Thrilled about the recent opening of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve? Hold on to your hats. Ritz-Carlton is planning to open another one of its buzzy Reserve properties on a private island in the Gulf of Panama. (Others already exist in Thailand and Puerto Rico, with others to follow suit in Turks and Caicos, Morocco and Mexico.) Just 50 miles south of Panama City, the location couldn’t be any more fabulous; the unspoiled island has a string of sandy beaches and pristine forest. As part of the development plan, a good 70% of the island has to remain untouched- set aside in a private reserve.
What’s in store at The Reserve on Pearl Island? There’ll be 80 rooms, a spa, a beach club, three restaurants, a marina, a dive and fishing village, and even an equestrian center. Access is via boat, helicopter, or small plane. The bad news? We have to wait until 2016 to test-drive these digs. For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Reserve/Default.htm.