Stake Your Early Claim in Panama’s Shangri-La

Cloud-ringed Baru Volcano rises majestically beyond the Cerro Punta

Dear Reader,

If Hollywood filmmakers ever decide to shoot another remake of the classic Lost Horizon, they won’t have to go any further than Cerro Punta in Panama’s Chiriqui highlands to find their fabled Shangri-La.

Now, I’ve marveled at a fair number of stunning views during my property-scouting trips through Central and South America. But the breathtaking natural setting of this pristine region bordering Costa Rica is about as idyllic as it gets…

A landscape of verdant alpine slopes rising dramatically in all directions above remote villages and sun-bathed fertile valleys…thick forests sheltering over 700 species of birds (including the rare, multi-colored Quetzal, the now-threatened species that was sacred to the Mayans and Aztecs). The pure, cascading streams here are filled with trout…the cool mountain breezes perfumed with orchids and other exotic plants…and, dominating the southern horizon, you’ll find the impressive cloud-ringed peak of Volcan Baru.

For the buyer looking to grab up a piece of this unspoiled paradise—and the feeling of getting away from everyone and everything—the Chiriqui highlands are still a largely untapped market.

One of the best deals I’ve uncovered here is at Hacienda Las Nubes , where you can enjoy unsurpassable views of the Cerro Punta valley and the Baru volcano for as little as $50 per square meter.

When you consider that in Boquete—Panama’s most popular highland destination for expats and second-home owners—properties are selling for five times that amount, Hacienda Las Nubes offers an extremely appealing value-buy in the country’s current hot real estate market.

The project’s 67 acres are parceled into 38 lots, ranging in size from one-half to nearly two-and-a-half acres. Home plans (one- to five-bedroom models) are designed to complement the natural surroundings and optimize the awe-inspiring alpine views from your property. One-bedroom models start at $129,000, with larger homes going for roughly another $100,000 per additional bedroom.

And, unlike in other new markets that rapidly become over-developed once they catch on, at Hacienda Las Nubes you’ll never have to worry about the neighbors encroaching upon your picture postcard views. Here’s why…

Hacienda Las Nubes sits on the borders of Panama’s largest natural reserve and the Amistad International Park, the massive unspoiled national park shared between Costa Rica and Panama. Hacienda las Nubes was deeded before the creation of the parks, so the development is allowed in this protected area of primal forests and dramatic mountains.

Perched at an elevation of 2,200 meters (a little over 7,000 feet) above sea level, Hacienda Las Nubes is the highest residential project in Panama. Daytime temperatures range between a very comfortable 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but can drop to as low as 60 degrees during the night (I was glad I brought a sweater with me when I visited the property)…perfect for sitting around a cozy fire in the evenings.

The developer, an internationally known promoter of ecological awareness and conservation, is marketing Hacienda Las Nubes as Panama’s first ecological self-sustainable community—fresh mountain spring water…organic produce grown on the property…and electricity generated from the streams that cascade down the mountains.

The project’s newly-completed boutique hostel, an airy stone and native wood structure at the edge of a cloud-forest and overlooking a dramatic alpine valley, reflects the developer’s vision of a residential community in commune with nature. Here you can sip a cup of coffee or enjoy your favorite cocktail while gazing out on the formidable slopes of Volcan Baru.

Future plans for the development include a 20-room hotel (situated directly on the Continental Divide), nature trails, a working organic farm, and greenhouses.

Though the overall ambience at Hacienda Las Nubes is serene seclusion, you won’t be cut off from the rest of the world here. You’ll have access to shops, health care, and other services in the nearby towns of Cerro Punta, Volcan, and Concepcion…a local airport in Volcan…and an international airport and full-service health facilities in David about an hour and a half away.

The fertile, sun-bathed valley of Cerro Punta, just below Hacienda Las Nubes, is known as the “breadbasket of Panama,” producing nearly 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the country, and famous particularly for its strawberries. Among the remote valleys of the Chiriqui province, you’ll also find horse farms that have raised several Kentucky Derby winners, and the Finca Dracula Orchid Farm, home to one of the most complete orchid collections in Latin America.

This is definitely a perfect spot for a peaceful retirement or a hidden getaway home to escape to a couple of times a year. But keep in mind that, because of the vast natural reserves in the area, you won’t find a flood of properties coming on to the market here as in other areas of Panama…and I can safely say, none with the kind of value you’ll find at Hacienda Las Nubes.

That’s why I encourage you to click here now to take the first step in locking down your personal Shangri-La for as little as $50 per square meter at Hacienda Las Nubes.

Regards,

Margaret Summerfield
Director
Pathfinder, Ltd.