As many know, most of the Phase I properties went very quickly and we received many requests about creating more. We heard you, and since February 2021, we have been working on creating Phase II of Torio Village.
We started with the conceptual design, followed by the design of the actual lots. Currently, we are finishing the infrastructure and segregations for this future phase.
Stay tuned to our social networks and our newsletter because soon these lots will be launching for presale. In the meantime, our other projects such as Green Valley Zapotal and Sea View Hills still have many incredible properties, just waiting to become somebody's jungle dream.
This Saturday is Torio's Artisanal Market.
This Saturday October 2nd will be the next edition of Torio's Artisanal Market, in Torio Plaza, from 10.30 am to 3 pm. There will be handmade goods, food items, farm products, plants and more.
In addition to our local Torio vendors, there will be vendors from all over the coast, as well as invited vendors from Santiago and other parts of Panama.
We look forward to seeing you with your usual good vibes :)
Work is advancing on the new road!
If you didn't yet know, the Government of Panama is currently building the Atalaya-Quebro road and the project is well underway. In fact, the last time we checked, the road was already part Ponuga, so it will be reaching Torio within the next few months.
Summer is coming. Is Torio on your list?
With no shortage of natural attractions, such as Torio River, Playa Torio and our waterfall, as well as all the unique adventures available in our area (paragliding, hiking, wildlife conservation and more) where is so much to see and do in Torio. Follow us on Instagram for all details.
When our relatives, friends and fellow travelers visit us, it is always a challenge to summarize the magic of our coastline. With so many options, it's hard to pick a favorite – so we picked five!
1. Watch the sunset on the beach
Ever wonder why our coastline is called "The Sunset Coast"? It is because it is the only one in the country where you can see the sun set directly on the horizon line of the sea. Watching it is pure magic. Just pick a spot on the beach, or from the top of almost all our hills and grab a refreshment.
A cold beer in hand, good company and a magical sunset = pure bliss.
2. Horse riding
Nothing says adventure like exploring the Jungle on horseback. Finca El Vendaval and Happy Ranch offer 1- or 2-hour tours, where you can ride on the beach, river or both. Prices start from $25 an hour. To book, call or text + 507-6356-5063 or email fincaelvendaval@gmail.com
3. Learn to Surf
The beach of Torio is one of the best in the country for people who want to learn to surf. Playa Torio's waves are small and have a sand bottom.
Morrillo Surf School offers surf lessons. They have the boards and the instructors, all you must bring are your good vibes! To book, email morrillosurfschool@gmail.com or call +507-6589-6884.
If you are looking for a more advanced wave, Playa Reina in Mariato (15 km) and Playa Morrillo (15 km) are a good challenge for intermediate and advanced surfers.
4. Hike to our waterfalls
Torio has many waterfalls, all of them easily accessible on foot. In the Torio Hills community, there is a medium waterfall, a short 30-minute walk from the center. You will start the walk on a gravel road, then enter the jungle, crossing through shallow rivers. Remember to wear comfortable shoes for this walk!
On the beach of Torio, if you walk down via the Elementary School, you have two options, depending on the tide. If you make a left and walk 10 minutes, you will find a small waterfall, flowing directly into the sea. If you take a right, and walk 20 minutes, you will find several small "jaccuzis" and a naturally formed shower flowing from a rocky wall.
5. Try Stand Up Paddle
In and around Torio, there are several spots just waiting for you to explore them on a Stand Up Paddle. Pro SUP Panama Adventures offer guided SUP tours on the river, the estuary or on the sea.
Tours start at $ 25 per hour and include equipment and guide.
To book, you can contact Pro SUP Panama Adventures directly on your phone +507 6495-8268 or phone + 507-6356-5063. Tours are entirely dependent on local conditions and tides.
Want more adventure ideas? Check out our Instagram account @torio.panama for more #toriolife.
A laptop on the beach with a cold
cerveza a hand grip away – for many digital natives, this is the dream, the goal, the ultimate lifestyle. The idea that you can work from anywhere in the world – as long as there is reliable Internet - is extremely appealing to an ever growing segment of the population, who lives by their own rules.
