THE CURRENT | PANAMA

The Pearl Islands in Panama’s Gulf, is one of the most pristine territories in the Pacific. This string of almost one hundred lush green islands, except for a handful, are completely uninhabited with sugar white sand, dense rainforest and inky blue waters. The islands themselves are actually the peaks of long extinct volcanoes that rose above the sea during a period of

violent activity. Silent for over a millennia, the serene Pearls get their name from the abundance of pearl producing oysters, including a 31-carat pearl found over 400 years ago.

In Pre-Columbian times, an Indian king whose main occupation was pearl diving, ruled Las Perlas Islands. He and his people used pearls for ornament and as currency for trade. Las Perlas were eventually conquered by the Spanish attracted by their wealth and later became home to pirates who looted settlements and brought their treasure back for safe keeping.

To this day, most of the pearls in the world were collected in these waters.San Jose, the island on which we reside, is the second largest of Las Perlas Islands, is situated in Panama’s Gulf just 90 kilometers away from Panama City, a short 20 minute ride on a propeller plane. Over 35 splendorous white coral, ebony black and radiant gold beaches and coves surround San Jose, nestled between temperate turquoise waters and the lush

green vegetation that covers the island. Coconut palms and wild sugar cane are found along the coast line while the interior soil is extremely fertile nourishing a wide variety of vegetation including gallery forests with trees rising 80 feet and higher. Many rivers and springs provide an abundance of fresh water and meet to form several waterfalls, up to 60 feet high. An

abundance of wildlife roams the island including deer, agoutis, parrot and giant pigeons.Panama is the only place in the world with Humpback whale migrations from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,

July to November the waters surrounding the Pearls are shared with these gentle giants. The deep blue of the Gulf’s warm waters has one of the world’s largest varieties of tropical game fish due to its strong currents, bringing more than ten dif-ferent species fish during the dry season and big game fish the rest of the year. Panama’s name actually means “abun-

dance of fish” and the Pearl’s are often compared to the Galapagos, known for their vast biodiversity.

All of our rooms on the property are a fresh mix of island charm and recycled and repurposed décor pre-sented in a clean modern format. Trust us its rad. Each individual cabin is lofted into the canopy over looking a wide expanse of Gulf. Private and indescrib-ably beautiful we take the utmost to make your room a sanctuary where you can really let go and relax.

ACCOMMODATIONS

*Meals, non-alcoholic beverages, watersports and ATV activities are included in the reservation Prices in USD + Tax were applicable

OUR PROPERTY

ACTIVITIES

The Current property was designed to capitalize on the natural beauty of San Jose. When creating the hotel our vision was to enhance the experience of the island. Our common areas were designed to be functional, minimal and modern and not to disrupt or impose on their surroundings.

Our beach is so beautiful we wanted to keep the beach club simple. There is nothing we hate more than pristine beaches lined with miles of chairs. We chose a limited number of simple chaises and umbrellas raised by our attendants. The beachfront, served by the res-taurant staff, offers full food and drink menu. When you get restless our fleet of hobie cats, jet skis, kayaks and snorkel equipment keep you entertained.

THE POOLThe spring fed infinity pool affords panoramic views of the Pacific. Relax in comfortable chaises, nap in a hammock or look out over the ocean, the raised pool deck is one of the best spots on the property for whale sightings.

CLUBHOUSEThink of the clubhouse as a local hang out, international beer and fresh, clean cocktails, a place where everyone gathers to recount the day’s events. Board games and pool tables may sound pretty tame but many a wild night has occurred here.

GYMThough we can assure you will get all the ex-ercise you need, for those who just can’t give up the weights and treadmill our small gym offers everything for a regular workout.

At The Current we make our own fun. Though we love relaxing beach days, we also love to get outside and play. We know that most of the time you are stuck in your office or in your daily routine, so we want is to give you the opportunity to really change it up. Our activities and tours are never canned so this is rough idea of what might happen. If we want to stay we do, if we find a cool place to explore, cliff to jump off of or just decide to go off course, we do that too, that’s what makes The Current unique. These activities are designed to get you out there to explore this beautiful place with us.

