Appeal to international yachters

Fuerte de Amador Resort and Marina

The Fuerte de Amador Resort and Marina (FARM) is a special place for many reasons. Located on Flamenco Island and connected to the city by the causeway, the marina is surrounded by a tropical environment on Panama Bay with a perfect view of the Panama City skyline. It is an important port for recreational and cruise boats embarking to the Pacific Ocean as well as an attractive place for tourists to visit.

Strategically situated at the entrance of the Panama Canal, its docks have 120 slips for boats, yachts, sailboats and even mega-yachts up to 240 feet. According to general manager Carlos Tuñón, 75% of the docks are permanently occupied, leaving 25% to yachts in transit. He says, "The rising demand is driving us to double our capacity to 250 slips."

Architect Miguel Lopez Piñero, President of FARM affirms that the world market of mega-yachts is rapidly increasing and that Panama offers many important advantages to the international yachtsman: service, security and access.

Francia O'Donnel of FARM informs that users of the marina receive a list of services beyond slip and anchorage including water, electricity, Internet, telephone, fuel, launch and tendering. Boaters can also count on an 8000 square meter shipyard for quality repairs. Flamenco Marina offers great security because of its man-made water breaks and the fact that Panama does not suffer exposure to extreme storms. This lowers insurance rates for yachts compared to the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida and even marinas on the Atlantic Coast of the US given the strong hurricanes suffered there in recent years. The marina has also received international security certification from the Maritime Authority of Panama. Another advantage is the quick access to Tocumen International via the Corredor Sur, where travelers can take advantage of connections to important cities in the hemisphere and Europe.

Now in it's sixth season, FARM reports receiving an annual average of 36 cruise ships and 70,000 tourists, making it an important touristic area. It is also a historical place because of the American base that operated there, with large cannons that protected the Canal from the Japanese during the Second World War.

FARM has invested $32 million already but plans to carry out a master plan that will require an investment of $150 million which will include a cruise ship dock, a hotel and a casino. Tuñón says "When this happens, it will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and the need for government participation to provide four lane access on the causeway.

And there is so much more at FARM, a tourist spot that is growing into immense popularity. The nights on Flamenco Island are bustling, with restaurants like Alberto's, Bennigan's, Barkos, Leños y Carbon Gourmet, the Gelatiere ice cream shop, Duty Free and a grand variety of shops.

One-of-a-kind Bocas luxury

A new luxury development is another milestone marking the growth and discovery of Panama's Caribbean paradise, Bocas del Toro. Diamond Resorts International's billion dollar project on Isla Colon has been approved. The residential resort will be called Palacio del Mar and will stretch across a thin part of the island allowing for access to a beach on one side and a marina on the other. It will offer low-rise condominium towers, beach villas, private marina, hotel and casino. This is Diamond Resorts International's first project of six in Bocas del Toro and the Chiriqui highlands, which together will represent a $4 billion investment.

A bird’s-eye rendering shows the
marina on one side and the beach on
the other.

The project is a first of its kind in the region. According to the developers it is "an unparalleled mixed-development home-away-from-home for the fortunate few" and their goal is to live in harmony with existing surrounding communities and protect the environment. Palacio del Mar is worth checking out. International sales are headquartered in Miami. A local sales office run by Diamond Resorts International will open on the waterfront in central Bocas Town. Call them at
757-9406 or visit
www.palaciodelmarpanama.com