Panama top retirement spot for 2016

By Jeremy Jones

PANAMA has  again been ranked as the number one destination for retirement, according to the “Annual Global Retirement Index 2016” produced by International Living magazine.

Apart from those who want to create new roots  in the “bridge of the world”, Panama  is   expanding  as a tourist destination aided by an increasing number of airlines Like Turkish, Emirates and Virgin,  providing direct flights to Tocumen International Airport making it worthy of its name as the hub of the Americas

New “settlers” can  count on  multiple discovery explorations.

With the only subway system in Central America,    and bids upcoming for  the fourth bridge across the canal and a widening of highways across the Isthmus, a  Metro running into Panama  West and discussions underway for a possible rail link deep into the interior,  tourism promises to play an increasing role in the national economy.

For the retiree there are year round discovery opportunities in Panama city and across the Isthmus.

In the city  Casco Viejo (Antinguo)  Panama Viejo and natural parks, including Metropolitan  Park, (so unspoiled that  the Audubon Society organizes regular tours for bird watchers),  are some of the favorite tourist sites.

The unique  Bio Museo and the Panama Canal Interocean, head a list of 32 museums in the capital.

Beaches with crystal clear waters, and famed surfing sites vie with areas for adventure tourism and mountain walks and sites of historical and cultural value enrich the tourism experience of tourism in Panama, a potpourri that added to large dining,  air travel  and hotel discounts ,  help  explain its retirement ranking

Chiriqui with its cool climate and mountain landscapes,  provides  a different flavor for tourists and retirees and no visit is complete without visiting  Boquete’s coffee plantations and Cerro Punta with  a walk along the Quetzal  path and a tour of the Barriles archaeological site  , says Gilberto Alemancia.

Another place to see, closer to Panama,  is El Valle de Anton, Cocle, for “its traditional market, its country atmosphere and the hill of the Sleeping Indian, where a  walk becomes an adventure,”  say the guides

El Valle is also renowned for its hot springs, and zoo and its center for breeding the threatened golden frog.

The El Caño Archaeological Park, with   pre-Hispanic and pre-Columbian graves; agritourism farms, Sarigua National Park the  La Yeguada Forest Reserve, in Veraguas , beaches in Guna Yala and Bocas Del Toro and the historic forts in Portobelo Colon are all on the “must see”  list while Isla Coiba’s “natural, unspoiled  scenery is  a perfect environment for sea life, diving and snorkeling.”

So “retirement” in Panama, can become an ongoing discovery exploration.