Nayara Bocas Del Toro

The reference to Bali here is a state of mind — this is Panama, and the villas in question stand over the waters of the Caribbean, constructed on stilts in the manner pioneered by certain South Pacific resorts and designed by architect Andres Brenes in a style that’s unmistakably local and thoroughly modern. Bocas Bali’s private-island setting means it’s a blissfully private escape, and the experience, in its low-tech immediacy, is just what the modern traveler needs. The local coral reefs are a natural treasure; swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and other waterborne diversions make up the lion’s share of the activities.