• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

Why I Moved To Panama And Started Jungle Eco Reserve

Creating Eco-Friendly Living And Tourism In The Tropics

Adriana Valdez by Adriana Valdez
Jun 11, 2020
in In Focus: Panama
0
Gatun Lake Panama

Image Source: iStock/DonFink

223
SHARES
3.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Al van Meurs decided to move from Canada to Panama due to this country’s welcoming nature toward foreign investors.

Soon after moving, he started developing his project, an ecological reserve on the shore of the Gatún Lake. The Gatún is an artificial lake that feeds the Panama Canal. The Jungle Eco Reserve is located in Limón, Colón, about an hour from Panama City.

This is a place you can let loose and go hiking, fishing, canoeing, birdwatching… there’s so much to do.

Adriana Valdez E.: What exactly is the Jungle Eco Reserve?

Al van Meurs: Jungle Eco Reserve is, as the name states, an ecological reserve on Gatún Lake with the purpose of preserving this beautiful piece of jungle, and encouraging tourism and ecological based sciences.

AVE: When and how did the idea of the Jungle Eco Reserve come about?

AvM: The idea was originally my father’s. It came up February 2018 while visiting him in Panama. I was living in British Columbia at the time and the housing market was way up. I decided to sell my home on Vancouver Island and invest into this jungle venture with my dad.

AVE: I understand the Jungle Eco Reserve is already up and running. How has that been going?

AvM: So far, we’ve had positive reviews from every camper. They’ve all said they had an amazing time.

We are up and running, but maneuvering slowly. We are using re-purposed sea containers for building structures. We just brought in our home container, and we have a male and female bathroom and hot water showers in a different container.

Reaching our overall goal to have a net zero operation will take a little longer still as we increase our tourist market and build more campsites.

AVE: What is the next step?

AvM: The next step for the reserve is to bring in another 40-foot re-purposed container which will make two rental units offering luxury camping. We also plan to build another gazebo and two more toilets near the campsites.

AVE: What is your ultimate goal for the Jungle Eco Reserve?

AvM: Our ultimate goal, other than keeping a green space, is to have Panama’s very first carbon sequestration project. We hope other Nations use the carbon sequestration project we launch as a model. Our aim is to do this while balancing the books with tourism.

AVE: Who is the man behind the Jungle Eco Reserve?

AvM: The man behind Jungle Eco Reserve, me, is really just a simple guy who wants to make a difference. Somebody who believes in the science at hand as it pertains to climate change. I am somebody who wants to leave the world in better shape than I found it.

AVE: Where are you originally from?

AvM: I was originally born in the Netherlands. My parents immigrated to Canada when I was two years old. I did my school years there, and then moved to Thailand for a number of years and worked as a scuba diving instructor. I then moved back to Canada and came out to Panama.

AVE: When did you move to Panama? Why?

AvM: I moved to Panama in August 2018. One of the reasons I moved was because I had a free place to stay in Panama City, my father’s condo. Mainly however I was looking for another opportunity to tie my real estate money up and Panama seemed like a good idea.

AVE: What was your experience moving here? Did you encounter any difficulties? If so, what were they?

AvM: Moving here went pretty smoothly. Luckily, I had the experience of my father who was already a landed resident by the time I arrived. No major hiccups, but a fair bit of patience is needed in some of these government buildings.

AVE: What made you choose Panama?

AvM: Panama is one of the best choices to move to for a foreign investor. Real estate prices are relatively low, inflation is high, taxes on investments are low, and the currency is stable. High interest savings accounts are also a bonus. In most countries in the world, a foreigner is not even allowed to own property. Panama Is about as favorable an investment for foreigners as it gets.

AVE: Is it safe to say that you’re happy with your decision of moving and settling down here? Is it a country you would recommend to others?

AvM: Overall yes, I am 100% happy with the choice I made of moving here. I would certainly recommend Panama to other foreigners. Not only did I find an investment that will inflate in value, but we used Panama law to our side and picked up the squatting rights around the property. Panama law is favorable for investments.

Plan a trip to Al’s Jungle Eco Reserve and enjoy all nature has to offer, including wildlife sightings in their natural habitats.

Adriana Valdez E.

Comments

Share89Tweet56
Previous Post

Podcast From Paris #15: Getting Started

Next Post

6 Global Diversification Strategies To Secure Your Future

Adriana Valdez

Adriana Valdez

Adriana is half Panamanian and half Nicaraguan. She also holds a Brazilian passport. Adriana was born in Nicaragua, but was raised in Mozambique. Her parents' jobs––mother is a nutritionist and dad is a doctor––resulted in them moving around often. This gave her the opportunity to grow up experiencing different cultures and resulted in her speaking three languages fluently, Spanish, English, and Portuguese. She has an undergraduate degree in International Affairs from Florida State University (Panama campus), and is currently living in Panama. Adriana has been part of the Live and Invest Overseas staff since December 2018, and has been Managing Editor for Panama Letter since December 2019. Having traveled so much as a kid, she became a travel enthusiast and hopes to keep on traveling for many years to come.

Related Posts

The Panama Canal Railway In The Station At Clayton, Panama Railroad Company.
In Focus: Panama

Taking A Ride On The Historic Panama Canal Railway

by Joey Bonura
April 15, 2021
0

The Panama Canal Railway opened in 1855 and was the world's first transcontinental railroad, creating an easy way to traverse...

Read more
Bahai temple in Panama.

Two Distinct And Divine Temples In Panama City

April 2, 2021
Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Bocas Del Toro: Calypso Life On Panama’s Caribbean Coast

April 1, 2021
Dracula orchid. 

The Top Attraction In Cerro Punta, Panama For Orchid Enthusiasts

February 18, 2021
Restaurant in Santa Catalina, Panama

Building Your DIY Dream Home In Panama: Everything You Need To Know

February 4, 2021
Parque Nacional de Amistad, Boquete, Panama.

Exploring Boquete And Volcán In The Panama Highlands

January 21, 2021
The colorful urban skyline of Panama City, Panama.

The Current Events In Panama–How The Little Isthmus Shines

January 8, 2021
Next Post
beach chairs on a tropical beach

6 Global Diversification Strategies To Secure Your Future

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​​PANAMA and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: ​Panama ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.