Panama, known for its famed canal and criminally underrated ceviche, is now the stage for one of the world’s most jaw-dropping wildlife shows—and it’s all happening on the doorstep of a private island retreat so exclusive, even the whales RSVP.
Islas Secas, a whisper-quiet archipelago off the coast of Panama, has just unfurled the red carpet for its Marine Safari 2025—and it’s not your average splash-and-dash snorkelling trip. This is nature’s theatre in full cinematic glory, with humpback whales breaching stage left and manta rays pirouetting centre stage, all from the comfort of eco-luxury. Think Attenborough meets Aman.
A Grand Entrance by the Humpbacks
As they say, timing is everything—and Islas Secas has mastered it. The announcement of the Marine Safari coincides with the majestic return of the humpback whales, who’ve trekked thousands of kilometres from the Antarctic like retirees migrating north, except with more flippers and far less golf.
These gentle giants arrive in the Gulf of Chiriquí to mate, calve, and nurse their young in the sanctuary’s safe, warm waters. They offer guests a front-row seat to one of Earth’s most stirring displays of marine life. No binoculars are required. Champagne is optional, though warmly encouraged.
Welcome to the Big Blue Five
Not content with just whales, the Marine Safari offers the chance to tick off the “Big Blue Five”—humpback whales, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays. All in a single stay. Eat your heart out, African savannah.
Guests can dive (literally) into scuba adventures, catamaran cruises, eco-hikes, and private surf expeditions, all tailored to your whims by expert naturalist guides wielding not only GPS trackers and GoPros, but encyclopaedic marine wisdom to boot.
And because no modern explorer should go unarmed with a good conscience, a citizen science component is woven in. Guests can assist marine researchers, contribute data, and walk away with stories that impress both at dinner parties and UN sustainability forums.
Island Life, Redefined
Set among 14 lush islands—13 of which are carefully left wild and wonderfully unpeopled—Islas Secas is a masterclass in “luxury that whispers, not shouts.” There are only seven casitas and tented casitas, each blending into the landscape with all the subtlety of a jaguar in the underbrush, plus the exquisite Casa Cavada: a four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa for those whose idea of roughing it includes a private chef and plunge pool.
Indoor-outdoor living is the philosophy here. Casitas come with alfresco showers, hammocks that flirt with the sea breeze, and unfiltered views of those technicolour Pacific sunsets you thought only existed in travel brochures or dreams.
There’s no spa music piped in—just the real thing: waves, birdsong, and the occasional whale’s exhalation, which sounds uncannily like a sigh of relief.
Conservation, Not Commercialisation
At its heart, Islas Secas is a conservation-first resort. Owned by visionary philanthropists and supported by marine biologists, the retreat is a working model of how tourism can be both eco-conscious and unapologetically elegant. The resort operates on 100% solar power, recycles all wastewater, and reinvests profits into local environmental initiatives and marine science.
As the marketing folk put it, this is “barefoot luxury with a purpose.” But rest assured, your toes won’t touch anything less than hand-swept sand and designer decking.
Why Now?
With last-minute winter escapes trending (thanks partly to the Australian dollar doing its best impersonation of a sea cucumber), now’s the time to swap your puffer jacket for a pareo. The whales are here. The water’s warm. And the only traffic jam you’ll encounter is a pod of dolphins joyriding past your kayak.
So, if your soul’s crying out for something beyond the beige buffet of modern travel—and you fancy sharing a beach with a whale or two—Islas Secas’ Marine Safari 2025 may be the tonic you didn’t know you needed.
For more on Islas Secas or to book your Marine Safari 2025 adventure, visit: www.islassecas.com.
By Anne Keam
