Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge

From the sky, Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge looks like a charm bracelet, a delicate chain of tiny house-shaped jewels floating on the clear blue Caribbean Sea. That’s because the Acqua Lodge isn’t a conventional hotel: it’s a string of luxury cabanas constructed on stilts, South Pacific–style, over the waters of the Bocas del Toro archipelago off Panama’s Isla Colón.

The nine thatch-roofed bungalows are traditionally crafted, with hardwood floors made from native lumber, clay-tiled bathrooms, colonial-style furnishings in dark wood and bamboo, and French doors opening onto private terraces with entirely unobstructed views of the sea. Cabana styles range from the standard suites, bi-level structures surrounded by coral reef and featuring personal stairways down to the water’s surface, to the higher-end Luna suites, which come with solarium platforms and more spacious terraces outfitted with hammocks and hanging chairs. The lone Master Suite, suitable for a family, boasts five beds and terraces on two levels.

Though Punta Caracol offers the standard range of upscale amenities, from fine bath products to king-sized beds, the Spanish owner clearly values eco-friendly practices over technological comforts — the cabins are powered by solar energy that’s not quite strong enough for laptops and PDAs. This is probably a good thing.

The Acqua-Lodge is all about simpler pleasures, like lazing about in a hammock and watching tropical fish swim by in schools, stargazing through the bungalows’ skylights, and dining on freshly caught seafood on the restaurant’s breezy veranda. But those who grow restless after days of sunbathing and dozing can choose from any number of outdoor activities: Punta Caracol organizes tours to virgin beaches, snorkeling expeditions, rainforest hikes, and trips to the crafts market in the nearby town of Bocas.