Bocas del Toro has to be one of the most beautiful, and naturally stunning parts of Panama. Here you really will find yourself in the middle of true Caribbean Paradise. The natural beauty, crystal clear waters, perfect weather and its great range of wildlife and scenery made this the first and prime tourist destination outside of Panama City. People come here for some of the worlds best diving and huge amounts of marine life.

This area is the complete Caribbean experience, it has everything a tropical beach paradise needs and more, which is why producers of the hit TV series, Survivor, have chosen this as the shows destination a record breaking 12 times. Clearly a favorite with people from all over the world, countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Russia all filmed their versions of the popular show here.

This outstanding area of Panama can be found on the West Caribbean side of Panama close to the border with Costa Rica. The area, known as the Archipelago de Bocas is made up of many islands, with Isla Colon being the largest and most active. The main town of Bocas del Toro has a wide and interesting history, reminiscent of colonial wooden hotels on stilts on the Caribbean Sea. A great tourist area, English is spoken freely, with a very friendly atmosphere towards everyone. Some great Caribbean cuisine can be sampled here, along with an active, social nightlife scene.

In recent years, this area has developed and grown substantially, initiated by the arrival of the United Fruit Company, who set up its first headquarters on the Bocas Islands. With them they brought over 25,000 inhabitants, of a lively and vibrant nature in the early 1900's. However the unfortunate Banana plight of 20 years later put an end to this, however some of these buildings can still be found in the to town today. The economy of the area has also changed, with the main source of income now coming from the tourism industry.

In the last 5 years, it has been seen, that a large boom in the real estate industry has boosted the area of Bocas del Toro dramatically. Land has been literally fought over, with prices souring due to people wanting to own their own piece of paradise for holiday homes or a place to retire to when the time comes. It has not gone totally over the top however, with some great bargains still available, such as some beachfront lots still available for under $45,000. With its laid back atmosphere, stunning natural beauty and its very low cost of living, this could well be the place you have been looking for, for your retirement.