Is it really a surprise that so many of us are looking for the same thing? That special piece of freedom we often dream about but which is no longer affordable in the USA or in the UK. It could be called a country estate, or perhaps a gentleman's farm in the British sense of the term. That means a country estate where we have room to garden, own horses, ride in the open spaces and live life as it ought to be lived. Do such places still exist at a price we can afford?

La Pintada stands head and shoulders above many of the properties being offered in Panama; and with good reason. La Pintada is located in an area that is blessed with a cooling Caribbean breeze that blows off of the nearby Caribbean sea. This breeze keeps La Pintada at a wonderful average daily temperature of around 75° Fahrenheit (23° Celsius), and there is no humidity.

A modern community in a tranquil forest, the estate is located in rolling hills with two separate rivers running through it. Yes, river front lots are available, in addition to many stunning higher elevation view lots. There are mountainous peaks on the property where eagles fly, to which you can climb, and enchanting trails that criss cross the property which are currently being altered into more developed trails for walking, jogging, bicycle riding and equestrian use. 

The developers of La Pintada Estates have chosen to maintain conservative building standards to protect the value of the development, keeping a Spanish Colonial motif, with tile roofs and earth tone colors, and excluding such eyesores as concertina wire fences. All houses will have individual septic tanks, power, water and broadband connections - - and the developers' standards guarantee that individual homes will contribute to, rather than detract from the quality of life.

"To insure your investment, La Pintada is fully titled and has a Title Insurance Policy for the entire property by Stewart Title, based in the U.S."

Lightly over an hour from Panama City, La Pintada Estates is located in Coclé province. It's a smooth and interesting drive along the Pacific coast highway; and just at the turn off to La Pintada is Penonome; Panama's fourth largest city, and also the center of commerce and culture in Coclé province. By the time you get to the quaint village of La Pintada, life has already unwound and you are less than five minutes from the La Pintada Estates.

Penonome is typical of the interior cities of Panama, and with its nice-sized hospital, restaurants, schools for all grades for children and also a University satellite branch it is precisely what is required for country living. Many intellectuals, poets, artists and Panamanian politicians have come from Penonome. It is a vibrant, colorful place, bustling with commerce and night-life but with a small-town pace. There is also a small airport in Penonome for charter or private airplane flights. In short, you'll have all the necessities of life available, but you are far enough away so you have the serenity that you need. The name Penonome comes from an ancient indian ritual known as the Feast of the Penitents. Penonome became famous in the last century because it produced Panama's most famous 20th century president: Arnulfo Arias. Penonome today is a wealthy small town that provides modern banking services to the rich agricultural community that surrounds it. It is also known as one of best towns to go wild in during Carnival.

The village of La Pintada is quaint to the point of being a photographers dream; and even sports its own cigar factory. La Pintada is a town which is also known for its artisans that still fabricate the famous “Panama Hats” in addition to producing hand rolled cigars. La Pintada, in English means “the paintings” which describes the etchings on boulders carved by ancient indigenous inhabitants of the area. The village of La Pintada is only a few minutes from La Pintada Estates, and has two large grocery stores -- one of which doubles as a general store with hardware, bicycles, etc. as well as being stocked with fresh seafood. Although the drive to Penonome is a tranquil twenty minute country drive when you need to go to the 'big city'; the village of La Pintada closer and is convenient for that quick trip to the store. You don't have to pay the price of Sonoma, Aspen or Carmel to live the kind of lifestyle you're seeking; it's available at La Pintada at a price you can afford.

Beaches? - You're just minutes away from your choice of several beaches. Panama is beaches; with Caribbean beaches and Pacific coast beaches. Pacific beach resorts are just minutes from La Pintada - golf courses, theaters, cultural & archaeological museums as well as historic sites. Add in three, yes three; eighteen-hole, seventy-two par championship golf courses. The all-inclusive Decameron beach resort - Playa Blanca - and several other well worthy beaches. Plus exploration of every imaginable type and sports travel. You could explore in Panama for ten years and not see it all.

If you've always wanted to own horses - for yourself, your kids, or your grand kids, La Pintada opens up that possibility without any of the hassle that goes along with owning horses that exists in a nation where a stable boy costs you $3,000 a month. In Panama you can expect to pay $200 to $300 a month for attentive responsible service. Think how happy you're favorite granddaughter will be to own her own horse when she visits grandma and grandpa. There are creeks to play in, trails to explore and a large flower filled property to play on. Visiting grandma and grandpa will be the highlight memories of her youth. ...and in Panama, you can afford the sort of lifestyle that will allow such luxuries. 

The price for horses in Panama is many times lower than in either the USA, Canada or in the UK. - Easy to own, easy to care for; with a stable boy available for very little cost.

