Nayara Bocas del Toro

On the private Isla Frangipani in Panama’s Bocas del Toro archipelago, Nayara Bocas del Toro occupies a position in one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the Caribbean, where the sheltered waters between the archipelago’s islands support coral reefs, mangrove channels, and dolphin and manatee populations in an ecosystem whose relative isolation has preserved its ecological integrity. The 29 overwater bungalows and jungle villas are connected by elevated walkways above the crystal-clear water, with the overwater accommodation providing direct ladder access to the reef below and the jungle villas surrounded by the secondary forest of the island’s interior. The Bocas del Toro town on Isla Colón, accessible by boat from the private island, provides a Caribbean community experience of considerable cultural richness.

Snorkelling and diving on the Bocas reefs — including the coral gardens of Punta Juan and the sea turtle feeding grounds of the Zapatilla Cays within the Bastimentos National Marine Park — kayaking through the mangrove channels, night boat tours to observe the phosphorescent plankton in the lagoon, and boat excursions to the mainland’s Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous communities are among the primary activities. The restaurant’s menu draws on the Caribbean seafood and tropical produce of the archipelago, with the kitchen’s relationship with local fishermen giving the daily menu a freshness calibrated to the catch rather than to a fixed programme. The Nayara spa’s wellness programme is designed to complement the marine and forest environment of the island setting.

Nayara Bocas del Toro’s environmental approach to the Bocas archipelago reflects the challenges of operating a luxury property within a national marine park context — the Bastimentos Marine Park borders the private island — and the hotel’s operational practices around water management, reef protection, and the absence of single-use plastics reflect a serious engagement with the conditions of the protected area rather than simply its visual assets.