Pedasi Panama

The Azuero Peninsula is known to be the heartland of Panamanian country life and folklore.  Many of the residents in the countryside are ranchers and dairy farmer, who still use practices from many years ago. As you drive through the country side, you may see a milk truck picking up large cans of milk. Ranchers’ driving their cattle across the road is a common occurrence.

Please use caution as you drive. 
 During your stay in the area, you may see a neighbor taking his horses for a swim in the ocean.  It is a beautiful site. Your visit to the Azuero peninsula will feel like a trip back to a simpler time, when children are free to play and living life was easier.

As in many other countries, Carnival marks the beginning of lent. There is no better place to see the Panamanian Carnival than in Las Tablas city.

You can find different types of ceramic art at La Arena in Chitre city.  Many artists work in the back room of the shops.  They will be glad to personalize your purchases with your name or the year, or what ever you wish.

Isla Iguana is located near to Pedasi city (8kms from the coast).  It is a natural island preserve protected by the government of Panama. It covers approximately 55 hectares and has 16 of the 21 species of corals located in the Pacific waters of Panama. As a result of the coral reef off shore, the island has white sand beaches.  Hike the trails and climb to the top of the light house for a view of the Pacific. 
The best time of the year for diving at Isla Iguana, is from April to December. From January to March the waters are affected by strong northerly winds and upwelling currents coming out of the south from Peru. This is not to say you can’t dive here year round however conditions can change day to day during January to March.

 Iguana Island is also home to approximately 5000 frigate birds. No services are located on the island so one needs to bring all their own food and water. Ask locals about the National park fee.

El Ciruelo Beach is just 20min by car far from Pedasi.  It is a natural port for boats.  Many of the local fishermen and fishing tour bouts use this port, as it is near to the Frailes Islands North and South.  These islands are rocks in the middle of the ocean with no beaches. You will find exceptional deep sea fishing in this area because the Continental plate drops 500ft to 800ft just 25 kms/13.5 miles offshore. There you can catch tuna, mahi mahi, Wahoo, Spanish macarel, amber jacks, sailfish etc,

The Achotines Laboratory is located near by El Ciruelo Beach.  At this laboratory, Tuna and other species of fish are raised and studied.  Tours of the facility are welcomed.

Whale watching time is from July to September.  The Humpback whales are migrating from South America to the warmer waters of the tropics. 
You may see Whale sharks year round but they are further out to sea during the months of January to April.  Pods of Orcas are sometimes seen in this area year round.

Just a short ride from Pedasi you can hit the waves at Playa Venado.  Surfers from all over the world come to ride the waves during the day and have a few beers at night.

Photo by Fidel Ponce Photography

Isla Canas is a wildlife refuge just 20min from El Ciruelo by car and 5 min more in a pang boat to cross from town to the Island.   Sea turtles are here year round and very common during the months of September to October when they arrive in large numbers to lay their eggs at Isla Canas. Migratory birds from South America, Alaska (El Agallito beach) and turtle nesting on the Canas Island.

1 hour from El Ciruelo Beach by car you can get into the Cambutal town, the best place to billfish around the Azuero Peninsula, and also another point of surf (rocks). The road is not in a good shape from Canas until Cambutal, 4×4 trucks are recomended.

Average T: air 30c-86F, water 27c-81F

In Pedasi, Los Santos Province, Panama, who would have thought you could find great barbeque. Pedasi is a rural town near to the Pacific Coast and great fishing. Pedasi’s claim to fame is its deep-sea fishing charter operators. More recently real estate development has caught on in the corner of paradise.

But, surprise, surprise, right in Pedasi Panama you can get great barbeque as well as a good, US style steak. To understand the difference in steaks you would need to live here, but suffice it to say that cutting the meat very thin and overcooking it, is not how most of us want our t-bone steak.

But how, you ask? The answer is an American who came “home” to Panama. Remember that the USA built and then operated the Panama Canal for virtually all of the 20th century. Joe Dusek was born in Panama when his dad was in the military. As in the USA, being born here means that you have citizenship here. Although Joe Dusek returned to live his live in the USA and in the US Navy he never forgot Panama.

Joe Dusek returned to Panama, to the corner of paradise called Pedasi, and opened a restaurant named, what else, but Gringo Joe’s.

Gringo Joe’s has good, rural Panama prices and the ambiance of a small town restaurant. Besides the barbeque and steaks, the rest of the menu is good food and good prices served with a smile.

You could do a lot worse in life than move to the coast near Pedasi, Panama and drive into town in the evenings to eat at Gringo Joe’s.

