Area guide · Panama City
Living in El Dorado: Central, Convenient and Good Value
Bethania district, Panama City: between Villa de las Fuentes, UTP and Santa María (north; Condado del Rey further up), La Gloria and central Betania (east), La Locería and Los Ángeles (south) and Av. de la Amistad, the Corredor Norte and the Metropolitan Natural Park (west). It includes Loma del Dorado, Las Mercedes, Altos del Chase, Dos Mares and La Alameda.
What is it like to live in El Dorado?
El Dorado is a residential and commercial area in the Bethania district, at the geographic center of Panama City, that grew in the 1970s around the El Dorado shopping center, one of the oldest in Panama. It sits on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto) and Av. Miguel Brostella, with a direct exit to the Corredor Norte.
Its appeal is convenience: supermarkets (one open 24 hours), PriceSmart, banks, pharmacies, clinics and dozens of restaurants —especially Chinese food— within walking distance, plus frequent buses along Ricardo J. Alfaro. Prices are below the waterfront high-rise districts, so it draws families, professionals and students from UTP and USMA.
Housing mixes 1990s–2000s towers (Plaza Dorada, Torre 88, Golden Boulevard, Royal Hill, Summer Hill, Pacific Hills in Dos Mares), houses in neighborhoods such as Altos del Chase, Las Mercedes and Villa de las Fuentes, and gated communities such as Corona Gardens and Camino de Cruces, the latter with homes above $1 million.
Pros
- Supermarkets, PriceSmart, banks, pharmacies and restaurants within walking distance.
- Central location with Corredor Norte access and frequent buses along Ricardo J. Alfaro.
- 2-bedroom rents from ~$800 and sales from ~$105,000, below the high-rise districts.
- Private schools from ~$290 a month and universities (UTP, USMA) nearby.
- Variety: apartments, houses with yards and gated communities.
Things to know
- Heavy traffic on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro and around the El Dorado shopping center, especially at rush hour and on paydays.
- No Metro station: the nearest is ~1.5 km away.
- Few public parks, and many buildings are decades old; plenty of apartments need remodeling.
- The nearest private hospital is ~2 km away.
Reference prices · October 2026
Apartments for rent in El Dorado: prices
| Type | Asking range /month | Most common |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bedroom apartment (35–70 m²) | $375 – $850 | — |
| 2-bedroom apartment (72–125 m²) | $750 – $1,350 | ~$850 – $1,050 |
| 3-bedroom apartment (96–128 m²) | $850 – $1,250 | — |
| House | $1,400 – $2,500 | — |
Apartments and houses for sale in El Dorado: prices
| Type | Asking range |
|---|---|
| 2-bedroom apartment (64–145 m²) | $105,000 – $225,000 (typical ~$150,000 (Golden Boulevard); Royal Hill ~$189,000; Dos Mares View II $207,000–225,000) |
| 3-bedroom apartment (120–158 m²) | $150,000 – $389,000 (typical ~$210,000–215,000 (Park View II, Torre 88); furnished Pacific Hills up to $389,000) |
| House | $200,000 – $1,950,000 (houses in neighborhoods $200,000–440,000; Corona Gardens ~$380,000; Camino de Cruces $1.2–1.95 million) |
| Asking price per m² (apartments) | $1,100 – $2,740 / m² (Golden Boulevard ~$1,500/m²; Torre 88 ~$1,650/m²; Royal Hill ~$2,170/m²) |
Asking-price ranges from listings checked in October 2026; they are not closing prices or an appraisal. We found no public-registry closing data for El Dorado. We excluded listings that portals tag "El Dorado" but are in Condado del Rey, San Francisco or Coco del Mar.
Sources (listings checked in October 2026): Encuentra24 – apartamentos de 2 recámaras en alquiler en El Dorado, Encuentra24 – apartamentos de 2 recámaras en venta en El Dorado, Encuentra24 – apartamentos de 1 y 3 recámaras en alquiler en El Dorado, Compreoalquile – apartamentos en alquiler en El Dorado, Compreoalquile – apartamentos en venta en El Dorado, Compreoalquile – casas en venta en El Dorado, Grupo Gestión Inmobiliario – 2 recámaras en PH Green Hills.
