Our visit to Morillo Beach Eco Resort began with a conversation. Friends who’d recently been there spoke of it with such enthusiasm that I knew I wanted to go. I’d never been to Panama, and in fact, it had never even been on my radar. I contacted Cari, and over the course of our communications was consistently impressed by her quick and thoughtful responses. My husband and I chose the 10 day package because every detail, including hotel and shuttle arrangements, from the moment we arrived in Panama until the time we left, was handled in a way that eased any concerns I had about being in an unfamiliar part of the world for the first time. Cari patiently answered dozens of questions over the next several months, and as she helped me to navigate their website, I realized that it provided all the information we needed to be prepared for a great adventure. Her blogs piqued my interest even further, and now, in retrospect, I truly appreciate the way they “primed” me for a rich and intimate experience. From the moment we arrived, Cari and Ryan welcomed us into their home and made us feel like family. The buildings, rooms and common areas are beautifully designed- spacious, artful, simple yet elegant. Whether I was in the mood for privacy, or hanging out with other guests (who quickly became friends) any place I chose provided immediate access to the jungle that surrounds. Thanks to Cari and Ryan’s guidelines, we learned how to behave as respectful guests in the home of the many varied creatures who live there, and were rewarded by their allowing us to observe them up close: the howler monkeys with their haunting calls, iguanas, butterflies, and birds of all colors, sizes and songs. The jungle teemed with plants I’d only seen in a botanical garden if at all, and everywhere there was fragrance and color: orchids, bougainvillea, torch ginger, bromeliads. The location is perfect: down steps to an estuary and mangroves, a long sandy beach, and an ocean with gentle waves for swimming and surfing, warm enough to play in for hours. That would have been enough, would have exceeded my expectations, but there was even more. We chose seven different adventures: releasing just-hatched turtles, surfing, hiking, swimming in waterfall pools, snorkeling, visiting a local soapmaking business, and spending a day with a Panamanian family high in the mountains on land they’d cleared from the jungle 70 years ago. Each activity was superb, and brought fresh understanding and connection to the Panamanian people and environment, both past and present. The quality and presentation of the food was equal to the rest of it, and that’s saying a LOT! Every meal was homemade and prepared with fresh, local fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. Much of the produce came from the organic garden. Cari is an artist in the kitchen- although many dishes have a clear Mexican theme- tacos, burritos, enchiladas- Cari’s well versed with other cuisines, including Thai, Carribean and Panamanian- there was a lot of fusion going on. I enjoyed new flavors and delicious variations on familiar favorites like pizza and pasta as well as delicious salads. I rarely eat dessert, but I ate Limon Cream Pie everyday. Cari and Ryan and their staff are highly skilled and professional, warm and engaging. Whether leading a hike, coaching a hope-to-be surfer, or stopping by during a meal time for casual conversation, everyone goes go above and beyond to meet the needs of guests in order to ensure maximum enjoyment, all the while maintaining a relaxed and easy presence. Cari and Ryan are gifted storytellers, teachers and hosts, eager to share their knowledge without being pushy or preachy. They care deeply for this extraordinary place and their commitment to restoring and preserving its integrity is exciting and inspiring. I’ve come away with far more than I ever imagined. We’re already planning our next visit.

We spent two nights at the eco lodge and wished we could have stayed longer. Like forever. It seemed like everyone we met told us about Cari and Ryan; their hospitality, focus on supporting the community and sustainability and amazing location. We immediately fell in love and booked a short stay before we left Panama. This is a magical place. We appreciated the quietness, being surrounded by lush vegetation and an abundance of wildlife. Our room was beautiful, huge with a king sized bed (hard to come by) and a gorgeous balcony. There has been much attention to detail in all aspects of this lodge. Cari and Ryan are fabulous people. Their passion and commitment to their clients, community and stewardship of the animals and land Is remarkable. There is a troop of howler monkeys easily seen in the forest around the resort. Cari is very respectful of these amazing creatures ensuring there is little human interaction or influence on their lives. The awe of watching these monkeys with others in silence was very powerful. The food and drink rival all other enjoyable aspects to this experience. They offer beer on tap which is not something we’d seen anywhere else and Ryan’s mango/pineapple hard cider is delicious. The food prepared by Cari was divine; fresh, organic and locally sourced. We had a beautiful mahi-mahi steak one evening and fabulous tacos the next. The location feels so private. The beach is one which swimming, surfing and just playing around is safe. We loved it and plan on returning.

Morrillo Beach Eco resort is hand built by the owners and overlooks two wide, sweeping sandy beaches. For surfers this is paradise and for eco tourists the howler monkeys are never too far. One sandy beach provides sets of nursery waves and the next is for the Pro's. For food lovers most of the ingredients are local. The pork, beef and chicken are from a local farm. The veggies, herbs and fruit are also grown around the corner. And the fish is fresh! Rooms are spacious with hot & cold running water, big balconies & great views over the lagoon and bays. I would happily return.