PH Aqualina

When Aqualina opened in 2007, it was the tallest tower in Panama — 63 floors, 210 meters above the Punta Pacífica peninsula — and held that title until 2010. Developed by Btesh & Virzi, it's a full-service building, with a spa, a gym, and tennis and squash courts. The peninsula around it is a quiet strip of high-rises: Hospital Punta Pacífica, affiliated with Johns Hopkins, is nearby, a waterfront promenade runs along the shore, and the banking district is five to ten minutes away. It leans car-dependent for groceries and dining, and suits people who want privacy and water close.

Aqualina stands on Calle Punta Darién, and six high-speed lifts serve its 63 floors — the number that governs the morning wait in a tower this tall. The shared areas run to a pool and jacuzzi, a party room and a children's playground alongside the spa, the gym and the courts.