ATVOur ATV tours are one of the coolest ways to explore the interior of the island. We usually head out in the morning and arrive back around lunch. We pack snacks and water and make plenty of stops along the way so really the time flies by. We head out from the hotel across our beach with the ocean lapping the shore on one side and the shady palm groves on the other. Driving from one end of the island to the other we cover a lot of ground from more rugged type trails to old gravel roads carved out by the US military. We wind through the rainforest passing over ravines, under canopy forests and drive cliff side with dramatic vistas and viewpoints. Along the way we might see deer, wild pigs, niekes an island animal we can best describe as a cross between a rat and rabbit and many of the over 900 species of birds that reside here. During high tide the waterfall is at full force making it the perfect jump spot, right into the Gulf.

BOATINGOur boat outings are full day trips exploring the outer islands of Las Perlas. Our 110-foot yacht, the Cape James, had a storied history before settling in Panama. Once used by General McArthur as a signal ship during WWII it was stationed in the Philippines and Borneo before finding its way to us. Our trips starts with 2 hours of travel on the open water rounding the Southern side of our island providing sweeping views of impressive 40-100 foot cliffs covered in greenery. Our first stop is at the Island of Mogogo known for its gold sandy beaches. The boat staff will prepare a beach bbq while you enjoy the scenery or relax on the beach. We highly recommend the snorkeling around Las Perlas, as our islands are known for their vast biodiversity. Expect to run into schools of fish,

coral reef, sea rays manta rays and various squid. Next stop at Isla del Rey where you can kayak up the mouth of a river through a man-grove forest, diving off the sheer cliff face and visit the local village of Ensenada. Head back to the island at sunset.

FISHINGLas Perlas is one of the most world renowned places for fishing, with over 900 world records set in these waters you are sure not to come home empty handed. With both in shore and high seas options there is something for every fisherman. For our in shore trips, we take out 29-foot single engine boats and drop line near the famed sea ledge. Dropping from 60 feet to 4,000 feet deep the two currents that converge at the ledge are rich with nutrients attracting a wide variety of fish species. High seas fish-ing takes you deep into the Gulf in pursuit of big game including black marlin, white marlin, sailfish and roosterfish.

JET SKIAnother great way to explore our island is by tandem jet ski. Always available on our beach this is a great way to set out on your own to see the impressive coastline of San Jose. Weave in and out of dramatic rock formations created by tectonic shifts, play on the open ocean or explore nearby beaches.

KAYAKKayaking is another great option for exploring always available at the beachfront. Kayaks al-low you to stay close to home and explore our cove or to set out for longer adventures. Let us know and we will pack lunch and snacks for you. Want to know the secret spots? Our guides

will take you to their favorite places around the islands in our kayak tours.

SAILINGAs any great sailor knows it is impossible to predict where the wind might take you. What we can say is that an adventure in any direction will afford you breathtaking views, open-ocean and deserted beaches. Chartered boats are available full and half days.

ECO TOURISMThe biodiversity of San Jose is one of the rea-sons we were first attracted to the island. In ad-dition to the idyllic island setting, much like the Galapagos, Las Perlas is rich with life. Over 900 types of birds make their home on San Jose including toucan, parrots and egrets. Las Perlas has a longer migration of whales than any where else in the world which means 9 months out of the year you are likely to see a whale everyday and not on a whale watching trip, right from the pool deck. In addition, dolphins, rays, shark whales and sea turtles make their home in the Gulf’s nutrient rich waters.

SCUBA DIVINGThere are two prime scuba spots just a short boat ride from San Jose the first is a small coral reef teeming with schools of fish, rays and other sea life. The other is a shipwreck that has recently been dated to 1635. What makes this dive unique is that little excavation has been done on the area and the ship still holds much of its cargo. On this dive all of your findings will be collected and logged in Panama’s national treasury as artifacts of Panama.

