The Resort at Isla Palenque

"This 400-acre private island retreat off western Panama is an exercise in tropical, barefoot chic, with eight design-forward beachfront casitas and one six-bedroom villa (renovated in 2023), all fringed by empty beaches and jungle foliage. Each casita sits on a private swath of sand with furnishings etched from washed-up driftwood, a highly Instagrammable front porch swing, an oversized net hammock, and a fully outdoor bathroom, including a tub in the sand. At the island’s sole restaurant and bar, half- and full-day guided activities are announced on the chalkboard every evening, from snorkeling trips to wildlife hikes to visits to nearby coffee farms. There are also daily on-site activities such as cocktail-making classes, or the option to explore this paradise on your own (marked trails and a continuous shoreline help). Another standout of this property is its price point. While many private islands require the deepest of deep pockets, rates at Isla Palenque begin at $980 per couple per night in low season, inclusive of the roundtrip boat ride in and out from Boca Chica (the launch point on the mainland), activities, and meals (but not alcohol)." - Paul Rubio