Retire in Chitré, Panama

Last Updated on March 29, 2026 by Retire in Panama

The Azuero Peninsula is situated in the central-southern portion of Panama and is often called the heartland of the country by Panamanians. This region has a good lifestyle of ranching, farming, fishing, and celebrations. Going to this place, you’ll see the history of Panama culture along with its festivities and colonial architecture. You will find 3 major towns in this region: Chitré, Las Tablas, and Pedasí.

Expats have begun to uncover these towns for a number of reasons. First, it’s one of the least expensive places to live in Panama near the beach. The weather here is definitely hot, yet it’s the driest part of Panama. The red tile roofs and sophisticated metal work beautify the Spanish colonial homes. The nice and clean streets, along with their central plazas in the shade of old trees, always take you to the 18th-century Cathedral. It’s colonial Panama, having a rich and unique history.

Chitré is the capital town of the Province of Herrera. It is situated seven kilometers inland, coming from the Gulf of Panama in the Azuero Peninsula. Chitré was built around 1848 as a parochial district, seventy years before Herrera became a Province. The natural vegetation in the region is tropical dry forest, though much of it has already been cut down to make way for farming and ranching.

It features a very unique low tide beach, Playa El Agallito, whenever low tide, a lot of crabs emerge, and numerous birds show up to nibble on, which makes it an excellent bird watchers spot. The first thing that will catch your eye is how clean and neat the area is. The entrance is adorned with a central boulevard, and there’s a marked absence of trash.

Chitré offers almost all the amenities of a big city, such as local and global restaurants, banks, hotels, shops, strip malls, healthcare facilities, and a great internet and telecoms network. This makes it a great option for expats to live in, since they all have the amenities of their previous home and the laid-back, affordable lifestyle they’re searching for. Chitré is the hub for goods and services on the Azuero Peninsula, serving a population of almost 80,000 people in the surrounding communities.. It features a regional bus terminal with destinations around the country and a small airport with routes to Panama City.

As you drive through the town, you will notice that the city has made a long, deliberate effort to preserve what remains of the community’s colonial history. The focal point of the town is the main square. The magnificently well-kept civic garden offers the common central rotunda; however, your eye is attracted to the neoclassical facade of the cathedral. During the night, the building is lit by a number of well-placed, well-lit lights.

Chitre’s main square is similar in style to those of Mexico’s most notable Colonial towns, such as San Miguel de Allende and Guadalajara.

Chitreans are happy, welcoming individuals who want to have a great time with their friends and even with people from neighboring towns. Friendliness and cooperation are the norm for individuals living in this town, and the result is a really peaceful and safe city that is becoming home to many more expats who would like to enjoy their retirement years far from the large cities.

The community features all of the advantages of home. Its 80,000 population facilitates 2 hospitals, 2 clinics, a golf course, a country club, and even the Tastee-Freeze ice cream shop. Tiny as the town is, it has a local airport with day-to-day 30-minute flights to Panama City.

For the present time, Chitre and other towns of the Azuero Peninsula continue to be fairly affordable, and the town’s warm and friendly town center with its numerous restaurants will surely be an attraction to those considering retiring in this area.

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