Compromising more than 200 islands and cays just an hour and a half boat ride or a 20 minute plane trip from Panama City, these emerald jewels are made complete by their exquisite setting in waters of mesmerizing blues and greens. Humpback whales frequent the warm waters in winter and can even be seen from shore.
The island group, between 40 miles (65 km) and 68 miles (110 km) southeast of Panama City, is named for the pearls found there. After wiping out the indigenous population, the early Spanish set up a pearl trade. Communities on Isla Casaya and Isla Casayeta still live on the profits from pearl diving.
The Pearl Islands were boosted to recent world fame as a setting for the TV series Survivor, filmed in the uninhabited Isla Mogo Mogo and Isla Chapera, whose charms are typical of the isles. They feature beaches with sand like pulverized sugar, coral reefs patrolled by a kaleidoscope of fish, and lush forests roamed by anteaters, iguanas, sloths and peccaries.
Tiny Isla Contadora, named for its role as the counting house for the Spanish pearl trade, is the most developed isle and is served by an airstrip. Multimillion-dollar vacation houses are nestled along Contadora’s 11 gorgeous beaches. The largest and most developed of the beaches is Playa Larga, while the nearby Playa de las Suecas offers good snorkeling. Golfers can get into the swing on a nine-hole golf course and operators offer scuba diving, sport-fishing, and whale watching trips.
The largest isle, 93-square-mile (240 sq km) Isla del Rey, has the sole town of San Miguel. To the west, Isla San Jose hosts a very upscale hotel and offers ATV tours, mountain biking, and a variety of other activities.
Description courtesy of National Geographic Traveler – Panama
Hotels in the Pearl Islands:
Contadora Island
San Jose Island
Tours and Charters in the Pearl Islands:
- Sailing in the Pearl Islands: Day trips or Multi day Charters
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Tours in Panama
More photos of the Pearl Islands:
For more information about Panama travel, tourism, and locations contact Panama Travel Group today.
+507-399-9830 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)
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