New, Private Island Eco-Resort – Islas Secas – To Open in December 2004
Protected and uninhabited for hundreds of years, this ancient island paradise offers five-star service, six private casitas, and more…

Islas Secas – Unique with its pristine, pastoral coastlines, centuries-old trees, running streams, waterfalls, and sea life so abundant it rivals bygone eras, Islas Secas -- a well-appointed, new island eco-resort -- is offering the world its first opportunity to see and experience 16 virtually untouched islands in the Pacific ocean.

The resort, which opens December 18, 2004, is located 12 miles off the Pacific coast of Panama, near Costa Rica. While only one of the islands has accommodations, the other islands are accessible by kayak or boat to those fortunate enough to stay at the quiet, prized vacation spot. The other islands will remain protected eco-reserves for the native plants and wildlife that inhabit them.

"I decided that these islands were too beautiful to keep to myself and my family," owner Michael Klein said when asked why he developed the exclusive retreat. "I want people to have an opportunity to see what the world looked like long ago before man's impact was felt, before we fished the seas, cut down the lumber and covered land with structures. I also want to use the resort to help pay for protection of the island eco-systems."

Continuing he said, "My sister introduced me to the islands about three years ago. She was sailing around the world and called me one day to say, ‘You have got to come here and see this place!' It took me ages to actually visit, but it turns out the Panama of today defies expectations!

"When I visited the islands, their beauty and size amazed me. My mouth literally dropped open the first time I saw the place. There are a few thousand acres of lush, green terrain with extinct volcanoes and old growth trees that tower over us in size. For instance, there's a huge, 500-year-old Nispero tree – if you were to take a photo of me standing next to it I'd appear so tiny you'd hardly realize I was even in the photo. The orchids are also unbelievable – in fact, there are lots of different types of flora and fauna – all of them exotically beautiful.

"On some stretches of beach, blankets of crabs (they don't bite) greet you in colors I've never seen – yellow, orange, purple, red, neon, iridescent. The sea life -- with its sea turtles, whales, and other colorful fish species – is nearly as rich as it was centuries ago, because few people have fished the coastal waters around these islands. Hawks soar overhead. Even the iguanas are friendly; they've seen few humans and don't seem too concerned about us. There are bizarre types of wildlife, too.

"However, nothing on the island bites, nothing is predatory, and nothing is dangerous with the exception of one poisonous apple tree. Nothing is easy to catch either." Klein winked. "There are almost no bugs during the dry season, which is the only time of year the resort is open. Even mammals (mice, rats, and so forth) are non-existent. The trade winds keep the temperature comfortable.

Klein has developed six well-spaced (about 100 yards apart), beautiful, comfortably furnished, double-occupancy, ocean view casitas (guest bungalows) along a quarter-mile bay at Islas Secas. "The casitas are completely private and hidden from each other, although they are within walking distance of one another if friends or family want to visit together," Klein said.

The gourmet kitchen includes a Five-Star Chef. "All of the water and much of the food is native to the islands. It's some of the freshest organic food you'll ever taste in your life," Klein said. The solar-powered resort also features a spa for massages.

For active, outdoor-oriented guests there is kayaking; trail hiking; swimming; snorkeling; scuba-diving; whale watching; surfing; deep sea and spear fishing; boat excursions to the other islands; and more. The only other buildings on the island, storage facilities and housing for the workers, are hidden so that guests can enjoy the island's pristine nature.

The name Islas Secas means "Dry Islands" in Spanish. While lush and green, their 16 foot tide range gives the impression of dry because the bays completely empty twice a day.

Klein said, "There are very few places left on earth where eco-systems remain intact and uninterrupted. People think the wilderness areas they're used to visiting are like they always were, but the wildlife and plant life in most places on the earth has declined dramatically. The goal at Islas Secas is to put the islands into a foundation and preserve them in perpetuity, even after I'm gone. It's a fantasy place. We're utilizing only one percent of the land mass and we want to keep it that way."

Islas Secas is open from December through April each year during the dry season. For travel information and reservations, visit www.islassecas.com, email info@islassecas.com, fax 305-768-0400, or phone 805-729-2737. The island is about an hour and a half private plane flight from Panama City. Most major airlines fly there. Islas Secas has its own plane and island runway; guests can be picked up and whisked off to the islands as soon as they arrive in (or as soon as they are ready to leave) Panama.

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