A four and a half-hour drive from Panama City, on Panama’s Pacific Coast, you will find Panama’s hidden gem: Pedasi. The small and charming fishing village of Pedasi lies on the Azuero Peninsula. And is home to the country’s best surf and known for its untouched beaches and wealth of marine life.
Pedasi has gained popularity among locals and foreigners over the past ten years as a place to live, work, and retire. It is made up of a thriving and diverse community of locals, Europeans, Americans, and more who love to call it home.
The Guide to Living in Pedasi Panama takes you on a tour of what it’s like to live in Pedasi. We cover:
- – What Pedasi Is All About
- – Cost of Living
- – Climate
- – Safety
- – Healthcare
- – Restaurants and Entertainment
- – Community Gatherings, Social Groups & Activities
- – Residency and Retirement Benefits
- – RealEstate
What is Pedasi All About?
Pedasi is a small fishing town in the province of Los Santos with a population of about 3,000. The town is popular among retirees, young couples, families, expats, entrepreneurs, and investors. The locals who have lived here for several generations get along great with newcomers. So it won’t be long before you become part of the extended Pedasi family.
People living in Pedasi enjoy a comfortable and safe quality of life in a thriving community. The serenity this little town provides is in sharp contrast with the hustle and bustle of the City. The atmosphere is laid-back and people are warm and friendly. Pedasi is one of Panama’s most traditional towns. This means that you’ll enjoy several folkloric celebrations throughout the year.
Given that Pedasi is relatively small, biking is a popular way of getting around. Supermarkets, bars, and a surprising number of great restaurants can be found nearby. Though an increasing number of services and amenities are becoming available. While new businesses spring up, Pedasi is managing to keep its original character and charm. Which is fortunate for all who know what Pedasi was like pre-tourism.
Cost of living
Pedasi tops the list of popular retirement destinations. And the cost of living is right up there for one of the reasons why. Living in Pedasi will allow you to enjoy a great lifestyle for lower than what you’d find in the US or Europe.
Giving an accurate estimation of what you’d need to budget for a couple is difficult. Mainly due to the fact that this is very much dependent on the kind of lifestyle you want to have. The great thing about Pedasi is the range of options for all budgets.
There are a number of local eateries where full course meals run as cheap as $4. You’ll also find a variety of restaurants serving American and European cuisine for $10 – $25 a head. Overall, prices in Pedasi are fairly low. This is especially in comparison to other cities in Panama. So it’s safe to say that a couple can live comfortably in Pedasi for about $1,500 to $2,000 per month.
Climate in Pedasi
Panama City is known for its hot and humid climate. In fact, foreigners can have a hard time adjusting to the city’s high temperatures and humidity.
Luckily, Pedasi, and the Azuero Peninsula generally, enjoy a drier, more favorable climate. The rainy season runs from May to December and is often seen as a refreshing and welcome change. However, showers usually only last for a few hours at a time and temperatures remain between 24° and 34° (75 to 93 F).
Safety in Pedasi
Panama is known for being one of the safest countries in Latin America. Better yet, Pedasi’s crime levels are lower still than the average. But in Pedasi, there’s a strong sense of community with a small-town feel. Here you’ll quickly get the sense that people still look after each other. This makes Pedasi a pleasant and safe choice for families and retirees in particular.
Healthcare in Pedasi
The 5,724 square meters, Minsa-Capsi public hospital is located just outside of town. Opened in June 2016, the hospital offers a wide array of services. These include general practice, gynecology, laboratory, pediatrics, orthopedics, dentistry and more.
While the Minsa-Capsi hospital is brand new and modern, note that it is still a public hospital. This means the level of English spoken is low and you may encounter some bureaucracy.
For higher quality healthcare there are numerous first-class hospitals located in Panama City. Hospital Punta Pacifica, for example, is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. Here you will find the country’s most advanced facilities and foreign-trained doctors. All of which speak English.
Another option is Hospital Anita Moreno in Chitre. Located 11⁄4 hour drive from Pedasi, and recently renovated and modernized.
Pharmacy
Farmacia Edith is a small but well-stocked pharmacy, located off the town square. Medicine is very affordable in Panama and can often be purchased over-the-counter.
In addition, retirees on the Pensionado Visa receive 10% off all prescription medicines.
Click here for more information on medical care in Pedasi and health insurance in Panama.
Restaurants Pedasi
Beaches
The Azuero region is known for its spectacular Pacific beaches. Below is an overview of some of the best and most beautiful beaches on the Azuero Peninsula for surfing, stand-up paddling or simply to relax.
