Spotlight on...Volcan, Panama

by Patrick McGreer

Some expats are impatient for a new road called the Ruta Sur (south route) to be completed, while others worry that greater accessibility will change their sleepy mountain town for the worse. The road will link Volcan to Boquete, one of Panama’s top retirement destinations. If you’re looking to buy in Volcan, this road is of the utmost importance. Large tracts of land that were inaccessible will become easy to reach, and, in many cases, property prices will rise. The real estate industry is booming in Boquete and houses that cost less than $100,000 five years ago now sell for $150,000 and up, with some asking prices in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. With a new direct route from Volcan to Boquete, the same will begin to happen in Volcan. The road should be completed by March 2009.