Project Brief review:
We undertook a long extensive survey of northern Panama and visited numerous locales in the high valleys of Chiriquí district (Boquete, Potrerillo, Caizan, Rio Sereno etc.) looking for a good place to build an attractive tourist complex, yet one that would be convenient enough to offer all modern facilities and be able to attract visitors looking for a relaxing & beautiful “getaway”.
Fortunately we discovered “OJO DE AGUA” right on the road to Sereno, (about 250 meters beyond the Hotel “Dos Rios”).
The designer and owner of the project is a retired Plastic Surgeon, who after a long and distinguished career in Baltimore M.D. (USA), found in Volcan the perfect location to retire for good. So, here I built my home.
This place has a beautiful stream called “PACO”, which maintains a good water level all year round. I fell in love with the area immediately, despite the fact that the region was somewhat marshy, due to the abundance of small streams that spring from the soil in the locallity. In Panama this phenomenon is referred to as “OJO DE AGUA.”
My first project was to establish an appropriate drainage system to dry the place out. Originally it had been used to raise cattle. From the moment I first saw the stream, I had the idea of creating a lake, even though I had no experience or background in this line of work.
Following a complex planning process that involved the subdivision of the area, in order to locate the size and placement of the lake, and the chalets, finally the excavation and construction of the locks, for the lake, began in March 2004.
To raise the level of the ground, in preparation for the building of the chalets, heavy equipment was used to remove the dirt from the excavation and the existing small hill and dispersed all around.
A particular problem was the removal of multiple large rocks common in this volcanic area. Most of them needed to be buried to facilitate the project (more than 100 hours of heavy machinery work was needed to finish the lake and surrounding areas) that took two and a half months of hard work to complete.
The planning of the chalets (Phase I) took a further two months, and construction began in July 2004. Six fully equipped chalets, office, administration area, a large storage area, beautiful gardens with exotic plants, cascade, walkways and bridges, to allow visitors to enjoy the panoramic mountain views, were eventually built. Phase II; started in june 2006 and consisted of a Restaurant in the middle of the lake, a Rectangular Chalet, a five Aparthotel Unit, and three bedroom and two bath residence.
Volcan now offers a similar opportunity to retirees to that offered by Costa Rica in the 1980´s., namely to find a dream home at a low cost in a spectacular setting, something that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere. These bargains surely won't last too long. Recently Volcan has received considerable tourist interest through national and international reports that is well deserved, due to its pleasant climate (approximate 70 to 75 degrees all year round), exceptional panoramic views, diversified flora and fauna, and archeological sites. Olso Volcan is open for a wide tourist and commercial development of the region, especially for the foreign, looking for a please to settle taking advantage of the many incentives of the existing and attractive (RETIREES GOVERNMENT PROGRAM). For the foreign to take advantage of the low cost of living and discounts in transportation medical dental etc.
This program was created (Like Costa Rica in the 80's.) in an effort to attract retirees and tourist in general.
