For decades, the dream of the overwater bungalow belonged to the Maldives, Bora Bora, and Tahiti, but 20-hour flights, jet lag, and heavy carbon footprints have turned the fantasy into a contradiction.
In a previous article we described how time has become the rarest resource in modern travel, and that its finite nature is precisely what makes it the new currency of luxury.
Nayara Bocas del Toro was just named the #1 Resort in Central America by the discerning readers of Condé Nast Traveler — a recognition that today’s traveller doesn’t measure luxury in miles flown. They measure it in meaning. They demand sustainability as a given.
According to Virtuoso, 74 percent of high-end travelers now choose hotels that demonstrate environmental or social responsibility. In the same period, Condé Nast Traveler recorded a 38 percent increase in votes for Latin American resorts, signaling a clear shift toward destinations that feel authentic and accessible.
When compared to distant islands halfway across the world, the greatest luxury may just be proximity.
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.
The future of overwater luxury belongs to a private island in Panama built entirely for romance and entirely off-grid.
And its floats on the Caribbean — not the Indian Ocean.
See why for yourself...
Overwater Romance
Proximity transforms honeymoons from logistical marathons into effortless escapes. It turns anniversaries into long weekends, not week-long expeditions. It gives the gift of time, which may just be the most valuable currency of romance too.
Bocas is proudly adults-only. That choice shapes everything. Privacy and intimacy aren’t afterthoughts here — they are the blueprint.
Our villas aren’t just overwater, they are private sanctuaries designed exclusively for couples. Each has a plunge pool, a wrap-around deck, and a ladder descending straight into the Caribbean.
Romance here is not staged. It is built into the architecture, the landscape, and the rhythm of the resort.
Here, being all-inclusive isn’t about buffets and wristbands. It’s about a private island where every meal is fine dining, every drink is hand-crafted, and every kayak, paddleboard, or snorkel adventure is yours for the taking.
But what sets them apart is what surrounds them: rainforest pressing to the shoreline, coral gardens shimmering below, and wildlife woven into the landscape.
Privacy is complete, intimacy is built in, and nature is ever-present.
Biodiversity at the Doorstep
The setting of Bocas is not wallpaper. It is alive.
The Bocas del Toro archipelago has been called the Galápagos of the Caribbean, and the comparison is no exaggeration. Coral gardens shimmer beneath the villas. Mangroves stitch the coastline together. Rainforest presses right up to the water’s edge.
For couples, this biodiversity becomes part of daily life. Morning coffee may come with a sloth sighting in the canopy. A kayak trip can glide past monkey calls in the mangroves. Private boat rides bring pods of dolphins at dusk. And on certain nights, bioluminescent waters turn every stroke into starlight.
This is not isolation from nature. It is immersion in it. Bocas proves that romance grows richer, not poorer, when it is set inside a living, breathing environment.
Beyond All-Inclusive
The term “all-inclusive” often conjures images of buffets, wristbands, and overcrowded beach resorts. But as The Zoe Report recently argued, a new era of all-inclusive is emerging — one built on elevated experience, not uniformity. The Zoe Report’s feature frames this shift: “As a luxury experience, it is best described as ‘all-encompassing’ rather than ‘all-inclusive.’”
At Bocas, we take that to heart: here, all-inclusive means liberation.
You won’t find lines. You’ll find a private island where comfort, cuisine, and connection coexist without compromise.
The phrase “all-inclusive” often conjures images of buffets, wristbands, and watered-down cocktails. At Bocas, it means something entirely different.
Here, every meal is fine dining, every drink is hand-crafted, and every non-motorized adventure is yours without question. Kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear aren’t checked out — they’re simply waiting. The rhythm is one of liberation, where couples can focus on each other, not on logistics.
All-inclusive, at its best, is not about abundance. It is about ease. At Bocas, it’s a way of creating space for intimacy to unfold without interruption.
An Archipelago for Two
The geography of Bocas is its greatest gift: nine main islands, hundreds of islets, and endless waterways. With your private boat and captain, the archipelago becomes a personal playground.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Nayara Springs, Nayara Gardens, and Nayara Tented Camp – Costa Rica’s most celebrated rainforest retreats.
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Nayara Bocas del Toro – Panama’s first fully sustainable overwater resort, now ranked #1 in Central America.
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Nayara Alto Atacama – A desert sanctuary near San Pedro, Chile, blending stargazing with ancient Andean wisdom.
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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.
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