For decades, the dream of the overwater bungalow belonged to the Maldives, Bora Bora, Tahiti, but 20-hour journeys, cost, and carbon footprint have turned the fantasy into a contradiction.
Today’s traveller doesn’t measure luxury in miles flown. They measure it in meaning. The future demands more: sustainability as a given, biodiversity as the backdrop. Travel has changed and so has the dream.
Nayara Bocas del Toro has been named the #1 Resort in Central America by Condé Nast Traveler— a recognition that signals more than an award. It marks a turning point in global travel.
The future of overwater travel no longer belongs to distant atolls in the Indian Ocean. It belongs to Panama.
Why the Award Matters
Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards are not chosen by editors or panels. They are voted by travelers — hundreds of thousands of them — who rate every stay, flight, and experience based on real-world impressions.
That distinction matters. Editorial awards measure aspiration. Reader awards measure trust.
In this case, the verdict speaks to a deeper shift: travelers are rewarding not just beauty, but integrity.
In a survey by Virtuoso, 74% of high-end travelers said they are more likely to choose a hotel that demonstrates environmental or social responsibility. In the same year, Condé Nast Traveler recorded a 38% increase in votes for Latin American resorts, a sign that the center of gravity in luxury travel is tilting toward destinations that feel authentic and accessible — not staged and far-flung
From the U.S., the travel time to Panama averages one-third that of the Maldives. That means less stress, fewer connections, and more sunsets that actually belong to you. For couples celebrating honeymoons, anniversaries, or just escape, it means the moment doesn’t get lost in transit.
At Nayara time is, after all, The New Currency of Luxury.
Press & Recognition
Nayara Bocas del Toro continues to make waves far beyond the Caribbean and has been featured across leading travel and design publications.
Condé Nast Traveler called Bocas del Toro “a realm where coral, rainforest, and culture intertwine,” while Travel + Leisure described it as “a living ecosystem of mangroves and coral gardens.” Architectural Digest placed Nayara Bocas del Toro among the world’s most striking overwater villas, and AFAR captured the magic of its bioluminescent waters — “the sea becomes a galaxy.”
Adding to the acclaim, Forbes included Nayara Bocas del Toro among The 15 Most Unique Hotels in the World, citing its design, sustainability, and setting as a model for the future of luxury.
Read the Condé Nast Traveler feature →
See Travel + Leisure’s Panama Guide →
View the Architectural Digest gallery →
An Archipelago for Two
Set across nine main islands and hundreds of islets, the Bocas del Toro archipelago offers something wholly unique — a mosaic of hidden lagoons, wild coastlines, and still-water bays that feel worlds apart yet lie only a short flight away.
Unlike the Galápagos, Bocas also connects marine and rainforest biomes seamlessly. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park meets the mainland’s Palo Seco Forest Reserve, forming an unbroken corridor from mountain cloud forest to coral reef. Few places on Earth let you see monkeys, sloths, and parrotfish in the same hour.
Add to that cultural depth — the Ngäbe-Buglé Indigenous communities, Afro-Antillean heritage, and a new wave of regenerative tourism — and you get an archipelago where biodiversity and humanity coexist instead of compete.
Economically, Bocas’s model of low-density, high-value travel is proving to be its lifeline. Tourism now accounts for over 80% of the local economy, yet the protected zones (over 16% of the province’s total area) remain intact. Resorts like Nayara are deliberately small-scale, using renewable energy, reef restoration, and local hiring to sustain rather than strain the ecosystem.
In essence, Bocas del Toro is to the Caribbean what the Galápagos are to the Pacific — not a copy, but a complement: smaller, wetter, denser, more immediate.
Exploring it with your own private boat and captain isn’t just an adventure — it’s freedom made for two. A day might begin on the untouched sands of Zapatilla, where a romantic private picnic awaits on a beach then end with Dolphin pods leaping beside you at sunset.
