Altos del Maria, The Highlands of Rio Maria

Altos del Maria is Panamas inspiring real-estate development project, uniquely principled on deforestation and the appreciation of nature.

Panamas long and lingering river, the Rio Maria, that nurtures the lush mountainous surroundings, has been the center point of this 5,000 acre scenic Panamanian development that runs up from the mountain valleys.

Altos del Maria is aiming for 2,500 half-acre lots that steer away from the standard grid format commonly found in residential plots, so as to retain natures natural flow.
Over one-thousand lots from the Altos del Maria project have already been sold to Panamanian locals as well as Americans, Europeans, and citizens of smaller nations - and lot prices have already seen an increase due to the passion for its properties.

Altos del Maria translates to the high places of Maria, and is often referred to as the Highlands of Maria.  The lots at Altos del Maria range from 1600 feet to 3,600 feet above sea level.  
These elevations provide residents and vacationers the opportunity to escape the heat and humidity of Panama City. 

A comfortable temperature that averages 70 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the year dominates the day, and cool comfortable nights fill the air under the evening sky.   Heaters and air-conditioners are rarely used in this ideal environment. 

The Altos del Maria lots, despite their disconnection from Panama City, have provisions for electric, propane, cable, wireless phone and internet service, broadband internet services, Direct TV, garbage removal, paved and lighted roads with kilometer markings, and a safe fresh mineral water supply that provides the lot owner with 1000 gallons per month for free, and averages about $8 in U.S. currency for 5,000 gallons. 

Maintenance fees are only around $20 per month.   Panama in general accepts U.S. currency at face value, without the hassle of calculating conversion rates or the value of a dollar. 

Few rules exist for lot owners, and there is no Homeowners Association.  However, newly built houses can not exceed three levels.  Houses must have red roofs to contribute to an aesthetic overview to those looking down from higher elevations, and each house must have a septic tank. 
Aside from those, Altos del Maria welcomes unconformity in house development.  Designer houses include stately Spanish Colonials, secluded American Southwestern designs, and cozy cottages and Rustic ranches. 

Beautifully designed Ranchos are erected on many dwelling areas, providing an outdoor area of enjoyment for barbecuing, reading and relaxing, or an area for friends and neighbors to gather to share their adventures in Panama over a bottle of Panamas internationally award winning vintage Albario wine, the popular Vino de Mora, a locally made blackberry wine, or Panamas own wines made in the nearby Chiriqui Province - before heading to sleep in Altos del Marias cool night air.

Contacting friends and relatives or mailing packages outside of Panama can be done at the Panamanian post offices,  (which offer a post office box for rent), located off the InterAmerican Highway in the towns of Chame and Bejuco.  

The road to Chame is the four-lane InterAmerican Highway, a section of the Pan-American Highway. This has been greatly improved to Chame, and real-estate in the area has seen tremendous growth.   Bejuco is a town at the entrance of Punta Chame. 
Punta Chame and its neighborhoods provides residents and travelers with miles of white sandy shores, tropical air, and fresh succulent seafood, and a boat ride away you will find the island of Taborcillo, otherwise known as John Wayne Island.  In fact, signs along the Pan-American Highway will direct you to John Wayne Island.  

Sora is the town where Altos del Maria has made its gated entrance, provides convenience stores, a police station, security guard, and, for your building and gardening convenience, a hardware store.   Crime is negligible, and probably non-existent.  Safety is provided for with Altos del Marias own heliport and communication towers.

 Altos del Maria is also one of the new development lands and resort areas that is in relative close proximity to the vibrant Panama City, which is approximately a one-hour drive, measuring 59 miles (95km).  A forty minute drive will also bring you to your choice of Panamas Pacific warm tropical beaches with the cooling ocean air. Well-known beaches not only include the Punta Chame, but Punta Barco, and the famed Coronado with its first-rate golf course and country-club flair, and a notable supermarket named El Rey. 

The Gorgona Beach, only an hour from Panama City, is one of the more tourist-filled beaches because of its close location to the City, but it is visited by residents and tourists alike. From a lookout point in the higher elevations of Altos del Maria, it is possible to overlook the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the same time.

The lookout in Altos del Maria where its possible to see the vastness of the worlds primary oceans is but one of the many amenities that the Altos del Maria community offers to accommodate the love of nature that its residents have based their buying decision on.  Groundskeepers are employed to keep the miles of nature trails clean.  Natural rustic sidewalks and swinging wooden bridges provide access to those areas that could be difficult to navigate.  

Green areas have been designated between lots where no development is allowed, and pine trees have been added to compliment the already abundant forests. The Altos del Maria developers have carried the appreciation of nature to one of its very few requirements to living in the community - if a tree is cut down, then one must be planted to replace it.  The forests provide home to numerous tropical species, such as the golden frog, which Altos del Maria has established a park for, sloths, parakeets, harpy eagles, and other colorful birds.
Mountain climbers will of course be right at home in the Altos del Maria community, and if one conquers the El Picacho Mountain, they will even award a medal.    For those not so anxious to test their climbing skills, a four-wheel drive vehicle will provide the rough and bumpy ride to the top, where the highlight is Panamas town of El Valle.  (Dont worry; there are 20 miles of smooth roads through the Altos del Maria area.)

El Valle is where the golden frog park is located, the Siena Park Pavilion, and the heliport for health emergencies.  Mountain resorts are also available in El Valle.

A tranquil walk through the highlands of Maria, not just to the top of El Picacho, will be filled with abundant greens, bouquets of bright pinks and deep purples, crystal clear creeks with the sound of rushing water and slippery stones for crossing, and awe-inspiring waterfalls that provide a paradise perfect swimming area. These beautiful valleys are divided into the regions of Toscana, Encanto, Laurel and Granada. 

Owning property in this rapidly growing, but elusive, area of scenic Panama is significantly easier than buying property anywhere in the United States.  A clear title is given and lawyers are typically not required.  Altos del Maria offers financing on the purchase of their real-estate with ten percent down.  Incredible benefits are also given under Panamas lax retirement standards, which accommodates qualifying individuals over the age of 18, not the standard 60 to 70 years of age which the United States regulates.

Panamas Altos del Maria was recommended by AARP as one of the top five places to retire and highly recommended in the New York Times.  Panama has experienced extensive growth and improvement over the last few years. Altos del Marias real-estate property and their community development is  ideal for anyone seeking solitude, safety, beauty, ocean side beaches and a dynamic city all within reach for daily living. Panamanian living doesnt get much better than Altos del Maria.

Ask us for more information on Altos Del Maria and other Mountain real estate today