I stayed on a private island off the coast of Panama. Take a look at the resort, where my room cost $980 a night.

Home to only 32 guests at a time, Isla Palenque advertises itself as “barefoot luxury.”

Meals are gourmet, and hospitality is top-tier, but the real appeal of Isla Palenque is spending nights on an untouched island.

That was the goal of owner Benjamin Loomis. Inspired by the book “Robinson Crusoe,” Loomis spent five years living on Isla Palenque before turning it into a resort.

Panama is home to a wide range of experiences.

Panama City has been dubbed a “little Dubai.” Meanwhile, retirees and tourists flock to Boquete for its cool temperatures and lush rainforests.

The country also has 1,800 miles of coastline, which means pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters entice visitors.

When I looked at the range of resorts across the country, Isla Palenque caught my eye. I didn’t want a resort with large pools or bottomless drinks; I wanted to experience Panama’s rich ecosystems, and Isla Palenque seemed to highlight just that.

So, in April, I headed to Panama for a three-night stay at the resort.

Before stepping onto the island, I realized the resort’s hospitality and team would be five-star.

In the weeks and days leading up to the trip, concierge representatives requested preferences — ranging from food to activities.

They also ensured I could get to the island and coordinated a driver to take me from Boquete to Chiriqui for an additional fee.

From early on, I knew I was in solid hands.

After the two-hour drive from Boquete, I arrived at a dock in Boca Chica, where Francis was waiting for me.

We hopped on the boat for the short ride to Isla Palenque; boat transfers are included in the stay.

As we hopped over waves and saltwater coated my face, Francis pointed out the different islands, his favorite spot to see dolphins, and the area where humpback whales frequent in late summer.

Francis pointed out Isla Palenque from a distance. I squinted hard, looking for any structures or buildings on the island.

It wasn’t until we were seconds away from the dock that a thatched roof finally appeared.

I realized the resort’s description as an “untouched tropical island experience” wasn’t an exaggeration.

There were no high-rises in sight and no sounds of traffic.

Isla Palenque is a 400-acre island. While most of the area is lush jungle, the island is home to seven private beaches.

Hiking trails crisscross the entire island. The resort’s guides know the land’s ancient, pre-Columbian community and are eager to share it.

As for structures, Isla Palenque has eight casitas, accommodating between two and four guests. There’s also a villa estate for groups of up to 14.

The island has one shared area with a pool, dining pavilion, bar, concierge desk, yoga pavilion, and cabanas.

From the dock, Francis drove me to the main area of Isla Palenque, where the casitas and shared area are located.

Each casita is named after a different explorer, but beyond different names, there aren’t many other discrepancies between the structures. Each casita is practically identical.

Depending on the season, a night in a casita costs between $512 and $1,155. When I visited in April, rooms cost $980 a night. Business Insider received a media rate for the three-night stay.

Daniela shared that the entire building was inspired by a coconut. The thatched roof mimicked the brown, rough exterior, while the walls of the casita were the bright-white portion of the tropical fruit.

The casita was 650 square feet. Before stepping inside, I climbed a few steps to a spacious deck.

It was clear that every detail had already been considered.

Thunderstorms can happen daily during the rainy season, so an umbrella was thoughtfully placed in case I needed one.

Additionally, the deck had plenty of space for stretching out. I could host my own solo yoga class, or, for a fee, the resort could send an instructor to my casita for a private class.

The resort’s motto is “barefoot luxury.”

Throughout my stay, I rarely wore shoes. Thankfully, I could rinse my sandy feet in the wooden tub before stepping inside the casita.

The entrance to the casita included two glass doors and two screened doors.

With the screen doors closed and the glass doors opened, it felt like I was still experiencing the island’s nature in the comfort of a king-sized bed.

On my first night, a thunderstorm arrived on the island. Instead of falling asleep with closed doors, I left them open to hear the sound of rain.

A spacious couch, which could accommodate an extra guest if needed, sat at the front of the casita.

Like many luxury hotels, my casita had elevated basics like a French press, fresh juices, and complimentary snacks. There were also a handful of games, including Uno.

Taking up the most space in the casita was a king-size bed with matching nightstands. Above the bed was a fan, and above each nightstand was a light.

Above the wardrobes was an AC unit. Since there were three fans and plenty of circulation, I rarely turned on the unit throughout my stay.

Whether I was seated on the couch or curled up in bed, the large windows offered views into the palm groves.

I could close the wraparound curtains at night to avoid waking up to the sunrise.

Just 80 feet away was one of the island’s seven beaches.

I discovered the island’s fascinating history as I explored the nature guide and book, diving into the hotel brand.

I learned more about the Indigenous populations that once inhabited the land and how Isla Palenque focuses on sustainability. Some of the furniture in the casita was built using materials from the island, the hot water during my outdoor shower was heated using solar panels, and there was no single-use plastic in sight.

While the interior was filled with luxury details, the casita’s main appeal was its outdoor space.

Twice a day, housekeeping arrived to bring fresh towels and tidy the space.

A few steps away were an outdoor shower and tub. I could call the concierge to have someone fill the tub if needed.

Beyond the porch swing, the front of the casita had a small dining table and two lounge chairs placed in the sand.

Four pillars pulled the ropes tight to create a spacious hammock outside the casita.

I found shells and sand dollars along the sandy beach each morning.

Guests could take a short jungle or beach walk to get to the rest of the resort’s amenities.

Monkeys would come to the pool area each afternoon to snack on a nearby tree’s fruits.

With only a handful of guests at the resort, a cabana and lounger were always free to use.

A concierge desk was built near the pool so guests could book excursions, buy souvenirs, and check out of Isla Palenque.

However, the island had WiFi and cell service, so the staff also communicated with guests via WhatsApp to share weather updates and a daily schedule of activities.

While alcohol is extra, your stay includes food. Depending on the weather, guests could dine under the large pavilion or at tables in the sand.

The menu changed each day I was at Isla Palenque. Lunch and dinner were three-course meals featuring familiar and local Panamanian foods.

I later learned that some ingredients are grown on the island, and the rest are sourced from local fishermen and farmers.

Beyond breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant offered a snack menu.

With local fish caught every morning, I spent my three days at Isla Palenque dining on seafood-forward meals like prawns and ceviche.

The island offered the ideal balance of relaxing and exploring. Sipping a cocktail poolside was equally as enticing as grabbing a complimentary paddleboard and exploring the shores.

A chalkboard displayed a schedule of activities each day. While some excursions, such as guided hikes, bird watching, and paddleboard classes, were included, others, like snorkeling, rum tasting, and massages, had additional costs.

On my second day at Isla Palenque, I joined two other guests for a snorkeling excursion. Together, we dove into the warm water, swimming through schools of fish and spotting two green sea turtles.

The $165 excursion concluded with a picnic packed by the resort’s staff on a private island.

On another evening, I joined Francis on a night walk around the island. We navigated the island’s shores and jungle, looking for species unique to the region.

One evening, I watched the sunset and joined a vinyasa class hosted by the island’s on-site yoga instructor. The class wrapped up with fresh mango juice served in a papaya.

While the amenities and excursions were a highlight of the trip, so were the sunsets. My stay included one of the most breathtaking sunsets of my life.

As someone adventurous, Isla Palenque was the ideal resort to balance exploration with relaxation.

While I’ve slept in stunning tiny houses in New Zealand and backpacked in Colorado’s pristine nature, Isla Palenque was a stay I won’t soon forget, thanks to the island’s welcoming staff, fresh ceviche, and flawless sunsets.