days.

“There’s no doubt that this mirroring of seasons is a big reason why we felt Panama was the right place for our project,” said Daniel Rudasevski of Dekel Panama, the force behind Andromeda Ocean Estates.  Set just outside the town of Pedasí, Andromeda Ocean Estates is a beachfront vacation community, with exquisitely-crafted villas overlooking two wide, sandy beaches, and the stunning Isla Iguana just offshore.

“This makes Pedasi the perfect snowbird escape, for those who want to escape the winter up north; Panama is so easily accessible, safe, affordable, and inviting,” adds Mr Rudasevski.  “Andromeda Ocean Estates is designed to provide the best of both worlds – modern designs and infrastructure, every first-class amenity, but in a setting that is breathtakingly beautiful, and forever warm.”

The Azuero Peninsula is already one of Panama’s driest regions, a spit of land that is home to the country’s only swath of dry tropical forest; and when the torrential rains of September and October give way, the landscape shines emerald green under clear-washed blue skies. 

Very little rain falls after January, and the landscape slowly turns golden through the dry sunny days, with strong winds stirring up the ocean currents and bringing new gamefish to the offshore waters.  Big schools of yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, amberjack, mahi-mahi and wahoo ply the cooler coastal waters at this time of year, as well as a variety of snapper snapper, rainbow runner, snowy grouper, cubera snapper and bluefin trevally, to name just a few.

Reliably clear weather makes Pedasi’s summer the ideal time for outdoor festivities, and there is no shortage of celebration throughout the region.  The most famous and extravagant of these fiestas is the Carnival (carnaval), and every town on the Azuero Peninsula bursts into a frenzy of color, music, costumes and parades.  The center of activity is no doubt Las Tablas, about an hour up the coast from Pedasi, famed for its elaborate carnival that runs a full five days in February. 

“We’ve found that most of our homeowners don’t just want to escape, they are interested in the local culture, in taking part in this way of life,” pointed out Mr Rudasevski.  “The people of Pedasi are so incredibly friendly, and the culture is so rich here, it’s truly fascinating.  You can’t help but be drawn in.

“This is what makes Pedasi the whole package – at any time of year.”

It’s no surprise Panama is currently having a bonanza of a year in tourism. Not only does the country boast pristine beaches, picture perfect rainforests and virtually no travel time between the two, Panama’s transit and telecommunications infrastructures are outstanding. As an affordable, yet exotic place to travel, these modern qualities are placing Panama leagues ahead of other Central and South American vacation destinations.

One region in particular – Pedasi, in the Los Santos province, situated on the Central Pacific coast of Panama — is making significant economic gains as a popular tourist destination. The rich campesino tradition of the Los Santos province, growing corn, sugar cane, rice, coffee and raising livestock, offers visitors a welcome respite from the bustle of Panama City, only about 4 hours away by car.

Idyllic, picturesque, unbroken: these are the words often used to describe the landscape of of the Azuero Peninsula, on whose south end sits Pedasi. The rustic coastline is dominated by rolling fertile hills, which slope gently toward the Pacific. Air temperature never really drops below 74 F and . Visitors often draw comparisons to the South of Spain, or a variant of Tuscany.

Coastal access through Los Santos is well-paved and well-signed, and townships have neatly planned, well-maintained streets. Virtually every town has a point of wireless Internet and one never has to travel too far for a cash dispenser. Coastal architecture is a charming mix beteween colonial Old Spain and the province’s residents take pride in their towns and locals are always inviting of foreigners, even welcoming them into their own homes on occasion.

Pedasi is receiving its fair share of Panama’s booming influx of visitors. Panama’s Tourism Authority notes a steady growth of about 200,000 more annual visitors a year; and tourism in the country is expected to peak at about 2 million visitors in 2010. Because tourism makes up about 12% of Panama’s GDP, and because Panama uses the US dollar system, Panama’s been able to safely ride out the international recession.

“Panama’s yet to make its tourist mark, but it’s something that’s happening quite fast,” said the General Administrator of Panama’s Tourism Authority, Salomon Shamah. Though Mr Shamah’s expectations are still a ways away from being reached, he said foreign investment and infrastructure are two factors which are contributing enormously to the country reaching its goals.

