We had a fantastic time. Francis made our stay there complete. However, The resort is showing its age and is in need of maintenance. Rodolfo also made our trip and experience disappointing. He is a negative individual who made our stay there less then ideal. Stay away from him when booking experiences and be sure to ask for Francis. Beaches are fantastic and Carlito in the bar is a gem!
Our family of four (2 parents, 2 young adults) enjoyed our 4-night stay at Isla Palenque, and it far exceeded our high expectations. From our first introduction at the David airport to our last goodbye, Isla Palenque showed itself to be an exceptional place.
*Lodging: The private casitas are luxuriously simple. Comfortable bed, smooth sheets, amazing outdoor bathrooms that combine open-air showers with privacy. Wi-Fi was super fast, enabling both video calls and streaming. Air conditioning kept us cool and bug-free. The casita can sleep four, but we found it more comfortable to split up into two casitas.
*Dining: The menus change daily, with a few consistent dishes (ceviche) that fluctuate depending on the catch of the day. The fruit and vegetables are excellent. We were so lucky to visit at the beginning of mango season.
*Drinks: So many delicious cocktails and mocktails. The watermelon caipirinha and smoked gin-and-tonic were two favorites. Fresh passion fruit juice was a staple.
*Setting: The pool is lovely and refreshing. The beaches are wide and clean, and we loved seeing the little ghost crabs and hermit crabs scurrying across the sand. The ocean is warm and calm.
*Activities: Frances led amazing nature walks, showing us the local birds, dolphins, and night creatures. Expert guides introduced us to the howler monkeys, which later scampered in the treetops near the pool. Cooking class and rum tasting were also great. Some of us enjoyed in-room massages too.
*Service: The staff are so friendly and welcoming, and very helpful. They made us all feel relaxed and comfortable. Thank you to everyone at Isla Palenque.
Thank you for choosing Isla Palenque for your family adventure and your "well over 5 Stars" review. We appreciate all the great comments and hope that it will inspire others to visit our island. Greetings from all of us. Please come back soon.
Our family recently returned from a 4 night stay and we highly recommend it if you want a bespoke experience away from crowds. There were times when we felt as if we were the only guests on the island, not to mention the two private beaches we enjoyed. The casitas, just steps from the beach, were comfortable, cool, and immaculately kept. We loved seeing and hearing the monkeys, and all the crabs on the beach during our nightly walks.
The people who work here are truly amazing. They are not only great at what they do, but they are so kind. The service made this trip one we will never forget.
Benny and Daniela at the concierge desk were incredibly accommodating about suggesting and planning activities perfect for us. Our family did the Isla Secas tour (worth it!), kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, hiking and a cooking class. We enjoyed multiple excursions with Manuel who was incredibly knowledgeable and made each one fun for our teens and us.
The restaurant staff including Guillermo, Carlos and Benny were the best! They were the first to greet us in the morning with coffees, and the last ones we saw each night after leisurely dinners. Meals were beautifully prepared and delicious. We appreciated the changing menu including Panamanian dishes as well as more familiar food -even our pickiest eater was happy. The kids enjoyed the delicious ice cream every night. Benny is a true mixologist and we had the most delicious, natural, cocktails made with homemade shrubs and infused liquors. His take on a Mai Tai became the favorite cocktail of the trip. He was always so nice about making unique mocktails for the kids as well.
Thank you to everyone at Isla Palenque for an unforgettable trip!
Thank you for choosing Isla Palenque for your family vacation. And thanks for mentioning so many of us in your review. This means a lot. Please come back soon or also take a look at our sister hotels of the Cayuga Collection in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Our experience at Isla Palenque was flawless! Imagine an island with 7 casitas and 7 beautiful beaches. Food simply terrific. Bungalow and outdoor spaces charming and well equipped with A/C in the bungalow itself. Complete privacy. Service-wise they couldn't do enough. Everyone knew and called us by name. Private excursions were always available and on our timetable. And dining three times daily at a table in the sand next to the beach with constantly changing menus with sensational choices...wonderful. In the evening there was amazing stargazing without any light pollution from nearby villages or resorts. Enthusiastically recommend and will return again next year. Isla Palenque is simply THE BEST BAREFOOT LUXURY EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!
How great to hear that you are not only "enthusiastically recommending us" but also returning to stay with us again next year. That says it all. See you soon.
This is a truly wonderful escape. Isla Palenque has excellent low key service in an amazing environment with wonderful rooms. We especially loved kayaking around the island with Francis, the cocktails by Carlos, and the truly friendly meal service from both Jorge and Carlos.
All you need to bring is shorts, bathing suits, shoes optional, and bug spray - we got bites even with spray on (it’s a real tropical island after all!).
Thanks for your review and the great comments on the service, your meals, and the adventures with our on-site guides. It is a good idea to bring bug spray, especially when going on tours into the forest on the island. But many of our guests also never bother to use it and are fine. Shoes are optional for sure. Please come back soon.
