I stayed on a private island off the coast of Panama. Take a look at the resort, where my room cost $980 a night.

Isla Palenque, a five-star private island resort in Panama. — The author outside her casita at Isla Palenque.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I spent three nights at Isla Palenque, a private island resort off the coast of Panama.
My trip was spent dining on three-course meals, relaxing on private beaches, and swimming with sea turtles.
While the room cost $980 a night, it was one of the most magical places I've visited.

I let out a blissful laugh after arriving at Isla Palenque and seeing where I'd call home for the next three days.

I've been lucky enough to stay in overwater bungalows in Belize, tiny homes in New Zealand, and pod hotels in Japan.

But seeing a one-bedroom casita and knowing there were only 12 other guests on the 400-acre private island was a completely new experience.

For three days, I'd alternate between swimming in salty ocean waters and a stunning infinity pool. I'd adventure into the jungle and learn about the island's Indigenous past and natural ecosystems. I'd spend nights listening to rain while sleeping in a king-size bed as soft as a cloud.

Simply put, it was magical. Take a look.

In Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui sits Isla Palenque, a five-star private island resort.

Isla Palenque is a five-star private island resort off the coast of Panama. — The shared pool and cabana at Isla Palenque.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Home to only 32 guests at a time, Isla Palenque advertises itself as "barefoot luxury."

Meals are gourmet, and hospitality is top-tier, but the real appeal of Isla Palenque is spending nights on an untouched island.

That was the goal of owner Benjamin Loomis. Inspired by the book "Robinson Crusoe," Loomis spent five years living on Isla Palenque before turning it into a resort.

I was one of the lucky people to experience Isla Palenque earlier this year.

Panama is home to a wide range of experiences.

Panama City has been dubbed a "little Dubai." Meanwhile, retirees and tourists flock to Boquete for its cool temperatures and lush rainforests.

The country also has 1,800 miles of coastline, which means pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters entice visitors.

When I looked at the range of resorts across the country, Isla Palenque caught my eye. I didn't want a resort with large pools or bottomless drinks; I wanted to experience Panama's rich ecosystems, and Isla Palenque seemed to highlight just that.

So, in April, I headed to Panama for a three-night stay at the resort.

The morning of my stay, my driver, Carlos, arrived in Boquete to take me to the coast of Chiriqui, where I'd catch a boat to Isla Palenque.

Before stepping onto the island, I realized the resort's hospitality and team would be five-star.

In the weeks and days leading up to the trip, concierge representatives requested preferences — ranging from food to activities.

They also ensured I could get to the island and coordinated a driver to take me from Boquete to Chiriqui for an additional fee.

From early on, I knew I was in solid hands.

Francis, the resort's lead naturalist guide, welcomed me onto a boat for a 15-minute ride to Isla Palenque.

After the two-hour drive from Boquete, I arrived at a dock in Boca Chica, where Francis was waiting for me.

We hopped on the boat for the short ride to Isla Palenque; boat transfers are included in the stay.

As we hopped over waves and saltwater coated my face, Francis pointed out the different islands, his favorite spot to see dolphins, and the area where humpback whales frequent in late summer.

When a thatched roof and long wooden walkway appeared, Francis declared we'd arrived.

Francis pointed out Isla Palenque from a distance. I squinted hard, looking for any structures or buildings on the island.

It wasn't until we were seconds away from the dock that a thatched roof finally appeared.

I realized the resort's description as an "untouched tropical island experience" wasn't an exaggeration.

There were no high-rises in sight and no sounds of traffic.

Francis pulled out a map at the dock and walked me through the island's landscape.

Isla Palenque is a 400-acre island. While most of the area is lush jungle, the island is home to seven private beaches.

Hiking trails crisscross the entire island. The resort's guides know the land's ancient, pre-Columbian community and are eager to share it.

As for structures, Isla Palenque has eight casitas, accommodating between two and four guests. There's also a villa estate for groups of up to 14.

