Contadora Island Hotel

When excited shoppers come across a great real estate bargain, they can’t wait to tell their friends and co-workers. Such was the case way back in 1513, when Vasco Nunez de Balboa learned about a string of islands off the coast of what would become modern day Panama.

Balboa immediately wrote to the King of Spain to share his excitement over his new real estate find : “There are many islands in this sea. They tell me that there are pearls in abundance, of great size, and that the natives possess baskets filled with them.” Turns out, the natives were right.

When Balboa sailed out to the islands, he discovered a paradise. In the years following, the Spanish harvested tons of pearls from the waters around the Las Perlas archipelago that has come to be known as the Pearl Islands.

The early days of the pearl business were harsh ones. The Spanish did away with the native peoples living on the island and brought in African slaves to work the pearl trade. Their vast harvest of oyster born gems had to be inventoried immediately upon harvest to insure the interests of the crown. Thus, pearls were sent to an island now called “Contadora” for registration. Contadora in English means, ‘The Counting House”.

Contadora became the focus of settlement living in the islands. When the Spanish returned home, they left their slaves behind. The ancestors of these slaves composed the sparse population of Contadora until the mid 20th century. In 1960, the island was purchased by a Panamanian named Gabriel Lewis Galindo in one of the great real estate deals in this nation’s history.

Galindo immediately set to work on developing the infrastructure needed for habitation of the island. He was the first to open a resort on Contadora, a small complex of 60 bungalows. This was followed by the construction of the original Hotel Contadora, a gleaming classic of the early era of Pearl Island tourism.

Today, Contadora is one of the larger and better developed of the Pearl Islands. It is home to several world class resorts, featuring every modern amenity. Excellent restaurants and a wide range of shopping can be found on Contadora.

Real Estate is still affordable on Contadora and many other of the Pearl Islands. If you like the private life, you can still buy entire islands and make your own island history.

To book hotel reservations or for more information about real estate on Contadora contact us today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

With more than a hundred islands, the Pearl Islands off of Panama’s Pacific coast are a cornucopia of natural delights. Ranging from some 30 square miles to a host of diminutive outcroppings barely large enough to host a football team, the Pearl Islands come in all sizes.

The largest of the Pearl Islands is Isla del Rey. In English, this means “Island of the King”. The best known island in the Pear chain is Contadora, in English “Counting House”. This unique name is a reference to the days when the Spanish sent their pearl harvest to the island to be counted and inventoried prior transport home.

Contadora was the first of the Pearl Islands to be developed for tourism and first world residency. The island now offers a variety of world class resort hotels, restaurants, golf courses and shopping. More recently, eco-sensitive development similar to that on Contadora has reached other larger islands like San Jose, and Viveros.

You could spend a long time visiting all of the inhabitable pearl Islands , a partial list follows: Contadroa, San Jose, Isla del Rey, Bolano, Buena Vista, Cana, Casaya, Chepra, Chitre, Cocos, Espiritu Santo, Galera, Gallo, Gilbraleon, Lampon, Marin, Mina, Mogo Mogo o Pajaro, Pacheca, Pachequille, Pedro Gonzalez, Puerco, San Jose, Senora, Vivenda, Vivienda and Viveros. Believe it or not, every one offers a unique blend of features that make a visit well worth your time.

No matter where you go in the Pearl Islands, you will be surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches and blue water available anywhere on earth. Sport fishing and water sports of every kind area a staple of life in the Pearl Islands. Make sure to pack your sunscreen, the equatorial sun can be strong.

The Pearl Islands offer a hidden bonus for real estate owners. They are protected on three sides by the arching shores of the Panamanian mainland. This unique positioning makes them immune to the hurricanes common to Caribbean islands.

When investing in real estate, there is nothing more satisfying than a wide range of options to choose from. This is why visitors from around the world are buying their next vacation or retirement home in Panama. Whatever you think of as paradise, Panama has it in abundance. Visit us soon, and choose your unique slice of paradise.

To book hotel reservations or for more information about real estate on Contadora or the other Pearl Islands contact us today.

i...@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)

Just 40 miles offshore from Panama City, Isla Contadora (Contadora Island) awaits visitors looking to enjoy the beautiful Pearl Islands Archipelago. You can get here from Panama City in just 20 minutes if you hop on a flight, and it’s just such an ideal compliment to a few days spent in the city. Many of the Pearl Islands are uninhabited, with Isla Contadora figuring as the most highly developed. The Contadora Island Panama hotels provide an ample selection, and since it’s strangely taking some time to pump up the tourism industry here, you can often find some good deals on hotel rates. Some of the nicer Isla Contadora hotels are close to the city’s airport, and the island makes for the best hub for which to base yourself in this region. Perhaps you might look into Panama vacation rentals on Isla Contadora, which allow for extra space and privacy.

Isla Contadora translates to “Counting Island”, and the Islas Perlas, or Pearl Islands, are known to have been a major pearl harvesting region for the Spanish colonialists. Recent history has seen the Pearl Islands serve as a staging ground for television’s reality series, “Survivor”. Slowly, but surely, Contadora Island Panama is becoming a top Panama beach destination, often being considered among the coveted Bocas del Toro region. You can enjoy some of the best Panama snorkeling and scuba diving here, and just looking out to sea from one of the many beaches will often reward you with glimpses of interesting sea creatures. For those interested in adding some fishing to their Panama vacation, the sport fishing excursions available at Contadora Island Panama are sure to make for a wonderful fit. There are plenty of tour companies on Isla Contadora, so arranging interesting side trips is always an option. As Panama real estate has become more and more coveted, plans for a residential development on the Isla del Rey are sure to drum up even more curiosity in the stunning Pearl Islands. Read the rest of this entry »

REVIEWS:

“Villa Super Romantica”

Superb! This whole trip was a honeymoon gift from my parents, and they could not have picked a better place. Quiet and apart from the rest of the hotels, Villa Romantica really steps up to its name. The vista from its restaurant is breath-taking, we saw a hump back whale jump right there when we were having our lunch at the restaurant. The room was great, also with a view, very comfortable.

Charlie picked us up at the airport and pretty much was there when we needed anything. The environment is not like any hotel, is more “home-ly” . Its perfect for honeymooner, especially during the low season cause its all so quiet and romantic. The nights are even better and there are plenty of activities in the island.

My folks, when hearing how good it was, decided to go there the very next month. I’m sure they will like it. Villa Romantica is a mix of high class service and food, yet secluded and romantic. Its a Most See! Read the rest of this entry »