Beyond Costa Rica: Discover Panama as a Luxury Destination

C osta Rica has long set the benchmark for eco-travel in Central America — a place that introduced the world to rainforests, wildlife and conservation-led hospitality. Today, a growing number of seasoned travelers are looking for the same richness of experience, but in places that still feel undiscovered. Increasingly, that search is leading them to Panama.

It’s within this emerging landscape of thoughtful, low-impact exploration that Islas Secas finds its natural home — a private archipelago in the Gulf of Chiriquí that embodies Panama’s rare balance of wilderness, culture and privacy.

Here are five reasons why Panama is becoming a quieter, more intimate expression of Central American eco-luxury – and why Islas Secas perfectly captures this spirit.

1) A New Frontier

Costa Rica is known for its national parks, biodiversity and well-developed luxury resorts, and that’s exactly why Panama is now becoming so attractive. It matches Costa Rica in dramatic landscapes, wild nature and biodiversity, but with the added appeal of being quietly below the radar. For travelers who value discovery and a deep sense of connection, Panama offers similar natural and cultural richness, but with far fewer crowds.

2) Unique History and Culture

Panama, unlike Costa Rica, holds a special place in human history, the Panama Canal having transformed international movement and today acting as a global crossroads. Visitors can take in the canal on a stopover in atmospheric Panama City, before hopping over to Islas Secas (be sure to look out as you fly over the canal en route).

The country is also rich in indigenous culture, the Ngäbe-Buglé, Guna, and Emberá having stewarded these landscapes for centuries. At Islas Secas we celebrate our local Gulf of Chiriquí community, from shining a light on delicious seasonal ingredients and recipes from the region, to showcasing specially-commissioned artworks of the indigenous Guna tribe in Casa Cavada.

3) Unrivalled Privacy with Stewardship and Sustainability at its Heart

Islas Secas is made up of 14 islands. This scale of solitude allows total immersion; with nature uninterrupted, guests experience the archipelago as it has existed for centuries, shaped by tides, wildlife and weather rather than development. No neighbors, no crowds, no one at all – except your fellow guests and our warm, knowledgeable staff, allowing guests to experience a scale of solitude that is increasingly rare in Central America. With just a handful of Casitas, sustainability underpins every aspect of the experience, from solar power and water reuse to low-impact design that melds with our raw, natural surroundings. The result? A private island resort that’s far from the madding crowds and completely shaped by nature.

4) Hyper-Personalized Adventure

Like Costa Rica, Panama offers a huge range of activities on the big blue – but only Islas Secas offers hyper-personalized Marine Safaris. Lying in a remote corner of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, our home in the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine Biological Corridor is at the heart of 11 protected areas, placing us at the center of a vital migration route for rich, biodiverse marine life. Each Marine Safari is unique, supporting vital conservation efforts, from private boat tours and bucket-list scuba diving, to island-hopping picnics and family beach scavenger hunts. Add to that extraordinary in-season whale watching and a whole raft of adventurous activities…

5) The Best of Both Worlds

What makes Panama especially compelling is the duality of the experience. Cultural depth, including Afro-Caribbean and Spanish influences, coexists with genuine wilderness. Visitors to Islas Secas get a taste of both these worlds, moving from vibrant local traditions to complete seclusion within a single journey, creating a sense of exploration that feels both grounded and expansive. Added to that is our proximity to world-famous Coiba National Park, an easy boat journey away and offering exceptional scuba diving and snorkeling, all combining to become a microcosm of the best of Central America.