A Simple Life of Beaches and BBQ in Pedasí
In a golden corner of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, around a five-hour drive from Panama City, sits the town and corregimiento of Pedasí. Home to a population of just 5,000 or so, there’s a village-like atmosphere here.
Indeed, Pedasí’s roots as a fishing village are strong. This is Panama’s “Tuna Coast” after all and many locals rely on these waters for their livelihoods. It’s this old-fashioned charm that appeals to the scores of expats who have chosen to make their home in this special part of Panama.
While the district of Pedasí has come a long way in recent years—it has good roads connecting the Pan-American Highway to the principal towns of the gulf coast (Chitré, Las Tablas, and Pedasí) and is becoming a more well-known spot among digital nomads which means the internet connection is improving—it remains a place best suited to the more pioneering expat.
Farms, or fincas, make up a large part of the area around Pedasí. The road leading into and away from town is lined with farmland. Locals mostly get around on foot, by bike, or occasionally on horseback.
The economic mainstays here are still cattle ranching, fishing, and farming rice, corn, and sugarcane… Local artisans still handmake unique products the same way they have been for generations, meaning you can find fantastic deals on anything from custom furniture for your home to earthenware that follows ancient designs and methodology.
There is a small regional public hospital in Pedasí, but for major care you need to make the one-hour drive to Chitré or return to Panama City. You could also drive to David in Chiriquí and receive care in one of the private hospitals there like Hospital Chiriquí or Centro Médico Mae Lewis.
Getting to Pedasí, Panama
Pedasí is situated on the southeastern most tip of the Azuero Peninsula, and you can access it from Panama City by bus or car.
Buses leave from the Albrook bus terminal in Panama City and go as far as Las Tablas, then you need to shift to a small van-sized bus for the final 40 kilometers to Pedasí.
Alternatively, you can drive into the interior on the Pan American Highway and when you reach Divisa you take the overpass to the road to Chitré. You will pass through Chitré, Los Santos, Las Tablas, and then finally enter Pedasí. It takes about five hours to drive from Panama City to Pedasí.
Cost of Living in Pedasí, Panama
Like most places in the interior of Panama, Pedasí offers a good quality of life for a low cost––especially if you decide to cut back on imported goods and live like a local.
To rent a two-bedroom house or apartment, you’ll pay about $650 a month, though places for as little as $500 can be found, too. A doctor’s appointment will set you back around $20 and they’re often willing to make house calls. You can get Spanish lessons for $75 a week for individual tutoring. Eating out can be less than $5 for breakfast or lunch and about $10 for dinner. If you cut back on imported goods, your retirement savings will expand accordingly.
If you’re happy to stay in town, your transportation expenses could be as low as zero dollars a month, as you can get anywhere in town with a comfortable pair of shoes and your own two feet. That said, if you plan to head out of town often, want to shoot into the big city from time to time to pick up supplies, or need ongoing care at a hospital, factor a car and running costs into your budget.
You can rent a small, local-style home from around $650 a month—on long-term leases you could lower this so as little as $500. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes, furnished and with a private pool, can be found for $1,200 a month. Upscale apartments in gated communities rent around the $2,000 a month price point.
You can find smaller one- and two-bedroom homes for sale from under $120,000. Three-bedroom homes with private pools start at under $200,000 and luxurious, ocean-view villas under $400,000. Lots for sale can be found from as little as $25,000.
A couple could live in Pedasí on a monthly budget of about $2,000. A single should budget around $1,800 a month. Here’s a rough guide…
Things to Do in Pedasí, Panama
Almost every recreational activity around Pedasí is related to the sea: a trip to Isla Iguana (a 53-hectare wildlife reserve a 20-minute boat ride away), deep-sea fishing from a panga (a small, open fishing boat), diving, snorkeling and, of course, surfing.
The Azuero Peninsula is bordered on its 60-mile-long southern coast by the mighty Pacific with nothing to stop the swells which build from the south and west to culminate in some of Panama’s finest surf. Playa Venao’s impressive waves attract surfers from around the world and the beach is famous for hosting big international surf competitions.
The town is also a sport fisherman’s dream. Just a kilometer offshore the continental shelf drops off into super deep waters… Pedasí is called the Tuna Coast in fishing circles because of the large numbers of yellowfin tuna found in its waters (not to mention sailfish, red snapper, marlin, grouper, and more).
