Isla Palenque

With raw nature all around, tropical idyll Isla Palenque feels worlds away from modern Panama.

In the Gulf of Chiriqui, just 15-minutes from the mainland, tiny Isla Palenque is blanketed with intact rainforest and indented with tiny coves and rocky, dark volcanic beaches. You don’t have to go far to observe wildlife. The island is undisturbed and uninhabited except for a plethora of birds and families of spider monkeys which inhabit the trees around the cottages. Howler monkeys are frequently heard and with luck you may glimpse a distant humpback whale cruising offshore between August and October.

Isla Palenque is by no means a conventional beach resort. This is among Central America’s most unique hideaways, a place where you’ll feel close to nature whilst being only steps away from the ocean. The concept here is seclusion and privacy, with 8 generously proportioned individual beachfront casitas hiding in the foliage, each with a veranda. These are equipped with minibars, hammocks, binoculars and bathrobes and among their standout features are the freestanding tubs perched on the sands for an al- fresco bath. Across the island, a further set of rooms almost clings to the forest above another sandy beach. In fact the island has 7 beaches, the main stretch offering over 1km of pristine, wild shoreline.

Expect understated luxury, and a feeling of being in harmony with the environment: whilst there is no air-conditioning, the fans provided are efficient. Food is taken seriously: all meals are a la carte, with a ‘dock to dish’ concept and local sourcing at its heart. Menus are prepared with regional cuisine in mind, with familiar offerings too. The hammock lounge beckons after a lazy beachfront meal, or you might relax alongside the alluring infinity pool. Service is relaxed and genuine: staff at the resort are unfailingly kind and helpful without being oppressively attentive. Nature trails meander into the forest and guests have paddleboards, kayaks and snorkel gear at their disposal. The resort can organise swimming and snorkelling from beautiful offshore islands of the Chiriqui National Marine Park.