Twelve highly targeted investors from across the US arrived in Panama City May 28-30 for CHORD's Invest Panama Summit. Three days later, they departed having experienced something no webinar or marketing material could deliver: ground-truth understanding of Panama's investment landscape.
The summit proved what CHORD consistently emphasizes: there's nothing quite like experiencing a foreign country on the ground before investing in it.
Santa Maria: Quiet Luxury with Scale
The tour began at Santa Maria, a gated community developed by Grupo Los Pueblos just ten minutes from Panama City offering private retreat without abandonment of urban convenience.
Located across 284 hectares, Santa Maria features an eighteen-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a rarity in Latin America. The development spans multiple price points, accommodating various investment profiles within a single community. Attendees also explored the new Bosco project within Santa Maria.
Costa del Este: Where Business Meets Living
Costa del Este presented contrasting appeal: highly sought after for both residential and commercial investment because major multinational companies operate headquarters and regional offices throughout the area.
Employees prefer living near their offices. This proximity supports sustained rental demand independent of tourism fluctuations. Multiple malls, hospital facilities, shops, restaurants, and financial district infrastructure create a complete urban environment within a single zone.
Costa del Este demonstrated why Panama City's business hub status translates into real estate fundamentals supporting property values.
Obario's Revitalization: Urban Regeneration Opportunity
Attendees toured a unique opportunity: luxury hotel renovation converting into high-end apartments in Obarrio, Panama City's central district.
Remodeling commences next month. Watching a building in early stages of transformation illustrated urban revitalization opportunities Panama offers. Original character preservation combined with modern apartment conversion creates product matching sophisticated international tenant preferences.
This project exemplified how historic areas can be repositioned for contemporary investment appeal.
Helicopter to Playa Caracol: The Beach Opportunity
The summit's centerpiece: helicopter flight to Playa Caracol, Panama's rapidly developing Pacific coast destination.
Seven miles of white sand beach. Seventy minute drive from Panama City providing both separation and accessibility. Breathtaking natural surroundings meeting development infrastructure.
Attendees toured Margaritaville currently under construction plus multiple Grupo Los Pueblos developments. Seeing undeveloped beachfront alongside infrastructure investment illustrated the development phase opportunity: early positioning before the area fully matures.
Casco Viejo: Historic Meets Contemporary
Returning to Panama City's historic center, the group explored Casco Viejo dating to 1673. Vibrant plazas, picturesque brick-paved streets, colorful buildings combined with Gran Central urban revitalization project demonstrated how historic neighborhoods sustain tourism appeal while accommodating modern investment.
Amador Causeway and the Islands
The Amador Causeway presented Panama City's most iconic waterfront district, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.
Attendees viewed Cavarossa and Nyamara properties under construction, positioning the canal entrance as an investment backdrop. Few developments worldwide offer such distinctive geographic and economic distinction.
Ocean Reef and Ocean Leap, man-made islands developed by Grupo Los Pueblos, surround a world-class marina in Panama City's Pacific neighborhood and represent Panama's most exclusive gated community. The islands offer the best of both worlds: urban Panama City access with island privacy and premium amenities.
Playa Bonita and The Western Panama
The final stop, Playa Bonita twenty minutes outside the city across the Bridge of the Americas, showcased The Western Panama projects combining new developments with established communities.
What the Summit Proved
Attendees experienced six distinct Panama investment typologies: gated suburban communities, multinational business districts, urban revitalization, beach development, historic tourism, and waterfront exclusivity.
No single blog, webinar, or marketing material could convey what three days on the ground provided: authentic understanding of Panama's investment diversity and genuine opportunity scope.
What's Next
CHORD will host the third annual Invest Panama Summit in May 2027. For those who experienced this year's summit, save the date for next year's expanded offering. For those who missed it, mark your calendars.
There's nothing quite like experiencing Panama firsthand.
Join us for the 2027 Invest Panama Summit
May 2027 | Panama City
More details coming soon
https://chordrealestate.com/investpanamasummit
[email protected] | 615.988.1001
