Condo

80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water

80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water

Photo gallery for 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water

Playa Caracol Beach
Living room
Dining area
Dining area detail
Kitchen and breakfast bar

Overview of 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water

4.7 out of 5 Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4122 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Check out the area

Chame District, Panama
  • Popular LocationPlaya Malibú35 min drive
  • Popular LocationTeta Beach36 min drive
  • Popular LocationCoronado Beach46 min drive
  • AirportPanama City (PAC-Marcos A. Gelabert Intl.)95 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second bedroom

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Master Bathroom

Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Second Bathroom

Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water

THE SETTING: Our condo is in the newly-constructed Sanctuary building of the Playa Caracol Residences and Beach Club. It is a ground floor unit with private patio and lawn, close to the pool, with a stunning view of the verdant Chame Mountains. The pool area is a dozen steps away from our patio. A one-minute walk will take you to the brilliant, white-sand Playa Caracol beach. Turn right and you can walk for 5 kilometers along the unspoiled, undeveloped dunes until reaching the point where the Rio Chame empties into the Pacific Ocean. Turn left and you can walk 3.5 kilometers to the tidal estuary of Boca de Chame. If you don't feel like walking, you can settle into one of the condo’s beach lounge chairs and watch the frigatebirds and pelicans gliding over the waves. Whatever your choice, this is the tropical Pacific at its finest.
THE CONDO: All condos are not the same, even if they share similar floor plans. We could have purchased a smaller beach-front unit, but instead chose a larger unit that is bright and airy with an open floor plan, includes access to our own tiled patio and green space, and avoids the discomfort of beach sand constantly blowing into the unit. Rather than accept the developer’s basic furniture package, we enlisted a talented designer to create a tastefully-furnished interior that was comfortable, relaxing, and visually pleasing. The living/dining area and each of the two bedrooms have air-conditioning, and there are ceiling fans in the living room, master bedroom, and on the patio. The unit has a fully-furnished kitchen and laundry, and comes with its own secure wifi and local cable service. We recently added patio furniture, a TV console with flat screen in the living room, and luxury bedding for the master bed (these are not yet shown in our profile photos, but will be as soon as we receive the new images). The master bedroom has a comfortable queen bed and sitting area, and the second bedroom has two twin beds that can be moved together and bridged to create a king bed upon request. The bed and bath linens are high quality, and there is ample closet space in both of the bedrooms. The tiled pool has a shallow shelf area complete with lounge chairs as well as the deeper section, and there is an outdoor shower and community barbecue grill beneath the pergola.
SECURITY AND ACCESS: Playa Caracol Residences takes security seriously. To reach our unit one must drive through two separate gated barriers, one at the entrance to the development, and the second to enter the Sanctuary building area. A digital key code is then required to enter the Sanctuary building, followed by another digital lock to enter the rental unit. The development security guards perform frequent foot patrols throughout the day and night (including the wee hours of the morning!). All of the details of access and security will be reviewed with each tenant by our on-site property manager.
AMENITIES AND ACTIVITIES: The Playa Caracol Residences development is still in the early stages, with the emphasis to date having been on the residential units and associated common areas. Commercial, retail, and eatery establishments will follow as the development builds out and can support them. There is a beach club and surf school adjacent to the Sanctuary building where drinks and food may be purchased, along with other beach items of interest. For everything else, a 20-25 km drive west into Coronado or Nueva Gorgona is in order.
Coronado provides many options, including some excellent restaurants and cafes, several grocery stores (including gourmet ones), salon services, and major Panamanian banks (with ATMs). It has a fairly large expat population. Alternatively, you could head 56 km in the other direction to Costa Verde where you'll find larger shopping malls, big box stores like PriceSmart (formerly Costco), and more really good eating options.
Panama City is only 87 km away and is an incredibly beautiful waterfront city, blending centuries of history and culture with the ultramodern. It boasts colonial neighborhoods with quaint shops, the international business district with skyscrapers that will make your neck hurt, high-end malls with international designer brand shopping, world class restaurants throughout, and of course, the world-famous Panama Canal.
There are also worthy excursions if one drives inland from Playa Caracol. Notable among these is El Valle de Antón, a small town sited within the rims of an extinct volcano and famous for its produce and flowers. El Valle offers attractions like hiking, ziplining, waterfalls, hot springs, orchid nurseries, botanical gardens, the Nispero zoo, and its famous Sunday market.
TRANSPORTATION: Tocumen International Airport in Panama City is modern and efficient. We strongly suggest renting a car. We can recommend a reasonably-priced rental provider (in Coronado) who can either meet you at the airport with your rental or provide shuttle service between the airport and Coronado. Highways are very good. While public transportation within the country, cities and towns is very good and reasonably priced, there is no public transportation to Playa Caracol from the airport.
RULES: We are not really into rules, but the few we have are important, and there are also some points of guidance:
• The unit is strictly no smoking, including the hallways. Smoking in the unit will result in immediate eviction and loss of the damage deposit.
• No pets of any kind.
• We love children and they are welcome regardless of their age.
• The tap water in the condo is safe to drink.
• No surfboards, boogie-boards, sail boards, or wet dive gear inside the unit. If leaving them outside, remember that at times the winds can be quite strong
• We supply towels specifically for the pool and beach, so please remember to bring them back and don’t take the bathroom towels outside, nor hang anything outside to dry. Also please use the outdoor shower to rinse the sand off before re-entering the unit, and leave the community BBQ clean if you use it.
• One of the challenges of living in Panama is that electric service can be subject to spikes, surges, and outages. We provide surge protectors for your electronics and strongly encourage you to use them, but cannot assume any responsibility for damage caused by power spikes, nor guarantee that outages will not occur during your stay.

