Hi Jonathan,
Though it's true that Coronado may not look like much on the surface, the below summary and below linked article can perhaps give you a better idea regarding why so many expats from the US, Canada, France, and beyond dug in and chose to stay.
That said, if it didn't grab your heart, we get it. There are plenty other places with nice beaches and happy expats, so keep reading and find the perfect one to suit your needs and wants... everyone is different, and what a wonderful world it is, with so many great options listed right here in the pages of International Living.
Summing Up Coronado:
There's pretty much nowhere else in the world you can find such affordable property in a place that's also convenient with excellent supermarkets/restaurants, home improvement shops, and pretty much every other service, plus golf, pickleball, etc., and:
close to a true cosmopolitan world capital (Coronado is a 1.5 hour drive from Panama City, the only such city in Central America. The drive is along a stellar stretch of the recently expanded... again... PanAmerican Highway)
close to the region's best and busiest airport hub (the Hub of the Americas in Panama City, aka Tocumen International Airport)
close to more than a few of the region's best hospitals (including the John's Hopkins International affiliate, Pacífica Salud, with two locations in Panama City, and the prestigious JCI accredited San Fernando, with a hospital in Panama City and a satellite in Coronado)
A 45-minute drive from 2 cool-weather mountain towns with hiking, hot springs, and more.
On a warm, tropical ocean (the Tropical Pacific)
But completely outside the hurricane zone
Sunny all year
But without extreme weather
Friendly and welcoming locals
Large (active, well-established) English-speaking expat community
Pristine secluded beach (generally no hawkers/tourist groups, uncrowded, clean)
Plus in a desirable country (relatively safe, politically stable, US dollar, diversified strong economy even without the canal), wealthiest in Latam (ranks among top for best infrastructure, internet, cell service, salaries), low taxes (from "big ones" like property taxes to the "they add up" ones like taxes and markups on luxury items like wine and fine imported foods... try buying a car or bottle of wine elsewhere in Central America and you'll understand), close to the US (3 hour flight from Miami), same time zone as much of the US and Canada...
First-time visitors may not be impressed with Coronado’s meandering lanes. Unlike the colonial towns that dot the countryside, Coronado doesn’t have a main plaza set in the center of an orderly grid. Not all of the roads are well-paved, and houses run the gamut. You’ll see humble little cottages, mansions on grand fincas (large plots of land), and everything in-between. There’s a security gate between the commercial and residential area, but most visitors’ cars are waved through with little ceremony.
But don’t be deceived by Coronado’s unassuming appearance. Many of Panama’s wealthy families have homes here, and the full-time expat community is extremely friendly and welcoming. Over the past decade, Coronado has grown into this region’s most convenient hub and arguably the most convenient "have it all" beach retirement destination in Central America.
https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/june_2022/4063847/
I'll just repeat this here again, because it's worth re-reading:
If Coronado didn't grab your heart, we get it. Once you get all your nuts and bolts info, the decision if you're choosing between two or more equally appealing destinations will often simply be an emotional one (a connection that you simply feel when you get there).
There are plenty other places with nice beaches and happy expats, so keep reading and find the perfect one to suit your needs and wants... everyone is different, and what a wonderful world it is, with so many great options listed right here in the pages of International Living....
Thanks and happy exploring.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch