A New Overwater Villa Escape in Panama: A Paradise for Nature Enthusiasts

The Dinogo Perspective

Nestled off the north-central coast of Panama, Nayara Bocas del Toro captivates with its 16 overwater villas and two treehouses gracefully suspended above a shimmering turquoise sea on a private island. This all-inclusive, adults-only resort serves as a luxurious launching pad for discovering the region's stunning natural landscapes. What sets this resort apart is its sustainability: it operates entirely off the grid, utilizing solar power and rainwater.

Who Is It Suited For?

Being an adults-only getaway, this retreat is perfect for couples and honeymooners, especially those who appreciate a mix of leisurely beach time and exhilarating adventures, both on the surface and beneath the waves. (Groups of friends are welcome, but note that only two guests can stay in each villa.) This area of Panama is renowned for its surfing, snorkeling, and diving opportunities, alongside a lush rain forest teeming with diverse wildlife, including sloths, birds, bats, and vibrant red frogs.

About the location

Nestled within the Bocas del Toro archipelago, this resort is the exclusive inhabitant of Frangipani Island, part of the sustainability-focused Nayara Resorts brand that originated in Costa Rica. The island, adorned with mangroves, provides a vibrant green setting along the elevated boardwalks, while the villas offer stunning water views through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, showcasing the turquoise waters of Dolphin Bay Reserve and Bastimentos National Marine Park.

Travelers can reach this destination by flying from Panama City to Bocas Town, the archipelago’s primary hub. This charming surfer haven features delightful shops, lively bars and restaurants, a vibrant party scene, and several affordable hotels. Daily, multiple commercial flights operate, and charter flights can also be arranged by the resort. For the adventurous, there’s a 10-hour drive on sometimes rugged roads, with several companies providing shared shuttle-van services.

In Bocas Town, water taxis serve as the main mode of transport to nearby islands and activities. The ride to Nayara Bocas Bali is a private, 20-minute journey accompanied by prosecco, and if your timing is fortunate, you might meet the friendliest captain in the archipelago, Elket. During our leisurely trip across the bay, he showed us the mangrove islands and bright starfish-studded shoals, regaling us with fascinating stories about the area and his life. He also took us out later for a sunset cruise to see the playful dolphins that the bay is known for.

The accommodations

Nayara’s enchanting island retreat feels like a dream: Elegant villas float above the water, bamboo tree houses soar into the sky, and a winding network of trails leads through more than 80 acres of mangroves to secluded gardens and serene ponds. The design draws from Indonesian influences, with 16 handcrafted overwater villas built by artisans in Bali. Each villa required over 1,000 hours of meticulous carving, featuring an ornate wooden canopy called a tupong sari, draped over every bed. The beds themselves are spacious and inviting, adorned with flowing white curtains and positioned before a wall of French doors that open onto a large terrace equipped with loungers and a firepit.

The bathrooms are spacious and vibrantly tiled, equipped with reef-safe bath and shower products. A note for the modest: The showers are completely open with no doors. The main living space features a floor window illuminated by a blue light, allowing guests to observe marine life even during nighttime.

Outdoors, several villas boast plunge pools, but all guests can directly access the bay from the swim-up steps on their terrace. On an active day, we ordered kayaks and paddled out to take in the picturesque bay. On a more leisurely day, we had wine brought to us and relaxed on the lounge chairs.

Behind the villas, two enchanting tree houses rise 50 feet above the jungle canopy (with two more set to be completed this year). These creations are the vision of bamboo architecture innovator Elora Hardy and her Bali-based design firm Ibuku (check out her TEDTalk), incorporating local materials: the bamboo is sourced from Panama, and the hardwoods are reclaimed from the depths of the Panama Canal.

Accessibility

The entire resort, apart from the tree houses, is designed to be wheelchair accessible. The management is in the process of installing handrails in the showers and bathrooms, and is also working on making their boats accessible for all guests.

Activities to Explore

The stunning Bocas del Toro archipelago offers a variety of ways to experience its beauty. Excursions available include kayaking, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, jungle hikes, private boat tours, and day trips to explore botanical gardens, wildlife (think sloths, monkeys, frogs, and bats!), as well as visiting other local beaches. After your adventures, indulge in massages, facials, and wraps at the spa, which can come directly to your villa’s terrace. Alternatively, take a dip in the sculpture-adorned pool at the open-air main building or relax at the private ‘overwater’ beach, built on low stilts to safeguard the mangroves. I highly recommend grabbing a drink and an inflatable chair from the beach bar before floating down the steps into the warm, sheltered waters. Whatever you choose, don’t miss the opportunity to participate in a guided night swim with the bay’s glowing bioluminescent plankton. As one captivated traveler put it, “It’s like holding the night sky in your hand.”

Culinary Delights

The on-site fine-dining restaurant, The Elephant House, is overseen by executive chef Joseph Archbold, a native of Bocas Del Toro with international culinary experience reflected in the menu. The offerings draw inspiration from both global influences and local ingredients, featuring dishes like green curry vegetables, sous-vide short ribs, mahi-mahi and chickpea stew, and roasted sea bass. The restaurant itself is a historic 100-year-old wooden structure with a peaked roof, transported from Bali, and positioned on its own pier, allowing diners to enjoy meals on the terrace with a picturesque bay view at sunset. For more casual dining, the alfresco Coral Café offers meals and cocktails by the pool, while the Tipsy Bar caters to guests on the beach. The resort is also pursuing a “zero kilometers” concept for its kitchens, aiming to source all food locally.

Service and Staff

The staff here are genuinely committed to ensuring you have an enjoyable stay. Everyone we encountered was eager to assist with any requests, whether it was supplying natural bug spray when we ran out or making arrangements for a boat trip so my friend could get a prescription refill.

With 80 percent of the team being Panamanian, it was fascinating to hear their personal stories about the area and receive their insider recommendations for activities. Behind the scenes, the organization provides free housing for staff, English lessons, and monthly workshops on environmental and sustainability practices. They also subsidize a portion of costs for career development opportunities, including sommelier and pastry courses.

Exceeding Expectations

The resort operates on solar power, relies on rainwater, and is entirely off the grid. During its construction, environmental studies were conducted to ensure the development wouldn’t harm the island’s flora and fauna. These findings led to innovative solutions that are both discreet (such as a specially engineered wastewater management system for a mangrove island) and visible (like an elevated beach built on stilts to reduce environmental impact). Each villa is equipped with snorkel kits, allowing guests to explore the resort's efforts in its cove. The resort has collaborated with locally based Caribbean Coral Restoration to develop new reef structures that aid in the recovery and thriving of coral and marine life. Additionally, it is working towards becoming plastic-free, currently using refillable glass jars for water in the rooms, though some plastic bottles are still present, and it has partnered with Wasteless World Bocas del Toro to manage plastic recycling.