Property manager

Brian Winchester

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Punta Chame

Located in Punta Chame, this condo is on the beach. Shoppers can check out Coronado Mall, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Playa Malibú and Teta Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Coronado Mall - 31 min drive
  • Playa Malibú - 35 min drive
  • Teta Beach - 36 min drive
  • Los Cajones de Chame - 40 min drive
  • Coronado Beach - 46 min drive

Getting around

  • Rio Hato (RIH-Scarlett Martinez Intl.) - 68 min drive

Restaurants

  • Pizzeria Restaurante Torito’s - 30 min drive
  • Fritanga - 10 min drive
  • Restaurante Turicentro Hawaii - 31 min drive
  • Rincón Catracho - 31 min drive
  • Brisas del Mar / Yami’s Bar - 32 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is 80 Steps to White Sand and Blue Water located?

Nestled on the beach, this Punta Chame condo is within 20 mi (32 km) of Coronado Mall, Playa Malibú and Teta Beach. Coronado Beach and Los Cajones de Chame are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

4.7

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 4 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 2 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews" "

5/5

Cleanliness

4.5/5

Check-in

4.9/5

Communication

4.4/5

Location

4.9/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Krista C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family of 4 Christmas Vacay
We very much enjoyed our stay at Playa Caracol at the Sanctuary Building. The unit was nicely furnished and had everything we needed for our 9 day stay. It can be a drive to and from Panama City depending on the traffic. If you are looking for a place to get away and relax this is the place for you. We rented a surf board for our son from the surf shack, and bought some floats for our teens to use in the water. It’s a great beach to boogie board, but we didn’t travel with them. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I walked most mornings. We did venture into the city, Playa Coronado, and El Valle de Antón for some excursions. Being able to speak Spanish is nice but not required, and the property manager, Iraiza was very helpful if we needed anything. Definitely a trip to remember!
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2023

5/5 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
A Beachy Vacation
The description of the property was accurate. The unit is beautifully decorated and has everything one would need to cook their meals and enjoy the beach day and night. The Surf Shack was inviting and we enjoyed the food and Margaritas several times. Having a rental car allowed us to venture out to see the country side, retreive provisions and experience the culture of the country. The property manager was available when we had questions or needed something. We will return someday as its a perfect home away from home.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

4/5 Good

Deborah H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Punta Chame
Beautiful apartment
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2023

5/5 Excellent

Dee S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stylish and comfy
The condo was truly beautiful. Spacious, with comfortable and stylish furniture. Very clean, A/C worked perfectly, kitchen had everything we needed. Only drawback was lack of a bureau in MBR with drawers for clothing. Two drawers in each bedside table plus two narrow drawers in TV sideboard were the only place to put clothing. Need some grooved hangers to hang strappy dresses and blouses also. BBQ grills did not work, even though we had received special permission to use them. They are usually off-limits to guests, which struck us as extremely strange. Beach was beautiful, not crowded at all, some days we had the beach all to ourselves! I always travel with four or five slender, battery-powered candles and they were perfect for creating ambiance on the outdoor patio. We had been warned about mosquitoes so took plenty of bug spray but were pleasantly surprised to find we didn't need it. Maybe just the right time of the year! Biggest downfall was the approximately 8-mile road from the Pan-American Highway down route 722 to Playa Caracol. Total nightmare! One lane in, one lane out, potholes the size of tractor tires. You learned to drive on the right, swerve into oncoming lane on left, or just drive right down the middle. Oncoming traffic did the same, both directions playing Dodge Ball/Obstacle Course all the way. It took approximately 30-40 minutes to drive those 8 miles, either direction. Needless to say, we NEVER left the complex after dark. MUCH construction going on all around the complex, there will probably be 1500+ units when all is finished, and EVERYTHING - steel girders, dirt movers, tractors, cranes, stone, brick, appliances, flooring, roofing, furnishings - comes in on that one, potholed 8-mile road. To say nothing of the houses and hotels down at the other end of the road, at Chame Point. No restaurants on-site, you had to drive back out to the Pan-Am highway to get to restaurants, shops, grocery stores, etc. We made our trips during the day, going out for lunches, not dinners, as we had to be back down that road before dark. Surely there will someday be another road built to accommodate people in 1500+ condos! The drive up to El Valle de Anton was gorgeous, everything lush and green. The town had several restaurants and a terrific village marketplace. Many good restaurants in Coronado, especially El Chaco Grill for whole, roasted chicken. Go to 99 Store for basic groceries, Rey Supermercado for local produce.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

4/5 Good

Howard B., Severn, MD

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing Visit to Punta Chame
Property description perfect. Ground floor unit steps to beach and pool. Beach towels folded and ready when we arrived. Very nice week. Couple of other thoughts. For those not familiar with Punta Chame. This Property located about 35 minutes from full service grocery store. Smaller markets and restaurants about 15 minutes away. Surf Shack beach restaurant and bar a 5 minute walk from unit. Recommendation for owner: Need more transparency re Property rules. Provide Property rules to future potential guests via VRBO before they rent. We booked a non refundable trip and then we were sent the rules.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022

About the host

Hosted by Brian Winchester

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