Pedasi Panama is on the point of the Azuero Peninsula in Los Santos Province in the Republic of Panama. Pedasi is about three and a half hours by car from Panama City and its Tocumen International Airport. Going up the Pacific Coast from Pedasi are some very impressive surfing beaches. Settle in to one of Pedasi’s comfortable hotels and let Panama Travel Group help you arrange a tour of surfing beaches.

A short drive from Pedasi is Playa Venado where waves get as high as 2.5 meters and wave fronts are as wide as 150 meters. This is a reliable surfing area and a good place to start. There are web sites dedicated to reporting conditions for Playa Venado, so you can check out the conditions before coming.

Farther up the coast from Pedasi is Santa Catalina where it is said you can find the most consistent, powerful break and easy to line up big waves in Central America. Going up the coast from Pedasi, you will find surf that at times has faces up to eight meters high. There are also areas with more tame waves and surfing camps offering lessons.

Starting at Pedasi, you can tour the beautiful hills along the Pacific Coast going North to Tonosi and Cambutal and the Bay of Parita to East and South. There are gorgeous beaches in both directions just waiting for your footprints and surfboard.

Although you want to ride the waves, a little time exploring is good for the soul and the area around Pedasi is beauty itself. Between days surfing you may just want to take a picnic lunch packed at your hotel and head for one of the many bluffs overlooking the ocean to spend a quiet day.

Isla Iguana is a wildlife refuge island located 5 km from firm land in the Azuero peninsula, on the Pacific side of Panama. Pedasi is the nearest town and the best bet for crossing over by boat.

The land is dry tropical forest and its beaches are surrounded by 14 species of coral forming over 40 hectares of reef. There are various hiking trails where you can see lots of seabirds and the huge iguanas the island was named after. These trails cross Isla Iguana and take the visitors from Cirial Beach in the east to El Faro beach in the west.

Underwater is a whole different world in Isla Iguana. Its waters are home to more than 700 hundred species of tropical fish and are visited by hunchback whales.

Here they give birth and to teach their young to dive. It is also common to see various species of turtles near the coral reefs. The unique surroundings of Isla Iguana invite you to enjoy its water with activities like fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

The facilities in Isla Iguana are just enough to spend the day and enjoy its surroundings. They consist of a shack for visitors and fishermen, a visitor center, hiking trails and a camping area. The best time to visit Isla Iguana is from May to December, since the strong winds of the dry season will make it difficult to visit the island. The area is of impressive beauty and the Isla Iguana Foundation works to keep it that way. For that reason, visitors are asked to bring their own food and trash cans and be very conscious of their surroundings.

El boom de las bienes raíces en Pedasi ha dado duro. Y todo el mundo, al parecer, esta brincando ante las oportunidades: Expatriados buscando un segundo hogar lejos del frío, inversionistas interesados en construir el próximo gran proyecto, y hasta celebridades deseando desconectarse de las ciudades. La tierra que antes costaba menos de $3 por metro cuadrado, ahora se esta vendiendo por aproximadamente $20 por metro cuadrado.

Porque Pedasi se esta convirtiendo en el lugar predilecto para comprar tierra? Visionarios aseguran que Pedasi es una joya natural, que recuerda a Toscana y Costa Rica en los 1980’s. Con su localización privilegiada en la península de Azuero en la costa Pacifica de Panamá, a cerca de 5 horas de la Ciudad de Panamá, sus preciosas playas y pesca de primera orden van a complacer a aquellos que buscan lo mejor de la naturaleza sin la sensación de que están en un destino diseñado para turistas.

La tierra todavía es económica, pero quien realmente puso a Pedasi en el mapa fue la ex presidenta de Panamá, Mireya Moscoso, quien es de Pedasi y se aseguro de mejorar los recursos del pueblo. Moscoso se aseguro que su pueblo natal tuviera buenas carreteras e utilidades, y reparo una pequeña pista de aterrizaje y otros proyectos de infraestructura.

Hoy día Pedasi esta en transición: Todavía no es el gran paraíso frente al mar para aquellos que buscan un lugar tranquilo con amenidades sofisticadas, pero esta en camino. La tierra se esta agotando y los proyectos estan en curso. La administración de Pedasi esta resolviendo asuntos sobre como construir sin exterminar los recursos naturales, y lento pero seguro, están abriendo negocios alrededor del pueblo preparandose para lo que viene.

Art in general has always been encouraged by the Panamanian government and its people. You might not find a massive market for art here in Panama, yet that doesn’t mean it’s not big and appreciated locally and even internationally. I believe it’s just a matter of how far the country wants to take its art, commercialize art or keep it real. Pedasi has always preferred keeping it real.

