Taboga Island

A great escape – so close to the city!

By Niel McColl

Flowers, a Saint, the “Conquistadores”, the French, the British, Pirates , an Artist and the second oldest Catholic Church (Iglesia de San Pedro) in the Western Hemisphere.

That`s Taboga - “Isla de las Flores , the Island of Flowers” -“Isla Morado , the Purple Isle”.

Taboga , one-time capital or “Seat of Government” over the1000 islands in the Gulf of Panamá , is twelve miles off Panama City`s coastline with an easy twice-daily, one-hour ferryboat sea-ride from the Amador Causeway.

Taboga`s “new” town of “San Pedro” was founded in 1524 by Padre Hernando Luque, the then Dean of Panama City's Cathedral, after the “old” town was sacked by the Spanish following Vasco Nuñez de Balboa setting foot on the island in 1513.

Strategically located at the entrance to Panama Bay it became a fortress guarding the seaward entrance to Panama City and in later years provided the same protection during the arrival of the Chilean battleship “Santa Rosa de los Andes” and the Peruvian “Pichincha” and later an air defense station in both World Wars.

Today, Taboga offers a less warlike welcome to shipping, pleasure craft and tourists.

Taboga, with only 256 Islanders' homes is “far from the madding crowd” of Panamá City and offers hotel accommodation by the Hyatt International Hotel chain. Construction of apartments and 55 cabins is under way both on the Island and the adjacent “Morro” Islet, a rocky outcrop, bought in 1854 by a British shipping company establishing a shipyard and fuelling station where the foundations and ironwork of the cottages, yard and on the hill the company cemetery, dedicated in memory to the company's of?cers and men., can still be seen The Morro, accessible by walking at low tide, was sold back to Panama in 1942 for U.S. defense of the Canal.

Some of Taboga's early inhabitants were slaves brought by the Spanish from Venezuela and Nicaragua to work the bullion transshipments from Peru and Mexico for crossing the Isthmus to be shipped to Spain ; the British brought some 1000 Irishmen for the shipyard ; the French created a 55 bed sanatorium at a cost of US$400,000.oo and the Americans introduced the island as a rest centre away from the hard labor of the Canal Construction.

Taboga's well-known personalities include the first Saint in the Western Hemisphere – Santa Rosa de Lima de Taboga, born on the island and whose home on the beach front is still in use ; Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean ; Sir Henry Morgan, pirate and Governor of Jamaica who sacked the original Panama City ; French post impressionist painter Paul Gauguin in 1887, who worked on the French Canal construction before moving to French Martinique and Tahiti. It is said that Gauguin got his coloring insight to his paintings from Taboga`s glorious colors of sea, sky and ?owers.

Today, it is still a place for all people ; a place for pure sea breezes , the whisper of surf on sand, clear blue skies and the stars at night ; a place of contrasts of beach, of fishing and of green hills to climb ; a place with its “no traffic” lanes too small to be called“streets” and hardly wide enough for passing pedestrian traffic ; a place of only two pick-up trucks and a couple of golf carts and so a place of no pollution , neither noise nor fumes.

An historic place luxurious with bougainvilleas, hibiscus, the scent of jasmine and roses which give the Island its well-earned nickname of “The Island of Flowers”.

Sunset Point does it right
in Bocas del Toro

By David Dell

Bocas Del Toro is Panama’s unique Caribbean destination. When I first visited the islands over ten years ago, I loved its slightly decadent and dilapidated charm. A part of that warm feeling has stayed with me since then. Sadly, on my first visits there I came across several unscrupulous land developers – one even tried to sell me a lot right in the middle of a swamp. Bocas has had more than its fair share of swamp salespeople, something that has put a blight on its international reputation. Fortunately, there is always someone who comes along and does it right – fortunately for Bocas, there is Sunset Point.

A beautiful day ends over Sunset Point.

Will they love you?
To make a successful project in Panama isn’t easy. You need a bank full of money and an even greater amount of patience and determination. There are a host of regulations and environmental approvals needed and if you think that bringing employment and wealth to a community will have everybody loving you – think again.

Sunset Point has had to battle all the above. But you know you have done it right when the Governor of the Bocas Del Toro province, Esther Mena de Chio, says,“You have the most environmentally friendly development in all of Panama.”

President Martin Torrijos with a Sunset
Point representative on a recent trip
to Bocas del Toro.

Thirty-nine year old director, Mathew Whant states that Sunset Point has spent a seven-figure amount on infrastructure and site preparation. This could be just sales talk. But if you count the number of high priced excavators working on the project. See the roads and utilities already in place (including million dollar sewage treatment) do some simple time based calculations, then yes, the money has been spent.

The idea behind the project was to dig two canals along a narrow isthmus draining the land, and allowing for home owners to moor their boats at the front doorstep.

Sunset Point has worked closely with the Panamanian environment body ANAM and with its prestigious neighbor – The Smithsonian Institute. The most environmentally sensitive plant in the area is the mangrove. Although mangroves are a wonderful habitat for small fish and for filtering water, they are not the most beautiful plant on God’s earth. The owners at Sunset Point, much to their credit, have planted mangroves all along the edge of one of its newly excavated canals. I am sure the fish here will be grateful for that.

Upscale amenities
On the west side of the project there is small beach, which has been top-dressed with some imported light colored sand. It’s a delight just to walk on it and then slide down into the azure green water and cool yourself from the midday sun. The project will include several upscale amenities including, 5 star boutique hotel, gourmet restaurants, infinity pool, spa and fitness center, tennis and volleyball courts. Last but not least, why not invest a few million in a private helicopter – because there will be a helipad for the true jet-setters.

Sunset Point lies on a rough west to east axis giving residents clear sunrises and awe inspiring sunsets. I am sure in years to come as home owners watch the sun slide beneath the outline of the distant Baru Volcano, there will be many oohs! and aahs! As the sky dramatically runs through its cycle of orange, fire red and deep purple.

Lot prices at Sunset Point start at $125,000. That’s for a lot off the water but with marina access. Lots with private mooring bays start at $200,000. Considering how much luxury yachts can cost these days, the house and mooring might just be the smaller cost of your overall marine getaway. The marina will have 118 deep water slips, if you can afford the luxury of something 150 foot long - there is a berth for you.

60% sold
The Panamanian government is helping, too. They are investing a million dollars to upgrade the Bocas airport and will spend about $2.3 million on roads and infrastructure in the area. The roads and sidewalks in town have improved immeasurably since I first visited Bocas back in the last century.

Doing it right and spending the necessary start up money is the model that other developers should follow. The proof of that is that 60% of the 108 home sites and 66 condos in phase one of Sunset Point, have already been sold. This should show other developers that if it is done right, then they – the buyers – will come and yes they will buy.

For further details: www.SunsetPointBocas.com