Having reliable Internet – in many parts of the world, even within Panama, is easier said than done. Which is why, when Global Computers first approached us in March 2018 with an offer to install the first antena in the region, this was a complete game changer for our coast.
For a long time, the only Internet available was expensive and unreliable. Now, with Global Computer's private Internet, it is completely possible to have high speed Internet throughout the Azuero Sunset Coast.
For all those who make a living online, be it graphic designers, bloggers, photographers, creative, data analysts, scientists, etc, a whole new world has opened up in Torio.
The question now is: where will you be working from? Take your pick between the epic ocean views of Sea View Hills, the jungle dense valley of Green Valley Zapotal or the future Torio Plaza commercial area for the entrepreneurs.
We have the paradise and the Internet: you bring the digital native dream.
Over the past twelve months, there have been tremendous changes in Torio, starting with the current version of our company,
Torio Properties & Development, and the team that we built. Equal parts visionaries and doers, our multidisciplinary crew has been working very hard to create the groundwork for this next phase of our growth: working towards a sustainable, green, active community in Torio.
Infrastructure and Improvements
This year, our personal and regional infrastructure has seen changes and improvements.
In our development, we've been making several improvements to our water system. We are currently working on a new water pump and reserve water especially for Green Valley Zapotal.
On a regional level, the road that leads from Atalaya to Torio has seen more constant patching from the
Ministerio de Obras Publicas, which has kept the road in a much better state than last year, leading to (even) shorter driving to Santiago.
Arguably everybody's favorite improvement, the addition of high speed Internet to our coast, thanks to Panamanian company Global Computers, has allowed many residents to work from home.
And yes, you can stream Netflix. Although our beautiful natural surroundings make it easy to be without Internet, we won't deny that we haven't all really enjoyed catching up on some screen time. The best part about our new high speed Internet? It makes
the Freelance dream a reality in our coast.
New additions
2018 has seen the addition of many new businesses to the area.
Costa Azul is the new Panamanian run fonda. Situated on the hill between Malena and Torio, and open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, Costa Azul is our favorite place for fried fish and patacones. Yitzia, Carmen and Cesar are also a true pleasure to deal with.
Closer to home,
Torio Plaza is also now a reality. From an abandoned warehouse to the home of 4 new businesses/commercial areas, including Amazilia Soap Lab, La Chantin and our Yoga/Multipurpose Room, the team of Torio P&D decided to practice sustainability by creating the new out of the old.
Over in Morillo, we were also happy to welcome Cary and Ryan Mckay and their
Morillo Eco Resort, which opened as a pre-launch earlier in the year. Their great Mexican style food (try the Enchiladas!) and Panamanian draft beer were a very welcome addition to our weekly lineup. We look forward to visiting them again when they officially open in November.
Growth for our Existing Businesses
This year, local horse ranches
Happy Ranch and Finca Vendaval have added new services. It is now possible to house your horses at Finca Vendaval for training, breeding or simply as part of a caretaking program. Both ranches also continue to offer their popular trail rides for tourists and locals alike, as well as horseback riding lessons.
La Fondita Italiana is the local Pizzeria in Mariato. Run by two Italian couples who take turns manning the stoves, La Fondita is open for a second year in a row and offers authentic Pizza, fresh pasta and more specialty dishes in Mariato. Have a pizza or pasta or even their octopus dish! Everything here is delicious.
Brisas del Mar, run by Santiago native Johnny, continues to be a popular spot with tourists and locals alike. Cheap, cold beer, local food and a beachy environment right on the main road in Torio, Brisas is your best bet for a true authentic Panamanian experience in Torio.
An International Community
In June and July,
Palati Fini, Torio's long time Italian restaurant (run by soccer loving couple Rosario and Severine Dainotto) was the place to be to watch the FIFA World Cup. In true representation of our very international community, friends and neighbors from all around the world congregated in Palati Fini to share friendly rivalry and their love of the game. This was made especially special by the fact that Panama was also participating in in its very first participation in a World Cup. Thank you Rosario and Severine for hosting all the neighbors for every game!
