Each property listing on the following pages includes a short description of the type of property, and the listings show a basic amount of information.

In personal properties (residences, duplex, and condominiums), you will find the price (rental or sale), the amount of bedrooms and the amount of bathrooms, classified by the socioeconomic class (Cl.) of the area where the property is located.

In commercial properties, the information includes the size of the construction area or the land area. For commercial space and storage buildings, the construction area is included in Sq. Mts. and Sq. Ft.

Buildings and smaller parcels of land are listed with their land area, also in Sq. Mts. and Sq. Ft.

Larger land plots and rural land (farms) are listed in hectares and acres.

Since the different areas of Panama would have no meaning to a foreigner, I have divided the areas within the city of Panama into six (6) socioeconomic classifications. I then divided the rest of the country into nine (9) areas according to the provinces.

The six classifications within the City of Panama are the following:

A = High Class: Most of the residents in these areas are investors, business owners, doctors, lawyers, high government officials, etc. They are usually wealthy by inheritance, profession, or position. The properties in these areas are usually in the higher price range (rents can go from $1,200 to $2,500 or more and sales can be in the $180,000 to $500,000 or higher range). Many high level embassy staff may also be found living in these areas.

B = Middle High: The residents of these areas are usually white-collar management personnel.

C = Middle Class: The normal white-collar employee will usually be found living in these areas.

D = Low Middle to Low Class: Blue-collar workers usually occupy the areas included in this listing.

I = Investment Areas: Areas that have good potential for investment purposes are usually included in this classification.

T = Tourist Areas: This classification is reserved specifically for areas used as weekend getaways, islands, and other leisure type dwellings. Some of the areas listed here have an excellent potential for investment in hotels, resorts, land development, and other tourist activity. Many properties may be close to (or by) one of the many beaches of Panama or in the mountain areas.

# (1 through 9) = Numbers are used to classify the nine provinces of Panama (according to the alphabetical sorting used in Panama).

1. Bocas del Toro

   On the Caribbean Ocean and at the western end of Panama (bordering Costa Rica), this province is known for the banana plantations, its beautiful beaches and many islands.

2. Coclé

   Together with "Herrera", "Los Santos" and "Veraguas" it is part of the "Península de Azuero" and the "Central Provinces." This whole area is known for its tomato-derived products (ketchup, tomato paste), other crops and its tradition. You can find some of Panama's oldest towns in this area.

3. Colón

   Considered as the second most important province (after Panama), its capital, the City of Colon, is at the northern entrance (Caribbean Sea) of the Panama Canal. The world famous "Colon Free Zone" forms part of the City of Colon. Historically, in this province you will find two of the Spanish Conquest's most important ruins. The Fort of San Lorenzo, still quietly guarding the entrance (or exit) of the Chagres River, used to transport the gold taken from Peru and Mexico. The other is the remains of the Old Spanish Citadel of "Portobelo", where the gold transported down the Chagres River was stocked, waiting for the arrival of the Spanish Galleons. This made "Portobelo" one of, if not the, most important "New World" towns. Fairs and slave trade were common place activities when the Spanish Galleons arrived with goods and loaded the gold stocked there to take back to Spain. However, Colon, the province is much more than that. It has some of the most beautiful and least exploited beaches of Panama.

4. Chiriquí

   On the Pacific Ocean (southern side of the isthmus) and, like "Bocas del Toro", also at the western end of Panama (bordering Costa Rica), this province is known for coffee plantations, cattle, its beautiful flowers and mountainous areas. It is the only province in the Republic of Panama with a volcano, the "Volcán Barú" (dormant). You can actually climb to the top and walk on the inside.

5. Darién

   The only province on the east (bordering Columbia), it is the least urbanized area of Panama. You will find the densest tropical jungles here, together with the native tribe (Chocó or Emberá) that has the least contact with civilization. It is known for cattle ranches and the world famous "Bahía de Piña" (or Piña's Bay), where several world records in fishing have been won. It was a favorite place in Panama for Johnny ("Tarzan" and "Jungle Jim") Weissmuller (1904-1984) and John ("The Duke") Wayne (Marion Michael Morrison, 1907-1979).

6. Herrera

   Together with "Coclé", "Los Santos" and "Veraguas" it is part of the "Península de Azuero". This whole area is known for its sugar and other crops, the famous "Seco Herrerano" (a powerful vodka or tequila type drink made from sugar cane) and its tradition. You can find some of Panama's oldest towns in this area.

7. Los Santos

   Together with "Herrera", "Coclé" and "Veraguas" it is part of the "Península de Azuero". This whole area is known for its crops and its tradition. You can find some of Panama's oldest towns in this area.

8. Panamá

   This is the most important province of the isthmus. Its capital, the City of Panama (also the capital of the country) sits at the southern (Pacific Ocean) entrance of the Panama Canal.

   The central Government Offices are located here, including the Presidential Building housed in the "Palacio de las Garzas," Panama's equivalent of the "White House," in the United States.

   The province has developed the western areas, where most of the best known beaches (Gorgona, Rio Mar, Coronado, Santa Clara, etc.) can be found. Many have been developed into tourist areas and some have hotels, resorts or other tourist attractions, plus, of course the beaches. The eastern areas are mostly cattle areas, although there is an area in the mountains, "Cerro Azul" (Blue Mountains) that has been nicely developed.

9. Veraguas

   Together with "Herrera", "Los Santos" and "Coclé" it is part of the "Península de Azuero". This province is the only one that touches both oceans, the Pacific Ocean on the south and the Caribbean Sea on the north.

To the north of Darien, and east of Colon, you will find the world famous "San Blas Islands" occupied by the "Kuna Yala" natives (one of the five native tribes and the best known, internationally) from Panama. The other four native tribes are: "Chocó" (also known as Emberá) in Darién, the "Bokota" in Veraguas, the "Guaymíe" in Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro, and the "Teribe" on the western end of Bocas del Toro.

All native tribes have their territories protected as Native Reserves and no one can purchase and develop land there. The one exception is in San Blas, where some foreigner are given authorization by the chiefs (Sailas) to set up businesses (hotels, resorts, etc.) under special arrangements.