THE CURRENT is committed to serving healthy organic food and sourcing as much of our menu locally as possible, including fresh catch and indigenous produce. This doesn’t mean great food has to be formal, our executive chef, Ian Wittgreen’s innovative creations are served at beach side BBQs and on our patios. Ian is a rare talent whose culinary studies have brought him to some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants including the highly praised Arzak. His culinary philosophy is a casual one, believing that nothing is written in stone. He is a master of reinvention and his food takes on a variety of different influences including Caribbean, Mediterranean, Spanish and Asian techniques and flavors. He believes in supporting regional markets, which both preserve local traditions and minimize waste created by an ex-cess of imported goods.

The spa at The Current is casual, simple, and created for general relaxation and wellness. Informed by ancient Aruvedic practices we offer total body assessments along with complimentary 30 minute de-stress massage upon arrival. All treatments are available in spa, in room or beach side and range from intense deep tissue massages to hydrating facials aimed at a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

CUISINE

SPA

CONCIERGEThe Current’s concierges make it all happen. Starting from the day you book they are absolutely amazing at fine tuning every detail so you just have to pack and go. From helping to create the best travel plan to coordinating your activities on the island there are few things our concierges can’t do. They specialize in customization so if you have always wanted to spend a day alone on a deserted island, catch world record breaking Marlin or sail on a Captain run sailboat let them know.

Day 1Arrive at Tocumen Air-port and transfer to a brief 20-minute flight to San Jose. Meet our staff and take the short drive to The Cur-rent property. Check in and settle into your room where you can decide whether to have a 30 min de-stress massage (on us) or to wait until morning. Make your way to the clubhouse for welcome cocktails followed by dinner at the Epicurean. Retire to your rooms or stay up drink, chat and meet the people who will be hanging out at the island for the next week. Day 2Wake up to the sound of the ocean. Take breakfast in your room, on your pa-tio or poolside for the best view of the property. De-cide whether to chill on the beach or take the ATV tour

that starts at the front of the hotel, across the beach and winds through rainforest to the southern end of the is-land. For lunch our chef will prepare a special beach bbq. Take the afternoon to ex-plore the island on your own snorkel, hike, sail or kayak to check out the incredible beaches, forest and wildlife. At sunset hop on board the Cape James, our 110-foot yacht, for sunset cocktails. Head back to the beach for the Tide Affair a five-course dinner and wine pairing.

Day 3Set out on the Cape James early, don’t worry we will pack breakfast and coffee, and head to Isla del Rey to visit the first submarine ever built, marooned on its beach. Kayak up the mouth of a river through a man-grove forest home to exotic birds and crocodiles. Return to The Current for lunch on

the beach and an afternoon fishing tournament hosted by Punta Coco. Dinner at the Epicurean followed by drinks at the bar. Exchange fish-ing stories and celebrate the champion fish with a round of drinks on us. We love to get the party started.

Day 4We know what you think of when you hear bird watch-ing and its definitely not something you would get up early for in most cases, but when have you honestly been able to see a Toucan that wasn’t on your cereal box? This early am activity is more popular than you think, your going to have to trust us. We will reward you with an amazing breakfast served beachside followed by a trip to Mogo, a completely de-serted island with golden sand beaches. A dive will be hosted right off the island with a snorkeling option and

lunch at Boya Arena a large sand bar with white sand and shallow waters. Head back to the island for dinner at the Epicurean.

Day 5This is the day to get your diving in, head out early on the Cape James to Isla Galera for a double dive, one reef one wreck. Have lunch on the boat then head to nearby Isla del Rey. Kayak to the village of Ensenada to meet the local villagers. Head back for dinner at the pool.

Day 5For your final day at the Cur-rent we stick close to home for one last day on our idyllic island. For those looking to relax take this day to book a massage, walk on the beach or take a refreshing swim. For those with endless energy partake in the island triathlon a challenging bike,

swim, run whose course covers beach, rainforest and ocean. Meet at the waterfall for a specially prepared bbq. Farewell dinner at the Epi-curean and one last rowdy day at the bar.

Day 7Watch the sunrise and enjoy breakfast before departing for Panama City.

ITINERARY

For more information please call us at:1.877.928.9101or email us at:info@limitededitionleisure.comWWW.LIMITEDEDITIONLEISURE.COM