Getting around El Dorado
- Buses: the El Dorado I and R stops, across from the El Dorado shopping center, are on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro, served by MiBus "M" trunk routes; for example, route M181 Albrook–Metro Los Andes runs on weekdays from 3:09 am to 2:42 am (Moovit).
- Metro: there is no station in El Dorado and Line 2 does not pass through the area. The closest are El Ingenio (~1.5 km), 12 de Octubre (~1.9 km) and Fernández de Córdoba (~1.9 km), all on Line 1 along the Transístmica. Fare B/. 0.35.
- Car: the Corredor Norte has an El Dorado exit, leading to Albrook and the Centennial Bridge one way and to Tocumen the other; Ricardo J. Alfaro links to Condado del Rey and Vía Simón Bolívar. Rush hours and paydays clog the shopping core.
Utilities in El Dorado
- 💡Electricity
- ENSA (Elektra Noreste) · Naturgy (Edemet)
Split: ENSA in most of it (El Dorado, Las Mercedes and surroundings); Naturgy in Dos Mares and on the west side of Av. Ricardo J. Alfaro, which is the boundary between them. Check the property's previous bill. - 🚰Water
- IDAAN (often included in the condo HOA fee)
- 📶Internet & phone
- +Móvil (Cable & Wireless Panamá) · Tigo Panamá
Panama's two operators; fiber depends on the building: check your address with each. - 🔥Gas
- Tropigas · Panagas
25 lb cylinders in houses and low-rise buildings; 100 lb with installation (Tropigas, Panagas). Some buildings have central gas: ask the management. - 🗑️Garbage collection
- AAUD (Autoridad de Aseo)
Panamá district: the garbage fee comes on the IDAAN bill.
Estimate my monthly cost Utilities guide: how to set up electricity, water, gas and internet →
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Properties in El Dorado
There are no published properties in El Dorado yet.
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Condo buildings (PH) and gated communities in El Dorado
Each building and gated community has its own page with verified amenities (pool, gym, 24-hour security, gatehouse, backup generator…), map, nearby places and the homes brokers list there.
- PH Deluna Park View — Condo building (PH)
- PH Don Manuel — Condo building (PH)
- PH Golden Boulevard — Condo building (PH)
- PH Green Hills — Condo building (PH)
- PH Pacific Hills — Condo building (PH)
- PH Park View II — Condo building (PH)
- PH Plaza Dorada I y II — Condo building (PH)
- PH Royal Hill I y II — Condo building (PH)
- PH Summer Hill — Condo building (PH)
- PH Torre 88 Norte y Sur — Condo building (PH)
- PH Villa Real — Condo building (PH)
- Residencial Camino de Cruces — Gated community
- Residencial Corona Gardens — Gated community
Places in El Dorado
Schools, supermarkets, clinics, transport and more: each category has its own page and each place its own page with prices (when published), hours, sources and map.
Schools in El Dorado
- Panama Christian Academy (PCA) — Christian, K3 to 12th grade; Spanish, English and Mandarin. 2027: $290–$422 a month ($3,190–$4,642 a year).
- Colegio Internacional de María Inmaculada — Catholic, pre-nursery to 12th grade. 2027 monthly tuition: $290–$310 (10 payments).
- Academia Hebrea de Panamá — Orthodox Jewish school, pre-K to 12th grade; gender-separated classes. Fees not published.
Supermarkets in El Dorado
- Super 99 El Dorado — Chain supermarket in central El Dorado; daily 6 am–10 pm.
- Supermercados Rey El Dorado — Rey supermarket at El Dorado shopping center; daily 6:30 am–10 pm.
- El Machetazo El Dorado — Budget supermarket and store open 24 hours.
- PriceSmart El Dorado — Membership warehouse club; daily 9 am–8 pm.
Transport in El Dorado
- Estación 12 de Octubre (Metro Línea 1) — Line 1 heading south and downtown; ~1.25 km from the Condado del Rey-I stop. Fare $0.35.
- Paradas MiBus El Dorado (I y R) — Ricardo J. Alfaro "M" trunk routes, e.g. M181 Albrook–Metro Los Andes (03:09–02:42 on weekdays).
- Estación El Ingenio (Metro Línea 1) — Line 1, the closest station: ~1.5 km from central El Dorado. Fare $0.35.
- Estación Fernández de Córdoba (Metro Línea 1) — Line 1 heading south; ~1.9 km from central El Dorado. Fare $0.35.