The island has one shared area with a pool, dining pavilion, bar, concierge desk, yoga pavilion, and cabanas.

Then, we hopped in a car for a short ride through the jungle.

From the dock, Francis drove me to the main area of Isla Palenque, where the casitas and shared area are located.

I arrived at casita seven, where Daniela, the island's concierge rep, was waiting to give me a tour of the space.

Each casita is named after a different explorer, but beyond different names, there aren't many other discrepancies between the structures. Each casita is practically identical.

Depending on the season, a night in a casita costs between $512 and $1,155. When I visited in April, rooms cost $980 a night. Business Insider received a media rate for the three-night stay.

I pushed open a gate to the casita, and another thatched roof came into view.

Daniela shared that the entire building was inspired by a coconut. The thatched roof mimicked the brown, rough exterior, while the walls of the casita were the bright-white portion of the tropical fruit.

The casita had a shaded deck. One side was home to a porch swing.

The casita was 650 square feet. Before stepping inside, I climbed a few steps to a spacious deck.

The other side had storage for yoga mats, towels, and umbrellas.

It was clear that every detail had already been considered.

Thunderstorms can happen daily during the rainy season, so an umbrella was thoughtfully placed in case I needed one.

Additionally, the deck had plenty of space for stretching out. I could host my own solo yoga class, or, for a fee, the resort could send an instructor to my casita for a private class.

At the front of the deck was a wooden tub for washing off sandy feet.

The resort's motto is "barefoot luxury."

Throughout my stay, I rarely wore shoes. Thankfully, I could rinse my sandy feet in the wooden tub before stepping inside the casita.

Two glass doors led to the one-room casita.

The entrance to the casita included two glass doors and two screened doors.

With the screen doors closed and the glass doors opened, it felt like I was still experiencing the island's nature in the comfort of a king-sized bed.

On my first night, a thunderstorm arrived on the island. Instead of falling asleep with closed doors, I left them open to hear the sound of rain.

The single room had two floors creating a separation of space. At the front of the room was a spacious couch.

A spacious couch, which could accommodate an extra guest if needed, sat at the front of the casita.

Adjacent to the couch was a credenza with games, snacks, glassware, alcohol for purchase, and a minifridge stocked with complimentary sodas.

Like many luxury hotels, my casita had elevated basics like a French press, fresh juices, and complimentary snacks. There were also a handful of games, including Uno.

Behind the couch was a king-sized bed.

Taking up the most space in the casita was a king-size bed with matching nightstands. Above the bed was a fan, and above each nightstand was a light.

Next to the bed, two wardrobes had plenty of space for luggage.

Above the wardrobes was an AC unit. Since there were three fans and plenty of circulation, I rarely turned on the unit throughout my stay.

From the bed and couch, I could look through the floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a vibrant green jungle.

Whether I was seated on the couch or curled up in bed, the large windows offered views into the palm groves.

I could close the wraparound curtains at night to avoid waking up to the sunrise.

If I looked hard enough, I could see the beach less than a hundred feet away.

Just 80 feet away was one of the island's seven beaches.

My room also had a map, a book on the history of the island, binoculars, and a writing pad.

I discovered the island's fascinating history as I explored the nature guide and book, diving into the hotel brand.

I learned more about the Indigenous populations that once inhabited the land and how Isla Palenque focuses on sustainability. Some of the furniture in the casita was built using materials from the island, the hot water during my outdoor shower was heated using solar panels, and there was no single-use plastic in sight.

Naturally, the best parts of the casita were outdoors.

While the interior was filled with luxury details, the casita's main appeal was its outdoor space.

A back door led to the casita's bathroom, which included a spacious vanity, walled-off toilet, and outdoor shower.

Twice a day, housekeeping arrived to bring fresh towels and tidy the space.

Down in the sand was another outdoor shower and outdoor bathtub.

