Ducharme Investments

"Paradise Off the Coast of Panama-Overshadowed by eco-tourism heavyweights Costa Rica Belize to the north, Bocas del Toro is starting to emerge as newest star in the eco-tourism pantheon. Guidebooks and promoters tout the islands as "the Galapagos of the 21st Century." Hundreds of species of fish, parrots, toucans, monkeys and sloths live on the islands, which include a 20-year-old national marine park to protect manatees and sea turtles.
USA Today. February 2004

"Panama has long been called the crossroad of the world. Now the country itself is at a crossroads. With its natural beauty less of a secret each day, Panama is gaining recognition as more than just that country with the canal, and is poised to become one of the darlings of the travel world… It's being touted among travelers in Central America as the next Costa Rica only cheaper and less crowded .
The Globe and Mail. 2003

"My first trip to Panama was in 1979. I quickly developed a tremendous affection for this tiny country. I had never been to a place as birdy as Panama. It was so lush, so tropical, and yet because of the extensive American presence, good roads, safe food and water and proximity to the US, it felt like home."
Victor Emmanuel, Birdletter, 2002

"Panama has somehow evaded the tourist's radar screen despite having much more to offer than other popular Central American destinations… Some of the most finest diving, snorkeling, birding, most accessible rainforest in the world and scores of picturesque islands with hardly a human on them."
Lonely Planet Panama Guide

" Known mostly for its Canal, Panama is, in fact, an undiscovered tourist paradise."
Boston Globe 2002

"Boquete, Panama ranked as the fourth best place in the world to establish a second home - a rating based on safety, beauty, infrastructure, weather, health care and low cost of living."
Modern Maturity, June 2001

"The safest and most stable country in Central or South America with some of the world´s most beautiful mountain, beachfront and island property. The country also has the number-one retiree incentive program in the world."
International Living Newsletter September 2002

"Two ecologies in Panama ranked among the top 25 ecologies in the world: Canopy Tower and Al Natural."
Travel and Leisure July 2003

"Panama offers some of the richest and most accessible rainforest and wildlife in all of the Americas. Jaguars, sloths, marmosets and four types of monkeys roam the Canal Zone, along with blizzard of exotic birds and butterflies. As the land bridge between North and South America, Panama is home to wildlife species from both continents and has more bird species than all of the North America. Repeatedly, The Pipeline Road alongside the canal sets the world record for the Christmas Audubon bird count, recording more species in 24-hour period than anywhere - last count 954 species. Best of all, these natural riches are only a 45'minute drive from the international Airport."
In the Treetops-The Denver Post, March 202

"Panama's latest attraction is the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a stunning $30 million hotel on the banks of the Chagres River that offers eco-tourism with 24 hours room service, a very 21first century mix of self-indulgence with nature-friendly touch. In the heart of what was once the Panama Canal Zone, where the River Chagres flows into Lake Gatun , this 110-room hotel provided both total luxury and total quite. The main building has gigantic three-story windows that look over and exotic landscape that could be out of Africa, with a savanna like park set against a river bounded by tropical forests. Besides a marina with its waterfront restaurant and its own spa, that justifies its eco-status. They include a sunrise birding tour, a evening wildlife boat tour, a ride on an aerial tram that provides a treetop view of the rain forest, a hike up a trail used by the conquistadors, sports fishing on Lake Gatun and Kayaking on the Chagres."
Exploring Panama's Beaches and Forests, New York Times, February 2002

On Coiba Island National Marine Park: "The Largest island in Central America, 85% of Coiba is virgin tropical forest in the Americas. About 80% of the 1,053 square mile park is oceanic, filled with whales and rare tropical fish. Coiba is perhaps best known among conservationists for Panama¨¨s last cluster of scarlet macaws, its bottle-nosed dolphins and the brown and white Coiba spine tail bird, the only bird of its kind in the world…The Spanish government has invested about $5 million to help uncover Coiba¨¨s biodiversity since 1997 and has a team of scientists working on the island…thus far just 20% of Coiba¨¨s plant life has been identified."
Panamas Devil Island Aims to be New Galapagos, Reuters, May 2002

On the mountain town of Boquete: "Far from the monotony of the historic canal, this endearing and little-known town in the cool, lush Panamanian highlands boasts a wild bounty of colorful flora, fauna and scenery. A contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle, my hometown newspaper, wrote about a Panamanian Shangri-La in the cool highlands of Chiriqui where there were rushing trout-filled streams, a lush mountain rainforest, abundant orange groves and coffee plantations, and a picture postcard town chockablock with flower gardens. This idyllic place, the writer went on to say, was know only to the well-to-do of Panama…we too had become smitten with the place."
Budding Affection for Boquete, Los Angeles Times, November 2002

"It's the Panama David Lee Roth forgot to tell you about-jungle outposts, cities of sagging grandeur, Caribbean pleasure ports. Panama is incredibly diverse geographically and has some of the friendliest people I've ever encountered."
National Geographic photographer Brown W. Cannon III.

Known mostly for its canal, Panama is, in fact, an undiscovered tourist paradise.
The Boston Globe

"Panama has a cosmopolitan capital city, incredible rainforest and some of the finest snorkeling, birding and deep-sea fishing in the world. A proud prosperous nation that honors its seven Indian tribes and its rich Spanish legacy and embraces visitors so enthusiastically that it's difficult to leave without feeling that you're in on a secret that the rest of the traveling world will one day uncover."
Lonely Planet

Panama has the "highest rating for tourist safety."
Pinkerton Global Intelligence

More than 10,000 varieties of plants and more than 1,000 species of birds explain why the Smithsonian's single permanent Tropical Research Center is located here.
Smithsonian Institute

Declared the Ruins of Panama La Vieja, the Fortifications on the Caribbean side, Darien National Park, La Amistad National Park and the Historic District of Panama, with the Salón Bolivar as World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO

Panama has first world infrastructure of roads, business services, medical care and telecommunications"”
AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)

Panama has many tourist attractions, including fine beaches, coral reefs, rich biodiversity and the Canal.”
The Economist Magazine

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