A Hidden Paradise Worth Discovering — Our Unforgettable 20th Anniversary!
★★★★★ — Popa Paradise Beach Resort, Isla Popa, Panama
My husband Gary and I traveled to Panama in May 2026 to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We spent 12 wonderful nights at Popa Paradise Beach Resort, and I can honestly say it was the most relaxing, enjoyable, and memorable vacation I have ever experienced!
If you're searching for a peaceful tropical escape with incredible personal service, beautiful surroundings, wonderful food, and the freedom to simply relax and enjoy life, I cannot recommend this hidden gem highly enough.
What makes Popa Paradise so special? The people!
Owners Rosie and Vince have created something truly extraordinary. This isn't one of those enormous, impersonal resorts where you're just another room number. It's a small, intimate, clothing-optional retreat where the hospitality is genuine and the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed.
Rosie and Vince are absolutely delightful! Whenever their schedules permitted, they spent time visiting with us, sharing cocktails, and even floating around the pool together. By the end of our stay, we felt more like friends than resort guests.
And their staff deserve just as much recognition. Every single person went out of their way to make our stay exceptional. The staff are local Panamanians, and while we didn't all speak the same language, that certainly didn't stop us from getting to know one another! We exchanged words in Spanish and English, learned about their culture, and even shared stories and pictures of our families. Those wonderful personal interactions became some of our favorite memories.
From the moment we arrived, we were treated like royalty. Knowing we were celebrating our anniversary, they surprised us with a bottle of champagne at our very first lunch. It was such a thoughtful gesture and just the beginning of two weeks filled with exceptional hospitality.
Beautiful accommodations and absolute relaxation
Our room was lovely, with a beautiful four-poster bed and a spacious covered balcony overlooking the ocean. The beach was approximately 20 feet away! Falling asleep to the sound of waves along the shoreline was heavenly.
The entire property was beautifully maintained. The landscaping was lush and tropical, the beach was carefully tended, and the swimming pool was always sparkling clean and refreshing.
We spent countless hours relaxing beside the pool, and the service was phenomenal. As soon as we arrived, someone would bring out fresh towels and comfortable lounge cushions, set everything up for us, and ask whether we wanted a cocktail. They would return periodically to check on us without our ever needing to get up.
Talk about being spoiled!
One of my favorite memories is sitting on our balcony overlooking the ocean, enjoying a cocktail made from a coconut freshly harvested right there on the property.
Even the rainy afternoons were wonderful. We'd settle into our balcony chairs or find a comfortable covered spot near the clubhouse and just watch the tropical rain. No schedules, no obligations, and nowhere we needed to be.
I don't think I've ever been so completely relaxed in my life.
The food was absolutely outstanding!
Every meal was freshly prepared, beautifully presented, and delicious. The kitchen staff took tremendous pride in their work, and it showed.
We generally follow a carnivore/keto lifestyle, and they made a wonderful effort to accommodate our preferences whenever possible. We especially enjoyed experiencing the different flavors and textures of the locally available meats and ingredients.
Meals were thoughtfully prepared with a main course, vegetables or salad, and often a tempting dessert.
And speaking of desserts, I must confess that my diet didn't survive the entire vacation! LOL! Some things are simply too good to pass up.
Our room was also cleaned and refreshed daily while we enjoyed breakfast. Fresh linens, replenished supplies, and a beautifully maintained room were just part of the exceptional attention to detail.
A nature lover's paradise with plenty of adventures
One of the things that makes this location extraordinary is the incredible natural beauty surrounding you.
The lush tropical vegetation, colorful flowers, towering palms, birds, butterflies, lizards, and other fascinating creatures make simply exploring the property an adventure of its own. We spent hours wandering, photographing plants and wildlife, and appreciating the natural beauty.
And when we felt like exploring beyond the resort, there was so much more to discover!
We enjoyed snorkeling excursions among tropical fish and coral, visited a monkey sanctuary, and explored a chocolate farm where we also saw sloths. Seeing these fascinating animals in their natural surroundings was incredible.
We saw monkeys, colorful frogs, birds, and so many other interesting creatures during our adventures. Every outing seemed to bring another wonderful discovery.
But here's what I loved most: You can be as adventurous or as wonderfully lazy as you want to be!
One day you can explore the islands, photograph wildlife, or go snorkeling. The next day you can do absolutely nothing except lounge by the pool, sip a cocktail, and watch the palm trees sway.
A travel tip for visitors coming from the United States
Getting to this little piece of paradise is part of the adventure, and I highly recommend allowing an extra day in Panama City in each direction.
We flew from Savannah to Miami and then to Panama City, where we spent the night before taking the approximately one-hour flight to Bocas del Toro the following morning. From there, we continued by boat to the resort.
Rather than rushing through all the connections in one day, we got to enjoy Panama City along the way.
We stayed in the beautiful historic Old Town area, with a hotel balcony overlooking the lively streets. We enjoyed wonderful restaurants, live music, and walking around exploring the city. We loved it enough to spend another night there on our return trip!
Breaking up the journey made the travel much more enjoyable and allowed us to experience two very different sides of Panama.
Would we recommend Popa Paradise? Without hesitation!
We've enjoyed many vacations over the years, but this one was different.
It wasn't about elaborate entertainment, crowded beaches, or rushing from one activity to another. It was about slowing down, appreciating nature, enjoying delicious meals, connecting with wonderful people, and rediscovering what it feels like to be truly relaxed.
The clothing-optional atmosphere adds to that sense of freedom and comfort, making this an especially appealing destination for adults seeking a peaceful, welcoming escape.
What Rosie, Vince, and their entire team have created is something increasingly rare: a place where exceptional hospitality feels effortless and every guest is genuinely cared for.
If Popa Paradise Beach Resort isn't on your travel radar yet, it absolutely should be. Don't overlook this extraordinary little resort simply because it isn't a household name.
To Rosie, Vince, and your entire wonderful team: Thank you for making our 20th anniversary a celebration we will never forget. You gave us two incredible weeks of memories that we will treasure forever!
We arrived as guests and left feeling like we'd made new friends.
Five stars simply don't seem like enough!