Gyms & sports in El Dorado
- Smart Fit Dorado City Center — Fit plan $30.99 + tax/month (12 months); Smart or Black $34.99 + tax/month. Mon–Fri 5 am–midnight.
Parks & recreation in El Dorado
- Parque Mirador El Dorado — Neighborhood park ~100 m from central El Dorado. Free access.
- Parque Altos del Chase — Altos del Chase neighborhood park, ~0.6 km from the center. Free access.
Clinics & health in El Dorado
- Clínica Hospital San Fernando — Private hospital with a 24/7 emergency room, ~1.9 km from central El Dorado.
- Farmacias Arrocha El Dorado — Chain pharmacy; daily 7 am–11 pm.
- Metro Plus El Dorado (farmacia y laboratorio) — Pharmacy with a clinical lab next door; Mon–Sat 6:30 am–9:30 pm, Sun 8 am–8 pm.
Restaurants in El Dorado
- Don Lee (El Dorado) — Traditional Chinese; known for its Chinese breakfast. ~$15 per person.
- Tallarines (El Dorado) — Chinese food to share at Boulevard El Dorado. ~$15 per person.
- Hong Kong Bakery (El Dorado) — Chinese bakery and food. ~$18 per person.
- Selvática — International food and café at Dorado City Center. ~$18 per person.
- Sunly (El Dorado) — Chinese, over a thousand Degusta reviews. ~$23 per person.
- Barrio Pizza (Dorado City Center) — Stone-oven pizza with a pet-friendly terrace. ~$22 per person.
- Athen's Pizza (Aventura Mall, El Dorado) — Greek pizzeria; pets on the terrace. Mon–Sat 11 am–10 pm.
Pet friendly
- Barrio Pizza (Dorado City Center) — Stone-oven pizza with a pet-friendly terrace. ~$22 per person.
- Athen's Pizza (Aventura Mall, El Dorado) — Greek pizzeria; pets on the terrace. Mon–Sat 11 am–10 pm.
🐾 Pet friendly
Pet-friendly El Dorado
In El Dorado, Barrio Pizza at Dorado City Center and Athen's Pizza at Aventura Mall welcome pets on the terrace, and Local El Dorado is also listed as pet friendly by Pet Friendly Panamá. Parks are small; for long walks with your dog, the Metropolitan Natural Park is a few minutes away by car. If you need a pet-friendly apartment, tell us in your request.
Neighboring areas
Living in Condado del Rey
North Panama City, between Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto), the Corredor Norte and Vía Centenario; includes Altos de Panamá and Centennial.
Rent in Condado del Rey · Buy in Condado del Rey · Area guide →
El Dorado FAQ
How much does it cost to rent in El Dorado?
In October 2026, 2-bedroom apartments were listed at about $750–$1,350 per month (typical ~$850–1,050), 3-bedrooms at $850–$1,250, studios and 1-bedrooms at $375–$850, and houses at $1,400–$2,500. These are asking prices, not closing prices.
How much does it cost to buy in El Dorado?
In listings, 2-bedroom apartments ask $105,000–225,000 (typical ~$150,000) and 3-bedrooms $150,000–389,000 (typical ~$210,000–215,000); houses range from ~$200,000 to almost $2 million in Camino de Cruces. Per m², apartments ask ~$1,100–2,740.
Is there a Metro station in El Dorado?
No. The closest station is El Ingenio, on Line 1, ~1.5 km as the crow flies; 12 de Octubre and Fernández de Córdoba are ~1.9 km away. Line 2 does not serve the area. MiBus routes on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro stop across from the El Dorado shopping center.
Which schools are in El Dorado?
Panama Christian Academy (Christian, 2027 monthly tuition $290–422), Colegio Internacional de María Inmaculada (Catholic, $290–310 a month in 2027) and Academia Hebrea de Panamá (Orthodox Jewish, fees not published). The Condado del Rey schools are a few minutes away along Ricardo J. Alfaro.
Is El Dorado the same as Tumba Muerto or Bethania?
Tumba Muerto is the popular name of Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro, the avenue that crosses El Dorado; Bethania is the district it belongs to. Portals usually group Dos Mares, La Alameda, Las Mercedes, Altos del Chase and Villa de las Fuentes under "El Dorado".
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