New Island Resort in Secluded Panama Archipelago Designed to Keep it Wild

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Forget the list of "places to see before they disappear" – a new Panama resort invites luxury adventure travelers to explore an extraordinary island wilderness that won't be fading any time soon.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130205/PH54037-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130205/PH54037-b)

Adjacent to a national marine park in Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui, Isla Palenque is a 400-acre jungle island where a new luxury resort opens next week. The first guests arrive February 14 to become pioneers of an experience that is without peer or precedent: The Resort at Isla Palenque represents Central America's only private island ecoresort with sustainability at its core and a menu of amenities to rival those of the best luxury hotels worldwide. From the environmentally sensitive design, which has been honored by the IUCN for biodiversity conservation, to its luxurious offerings, every aspect of the resort celebrates Isla Palenque's natural beauty and privileged location.

A new video created using timelapse technology and filmed entirely on Isla Palenque conveys the undiscovered character of the region, which guests of the Panama resort are soon to experience firsthand.

"Isla Palenque was almost completely wild when we acquired it," says Benjamin Loomis, visionary entrepreneur behind The Resort at Isla Palenque, "and our low-impact design nestles the rooms and residences into coastal jungle areas overlooking the uninhabited archipelago beyond, encouraging guests to respect the surrounding wilderness while basking in its surreal beauty."

The chic accommodations integrate with their lush surroundings by way of passive design strategies that succeed in perching the rooms among ten-story jungle trees, offering views into the canopy and Chiriqui Gulf through floor-to-ceiling windows and slide-away glass doors. Local guides lead guests through the island's five distinct ecosystems and into the surrounding Gulf for island-hopping, snorkeling, sportfishing and diving.

The rich biodiversity of the Gulf of Chiriqui and its jungle-covered island gems makes for colorful and poignant exploration: humpback whales frequent the Gulf in summer, and thousands of other native and migratory species dazzle travelers both above and below the surface. Across the Chiriqui Gulf from Isla Palenque lies Coiba National Park, where scientists of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute study a proliferation of previously undiscovered species, earning comparisons to the Galapagos Islands.

"It's hard to imagine, while snorkeling around a tropical island that's so close to the United States, that half the animals you see are unknown to science," says Rachel Collin, Smithsonian project coordinator. This oceanic paradise is recognized by the government of Panama as one of the country's preeminent wilderness environments, ideal for research, conservation, and sustainable ecotourism ventures.

The Resort at Isla Palenque's efforts to preserve the region's pristine quality extend beyond the island's volcanic shores:

"By developing Isla Palenque as a luxury resort, we not only assure the economic sustainability of our own endeavors, but also provide for our ongoing efforts in the surrounding community to curb destructive practices and support local people who have been living harmoniously within these wild environments for centuries," says Loomis. "By cultivating positive tourism in this region, we hope to pave a path for its future as a place worthy of exploration for years to come."

The resort team is currently amid final preparations to welcome guests of its soft opening on February 14. The arrival of Isla Palenque's first guests will crown the developer's ambitious objectives with the realization of its ultimate goal to connect people with an extraordinary wilderness.

About The Resort at Isla Palenque 
The Resort at Isla Palenque is a sustainable resort and residence development located on a private island in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama. The resort's boutique hotel will welcome its first guests February 14, 2013 to experience a luxurious escape amid the wild jungles and pristine beaches of Isla Palenque.

http://www.amble.com/islapalenque

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Media contact: Emily Kinskey, Marketing Manager for The Resort at Isla Palenque, [email protected], 773-769-1145

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SOURCE The Resort at Isla Palenque