Contadora: The Top Island of the Pacific

Contadora is where Panama City goes when it wants an island weekend without effort: a 20-minute flight or a ~1.5h ferry, and you land on the jewel of the Pearl Islands — the archipelago where Spain once counted pearls (hence the name: the “counting house” island).

What you find

A dozen beaches of clear, calm water (Playa Larga and Playa Cacique are favorites), golf carts instead of cars, yachts at anchor, whales breaching between June and October, and a small collection of villas and boutique lodgings. The Shah of Iran famously hid out here in exile — the island has always attracted people who want comfort AND distance.

Practical

• Ferry: from the Amador Causeway, ~1.5h;
• Flight: ~20 min from Albrook;
• Stay: from simple rooms to full villas — book ahead for holidays.

The honest part

Contadora is small and quiet by design — restaurants are few, nightlife is a sunset. Go for the water, the whales and the reset button, not for entertainment. That is exactly its luxury.

Cover photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).