ISLA PALENQUE: ECO-FRIENDLY PLUS LUXURY

Isla Palenque Beach Dining.
 (PRNewsFoto/The Resort at Isla Palenque)

We always have an eye out for interesting travel items, and here's one that came across our email recently: "Travelers in pursuit of a luxurious tropical getaway are veering off the beaten path to stay at a new private island eco-resort in Panama's Chiriqui Gulf, The Resort at Isla Palenque, opening February 14." Luxury, beauty, eco-friendly -- this one seems to have it all.

The release goes on: "The Panama resort on 400-acre Isla Palenque combines sustainability initiatives with high-end amenities and services for a luxury travel experience never before realized in Central America. Guests of the resort can choose from an intimate collection of sixteen immersed-in-nature rooms and luxury camping suites that provide comfortable living in the tropics through the use of passive cooling techniques."

Rooms are "perched among 100-year-old trees cascade down a bluff to meet the ocean, offering guests proximity to one of the island's twelve beaches and expansive views of the surrounding Pacific. . .Pioneering guests of Isla Palenque's soft opening will inhabit the six Estate Rooms overlooking Playa Primera. These chic, authentically appointed rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood furnishings made onsite by a local artisan, indigenous art and outdoor lounge areas that invite the stunning natural surround into the luxury space." The only thing missing is Pam and I occupying those chairs on the beach. -- Gerry