Pedasi Fishing

Pedasi offers a beautiful town on the Azuero Peninsula about 4 hours drive or 40 minutes flight west from Panama City on the Pacific Ocean.  This area is known as the “Tuscany of the Americas” because its green, rolling hills and beautiful coastline remind many of that part of Italy.  The area is also known for its friendly people, famous festivals, great beaches, fishing, surfing, diving and all sorts of other outdoor activities.  

If you would like to take advantage of our introductory pricing by purchasing a lot for your family, or if you would like to take advantage of our generous “Fly and Buy” opportunity to come and see this beautiful corner of the world for yourself, please contact me at your convenience.

 We would like your visit to Pedasi, Panama to be arranged as soon as possible. Upon arrival, we will be your Host for your stay Pedasi.   We would like you to stay a minimum of 1 day, and maximum of 3 days. In this way we will have time to cover all of the important aspects of Pedasi, Azuero.

Hotel Options in Pedasi*

• Casita Margarita $90/night + 10% service tax
• Villa Romana $88/night + 10% service tax
• Villa Camilla $240/night + 10% service tax

These rates are “low season”, single accommodation rates and will go up from December to April. High season rates apply for November festivities (First and last weekend of the month).

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.”

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.

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean…on the slim precipice between the Americas…a little country with a lot to offer awaits you. Sophisticated shopping and sublime shores, expatriate enclaves and secluded sanctuaries, rainforest canopies and rolling green hillsides stability and safety, wilderness and adventure.

A booming economy, an affordable cost of living, the world’s best retirement incentive program, excellent weather. Panama’s attributes seem endless and there’s never been a better time in the last decade to look at relocating to Panama.

Directly across the street is a house selling Panamanian arts and crafts. I can see clay pots tinged with burnt orange and yellow precisely the shade of French’s mustard. A white woven hammock sways lazily in the light breeze, and the few people on the street seem to be in no hurry. There are no power-walkers this morning, no suit-and-ties rushing to work.

This is not a destination for rushing…or for shopping or theater-going. If you need an active night life to keep you happy, Pedasi may not be for you. But if you’re looking to retire, relocate, or just buy a second home in “the real Panama,” this little beach town may be the answer.
Pedasi is known as the “tuna coast,” and it has been a destination for sport fishermen for years (the town even hosts an annual fishing tournament). Here the coastal shelf drops off suddenly to provide deep water fishing a short distance from shore. Yellow fin tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and dorado are among the regular catches. Expat Linda Mckee says: “In Pedasi, I am in seafood heaven…clams, conch, lobster, and oysters are available daily.”

Within an hour’s drive there are 11 different beaches, all clean and easily accessible. The sands vary from deep bronze to the sparkling volcanic black. The roads to Pedasi are first-class and the sleepy village is probably one of the best maintained towns in Panama. New businesses are springing up to offer fishing, snorkeling, and diving trips. There are unlimited opportunities for small businesses and niches to be filled. The town could use more restaurants, a fish market, a deli or bakery, a bookstore, or a high-end internet café.

Local businesses are intent on making it easier for everyone to get to know Pedasi. Expat entrepreneur Casey Halloran, who owns B&B Casita Margarita, is the area’s most vocal supporter. After many months of lobbying, he convinced local airline Aeroperlas to offer flights to Pedasi. Now instead of driving four hours from Panama City, you can fly here in under an hour.

Pedasi has long been a secret (though local developers say celebrities like Mel Gibson began to invest here long ago). Ask Panamanians for beach recommendations and they’ll name Coronado, Bocas del Toro, and San Blas…but hardly ever Pedasi. Five years ago, Pedasi was hardly frequented by expats. But with new hotels, restaurants, and now flights to the area, growth seems to be accelerating and the expat community is growing. Now is the time to visit…

I’ll talk about Pedasi (and show photos) at International Living’s Live and Invest in Panama Seminar in April. You still have time to register for this event and claim the big Early Bird discounts.

Due to its proximity to the equator, Pedasi Panama does not suffer from the frequent hurricanes (or any other natural catastrophes) that plague its neighboring Caribbean and southern US coasts. Pedasi’s weather is separated by two seasons, the dry (or summer season), which lasts between the months of December and April, and the wet (or winter season) for the remainder of the year.

Temperature variations across different regions of the country are present primarily due to their altitude and proximity to the ocean.

Andromeda is situated in one of the most stunning areas Los Santos has to offer, the Azueros Peninsula. Located on the Pacific coast of Panama, the Peninsula is frequently compared to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica for its welcoming locals, stunning scenery and attractive weather. The Azueros Peninsula is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in Panama, and the area is one of the driest in Panama which offers only two seasons; Golden and the Green.

The ‘Green season’ (June to November) will bring intermittent rainfall that will allow for lavish green scenery that Panama is famous for, while the ‘Golden season’ (December to May) will bring clear blue skies which, due to the

Even so, Pedasí falls within what is known as the ‘Arco Seco’ — literally, the dry arc — a swath of land with less rainfall, on average, than the rest of the country. Pedasí’s summer, between January and April, brings a dramatic change; grasses bleach beneath the brilliant sun, and the landscape becomes a canvas of golden hues.  Trees adapted to the four-month drought drop their leaves, and burst into brilliant bloom. This is the season of sun and sea, when the peninsula’s myriad beaches fairly cry out for lounging bodies.

September, however, replenishes the dry earth, bringing overcast days, fitful showers and the occasional tropical downpour. This does not faze the local landowners, most of whom raise cattle or cultivate sugarcane and rice, who continue their work tending to fields and fenceposts and newborn calves. Many can be seen sporting the handwoven, handpainted straw hat particular to the region; a finer version, exquisitely crafted and detailed, is worn for carnivals and other big events.