Toward that end, Mr Shamah and the Ministry of Tourism celebrated the inauguration of scheduled Aeroperlas flights into Pedasi, which are expected to generate a significant rise in tourism activity, and further attract investment into the area.

Located at the tip of the Azuero Peninsula, Pedasi is a veritable tourist playground. One can go hiking, birdwatching, sport fishing, sailing, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The nearby capital of Las Tablas is famous for its traditional carnival parties, annual fiestas with a rich history dating back more than 200 years. With crime rates being some of the lowest reported nationwide, foreign investment in the area is on the rise. Along the coast, a number of luxury developments — both residential and tourist — are in final stages of completion, including Andromeda Ocean Estates, a spectacular beachfront community just minutes from the town of Pedasi.

As one of the most desireable beach towns in the region, Pedasi is growing at a strong, yet controlled pace. With a regional landing strip, internationally-acclaimed surf breaks, and world-renowned sport fishing, Pedasi is presenting itself as the “it” destination of Panama’s Pacific.

With the new 7-8 year, $5.4 billion Panama Canal expansion plan approved, a spike in investment in the area will soon be seen — not only in Pedasi but across the entire Azuero Peninsula. Retirement and eco-tourism investment opportunities are presenting themselves on a daily basis in the region.

Pedasi, Panama received its first inaugural flight from Panama City last month, launching the first foray by a domestic airline into the fast-growing region.  The introductory flight by Aeroperlas Regional marks the first of a twice-weekly run from the country’s capital, shortening the four-hour drive to a 55-minute trip to Panama’s “Tuna Coast”. 

Live dance and musical performances marked the event, which was attended by Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Salomon Shamah, and Rolando Pereira, Commercial Manager of Aeroperlas, as well as representatives from various local businesses, who were instrumental in initiating the joint venture.

Mr Shamah announced the government’s intent to penetrate the country’s interior and further explore its rich tourism potential, while emphasizing the need to protect the natural heritage that supplies it.

The flight was received enthusiastically by local investors and residents alike.
 
“This region had been left off the map of domestic flights long enough,” said Daniel Rudas of Andromeda Ocean Estates, a beachfront gated community in Pedasí.  “We and other investors in the area were determined to persuade the airlines and the Ministry of Tourism that Pedasi, and the entire Azuero Peninsula, has the potential needed to make scheduled flights viable.  In fact, the demand is already there – it just needed to be acknowledged.”

Andromeda Ocean Estates and several other Pedasi businesses persuaded Mr Shamah to visit the Pedasi area and discover just how much tourism potential was waiting to be tapped.

“Once Mr Shamah set foot in Pedasi, we knew that the flight was going to become a reality.  Pedasi sells itself,” marked Mr Rudasevski.

Soon after their meeting, Aeroperlas executives, Pedasi investors and the Ministry of Tourism (ATP) hammered out a deal to subsidize flights to Pedasi’s existing airstrip.

Set in the southern point of the Azuero Peninsula in Panama’s Los Santos province, Pedasi has gained a reputation in recent years as a cozy escape for Hollywood and international celebrities, many of whom have bought vacation homes in the region.  Charming fishing villages, miles of deserted beaches, waters churning with tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, sailfish and other prize catches, vibrant festivals and beautiful nature reserves have marked Pedasi’s appeal and lured strong investment into the district.

While Pedasi is a smooth four-hour drive from Panama City on well-maintained highways, the advent of a scheduled flight promises to further open up the region to both tourism and investment. 

Both Aeroperlas and the ATP have already begun a forceful marketing campaign promoting the new flights, which will run midday on Mondays and Fridays from Panama City’s Albrook Airport (also known as the Marcos. A. Gelabert Airport), returning the same day.  A third, additional flight on Wednesdays is also potentially in the works.

The 12-seater plying the route is one of many operated by Aeroperlas, which ferries passengers to 13 destinations across Panama.  The addition of Pedasi marks the airline’s first entry into the country’s long-neglected central interior; the majority of flights serviced destinations closer to the capital, and the Costa Rican border.

Aeroperlas is part of the TACA group, which operates domestic flights in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, as well as international flights across the Americas.