Dear Las Olas owner,
Exciting news! The construction team at Las Olas have broken ground!
Construction at Las Olas began on February 26 on a beautiful sunny day in Panama.
Hi, Janaina Simon here, Chief Real Estate Advisor with Smart Money Homes.
And I am writing to you today with your first construction update for the Las Olas community.
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Smart Money Homes team and I are your point of contact for any general inquiries and that you can contact us here: info@smartmoneyhomes.com
If you have any questions related specifically to Las Olas you may contact Georgina Castrellon from the developer, Grupo Los Pueblos post sales team. You can contact Georgiana here: gcastrellon@glp.com.pa
Now, like I say, construction is underway and Las Olas is on schedule. The estimated delivery date remains mid-2026.
I’ll be sending regular updates throughout the construction process to keep you informed every step of the way.
The Beach Club Restaurant in Playa Caracol is now Open
Enjoy a movie night with takeaway pizza from Vento.
The Vento restaurant at Playa Caracol is open and it’s just a short stroll along the beach from Olas del Mar.
In keeping with the beach vibe, Vento has a relaxed ambiance, there’s a table tennis table for kids to enjoy and music playing in the background.
A member of the Smart Money Homes team was there recently, and he told me that the food was excellent, and that service was fast and friendly.
One of the special features of the Vento beach club restaurant is the special pizza oven for baking fresh, delicious pizza. Residents have told me that on Saturday nights there’s a steady stream of people collecting pizza to takeaway.
There’s a varied drinks menu with premium bottles of rum and whisky available, as well as wine and imported and national beers.
Vento Beach Club – Enjoy a Movie Night Under the Stars
Watching your favorite movie from the comfort of a deck chair on a warm Panamanian night. What could be better?
Every Friday night in January Playa Caracol residents were able to enjoy movies on the beach. Situated on the beach just in front of the Vento restaurant, residents enjoyed the ambiance of the waves crashing in the background under a starry sky as they watched their favorite movies.
The cinema returned to show Superbowl XVIII on February 11.
Keeping with the social activities theme, Thursday nights at Vento is games night. As well as Bingo, there’s Jenga, dominos, and a variety of board games to enjoy.
There’s so Much to do Close to Playa Caracol
The Smart Money Homes team were in Playa Caracol recently and can confirm that the beach here is amazing, and only steps away from where your Las Olas condo will be.
The Smart Money Homes team was in Playa Caracol recently to find out first-hand what the area has to offer and get a tour of the community from the developer.
We had an amazing time and can’t wait to return.
A member of our team was in Playa Caracol last year, to explore some of the best things to do in the area. This is what he discovered…
Take Surf Lessons at Playa Caracol
Playa Caracol is a popular surfing beach, and you can learn to surf with lessons at the Surf Shack.
Playa Caracol is a popular surfing beach suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers. Most days you’ll find waves of at least 1-2 ft.
Playa Caracol’s Surf Shack is located on the beach near to the main entrance and offers the chance to book lessons with an experienced instructor. You’ll be provided with a board and all the information you need to start surfing.
No need for a wetsuit, the Pacific Ocean here is warm throughout the year, but sunscreen and a t-shirt or rash vest is advisable.
Once you’ve taken a lesson or two and feel confident about the basics, you can simply hire a board from the Surf Shack or buy your own and keep it at your Playa Caracol home.
The Surf Shack is a popular place to hang out and spend time. With a private pool on the beach, showers, and a restaurant serving fresh seafood it’s a popular place for a day trip. Ice-cold beers and other drinks will help you recover from the day’s excursions.
Book a Boat Tour for Fishing, Whale Watching and More
These islands close to Playa Caracol are some of the best spots in Panama to enjoy whale watching.
Boat tours leave from the beach at Punta Chame, a 15-minute drive from Playa Caracol. The waters close to Playa Caracol are rich in marine diversity so there’s a lot to experience here.
Travel out to islands offshore on a clear day, you can see the skyscrapers of Panama City in the distance, a reminder of just how close Playa Caracol is to the capital.
