In Pedasi, where the oceanfront estates are being constructed, there is an annual festival in February. This festival is joyous and celebratory in nature. You see, in Pedasi, they can separate themselves into two separate parts of town because the main road divides them. Now before you go thinking that they have an intense rivalry or a “wrong side of the tracks” you would be wrong. The only time this divide comes into play is during the Carnival which is celebrated in February.

The Calle Abajo or lower street and Calle Arriba the upper street, each choose a representative for themselves. This is a particularly beautiful young woman who is their “Queen” of the Carnival. Each side of town tries to out do the other with fireworks, floats, music, and dancing. At the end of the day, the people vote and the Queen with the majority of the popular vote is the crowned the winner and Queen of Carnival for the year. This great festival is only one of the great reasons to consider relocating to Panama.

The government of Panama is making significant investments in this small town. They even promote it as the top tourist destination, second home location, and place to retire in Panama. If their word isn’t good enough, maybe you should just take a look around town. There is major construction on a brand new modern hospital. A new airport is being constructed along with highway expansion, and even a new luxury resort hotel planned by Sheraton Panama City Hotel.

Andromeda Ocean Estates is only a kilometer from this amazingly charming little town. It’s got stunning views and with just a few steps to the little village of Pedasi, this is a great relaxation spot!

Pedasi looks over the great beaches of Playa Garita and Playa El Toro where you can enjoy great sports or just dipping your toes in the sand.

With all of these improvements and government interest, this is definitely the top spot to visit in Panama.

There are a lot of folks in the United States that, while excited about retiring, are not unaware of the pressing economic issues facing the country. They worry that the amount of money that they have saved up will not be enough to carry them through their retirement. This is a just and normal fear. With the prices of food, clothes, shelter, medications and other healthcare on the rise, it is possible that no matter how much you have saved, it will run out.

This is why many of the nation’s retirees are considering moving to Panama instead of places like Florida or California. The cost of living in Panama is remarkably low. It is possible for a couple to live in a large three bedroom apartment, or some other piece of prime Panama  real estate, for a mere $1,400 per month. But that’s not only the price of the apartment; it’s the entire budget for the month!

This includes dining out with friends at restaurants on a regular basis, the enjoyment of fine wine and food, making use of the recreational activities across the country such as fishing, scuba diving, and swimming, and it also includes the price of doctors visits, health care and the like.

With a price like that, how could you move anywhere else?

Living in Panama is a little like that. When someone mentions Panama most people immediately think of the canal. While the Panama Canal’s history and importance make it famous, what many people don’t know is how many different places they can go from this little tiny slip of water.

If you’re thinking of heading to Costa Rica, just hop a ship! You can also find cruises to Hawaii, Cartagena, The Bahamas, and Mexico. It’s like having a little slice of transport heaven right in your own backyard. It’s great for retirees who moved here for the ease of living and the low costs but still want to see the world.

You might be tempted to stay in Panama and you’d be absolutely right in doing so! The rain forests, beaches, and life in general is beautiful. Traveling from Panama is easy, but it’s also amazing to come back home to such a remarkable place.

Arguably, the most important improvements to Panama are being made to the Panama Canal itself, which is in the early stages of its expansion.  The project hopes to widen and deepen the canal and add two locks, essentially doubling the amount of cargo the canal can hold.  The expansion is expected to be finished by 2014, the canal’s 100-year anniversary.

With so much Panama real estate for sale, it’s no wonder many high-profile projects have been green-lit in the country.  These include The Panamera, the very first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Latin America (opening in June 2012); the Trump Ocean Club, the region’s tallest building; and the BioMuseo, a natural history museum that is a decade in the making.

Panama real estate is in high demand and the country’s continuing growth will create a lot of opportunities for visitors and tourists to take advantage of.

Vacationers to Panama will be happy to know that the Caribbean coast is open to those looking to swim or sun out a bit.  Just four hours away from the capital lies the village of Pedasi, which can accurately be described as beach heaven.  With almost a dozen beaches in the vicinity there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wonders of the Caribbean.  And with this many options, surfers can find scores of chances to hit the waves with a variety of breaks for both beginners and pros.  Makes you think about moving to Panama doesn’t it?

Want to soak up a little history and culture?  Panama City’s historic Casco Antiguo (Old Town) has a 17-th century cathedral and many old mansions to explore and learn about.  Natural history buffs will be thrilled to know that the BioMuseo will open this winter with a series of rain-forest-like gardens and biosphere galleries.  Be sure to plan ahead as this has been a project people have been waiting to experience for a decade.

When you read about all that’s there to see and do, it feels like living in Panama might be a great choice for you.

Plus swimming in the ocean is a good way to get daily exercise — bobbing in the waves isn’t easy and swimming in general is a great form of cardiovascular training. And the beauty of the Gulf of Panama with its palm trees and sweet-smelling breezes; its teal waves and languid white sands — it’s all so paradisaical.

And it’s never too cold or hot. The daily temperatures usually range from 75 to 90 degrees, which means it’s always the perfect weather for a dip. It’s especially nice when your Panama real estate is right on the beach so that you can claim and familiarize yourself with a special swatch of sand where you lay your towel and sandals every day.

If all this sounds like a dream, it doesn’t have to be — look into moving to Panama today.

Such a successful economy means that living in Panama is easier than living in a country such as Bolivia, which is the poorest South American country, and one of the more dangerous besides.

Plus tax and price discounts for moving to Panama exist as incentives, and the parity between the American dollar and the balboa, the Panamanian currency, make it so that dollars are easily traded and used. Living in Panama is a lot like living in a more tropical, less traditional part of the United States.

Why wouldn’t you choose Panama retirement? The alternative, retirement in a typical American suburb, is so boring, repetitious and blase; while the former provides opportunities for adventure and tranquility different from the traditional Florida retirement experience.

The beaches in Central America, Panama particularly, are some of the world’s best. Clean white beaches, turquoise waters and island breezes blowing over the sea provide an ideal retirement setting. What more could you ask for?

When you first go out to a restaurant in Panama, the one thing you might notice is the lack of fresh fruit on the menu. While it is true that fruit is plentiful and delicious in Panama, it is not served as readily or as often in restaurants here when compared to other countries. However, that doesn’t mean that fruit is not available here. On the contrary, fruit is readily sold in carts in marketplaces, on the beaches, and even along side the road. As long as you wash it before consuming, it is a great source of nutrition and you can get a small thrill from eating locally.

Living in Panama will also provide you with a lot more fish in your diet than you might have previously had. Shrimp, corvina (a fish found in this region), and ceviche are all staples of Panamanian cuisine.

You can find many gated communities that have fantastic amenities like pools, tennis courts, and easy move ins! You can definitely bet that you’re moving to a well kept and beautiful place when you choose a community like this. They usually have something like a home owners association that manages the upkeep and care of the buildings.

Also, when you move there you will find that the Panama cost of living is significantly lower than other countries like America. You might find a brilliant, large, and beautiful home in a gated community for $300,000. Compare that to the New York City price of $600,000 for a small, cramped one bedroom in a decent neighborhood.

Really, purchasing a home should be easy, stress free, and somewhat relaxing. That’s exactly what Andromeda Pedasi is trying to achieve!