Why Two Toronto Bankers Left Finance to Build a Paradise Resort in Santa Catalina, Panama

For twelve to fifteen years, Ryan worked in capital markets as an equity trader while Anthia managed portfolios at TD Bank. They were that couple on vacation constantly, joking about the cliche dream of ditching it all to live on the beach and open a hotel. But Toronto's winters made it real fast - eight months of cold, shitty weather will do that to you. The turning point came about twelve to thirteen years ago in Nicaragua, at a place called P Maderas, when someone casually mentioned that the way to make the dream real was simple: buy land. So they did what many expats do - they spent two years hunting through Costa Rica and Nicaragua looking for the right property. Nothing clicked. Until their first trip to Panama. On that very trip, they put down a deposit. The land, the country, and the vibe just hit different. As Austin Hess from DoPanama puts it, getting to paradise takes time, and the journey is totally part of the anticipation. That two-year search wasn't wasted time - it was research that led them to the perfect spot.

Santa Catalina isn't the most famous expat hub in Panama - that title usually goes to places like Boquete or Panama City - but that's exactly why Ryan and Anthia chose it. This is a legit surfing and fishing town with serious depth. The location sits as the gateway to Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected marine reserve. We're talking bucket-list diving and snorkeling with crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, and year-round marine life that'll make your Instagram followers jealous. During humpback whale migration season, you'll see massive males breaching off your beach. Green season brings hammerheads. Whale sharks are coming soon. The hammerjhead sharks are frequent visitors to the region during certain seasons, creating some of the most thrilling dive encounters in Central America. Coiba National Park itself spans over 430,000 hectares and contains nearly 40 percent of the tropical dry forest habitat remaining in the Eastern Pacific, making it one of the most biodiverse marine reserves on the continent.

Here's where the smart planning comes in. Ryan and Anthia didn't plant their resort right in the busy town center. They chose a spot just outside Santa Catalina on a secluded beachfront with a calm bay - perfect for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, and yoga retreats. In town, it's funky, lively, and action-packed. At their property, you get parrots, quiet mornings, a freshwater pond teeming with local wildlife, and the kind of peace that makes you actually want to unplug. They built with wellness in mind: a two-story yoga deck overlooking the ocean, capacity for up to 32 guests across 11 casitas, and a full bar and restaurant with breakfast and yoga included in every stay. What makes this practical for visitors is that getting there just got way easier. The road from Panama City was rough for a decade, but infrastructure improvements are finally happening - you can now drive smoothly almost all the way to their doorstep. Plus, Logobay next door has an airstrip, meaning you can fly directly from Panama City into their backyard. Austin Hess mentions that you'll actually hear planes coming in now, a sign of how quickly the region is developing.

What's interesting about Catalina's Hideaway is that it wasn't built to be just another beach resort. Ryan and Anthia deliberately positioned it as a wellness destination. Yoga and wellness retreats are their bread and butter, but they also host birthday celebrations, family reunions during Christmas, and corporate groups. This flexibility appeals to the range of expats and remote workers considering Panama - some want wellness immersion, others want their family gathered in a safe, beautiful setting. The staff prides itself on corner-care service, getting back to messages fast (they use WhatsApp heavily), and even helping guests with bigger-picture travel planning. Need to know the best bus route from Panama City? They'll help. Want restaurant recommendations? They've got connections across Panama. They even offer corporate rates and partner hotels across the country, so they'll customize entire Panama itineraries for guests. The food is serious too - they hired a killer chef team who put out incredible meals, a point they emphasize coming from Toronto, where good restaurants matter.

The story of Catalina's Hideaway is a case study in expat entrepreneurship. Ryan and Anthia didn't move to Panama to work a job - they moved to build something. But their experience reveals several truths about relocation to Panama. First, successful expats do their homework. They didn't pick a country overnight. They spent two years comparing Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama before committing. Second, location matters, but so does timing. Santa Catalina is booming now partly because of infrastructure improvements - the same improvements that are transforming how accessible rural and coastal Panama becomes for expats. Third, there's real business opportunity in Panama for people with capital and ideas. Whether you're looking to invest in real estate, start a business, or build a resort from scratch, Panama's business environment welcomes foreign investment. For retirees, Panama offers pensioner visa requirements that are extremely competitive - many countries require proof of $1,000-$2,500 monthly income, while Panama's requirements are even more flexible depending on your visa category. According to International Living, Panama ranks consistently in the top ten retirement destinations globally, largely because of visa accessibility, healthcare quality, and cost of living. The country has a stable economy, U.S. dollar currency, and an established expat community that means you're not pioneering alone. If you're serious about relocation, the difference between tourists and successful expats is research and professional guidance. That's where services like DoPanama come in - they handle the visa complexity, guide property investment, and connect you with real people already living the dream.

One thing that stands out in Ryan's explanation is how infrastructure shapes opportunity. For years, the drive to Santa Catalina was brutal. Poor roads meant tourists and investors looked elsewhere. Now that's changing. The government has machines on the ground, actual road improvements happening, and smooth driving becoming reality from Panama City to Santa Catalina and beyond. Add the Logobay airstrip and you get what's happening across Panama - remote areas that felt isolated are suddenly accessible. This is the pattern you see everywhere in the country. Five years ago, Boquete was the retirement capital. Now properties in San Blas, Coronado, and coastal areas are exploding in value as access improves. The expats winning on real estate investment are the ones who identify areas before the infrastructure boom, buy property, and benefit from the appreciation that follows. Santa Catalina's development is accelerating because of the road improvements and air access, but it's still early enough that property prices haven't skyrocketed like they have in Boquete or the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

Austin Hess closes with a line that captures the expat experience perfectly: getting to paradise takes time, and that's all part of the experience. Most expats don't nail their perfect location on the first try. You research, you visit, you talk to people living there, you make offers, you take time. Ryan and Anthia spent two years looking. That wasn't failure - that was due diligence. It meant when they found Santa Catalina, they were confident. They weren't running from something, they were running toward something specific. The same applies whether you're planning retirement, looking for investment property, or considering a permanent move. Panama is opening doors right now. Santa Catalina is becoming accessible. The cost of living is significantly lower than North America or Europe - expat forums report monthly costs between $1,200-$2,000 for comfortable living outside Panama City, depending on lifestyle. Healthcare is solid - Panama City has internationally accredited hospitals where expat retirees can access quality care. The business environment is stable. The weather is warm. The people are friendly. But it requires intentional decision-making. Talking to people who've already moved. Working with relocation professionals who understand visas, taxes, and property law. Not jumping in blind.