Beyond the water’s edge, see cacao still harvested by hand, drift past Monkey Island to watch capuchins at play, or spot sloths lounging in the treetops. And when the sun sets, lively Bocas Town offers a glimpse of Afro-Caribbean culture.
For those seeking more adventure, the archipelago offers scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and rainforest walks where sloths slumber in the mangroves. And when night falls, bioluminescent waters glow with every stroke, as if the stars themselves had spilled into the sea.
Luxury in the Canopy
While the villas bring you to the sea, our luxury treehouses, suspended 50-feet, carry you into the forest.
Conceived by world-renowned design studio, IBUKU, each was crafted from hardwood salvaged from the bottom of the Panama Canal. This unique material not only lends extraordinary strength and character, but also ties them to Panama’s history.
Wellness also rises with our new Calibri Treehouse Spa. Couples’ massages in the canopy, yoga where light filters through leaves, and spa rituals use native cacao, volcanic mud, and tropical botanicals.
For the ultimate in privacy, the spa comes to your own overwater villa deck, where wellness is elevated above the Caribbean itself.
Romance within Reach
The Maldives, Bora Bora, and Tahiti will always inspire. But they are oceans away, while Bocas offers the same dream — closer, richer, and designed entirely for romance.
Overwater villas above the Caribbean. Luxury treehouses crafted by history. Wellness suspended in the canopy. Days discovering hidden beaches. Whether you’re beginning your journey together on a honeymoon or toasting an anniversary, Bocas is built for celebration.
Being named the #1 Resort in Central America by Condé Nast confirms what we have always believed: romance, sustainability, and immersion belong together.
The world’s most extraordinary escape — recognised by Condé Nast, shaped by Nayara Resorts, and reserved for adults — is just a couple hours away.
👉 Book your Romantic Nayara Bocas Del Toro Escape
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nayara Bocas del Toro considered the #1 Resort in Central America?
Because it redefines luxury through regeneration — combining design, biodiversity, and proximity. It’s the first overwater resort in the Caribbean to merge sustainability with high-end comfort at this scale.
What makes Bocas del Toro different from the Maldives or Bora Bora?
Bocas offers the same iconic overwater experience, but within a few hours’ reach of the U.S. Unlike faraway atolls, it integrates rainforest, reef, and culture — not isolation but connection.
Is Nayara Bocas del Toro sustainable?
Yes. The resort uses solar energy, reclaimed wood, and rain-harvested water, eliminates single-use plastics, and leads coral and mangrove restoration programs.
Is Nayara Bocas del Toro adults-only?
Yes. The resort is reserved exclusively for adults, ensuring tranquility, privacy, and romance.
What activities are available in Bocas del Toro?
Snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking in bioluminescent bays, rainforest hikes, wildlife encounters, and wellness experiences in the Calibri Treehouse Spa.
How do I get to Nayara Bocas del Toro?
Fly to Panama City, then take a short domestic flight to Bocas Town. From there, a Nayara boat transfer takes you directly to the resort’s private island in 15 minutes.
About Nayara Resorts
Nayara Resorts is a family of award-winning, boutique luxury properties across Costa Rica, Panama, and Chile, united by a shared philosophy: travel should regenerate, not consume.
Each resort is rooted in its landscape — from the volcanic rainforests of Arenal to the coral shallows of Bocas del Toro and the red deserts of Atacama. Together, they form a living network of destinations built around community, conservation, and culture.
-
Nayara Springs, Nayara Gardens, and Nayara Tented Camp – Costa Rica’s most celebrated rainforest retreats.
-
Nayara Bocas del Toro – Panama’s first fully sustainable overwater resort, now ranked #1 in Central America.
-
Nayara Alto Atacama – A desert sanctuary near San Pedro, Chile, blending stargazing with ancient Andean wisdom.
-
Nayara Hangaroa – Easter Island’s cultural and ecological icon, designed to honor Rapa Nui tradition.
At every property, Nayara’s commitment remains constant: deep respect for place, people, and planet — proving that luxury and sustainability not only coexist, they enhance each other.
