If you’re familiar with Panama, you’re likely familiar with Playa Venao. This popular beach town boasts an almost two-mile crescent of golden sands backed by jungle interspersed with laidback resorts and restaurants.
Venao is Panama’s premier surf destination, with consistent waves year-round that accommodate everyone from beginners to pros. It was put on the map partially by the many international surf competitions that have been hosted here over the years.
Backpackers and digital nomads followed the surfers to Venao, and it developed a reputation as a boho beach destination with low-key beach bars and hostels. A vibrant party scene took shape, with everything from salsa nights to electronic beach parties.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, Venao has exploded in popularity, and a new, more sophisticated wave of development has arrived. Quality houses and residential communities, brand-name resorts, and more advanced infrastructure continue to be developed.
Today, Venao is in a state of constant growth as more and more people make their way here—from tourists and digital nomads to expats and retirees. For property investors, Venao is an exciting prospect.
Here’s a look at a couple of property options…
Pick 1: A 1-Bedroom Units From $195,000
These 54-square-meter units feature an open-concept layout with a spacious bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen-dining area, plus a private yard. They come fully furnished with quality fixtures and furniture.
These are ideal for short-term rental, in high demand among travelers, surfers, and digital nomads. Returns up to 10% are achievable with rental management available… or you can live in your unit yourself, if you choose.
Pick 2: A 3-Bedroom Home From $295,000
Located in a separate community, this model home has 166 square meters of living space with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
With high ceilings and an open-concept kitchen-dining-living area, there’s an airy atmosphere. It comes with a splash pool, a solar panel system, and two covered parking spaces. Bigger and more deluxe versions of this home with flexible layouts are also available from $320,000 and up.
This community is nestled along the river, only 10 minutes from the beach. It’s being developed in phases, with 65 total residences spread across four phases of development. Phase one already sold out, with nine of 18 total houses already completed and five currently under construction. Phases two and three are currently available and will feature 10 and 19 houses, respectively.
An optional furniture package, including furnishing, decoration, and installation, is available from $29.5k, making this a turn-key investment. Property management—guest coordination, maintenance, and ongoing care and reporting— is also available. Projected net rental yields are at 7.2% annually.
To smooth travels and successful property buys,