It doesn’t matter where you are in Pedasi, art is found everywhere. It is a beautiful thing to have available when visiting. I had heard of the art movement before visiting Pedasi the first time, so I set out and tried visiting some of the places my friends spoke so highly of. The first thing you might want to pick up are pots from one of the various pottery stores scattered throughout the town. You won’t believe how beautiful these pots are and they’re all designed by the vendors. Well, most of them at least. A lot of them can get a little pricey but if you find something that really catches your attention, the price won’t be a problem.

You can also try getting some of the beautiful paintings the local artists have for sale. Many of them were inspired by the endless landscapes of Pedasi, but some of them are abstract. There is so much to see when it comes to art in Pedasi, you won’t feel disappointed. Pedasi is always going to be a town of art and good will, that’s why I love it.

Andromeda Country Club will be a collection of colonial style homes on the Pacific Coast near Pedasi Panama. This luxury development will take advantage of the talents of architects Mallol and Mallol’s in designing homes with spectacular ocean views, open to the coastal breezes.

Pedasi has one of the last beautiful and undeveloped coastlines in Panama. Lying at the tip of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, Pedasi has a golden summer, dry and beautiful for December to May. In Panama’s winter Pedasi turns verdant green. Year round fishing off the coast from Pedasi is a sportsman’s dream.

Andromeda Country Club will be a gated community of 100 acres with twenty-four hour security and on site management personnel. Amenities will include, walking trails, a pool, a gym and spa, courts for tennis, volleyball, and basketball, and a playground for the kids. Andromeda Country Club will have high speed internet and an on-site business center. In the plans, is an open-air lounge for live music.

While the Andromeda Country Club site will be spectacular, the Pedasi area offers endless opportunity for daily adventures including, snorkeling and scuba diving around the many offshore islands and surfing along the coastline. This is an area of great natural beauty that will please you every time you go out to explore.

Andromeda Country Club is taking reservations for lots. You can start building right away or, if you wish you can buy your lot and wait up to five years to build the home of your dreams. The architects have excellent plans to take advantage of Pedasi’s environment, but are perfectly willing to work with you to build exactly the home that you want.

Finding a great place to stay at in Pedasi won’t be a problem for anyone. Especially, if you’re willing to spend a little more than expected for a decent room and customer service. The Casita Margarita Hotel is quite small, but considered to be one the best hotels in Pedasi.

Don’t expect anything too fancy at the Casita Margarita Hotel. It was constructed to house enough visitors in a comfortable and humble manner, that’s it. You don’t want to be stuck in a hotel when there’s a vast and gorgeous beach out there, waiting for you to dive into her. Nevertheless, you might want to enjoy the soft beds and nice room layout the hotel has to offer. The room service at this place surprisingly met my full expectations and the employees are just filled with life and good will. I had a chance to meet a lot of these people and apparently the hotel likes treating their employee’s properly, encouraging them to treat their visitors even better. Great way of doing business if you ask me.

It’s a great place, but you might just want to sleep, take a short nap and enjoy the beach afterward like it should be. There’s nothing better than coming back from a nice trip at the beach and feeling like at home. Casita Margarita Hotel has so much to offer and you won’t regret it.

Reserve this hotel: info@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama)

1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)

Pedasi has to be one of the most relaxing and peaceful towns I’ve ever visited. The town radiates with the spirit of the sea and the atmosphere just feels glorious. I love the fact that the locals are so gracious to tourists and most of all, to each other. That is admirable in every sense. The thoughts of buying a small house in Pedasi haunts me everyday and it will until I finally buy one. This place is just incredibly peaceful.

A lot of art and goods are sold on the streets thanks to the locals. Watch out for some of the pricey vendors, you might able to convince them into lowering the price a little.

There’s a variety of lodging options in Pedasi for you to choose from, so don’t worry about not having a place to stay. Hotel options include the Residencial Pedasi, the Pension Moscoso, Dims Hostel, Casita Margarita, Casa de Campo, La Rosa de los Vientos and Hostal Dona Maria.

Residencial Pedasi Hotel

Don’t expect too much partying. It is a small town that closes its streets at 9 PM. If you want to party all night, take it over to the beach and watch the sunrise with the rest of your friends. Aside from that, you can do both partying and relaxing. Either way, Pedasi is a great place to take it easy for a while.

The Pedasi business community, in conjunction with the Panama chamber of Commerce and the ATP, has worked together to open an exciting new flight route in Panama.

The drive to Pedasi can take up to 5 hours.  Now, with this 12 passenger flight, tourists, investors and area business people will be able to get to Pedasi in under an hour.

WHEN?
First flight to launch on February 5th, 2010

FLIGHT SCHEDULE
Flights departing Friday & Monday

12:31pm — Departs Albrook
1:26pm — Arrives Pedasi

1:41pm — Departs Pedasi
2:36pm — Arrives Albrook

COST: Approx $155.50 round trip, depending on gas tax