A charming island

Priscilla Perez
Special for La Prensa

Isla Grande, an island paradise, famous for its beaches, turquoise waters and white sand is surrounded by coral reefs and is ideal for diving.

Located on the Panamanian Atlantic coast, the island is a half hour away from Portobelo, in the province of Colon.

To get there, take one of the motor boats that are available in the town of La Guaira. (See: How to get to Isla Grande?)

Before coming to the island you will see in the water, the statue of the Black Christ of Portobelo, a monument of great religious value to the locals and which certainly attracts the attention of travelers.

The busiest days in this town are weekends and holidays, during which, according to the locals, can reach thousand visitors.

For this reason, most of the residents work in tourism or business activities related to this. Read the rest of this entry »

EASY, BREEZY, BEAUTIFUL PANAMA

Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for an investment or a retiree looking for the quiet life, Panama has something for everyone, says Isobel Palmer

Is Panama the 21st-century version of Shangri-La? For those approaching retirement, in possession of an average income, love of nature and tropical climate, plus an easy-going attitude to life, it certainly looks that way.

For this little Central American jewel – it’s smaller than Scotland – combines topping quality-of-life indices with an unparalleled scheme of incentives and perks for pensioners. Tax relief is a huge part of this, and is fundamental to retirement planning of course, but how about 25% off airfares; 25% off restaurant meals; 10% off prescriptions; 20% off professional and technical services?

All you have to do is qualify for the government’s “pensionado” programme by proving you have a guaranteed income of a certain amount. The only age limit is 18. Yes, 18. Read the rest of this entry »