The Buenaventura Sports Club was opened a couple of years ago; a unique space in the interior of the country where you can practice sports, with installations and equipment at the highest level, perfectly complemented by world class amenities in Buenaventura.
The Covid 19 pandemic has been a splash of cold water for all sports fans. Not only for expectators but, above all, for those who practice a sport. While the city has restrictions by gender and time – along with restrictions with the number of people – the interior presents a better situation.
This pandemic has affected worldwide sport routines. We have even grown accustomed to the term ‘bubble’ referring to spaces with controlled biosafety measures that try to avoid the possibility of infection in professional athletes.
We are noticing this in the MLS, NBA and tennis for example, with first class sport installations for high performance athletes.
The facilities found in the Buenaventura Sports Club located have welcomed its residents for the past couple of years. They are so extraordinary that the complex has been chosen as host for the Panamanian soccer team training camps for the Qatar 2022 World Cup championship qualifiers.
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“The Buenaventura Sports Club was inaugurated on October 20th, 2018. We have an exterior and interior area for club members and residents. We also have a Proshop where we offer sports wear, drinks and snacks for sale and sports equipment for rent,” mentioned Juan Pablo Aguilera, the manager at the sports complex.
The club currently has:
- 3 tennis courts (1 for residents with previous reservation)
- 1 soccer field with synthetic grass and the minimum required measurements by the FIFA (90×47)
- 1 multipurpose court (basketball and volleyball)
Meanwhile, members can access the following in the inner area:
- 1 racquetball court
- 125 meter semi-olympic pool with 4 lanes
- A gym
- 1 multipurpose room
- 2 saunas
“By having first class installations we can host national and international sports events,” highlighted Aguilera. This is the reason that the professionals in charge of the ‘Sele’ (national soccer team) have chosen it to establish their ‘bubble’.
We wanted to delve into more about other complex characteristics and the people who operate it with Juan Pablo.
PL: ¿Do you have a team of professionals that direct the different sports? Trainers, physical therapists, masseuse, nutritionists?
BSC: We have coaches for tennis, basketball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, functional training, yoga and personal training at the gym. All of our trainers are highly qualified and certified by the different sport federations.
PL: Do you hold sports clinics or workshops?
BSC: We have different options for adults and children at different times: For example:
- A tennis school for children and adults between the times of 7am and 10am and from 3pm to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 7 am to 10 am on Sundays.
- A swimming school for children and adults from Monday to Friday between the times of 3 pm to 6 pm.
- A gymnastics school for children on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 pm to 6 pm.
- Yoga classes all Saturdays between 9 am and 10 am (free for our members) and with previous reservation during the week.
- Functional training on Saturday between 8 am and 9 am (free for our members) and with previous reservation during the week.
- Personal training in our gym from 8 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm.
Furthermore, we hold sports camps for children during school vacations.
“We have had a great reception and excellent feedback over the last two years”, mentions Juan Pablo. A sports center with these characteristics allows neighboring users to visit the Buenaventura Sports Club to practice their favorite sport.
PL: Does it require membership? Is it open to the public? Does it require an invitation from an owner?
BSC: It does require membership to use the inner area of the club. It is open to the public for its use, but those who are not members must purchase one of the available passes that we offer to use the installations for the day, week or month:
- Day pass $15.00 (only for gym use)
- Day pass premium $20.00 (to use all available installations for a day)
- Weekly pass $35.00 (to use all available installations for a week)
- Month pass $85.00 (to use all available installations for a month)
Slowly the sports community has been growing. Tennis for example now holds six tournaments a year sponsored by The Buenaventura Golf and Beach Resort, as well as the COCOS TOURNAMENT: a tournament for children known across Panama and which is played three times per year.
The Club has plans for a second phase where other sports will be incorporated such as padel, to continue to be one of the most complete and most modern sports centers in the country.
Business Hours
From Monday to Thursday from 7 am to 7 pm.
Friday and Saturdays from 7 am to 9 pm.
Sunday from 7 am to 12 noon.
If you are interested in learning more about Buenaventura, you can schedule an appointment with our team.
