Ask people what they are in search of when they travel, and you will get a variety of answers. An escape from the daily grind. A chance to try something new. An opportunity to learn more about the world. Isla Palenque Resort gives you all these experiences and more.
There’s an increasing desire among travelers to find more than relaxation and escape. They want unique experiences. Whether it’s for personal fulfillment or Instagram-worthy shots. Today’s travelers are hungry for experiences, unlike anything they’ve been a part of before.
When it comes to hotels, National Geographic celebrates the beauty of unique travel experiences. They do this with their list of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World. This collection of hotels offers guests intimate encounters with remote areas of the globe. The list also aims to feature lodgings rooted in the local community and dedicated to preserving their surrounding environment.
Panama’s Own Escape
© Isla Palenque Resort
Introduction to the Resort
Isla Palenque Resort was added to the prestigious list of unique lodges of the world — and for good reason. Located on 400 acres of a tropical island in the Gulf of Chiriquí, the resort offers the ultimate escape from reality. And caters to travelers who are in search of unparalleled island experience.
Wandering the grounds of the resort might make you feel like you’re walking through a storybook. And you wouldn’t be far off. The concept for the hotel took inspiration from Daniel Defoe’s book of tropical island adventures. The famous Robinson Crusoe.
Intrigued by the novel, the hotel owner, Benjamin Loomis took up residency on Isla Palenque for five years. He slept in a hammock, lived minimally, and fell in love with the mystic beauty of the place.
It was this natural beauty that inspired Loomis to build the resort. Aiming to source as many of the building materials as possible directly from the island itself. The outcome is a collection of beachfront casitas with thatched roofs that seamlessly integrate into the lush landscape that surrounds them.
© Isla Palenque Resort
The hotel’s living spaces are designed to integrate with and honor the natural beauty of the island. Yet, they are anything but rustic. In addition, all the beautifully decorated spaces have the guest’s comfort in mind. Guests of the resort can pass their days in a variety of ways. From lounging in a hammock, wandering the island, to kayaking around the island’s crystal waters.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Environmental Preservation
Loomis also designed the hotel with an eye towards sustainability and environmental preservation. He employed low-impact construction techniques and renewable materials. He even banned the use of single-use plastics at the hotel.
Nearly all the staff at the resort come from the local community. Happy to share their unique understanding of the ecosystem and insight with guests.
All these carefully planned aspects of the hotel make it deserving of a spot on the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World list. There is no doubt that any guest to Isla Palenque Resort would find the experience both utterly relaxing and unparalleled.
(Pool Area) © Isla Palenque Resort
(View of the beach) © Isla Palenque Resort.
© Isla Palenque Resort.
© Isla Palenque Resort.
Eleanor Woodward
on said
Wow!! Awesome place!!!
How do I get there?