This eco resort (formerly known as the Dolphin Lodge) is operated by the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands, just off the coast of Panama. Six of us flew from Panama City (about 40 minutes or so) and landed at the Aeropuerto de Mamitupu--a tiny little landing strip with a bamboo hut. We were met by our Kuna guide Geronimo, loaded into a motor boat, and whisked about 5 minutes away to a 1 acre island in the Caribbean.

The eco resort takes up most of the island, and a few Kuna huts fill in the rest (that's where the staff stays with their families). The resort consists of gorgeous palm trees, soft grass, and about 10 bamboo structures, all perched right on the edge of the island so that the sea is nearly lapping on your back porch--a great spot to relax is in the two hammocks hanging there. Each structure (I guess you could say "hut") has 2 beds, night tables, a bathroom with flush toilet and septic system, and a very cool shower that is partly open
to the sky. There is no hot water but the cool water feels great after a day in the sun anyway. There are a few electric overhead lights but no AC. When the ocean breezes are blowing it's great. When it's still outside, the rooms become saunas. We left the front and back doors wide open one night but still didn't get much of a breeze. That was the only tough part of the stay. Well, there were swarms of little biting bugs at the landing strip on our way home too, but we should have applied bug spray!

There is also an open air dining hall right on the water where we were served all 3 meals...delicious! Fresh fruit and fresh seafood caught daily. They have soft drinks, beer, wine, and liquor available for purchase.

A Kuna women's cooperative runs a small handicraft booth at the resort, and we bought some beautiful molas at great prices.

A larger Kuna village is just across the water from the resort--maybe a 3 minute boat ride away. We visited there twice, and especially loved seeing the school and bringing school supplies to the principal. The guide suggested we buy candy from him to give to the kids, but judging from the cavity-ridden teeth we saw, we decided this was not a good plan and stuck with school supplies. We plan to send more later (we are teachers in the US).

We also visited a nearby deserted island with a great white sand beach and palm trees. Later we went to another village--the largest--a few islands away. They live primatively but are so cheerful as well as proud of their culture.

This was our best experience in our 2 weeks in Panama, and I would visit this eco lodge again in a heartbeat. It seemed like I was on a movie set--so perfect and seemingly undiscovered. We swayed in hammocks and watched the Kunas paddle their canoes out to see to fish. It was total relaxation!