- El Ciruelo: a rocky bottom point break located 20 minutes from Pedasi Panama. El Ciruelo is rarely surfed, but when conditions are perfect (big swell, no wind) this break fires off some choice left barrels.
- Playa Los Destiladeros: ideal for SUPers and ocean swimmers. The rugged coastline dotted by impressive rock formations and million-dollar mansions is breathtaking.
- Playa Panamaes: a sandy beach break and a favorite for bodyboarders because of its consistent rights and lefts. The beach is somewhat remote and is usually empty except for a few locals who take advantage of good swells. Bring an umbrella and plenty of water because there are very little shade and no services.
- Playa Venao: a world-class beach break that catches just about any swell and is best at medium to high tide. For seasoned surfers, the main break is located towards the center of the half-moon beach. While beginners can find more moderate swell and smaller crowds on either side of the bay. In short, this break is a paradise for anyone wanting an adrenaline-infused adventure.
- Playa Cambutal: a harmonious break full of rights and lefts for all types of surf. Located at the proverbial “end of the road,” the waves of Cambutal break across seven great locations. Of the seven, the three most consistent are “411”, Horcones and Corto Circuito. These breaks are for seasoned surfers, and the paddle in separates the men from the
- Isla Iguana: this idyllic and protected island is a short boat trip from Pedasi. The crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches make Isla Iguana the perfect place to enjoy.
Fishing
Panama deserves its reputation as one of the best places in the world for fishing. But more specifically, Pedasi tops those lists for sport fishing. The Azuero Peninsula, also known as the “Tuna Coast”, is home to a large number of large fish.
Why? The Humboldt Current comes closer to shore than in any other place in the Western Hemisphere. This cold current brings with it a myriad of bait and large predators. For example, tuna, wahoo, dorado, and billfish that feed on them. Unlike most places, you can catch big fish close to shore here. Meaning smaller boats with less range get anglers into the action.
The coastal waters are also healthy with snappers, jacks, roosterfish, and other species. Billfish like sailfish and marlin are also caught regularly. However, they aren’t as common and respond best to live bait like small skipjacks and sardines.
Make sure to keep an eye out for sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales in season (the latter half of the year).
Social Groups & Activities
In Pedasi Panama, you can be as busy or as disconnected as you choose.
Below is an overview of some of Pedasi’s most popular community groups, and activities.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, music lovers get together for live music at Smileys. One of Pedasi’s most popular restaurants.
Once a week, poker fanatics pit their skills against each other at the Los Vientos Beach Club. Los Vientos Beach Club is also the place to be for book lovers. (A book club is run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.) You can also take art classes, sharpen your volleyball skills, or join a community yoga class.
Yoga devotees and pilates lovers can also practice their poses at the My Shape studio in town. Other classes offered include Power Yoga, TRX, Pilates, and Metaball.
There’s no shortage of fishing clubs, horseback riding, paintball tournaments, and more. You can also do tours that get you out into nature — on land or at sea.
Residency & Retiree Benefits
Panama makes it rather easy to get residency as a foreign retiree. Panamanian Law allows any foreigner to obtain a visa under the Pensionado program. As long as you can prove an annual retirement or pension income. This can come from a foreign government, private company, or international institution. This amount must also prove that this income is enough to cover living expenses.
Once you’ve obtained residency you will have access to many benefits and discounts. These are on offer to both national and foreign retirees.
In addition, foreign retirees are entitled to two major benefits:
- – A single tax exemption on the importation of household goods (up to $ 10,000).
- – A tax exemption every two years on the importation or purchase of a car.
Real Estate
Real estate prices in Pedasi remain lower than the likes of Panama City and Coronado. All despite its popularity with Panamanians and foreigners over the last several years.
Prices generally start in the low-mid $100,000s for a simple 2-bedroom house in or close to the center of Pedasi.
If you’re looking for a little more luxury, or want to live near the beach then you will need to budget for more.
Rental prices for a 2-bedroom start at $500. The best properties are usually snapped up quickly. So even though a good number of properties are online, we recommend contacting us to inquire about Pedasi listings.
Panama Equity Real Estate
We hope that this guide has given you a better picture of what life in Pedasi Panama could be like. We would love to hear from you and look forward to answering any Panama-related questions you might have. Whether real estate-related to Pedasi or beyond!
Bruce Badger
on said
Greetings –
Been thinking about Panama in general for quite awhile. Is there an abagado/a in Pedasi that could help with pensionado residency?
Kent Davis
on said
Hi Bruce, thank you for getting in touch. Kraemer & Kraemer are a good law firm and cover the pensionado visa. Check out their website as I believe they hold webinars about the visa which would be very useful for someone like yourself who is looking into the idea of coming to Panama.