On the Azuero Peninsula, generations-old traditions remain part of everyday life.
Artisans shape clay by hand in family workshops, craftspeople make drums from wood and cowhide, and generations of skill go into the embroidery, lacework and jewelry of Panama’s iconic pollera. Beyond the towns, the landscape moves from rolling countryside and tropical forest to long stretches of Pacific coast.
Now, your guests have a new private base from which to experience the region: Reserva Ecológica Panamaes, a collection of three fully serviced private residences set within a 615-hectare ecological reserve near Pedasí.
Three Private Homes Between Forest and Sea
Panamaes offers three luxury private homes surrounded by protected and reforested land, with more than 15 kilometres of hiking and biking trails and private access to four beaches.
Residence Code #06A01
The first luxury residence accommodates up to 12 guests in six suites spread between the main house and standalone cabanas. Tropical gardens connect the spaces, while floor-to-ceiling windows and indoor-outdoor living areas keep the Pacific in constant view. A short walk from the main house leads to a 25-meter infinity pool positioned on the cliff above the ocean.
Residence Code #07A02
This second residence accommodates up to 22 guests across three master suites and four bungalows. Perfect for larger families and groups. The house sits among native gardens and a conservation forest, with direct beach access, generous gathering areas and private accommodations spread across the main house and bungalows.
Residence Code #07A03
Ama Estancia offers expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces overlooking the Pacific. Local materials and craftsmanship are featured throughout the property, and a separate pool house has a 25-meter infinity pool projecting toward the sea.
Days at Panamaes can include guided hikes through the reserve, horseback riding, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, fishing and tennis. Seasonal experiences include whale watching and sea turtle releases. Meals include produce grown on the property, and private culinary service lets you arrange each day around the group’s plans.
Conservation has been underway at Panamaes for more than 15 years.
The reserve reports a 60% increase in forest cover since 2003, with more than 400,000 new trees through planting and natural regeneration. Its work also includes wildlife protection, sea turtle conservation and the restoration of forest and coastal ecosystems.
Guests can experience this work firsthand while walking forest trails with local guides, watching for wildlife or participating in a seasonal sea turtle release.
The Artisans of Azuero
Panamaes also provides a private base for exploring the wider Azuero Peninsula.
In La Arena, guests can enter a working pottery studio, watch artisans shape clay and try creating a piece under their guidance. In Parita, visits introduce the families who make the elaborate devil masks associated with Corpus Christi and Carnaval, as well as craftspeople who make traditional drums from wood and cowhide. Azuero Experience Portfolio
Another experience explores the pollera, Panama’s national dress. Guests visit master artisans between Pedasí and Guararé to learn about the embroidery, fabrics, lacework and jewelry involved in its creation. They can see how the pieces are made, learn the meaning and order of the jewelry, and, when time allows, try weaving El Mundillo, the delicate lace used in traditional garments. Azuero Experience Portfolio
These visits bring guests face-to-face with artisans who carry on skills and traditions passed down through their families for generations.
Azuero by the Pacific
The peninsula also opens onto a coastline of beaches, islands and marine habitats.
Days can extend to Isla Iguana, known for its white-sand beaches, coral and marine life, or Isla Cañas, where mangroves, local communities and sea turtle conservation shape the experience. Around Pedasí, travelers can explore the Pacific coast and, seasonally, look for humpback whales offshore.
Reserva Ecológica Panamaes gives travelers a private place to stay while they discover the Azuero Peninsula
With Panama Trails, a tailor-made journey can bring the two together, moving from a morning on the Pacific or a forest trail to an afternoon with the artisans, communities and traditions that give this region of Panama its distinct character.