Pedasí sits in an amazing location between two highly favored and world-famous fishing spots—close to Hannibal Bank and a half-day’s trip away from the renowned Tropic Star Lodge at Piñas Bay in Darien, boasting more than 200 world records. Pedasí is also a great spot for light tackle enthusiasts.
Pedasí is also one of the best places to see the annual migration of humpback whales; watching these magnificent mammals from your kitchen window is a rare treat. The main whale-watching season is from June to November. You can spot various types of dolphin most of the year as well as whale sharks, rays, and other extraordinary marine life.
A huge reason to come to Pedasí is the beaches, all of which are easy to get to. Playa El Toro is a beautiful spot where you can swim, lay out on the soft sand, or surf. Playa Garita is the calmest, safest beach in the area, mostly visited by residents of Andromeda and BellaMar private developments. Playa El Arenal is the beach where most of the local fishermen park their boats ashore and the launch point for trips to Isla Iguana.
Isla Iguana is a wildlife refuge not far off Pedasí’s shores. Crystal clear water stretches out over white sandy beaches. It’s a favorite place to unwind, nap, party, picnic, camp out (yes, some people do stay the night), and of course go snorkeling and diving. This wildlife refuge is home to over 62 bird species, the black iguana, as well as a wide variety of marine wildlife including rays, eels, and five species of sea turtles.
In addition, the Azuero Peninsula is the heartland of Panama’s traditional culture, and festivals, fairs, and celebrations closely linked to Panamanian folklore take place throughout the year…
In March or April comes Semana Santa (Holy Week), or Easter, which brings colorful religious processions.
At the end of April is the International Azuero Fair, similar to an American country fair where livestock is showcased and agricultural products and services are sold and traded. It takes place in La Villa de los Santos (about one hour away from Pedasí) and attracts hundreds of thousands of people.
In June is the Festival of Corpus Christi, during which La Villa de Los Santos erupts in dancing and merrymaking, with amazing Diablicos—men dressed in red and black striped jumpsuits with intricate and ornate devil masks, romp about town.
During the Pollera Festival, around a thousand women and girls dress in the elaborate national dress known as pollera, a colorful, folkloric dress, for a parade and crowning of a queen.
Safety in Pedasí, Panama
Pedasí is a calm and safe town. No place is immune to petty theft, but there are no major crimes being reported. Just take all the regular precautions you would normally take when anywhere else in the world and you’ll be fine. Keep your belongings on you at all times, lock up when you leave home, lock your car, avoid flashing large amounts of money, and don’t dress to attract attention.
Health Care in Pedasí, Panama
Pedasí has a small public health clinic, Centro de Salud, located near the town center, where you can have basic ailments tended to. But a better option for meeting your health care needs is to go to Chitré, about an hour away, where there are hospitals available.
The best medical care in eastern Azuero is available at the Regional Hospital Anita Moreno in La Villa de los Santos and Dr. Gustavo Nelson Collado Hospital and Policlínica Dr. Roberto Ramírez De Diego in Chitré.
Expats, for the most part, “go naked” in Pedasí, i.e., they don’t have medical insurance and pay out of pocket for their medical needs. Costs are inexpensive compared to States, costing from $15 to $25 for a doctor’s consultation.
For any more serious illnesses, the best care in the country is found in Panama City, where you’ll find Johns Hopkins-affiliated Punta Pacífica Hospital, state of-the art technology, and high-quality treatment.
Weather in Pedasí, Panama
Pedasí is located in a region known as the Dry Arc, or Arco Seco. This dry arc offers breezes that lower the humidity of this region and it is a welcome respite from the normal heat and humidity.
Most days temperature can range between 73°F to 86°F (23° to 30°C). And, during the rainy season you can expect around 79 inches of rain.
During the winter, from December to January, Pedasí is dry as it coincides with Panama’s “summer” (aka dry season). Much of Panama is dry, but in Pedasí the green becomes brown, and you experience a dry tropical forest, something unique and endangered worldwide.
Rainy season hits from July to November, and throughout the year, you’re likely get around 79 inches of rainfall. Safely outside the Atlantic Hurricane Belt, hurricanes rarely make landfall in Panama. One form of extreme weather that could affect Pedasí is drought, particularly during El Niño years.
Map Of Pedasí, Panama
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