Gardening should also be mentioned. Panama is a gardeners dream. It has been said that if you plant a two by four it grows, and indeed many of the posts used for fencing on farms do sprout branches and leaves. Indeed that is true. The soil in Panama, much of it called black soil, is so rich that almost anything grows and grows well. Plus you'll see plants in the nurseries and in the forest that are like nothing you've ever seen before. Add in exotic fruits, and absolutely amazing trees... and you can also have a pond and water garden - - with a river front lot there are some interesting possibilities. You're going to have a garden that will be world class when you live at La Pintada. Again, keep in mind that you can hire a gardener, for when you are not there, or to assist you when you are there. The cost is minimal, the service is conscientious. 

The fact is you can finally afford to live the sort of lifestyle you've always dreamed about in nation that welcomes foreigners. There is all but zero violent crime in Panama; and in Coclé province crime is all but unknown. The town of La Pintada has no crime.

Birding? Wildlife? According to Lonely Planet Panama's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travelers. This oft-overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkeling and hiking in the Americas.

In La Pintada you can choose to build your own house for roughly $50.00 a square foot, with a contractor of your choice. (There are many qualified builders available.) If La Pintada Estates builds the house for you, it will be roughly $65.00 per square foot, turnkey. In any case this means that you can own a brand new 2000 square foot home on a two-acre lot in this spectacular and ideal location for as little as $220,000. Of course there are many sizes and styles to choose from. La Pintada Estates' large lot sizes, many of which are two acres or more, give you privacy from your neighbors, but you are still within a gated community so you are not alone. There are large green areas that will not be built upon that are reserved for natural parks and trails for horses, bicycles and walking. But this is also a thoroughly modern community, with satellite Television and community wireless broadband high speed internet. (You can watch almost any program on Direct TV that you can in the USA or Canada; inluding sports, movies, entertainment, news. CNN and BBC News are also available.)

Prices for lots will start at U.S. $120,000 for 2 acres and the prices will rise in Phases two and three. Smaller, less expensive lots are also available. Local building costs are approximately U.S.$50.00 per square foot, so a 2000 square foot house will cost around U.S. $100,000 to build.

La Pintada is unique because it is a large gated development of 415 acres, that will offer lot sizes of 2 acres or more for building a home on. It is one of the few such developments in Panama. Unlike other developments in Panama, the town of Penonome being close by will not give the residents the feeling of isolation. Being an easy one or two hour drive from Panama city without having to negotiate mountainous roads is a nice benefit also. La Pintada has its cooling breezes at a lower temperature because of its unique location.

This newly built hotel and restaurant was built as part of a large 400 acre real estate development, to cater to clients visiting the development and for clients to stay in while building their houses. This hotel has also the potential to house executives that are working at a very large gold and copper mine in the area, that are commuting farther away in Penonome every night to sleep. The development is being built as an ecologically friendly, high end, nature freindly equestrian themed development. In addition to the hotel, there is approximately 2.7 Hectares (6.7 acres) of buildable land with beautiful river frontage to accomodate hotel expansion and building a home for the new hotel owners.

The hotel has 8 rooms, each with bathroom, shower and new split air conditionioning units (not window units). There is also an office, a kitchen for a restaurant and a large Bohio, (thatched gazeebo) area for restaurant seating, with seating for 20 people and room for more. There is also a deep swimming area in the river a short walk that is part of the property. Hotel guests will have access to the hiking and horse trails throughout the 400 acre development and the surrounding area.

• Hotel - 8 rooms, total area of hotel rooms is 1605 square feet.
• Office- 123.5 square feet with Split Air Condition.
• Kitchen- 247 square feet with refrigerator, gas range, washer and dryer.
• Dining Area- 120 square feet.

The Lot if sold as part of the development would be sold at $432,000 US

8 Hotel Rooms at 60.00 US per night x 20 nights 2/3 occupancy would value hotel at $960,000 US

Owners are selling lot and hotel and restaurant for only the value of the Hotel at $960,000 US

The Owners are selling because they are busy managing the development and want some one else to focus their efforts on the hotel restaurant portion to better serve their potential clients.

The advantages of our development are as follows:

1. Very safe, no crime area.
2. Secluded, uncrowded development, but close to 2 nice clean towns, and less than 2 hours from Panama city.
3. Public transportation from the development all the way into Panama city or all over the country.
4. Early prices are a bargain for Panama right now.
5. Cooler climate, but not cold like the highlands (Boquette).
6. Very beautiful landscape, with 2 rivers and mountain views.
7. Extremely low cost of living. Full time live in maid 150.00 per month, gardener and driver same. Restaurants and groceries are extremely cheap also, especially away from Panama City. You can live very comfortable on Social Security here.
8. Only 40 Minutes to Pacific Beaches and Golf Resorts and 40 minutes to Caribbean.
9. New International Airport being built in Penonome, 15 minutes away that will have direct flights.
10. Next boom area of Panama.

Okay, what more can we say? Golf, birding, equestrian, water gardens, flower gardens, open spaces, beaches, gentle breezes, low cost hired help, broad band internet, Direct TV, Toucan songs, parrots, trails to walk, neighbors that correspond to your lifestyle, low prices, access to local convenience markets, access to Panama City, and its a few hours away from Miami. It's going to sell fast; because it sells itself. We suggest that it's the deal you've been looking for at a price you can afford. 'Nuf said.