These talk about generators that give two hours of light, shared bathrooms and no wifi. We leave it as written: those who come knowing that go home delighted, and those who do not, do not.
The 4x4 ride from Panama City shakes you to pieces and I almost regretted it on the way, but the moment you step into the boat and see the colour of the water you forget everything. We slept in a cabin with a sand floor on Isla Diablo. The disconnection is total, there are no luxuries, but eating freshly caught fish under the stars is priceless.
We did a two-day trip and slept in hammocks. It had been a long time since I fell asleep with the sea that close. The food was simple — rice, patacones and the catch of the day — but delicious. I recommend dry bags for the boat leg, because the swell soaks all your luggage.
I went with my partner on a sailing trip instead of staying in a fixed cabin, and it was the right call. They take you to completely deserted cays where you are literally alone with your friends. Swimming with manta rays early in the morning leaves you speechless.
The best part was the night: zero light pollution, you see the whole Milky Way. The cabins are rustic, made of cane, and some wind gets in, but the climate is so warm you do not even need a jacket. I would go back a thousand times just for the peace you breathe there.
It is pure nature, unfiltered. You have to know what you are going for: the electricity runs only a couple of hours at night off a generator and there is no wifi, which turned out to be the best part. I read two whole books sitting under a palm tree.
We did the crossing to Colombia through San Blas and those three days sailing between islands were the best stretch of the trip. Watching dolphins ride the bow at dawn was magical.
An excellent place to escape the modern world. Charging your phone only two hours a day forces you to talk, look at the horizon and genuinely rest. Ice-cold local beers on the beach complete the experience.
After the Nordic winter, this place was the absolute cure. The simplicity of the lifestyle makes you rethink how many material things you actually need to be happy. A thatched cabin, a clean bed and the Caribbean in front of you.
Incredible energy in this place. The water is warm and clear, like an infinity pool. We spent the evening talking with other travellers around the fire. It is a very human experience, far from traditional mass tourism.
The turquoise of the sea is exactly the colour in the photos, no filters, no tricks. Falling asleep to the waves breaking on the sand and waking up to leaning palm trees was a dream come true. A gem I hope they keep as untouched as this.
I went with low expectations because of the rustic infrastructure, but it blew my mind. Drinking mate at six in the morning on a deserted beach watching the sun come up is beyond compare. The simplicity of the place is its greatest luxury.
What I liked most was the home cooking the lady of the cabin made for us: crisp fried fish with outstanding coconut rice. You have to accept there is no air conditioning and no hot showers, but the setting makes up for everything.
We spent the night on Isla Pelícano (the one from the Netflix series) and the sense of isolation is total once the day trips leave. You are left alone with the sound of the wind and the sea. Unforgettable.
The contrast of turquoise water against white sand is almost blinding — bring good sunglasses. Sleeping in a hammock under the wooden porch was surprisingly cool thanks to the night sea breeze.
I went backpacking with friends and we ended up with a great group at the camp. At night we shared cold Balboa beers and stories under a sky full of shooting stars. No engine noise, no loud music.
Chartering a private sailing boat with a local skipper was the best decision for our family group. We reached more distant cays such as Cayos Holandeses, where we did not see a single tourist in three days.
What I take away most is the forced digital detox. At first you check your phone out of habit, but within a few hours you forget about social media and start really talking to the other travellers.
We stayed on Isla Narasgandup; the over-water cabins are absolutely worth the price supplement. Waking up, opening the door and diving straight into turquoise water before breakfast is priceless.
An experience that slows you down instantly. Life on the island runs on daylight: you wake at dawn and go to bed early. I came back to my routine completely renewed.
The sea is unbelievable. Clear, warm water with fish swimming around your legs. The simplicity of the facilities reminds us how little we need in order to be at peace.
For someone like me who lives far from the sea, that expanse of clear water was overwhelming. Walking barefoot on the soft sand all day without a care gave me my energy back.
A genuine tropical adventure. Do not expect elaborate cocktails or five-star resort service; this is rice, coconut, fresh fish and sleeping in wooden cabins. For me, it was perfect.
The night we spent on Isla Chichime was wonderful. The sky was so clear that we watched satellites and shooting stars for hours, lying on a tarpaulin on the sand. Pure magic.
We made the crossing by catamaran and it was an unbeatable sailing experience. Anchoring in calm lagoons where the boat seems to float in mid-air because the water is so clear is something I will never forget.
The rustic shared bathroom was no problem at all; it was clean and well ventilated. What matters is adjusting your expectations: you are going to live alongside nature in its rawest, most authentic state.
Swimming in that 28-degree sea while it was snowing back home was the greatest pleasure imaginable. The food, simple but fresh, hit the spot every single day. An untouched earthly paradise.
The trip out to the farthest islands lets you feel like a lone castaway for a few hours. Walking along a spit of white sand that disappears at high tide is completely mad.
I travelled alone and worried I would be bored, but at the shared table during meals I met people from five different countries. We ended up snorkelling and playing beach volleyball together. Very safe and welcoming.
The peace of mind of not hearing a horn, a siren or building work for 48 hours is worth more than money can buy. The only constant sound is the soft waves breaking on the shore.
We were treated to an incredible pink sunset over a calm sea. Our hosts’ hospitality was humble but genuine; they make you feel you are sharing their living space, not consuming a commercial package.