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Pierre Guiochon had no intention of buying an apartment when he visited Panama City this year. Born and raised in France, the 53-year-old former JPMorgan Chase employee had lived in London and the United States for most of his life. With dual French and U.S. citizenship, he had an array of global options for buying property.

But a short stay in a rented apartment on Amador Causeway, the stretch of connected islands on Panama Bay, changed his mind. He was hooked. Mr. Guiochon eventually bought a studio in Naos Harbour Island Residences and Marina, the waterfront development on Amador, 10 minutes from downtown.

Mr. Guiochon agreed to answer a few questions about his experience.

Why did you buy? Second home? Retiring?

It’s a combination of different factors: Investment, second home and perhaps retirement. As of yet, I don’t know which one will prevail.

What originally attracted you to Amador?

I discovered Amador purely by chance. It was my first time in Panama. I wanted to spend a fortnight here and was looking for an Airbnb apartment to stay in. I looked at different places online, some of them
with great reviews, but I was not really attracted to them. Then, I came across an apartment in Amador. I liked the pictures of the apartment, but what really got my attention was a picture of the view from the balcony. That view sealed the deal. I was a bit apprehensive in the beginning because the place had not been reviewed and it was not central but I decided to do it anyway. I am glad I did. I loved the building, the area, the spaciousness of the apartment and…the view! Last but not least, Brian [Kelly from Punta Pacifica Realty] went above and beyond to make my stay a great experience. I truly believe that if I had stayed in a flat downtown, my outlook would have been different.

I viewed a few properties in the downtown area but I always came back to the Naos Harbour Island complex.

Had you looked at other destinations?

I did. For a while, I seriously considered Cape Town which I love. I opted against it for two reasons: 1) the distance, 2) the safety, or rather the lack of thereof. I then explored Chile. Again, too far; loved it though. I thought Panama would a be great alternative in terms of distance, real estate prices and quality of life.

What is a typical day for you on Amador?

So far my days have been busy with furnishing my apartment and learning my way around. It does not sound like much but it’s work!

What is your favorite part of Causeway life?

I like the fact that the Causeway is part of Panama City and yet I find it different from the rest of the city. There are great, snazzy condos in downtown Panama City, but coming from New York, a condo is a condo is a condo. The pace is slower here and I like the suburb/city combination.

Do you have a favorite sport? Boating? Biking?

I run a lot. Running along the Causeway gives me great pleasure.

What are your favorite parts of Panama City?

Amador and Casco Viejo which I find really beautiful.

What is your advice for someone considering buying in Amador or Panama City?

I would say–without being unreasonable, of course–trust your instinct. If it feels right, do it. That’s exactly what I did. Now, time will tell, but I am pretty convinced–be it for my own personal use or for rental–that I made a good investment.

Amador offers some unique property investment opportunities. Punta Pacifica Realty is working on Naos Harbour Island Residences & Marina, a spectacularly located project that sits directly on the entrance to the Panama Canal, offering incredible views of the Canal as well as the islands of Saboga and Taboga.  The project currently consists of 3 residential towers, an enormous oceanfront social area and when completed, will include 122 homes, 16 oceanfront commercial spaces  and a 270-slip marina.

Contact us now to learn more about Amador opportunities.