This Luxury Resort Is Hidden on a Private Beach in Panama, With Overwater Suites, a Helipad, and Farm-to-table Dining

"As I stood on the powdery beach of the new Ordovician Resort on Panama's Isla Grande, where the glassy Caribbean waters lapped against dense jungle pulsing with wildlife, I couldn't believe the area had largely remained under the radar for so long. This is the kind of idyllic place where swaying palms and cool breezes temper the sun's heat, and the sea, brimming with marine life, provides all the entertainment you need."

"The resort-founded by retired tech engineers Loan and Richard "Rick" Hill-opened last year in the province of Colón along the country's northern Caribbean coast. The Hills and their team, which is overwhelmingly composed of local residents, reimagined the former Coconut Grove Lodge into the area's first luxury retreat, with overwater suites, a private beach backed by lush rainforest, and farm-to-table dining. The project has not just transformed the beachfront, but also added infrastructure to support the island far beyond the resort's walls."

"The owners have added their own touches to the remote shoreline. Six-time grandparents, they designed a sandbar-encircled lagoon to give families a calm, pristine place to splash and enjoy water sports. (There is even an enclosed platform just off the beach, where kids can build sandcastles.) My favorite place to swim and lounge was a short walk away, on the other side of the Ordovician's pier, where a jetty created a tranquil, emerald expanse perfect for floating peacefully on the surface."

Ordovician Resort sits on Isla Grande along Panama's northern Caribbean coast, offering overwater suites, a private beach backed by rainforest, and farm-to-table dining. Retired tech engineers Loan and Richard 'Rick' Hill reopened the former Coconut Grove Lodge and employ a predominantly local team. The resort added infrastructure benefiting the wider island and designed family-focused amenities including a sandbar-encircled lagoon and an enclosed platform for children. A jetty creates a tranquil swimming expanse. Adventure options include fishing, snorkeling, macaw spotting, jungle hikes, hidden island excursions, historic-ruin visits, and Panama Canal tours. A dedicated dive center opens February 1.

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