Isla Palenque, Panama
Lying on Panama’s Pacific coast is the paradisiacal Gulf of Chiriqui, a stretch of water scattered with dozens of islands, most of which are covered in dense, tropical forest. Some of them have now opened up to eco-tourism, including Isla Palenque, a 400-acre isle boasting five miles of virgin tropical shoreline (left). Offering a taste of barefoot luxury in the truest sense of the phrase, Palenque has only eight secluded, beachfront casitas with open-air bathrooms and lounges. Spend your days paddleboarding the warm waters, cooking empanadas with the island chef, setting off on jungle hikes or foraging expeditions along rainforest trails, fishing using artisanal techniques and kayaking to hidden beaches and bat caves. Or simply lounge by the pool. That’s where we’ll be.
IN THE KNOW
Explore nearby deserted idylls on an island-hopping boat trip, swim with turtles, then soak up the sun on white sandy beaches.
Pack bug spray – no one wants to be itching in paradise.
Book it Casitas from £840 a night for two on a full-board basis (islapalenque.com).
Deplar Farm, Iceland
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
modern extensions
WITH STRIKING USE OF COLOUR, MATERIALS AND SHAPE, THE LATEST DESIGNS ADD SO MUCH MORE THAN AN EXTRA ROOM
think like a pro
It's not just interior designers who are skilled at picking the perfect palette architects are in on the act, too, and Richard Parr knows just how to get the ideal shade
colour decoded
As with all successful schemes, there's much more going on beneath the surface of this space than first appears -Livingete's colour expert Amy Moorea Wong reveals all
enduring style
B&B Italia has pioneered modern Italian furniture design since 1966 - but its latest collection feels as fresh as ever
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
Seventeenth-century origins meet vibrant contemporary design in a cleverly reimagined Amsterdam canal house
ROCK OF AGES
The owners of a Menorcan home have made a stylish yet sustainable retreat using the island's signature stone
FORCE OF NATURE
An unexpected flood into what was already a dark basement flat prompted a new vision, full of light, natural materials and foliage
TOP OF THE WORLD
High above the busy streets of Bangkok, two talented designers have created a tranquil retreat that nods to chic 1970s style and makes the most of the views
A PLACE IN THE SUN
An apartment within a former luxury hotel celebrates - and updates - the style of France's Côte d'Azur
OUTSIDE IN
The design of this modernist bungalow in South Africa was dictated by the trees on the plot and the desire for an indoor-outdoor flow