Surf Competitions and local Events
This past July, the Copa Playa Reina surfing competition was held in Morillo Beach, as part of the National Surfing Circuit of Panama. Surfers from all around Panama competed in the two day competition. We were happy to see local surfers participate in the lineup. As our area grows, it is important to foster local talent, especially in children.
Conservation Efforts by Neighbors
Neighbor led initiatives are a very important part of growing a community.
Local animal activitists led by Ms. Kathy McGovern organized a Spay animal neutering clinic in Torio earlier this year. Since the beginning of this program, a total of 500 animals have been spayed, with a local vet coming from Santiago to the area to offer inexpensive consults and vaccionation to all our local pets. Kathy and co routinely host Patio Sales to fund these clinics.
Last month's beach cleanup, part of World Oceans Conservacy Day, was a resounding success, with school groups from Santiago and government ministries joining in on beach cleanups that took place simultaneously on all the beaches of the Azuero Sunset Coast (Playa Reina, Palo Seco, Torio, Mata Oscura and Morillo Beach).
Finally, the trash problem prevalent in Panama has been the object of much deliberation in the Azuero Sunset Coast. Led by our neighbor John Korte and Anakena Castillo, there is currently a committee being formed to create a better solution for waste disposal in our area. Anybody interested in forming part of this committee should reach out via the Facebook group RECICLA COSTA AZUL DE VERAGUAS.
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As you can see, there have been many changes around Torio. From infrastructure, to community led activities and new neighbors moving in, it has been a pleasure to watch and take part of this growth. This further cements our belief in the fact that
anything is possible, if you set your mind to it.
Part of working towards sustainability is finding new uses for old things.
When our team heard that our French friend Julia Berard wanted to open a coffee shop in Torio but had been struggling to find a commercial space, we knew that we had to make it happen. While we didn't have anything ready to move in, we did have the infrastructure of an old warehouse which had previously been used to house Ludvig's flying machine (more on that in another article).
A little coat of paint, some changes in wall divisions, plants and the determination to see this project come to life were all it took to give a tired warehouse a facelift and birth Torio's favorite breakfast corner: EL CAFÉ JULIA, a place to stop for sweets, specialty coffee and a chat with old and new friends alike.
Once we saw how much people liked spending time in the area, we decided to continue the renovations by fixing another corner of the warehouse and turning it into
our new Yoga Studio / Multipurpose room. Today it features a beautiful mural, huge mirrors and a burgeoning collection of plants, and is available for events and any kind of activity. Recently, local massage therapist Carlota, our neighbor from Palo Seco has been using the space to offer weekly massages in Torio Plaza.
Another corner of the same warehouse started undergoing renovations in early May. AMAZILIA Soap Lab, is almost near construction. Amazilia is a local artisan soap company, established in 2013 by Melissa and Jean Carlos, a mixed Panamanian and Canadian couple. Their soap company was previously based in Santiago, and recently relocated to Torio. When finished, the soap lab will include a small store where the soaps and other gift items will be available for purchase. AMAZILIA is the first artisan company to relocate to Torio – in the future, we hope to see many high quality goods produced in Torio.
Finally,
LA CHANTIN will be reopening this season, in its new location in Torio Plaza, between El Café Julia and Amazilia. La Chantin is Torio's newest seasonal restaurant. Housed last year at the former Shaka Bar, this season will see a new twist on the loved concept. Fresh ingredients, tropical influence and good vibes all around are what you can expect at La Chantin (meaning The House in Panamanian slang). Stay tuned!
From one abandoned warehouse to a brand new plaza, with 4 commercial businesses and a beautiful patio, complete with plants, outside bathroom and fairy lights. When you use what you have, you learn to think creatively and use resources efficiently and see opportunity and potential instead of limitations.
