PANAMA CITY—The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is expanding its collection of Reserve hotels with plans to open a luxury resort on Pearl Island, a private island situated 45 miles south of Panama City. The resort is the sixth planned Reserve property, joining current locations in Phulay Bay in Thailand and Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, and upcoming locations including Molasses Reef in Turks and Caicos, Tamuda Bay, Morocco and Cabos San Lucas, Mexico.
The centerpiece of the Reserve will feature an open-air resort offering 80 rooms and a range of select luxury amenities and services to include a spa, private beach club, three swimming pools, three restaurants, as well as access to a marina, dive and fishing village, and equestrian center. The spa will include outdoor treatment pavilions and separate tree-top villas, all of which will incorporate indigenous treatments in a remote setting.
The resort will offer one-and two-story villas situated on the beach with oceanfront views, all offering private plunge pools and outdoor private terraces. For executive retreats, the property will feature a 1,800-square-foot function pavilion and boardroom with ocean views.
Reachable by boat, helicopter or plane through a private airstrip, Pearl Island features an extensive private natural reserve with over half of the island undisturbed. Located in the Gulf of Panama on the Pacific Ocean, minutes from Panama City, the 3,500 acre private island is the third largest in the Archipelago of Las Perlas. Co-owned by Dolphin Capital Investors and Grupo Eleta, the island is one of approximately 250 different islands inhabited by fishing communities throughout the archipelago.
“With an abundant forest environment and stunning beaches with a premium on privacy, Pearl Island is a perfect site for the Reserve experience,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer, The Ritz-Carlton “Pearl Island is a destination that our discerning customers will find extremely appealing, with the coastal serenity and unspoiled natural attractions offering our guests the beauty and privacy they seek in an exclusive getaway experience.”
To ensure the island remains unspoiled, approximately 70 percent of the acreage will stay permanently undisturbed. Stringent development guidelines will result in minimal environmental impact through state-of-the-art engineering and environmental sciences, as well as sustainable practices for water, energy, waste, and transportation. The architectural integrity of the island will be maintained through a series low low-density villages and distinctive sustainable architecture showcasing a blend of location, style, and finishes.