A few steps away were an outdoor shower and tub. I could call the concierge to have someone fill the tub if needed.

At the front of the casita, lounge chairs continued to entice guests to spend time outside.

Beyond the porch swing, the front of the casita had a small dining table and two lounge chairs placed in the sand.

Each casita also had a hammock.

Four pillars pulled the ropes tight to create a spacious hammock outside the casita.

Steps away was the ocean.

I found shells and sand dollars along the sandy beach each morning.

A short walk down the beach led to the rest of the resort's amenities.

Guests could take a short jungle or beach walk to get to the rest of the resort's amenities.

Here, a pool offered a freshwater escape from the salty ocean.

Monkeys would come to the pool area each afternoon to snack on a nearby tree's fruits.

Shaded cabanas lined one area, and a pavilion with yoga mats and hammocks filled another.

With only a handful of guests at the resort, a cabana and lounger were always free to use.

There was also a concierge desk where you could plan activities and excursions for your stay.

A concierge desk was built near the pool so guests could book excursions, buy souvenirs, and check out of Isla Palenque.

However, the island had WiFi and cell service, so the staff also communicated with guests via WhatsApp to share weather updates and a daily schedule of activities.

The largest thatched pavilion was home to Las Rocas Restaurant and Bar.

While alcohol is extra, your stay includes food. Depending on the weather, guests could dine under the large pavilion or at tables in the sand.

A rotating menu shared on iPads featured each day's selection.

The menu changed each day I was at Isla Palenque. Lunch and dinner were three-course meals featuring familiar and local Panamanian foods.

I later learned that some ingredients are grown on the island, and the rest are sourced from local fishermen and farmers.

For three days, I dined on seafood-forward meals, including the freshest ceviche of my life.

Beyond breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant offered a snack menu.

With local fish caught every morning, I spent my three days at Isla Palenque dining on seafood-forward meals like prawns and ceviche.

When I wasn't dining on delicious food, I could be found lounging near the pool, paddleboarding in the ocean, or exploring one of the island's seven private beaches.

The island offered the ideal balance of relaxing and exploring. Sipping a cocktail poolside was equally as enticing as grabbing a complimentary paddleboard and exploring the shores.

I also embarked on a handful of excursions during my stay.

A chalkboard displayed a schedule of activities each day. While some excursions, such as guided hikes, bird watching, and paddleboard classes, were included, others, like snorkeling, rum tasting, and massages, had additional costs.

One day was spent snorkeling, spotting sea turtles, and picnicking on a nearby island.

On my second day at Isla Palenque, I joined two other guests for a snorkeling excursion. Together, we dove into the warm water, swimming through schools of fish and spotting two green sea turtles.

The $165 excursion concluded with a picnic packed by the resort's staff on a private island.

Francis and I spent an evening hiking into the island's jungle, where we spotted wolf spiders, rainbow beetles, and scorpions.

On another evening, I joined Francis on a night walk around the island. We navigated the island's shores and jungle, looking for species unique to the region.

Each morning and evening, yoga was offered to guests.

One evening, I watched the sunset and joined a vinyasa class hosted by the island's on-site yoga instructor. The class wrapped up with fresh mango juice served in a papaya.

Each evening featured a stunning sunset.

While the amenities and excursions were a highlight of the trip, so were the sunsets. My stay included one of the most breathtaking sunsets of my life.

After three nights, I was convinced I never wanted to leave Isla Palenque.

As someone adventurous, Isla Palenque was the ideal resort to balance exploration with relaxation.

I squeezed in one last sunrise and waved goodbye to one of the most magical places I've ever visited.

While I've slept in stunning tiny houses in New Zealand and backpacked in Colorado's pristine nature, Isla Palenque was a stay I won't soon forget, thanks to the island's welcoming staff, fresh ceviche, and flawless sunsets.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Friday, September 6, 2024

I stayed on a private island off the coast of Panama. Take a look at the resort, where my room cost $980 a night.

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