The most impressive boat tour must be the whale watching tour.
Between the months of August and October, humpback whales arrive in Panama to raise their calves. Travel just 20 minutes out to sea, and you’ll be at the heart of the action.
Bonar Island, boasts a sheltered deepwater cove, the perfect spot for whale calves to develop in safety. It’s a favorite with humpback whales and special place to view the very young calves nursing.
You can hire a boat from the same beach for sport fishing. The best time to go is undoubtedly the Tuna season, which runs from May until September. If you’re lucky, you can catch Tuna out of season, along with Sierra Mackrel, Snapper, Grouper, Corvina, Mahi Mahi, and many more.
With all these fish in the water, it’s no surprise that snorkeling tours are also popular.
John Wayne island has seen better days but makes for an interesting stop.
Before you head back to the beach, be sure to ask your captain if he’ll make a stop at John Wayne Island. Officially known as Isla Taborcillo, this small private island was once owned by John Wayne, and later turned into a hotel and theme park.
Today, it’s abandoned, but it remains an interesting if eerie place to walk around. The yellow-sand beach is wonderfully sheltered and makes for a great spot to enjoy a swim.
The Hills Near Playa Caracol are Perfect for Mountain Biking
The view from the top of Altos de Campana National Park takes in the Pacific Riviera and Panama’s incredible volcanic landscape.
Further on up the hills from Los Cajones is a town called Chica, in the Altos de Campana National Park.
This is a great place to go for mountain bike tours. There are routes for all levels and the cooler mountain air makes biking even more enjoyable.
As well as the views, Chica is a great place to experience the beautiful mountain countryside and views.
Hike Cerro Chame and Enjoy Views to Panama City
You can see all the way to Panama City from the summit of Cerro Chame.
Cerro Chame is the mountain behind Playa Caracol and the trek up to the summit rewards you with spectacular views along the coast.
It’s a two hour walk from the base of Punta Chame up to the summit. Another option, if you have a suitable 4×4, is to drive further up the mountain which can get you within a 45-minute hike of the summit.
The view takes in Cerro Chame, and miles of Pacific coastline. The views from here are really something special, and a great reminder of the privileged location Playa Caracol occupies.
Mountain bike tours, including bike rental, are available through Playa Caracol.
Take a Waterfall Tour up in the Jungle Covered Mountains
The Filipina waterfalls are stunning and well worth the hike.
Known as the Cascadas Filipina (Filipina waterfalls), this collection of three waterfalls is located up in the hills close to a little town called Filipina, a 45-minute drive from Playa Caracol.
The natural pools at the foot of the waterfalls make for a refreshing place to swim or paddle and the rocks nearby are a popular picnic spot.
You access the waterfalls via a winding trail that takes you through the jungle and there’s an abundance of wildlife to be seen as you move between the waterfalls. A friend who spent some time there recently told me that he spotted hummingbirds, swallows, hawks, and different species of colorful butterflies.
Visit Los Cajones River for a Relaxing Afternoon
Los Cajones is the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon and thanks to the new road, you can drive here easily.
Los Cajones is a river-gorge, created over many centuries as the river carved a path through the sedimentary rock. It’s an easy 30-minute drive from Playa Caracol and a popular place to swim and pass a day relaxing by the river.
Until recently the road was for four-wheel drive only. A couple of years ago the government built a new, smooth road, allowing everyone easy access to Los Cajones.
The fresh mountain river water is beautifully warm, you can spend hours in the water at Los Cajones and never feel cold. There’s plenty of shade on the banks, bring a fold-up chair and you can easily spend the afternoon or even a whole day here.
It sounds like he had a great time, and I can’t wait to visit myself.
As you can see, there’s plenty to see and do in Playa Caracol and as the area grows the amenities will only increase.
That’s all from me for now. Keep an eye out for my next update, which will have some exciting news about a new hotel coming to Playa Caracol.
Yours sincerely
Janaina Simon, Chief Real Estate Advisor with Smart Money Homes
