Lief and I have returned to Los Islotes for an extended stay at what those in the tourist biz in this part of the world refer to as the “Green Season.”
Let’s call it what it is—rainy.
At least that’s what it usually is. We’ve enjoyed more sunny days than wet ones since our arrival Aug. 1, including four days straight with sunshine so brilliant and skies so clear and blue that we had to remind ourselves this is August and not January, which is the best month of the year to be in residence.
I’ve told you about Los Islotes before, but as this very personal project begins to come of age, I thought it’d be worth regrouping on what Lief and I are doing way out here on this gloriously remote Veraguas coast.
In short, we’re reimagining coastal living in Panama.
And, well, our lives and legacy, too.
Let’s start from the beginning…
After spending two-and-a-half decades scouting the globe and tromping many kilometers of shores worldwide, we committed to the biggest and most important property purchase of our careers. We bought an oceanside finca on Panama’s western Veraguas coast known as Los Islotes.
That was in 2008.
The natural beauty of this place is undeniable. The extraordinary setting is what drew us here and it’s what we continue to appreciate most about this still undiscovered stretch of coastline today.
Los Islotes is a private oasis spread over 225 acres, fronted by 1 kilometer of Pacific coastline. In this special spot, Lief and I are creating a private oceanside community. The vision is not a development in the conventional sense but a private world that will carry on for generations.
Every owner is guaranteed plenty of elbowroom. And, while most beach properties reward only the owners along the coast, the community here is being developed across mountainsides that afford most every home views across the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to the rolling hills, this property stands out for its water features.
Los Islotes takes its name from the set of small islands just offshore. Onshore is an elevated point of land with rocky cliffs. The view from the spot is exalting. On either side of the point are our two separate and very different beaches.
On one side, you have a wide, blue-pebble beach. With its dramatic waves, this coast is where you’ll find the surfers. This long uninterrupted stretch of coast is also ideal for sunbathing, romantic walks, and horseback riding on the sand.
Just back from the ocean here is our Panama Jack’s Beach Bar where owners and guests meet for cocktails, cookouts, and great company…
Our other, second beach is one of Mother Nature’s most enigmatic creations. Thanks to the water flowing between the rocky precipice and one of the islands, the waves here are gentle and flowing… and the sand is powder soft. We call this Playa Sol. To our granddaughter it’s the “soft beach”… where she comes to build sandcastles…
At low tide you can walk across the sandbar to the biggest island off our coast. This is an ideal spot for a picnic… and for bird-watching. This visit we’re noticing more birds of more varieties than ever.
The sandbar has helped to create a brackish lagoon that runs alongside the community. This calm, shallow water is perfect for watersports. You can launch your kayak or paddle board from our Mango Village neighborhood where we’ve installed a small pier.
On top of all that, this dramatic coastline is one of the few places in Panama where you can watch the sun set over the water…
Lief and I have built a family home at Los Islotes. For us, this is a forever home base. Our vision is a community where all residents are able to embrace the best of Mother Nature while also enjoying the comforts and conveniences of top-end 21st-century living. The gorgeous natural setting of Los Islotes provides for glorious escape, but that doesn’t mean you have to rough it.
Our Equestrian Centre is an important part of our vision for life at Los Islotes. Our stables feature a grand central social area with a bar, another great place to gather and enjoy each other’s company…
Our vision for Los Islotes also features a Town Square with a church, a Student Center with a library, and a museum… all in the classic Spanish-colonial style. We are committed to preserving and shining a light on the fascinating history and culture of this little-known Veraguas coast.
From the start, our objective has been to create a place where we and our neighbors can live independently while also connecting with and contributing to the local community we’re now so proud to be part of. For the past three years we have sponsored Veraguas’ junior rodeo team. This year they made it to the nationals in Santiago…
And I’m excited to be able to say that a project very dear to me is finally coming to fruition. January through March 2026—summertime in this part of the world, when the local kids are out of school—we’re hosting our first-ever Los Islotes Summer Camp For Extraordinary Young Women. We’re inviting girls and young women ages 6 through 18 to participate in a series of three sessions…
What would you do with yourself out here in this bubble of privacy, exclusivity, and beauty?
Lief and I work. We’re in video conference calls four and five hours a day. My point is that it’s possible to be very productive in this very remote setting. We’re in real-time touch with staff around the world seven days a week.
You might be looking to wind down and disconnect. In that case, you could fill your days riding horseback on the beach, surfing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, bird-watching, or hiking our Caminos de Los Islotes…
In season, watch for dolphins and whales just off our shores… or witness the hatching of baby turtles on a nearby protected beach.
For lunch feast on fish caught fresh from our sea at Panama Jack’s… then, late afternoon, meet up with new friends at our Playa Sol to watch the sunset.
Lief and I have traveled to more than 80 countries and we’ve lived in 7. We’ve now been living and investing in Panama for more than a quarter-century. When we decided we wanted to invest in a legacy undertaking, we knew Panama was the place for it.
Today more than ever, when you scan the world map in search of good options for where to grow your money, protect your assets, or conduct your business, you realize that Panama stands at the top of the list.
Look closely at Panama, and you see a clear path of progress. Pacific coastal property in this country has been developed starting from just outside the capital city and moving westward.
The Azuero Peninsula sits smack dab in this path…
That’s why, when Lief set out in 2008 to find The Next Big Thing In Panama, he focused his search on this peninsula. Specifically, he targeted the western coast of the Azuero Peninsula, where the terrain is hilly, guaranteeing jaw-dropping views.
In addition, this Veraguas coast boasts the city of Santiago, where you can find everything you need for convenient, even five-star living. One of the fastest-growing towns in Panama, Santiago has large grocery stores, a shopping mall, a movie theater, and a PriceSmart, as well as a new hospital.
Santiago is an hour-and-a-half up the road from us. On our doorstep, less than 10 minutes from the Los Islotes front gate, is a shop where you can go for supplies day-to-day.
Also here at Las Cruces, as the crossroads is known, is a restaurant serving up the day’s catch, a saloon straight out of an old Western, and a gas station.
Could Los Islotes be your ultimate escape?
Here, on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, on the coast of one of the world’s most appealing, most welcoming countries, we are creating a one-of-a-kind community.
We here at Los Islotes value beauty, history, and tradition…
We prize privacy, security, freedom, independence, and elbow room…
And, yes, we like to be comfortable.
Lief and I are finding that we’re able to embrace the total escape from the troubles of our world that is Los Islotes without sacrificing a thing.
Stop by for a visit when you can.
Until next time,
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter
