Once home to the former shah of Iran, the islands that make up the Archipelago de Las Perlas are now host to some of the wealthy and with good reason. It’s paradise here! In fact, you probably have a screensaver of one of the 90 or so named islands that have tan-sand beaches, sea turtles, multi-colored fish, turquoise waters, and coconut palms leaning towards the sea. The islands first gained notoriety in the early 16th century due the wealth of oyster beds that abound in its waters. Located southeast of Panama City, Isla Contadora is the most popular of the islands with daily flights from the capital. While various seasons of Survivor have been filmed here, you’ll be far from roughing it: these islands are amazing!

Filed under: Panama on June 11th, 2008