Playa Coronado VS Nueva Gorgona: Put Your Dukes Up!

Liz Larroquette’s no-BS approach to advising clients on real estate has earned her the respect of thousands of expats who have relocated to Panama, and many more who are considering relocating in the future. See what there is to discover at LizLarroquette.com. For those looking to relocate to Panama’s beautiful coast, Playa Coronado and Nueva Gorgona are often neck and neck. Located within 10 minutes of one another, the two neighbors hold many similarities. Both boast beautiful scenery, close proximity to Panama City, growing expat communities, and real estate that is amongst the most valuable in the country. There are, however, some matters in which one area has a slight advantage over the other.

Having specialized in “Gold Coast” real estate for almost 10 years, I’ve had the unique experience of watching Gorgona and Coronado develop from an insider’s perspective.

I’ve picked up on the subtle nuances of each, as well as pieced together some predictions for what the future holds- based on what I’ve seen happen already, and the trends that I see going on right now.

If you’re looking for an established beach community in Panama, you’ll want to take a close look at Coronado and Gorgona. This article will help you become familiarized with each.

Location

Both communities are ideally situated close to the Panama City- with Gorgona being slightly closer at 50 minutes away, while Coronado is about 60.

Coronado and Gorgona are coastal neighbors, with a mere 10-minute drive separating you from the heart of each.

In fact, if you were to time the tides right- you could actually zip between the two on the beach via an ATV. How’s that for making an entrance?

Beauty

Sharing much of the same seaside track, both Coronado and Gorgona are rich in natural beauty. Both feature the famed “black diamond” beaches and rolling blue Pacific ocean.

Coronado, with its sprawling 18-hole golf course and pristine equestrian center, adds its own touch of green to the landscape. The homes are, for the most part, easy on the eye- featuring modern Spanish architecture and lush lawns of tropical foliage.

Gorgona has more untouched landscape within its perimeters and, therefore, more expansive vistas of natural beauty. Gorgona is also set upon a rolling green mountain backdrop that really makes the landscape unique.

Safety

Both Coronado and Gorgona are considered amongst the safer beaches in Panama, particularly for those living in condominium buildings that provide their own security.

Currently, Coronado has more security forces in place. A residential gate surrounds the majority of homes in Coronado, with additional security gates placed within. A police station sits outside the main gate, and police can be seen patrolling the shopping centers and neighborhoods quite frequently.

Gorgona also has its own police station situated directly at the entrance.
Unfortunately, some of the wealthier-looking houses have still been victims of break-ins. The general consensus is that condo developments, equipped with their own security force, are the safer option while police work on cleaning up neighborhood crime.

Amenities

Coronado wins this one hands down. With 4 shopping plazas, several supermarkets, and dozens of shops and restaurants, Coronado is the most commercially equipped coastal community in Panama.

For now, Gorgona residents make the short drive to Coronado to stock up on their groceries and other creature comforts. This is expected to change as Gorgona continues to grow and model itself after the town of Coronado. Already, a shopping plaza is under construction, and small local businesses have started popping up.

Real Estate

Being Panama’s first established coastal community, Coronado has more luxury developments to choose from. Buildings such as Coronado Golf and Coronado Bay have become iconic structures in the community, having set the trend for bringing unprecedented levels of luxury to Panama’s coast.

As Coronado has gained recognition as a top retirement destination for foreigners, as well as remaining a preferred “weekend home” for Panamanians, prices have morphed to reflect such. While a beachfront condo in Coronado still costs less than a comparable unit in North America, prices have grown in accordance with the area’s growing desirability.

Gorgona, on the other hand, is reminiscent of a Coronado from 5 years ago, it is has the same remarkable growth ahead of it. While prices for existing luxury developments are comparable to Coronado, there are major opportunities within the realm of pre-sale developments.

One example is Royal Palm, the upcoming resort-style communit by Empresas Bern- the premier developer behind Coronado Golf and Coronado Bay. Current buyers are receiving these beachfront units at a fraction of what they’ll cost once the project is complete.

Bottom Line: Both Coronado and Gorgona feature real estate and lifestyle advantages that surpass anything else on Panama’s coast. If you consider beauty, luxury, community, and market value to be high on your priority list- you do not want to skip over these two beloved destinations.

 All the best,

Liz Larroquette
LizLarroquette@Gmail.com
(+507) 6981-1717

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