Selva Terra Island Resort

I cannot say enough about how INCREDIBLE this resort is - Sam and her team have created an actual literal island paradise. Remote and yet accessible - an hour drive from David airport and a 15 min boat ride, and then everything you need is there. It's incredibly peaceful with beautiful landscaping, the most pristine beaches with soft warm water, a pool with a sunset view. The casitas are perfect, with lovely porches with ocean views. And omg the FOOD. Seriously the most delicious for all meals, incredibly fresh and delicious. Huge shout out to the staff, especially Bea, Axel, Carlos, Cristophe - truly serving from their hearts. Activities available too if you want them - surfing, kayaking, diving, fishing - we did a hike up through the farm to a lookout and saw the howler monkeys! It's just gorgeous. The massage was magical too! I was there on a pottery retreat - so lucky to have such a perfect little pottery studio, and amazingly wild clay you can dig on the beach!

Selva Terra is a dream come true. What a glorious way to re-set your nervous system. With diving, fishing, pottery making, yoga, hiking, and more, there’s plenty of opportunity to be active in the gorgeous setting, but it’s a great place to chill and reflect, as well. The staff was absolutely perfect - friendly, personal, eager to please and remember your favorite orders. We felt so at home and so welcomed by everyone. We definitely want to come back and highly recommend this vacation spot!

Selva Terra is a TRUE GEM. Even the many glowing reviews of Selva Terra on TripAdvisor don't do it justice -- my trip far exceeded my expectations. Selva Terra is a beautiful, thoughtfully-appointed, nature-rich, and peaceful place, with super fresh drinking water - yay!, absolutely incredible food and drinks, and unbeatable views. AND yet, on top of all this greatness, it's the service that really puts it over the top. I have never felt so cared for or tended to in a inn/hotel experience as I did at Selva Terra. What a true delight. Carlos, behind the bar, welcomes everyone with a smile and warmth that can't be beat. He puts true magic in every drink (with or without alcohol) and somehow always delivers just what you need at any particular moment. Jens is the ultimate guide -- so knowledgeable and happy to share all he knows about the natural environment or just help you make your way through another day in paradise. Likewise, Michael was attentive to everyone's needs and preferences and ready with suggestions whenever needed. Samantha, one of the owners, was always checking in to see how everyone was doing and led a magical yin yoga/sound bath one evening that (in addition to her soothing daily yoga sessions) will forever be a favorite memory. There were a number of other people behind the scenes -- from the enormously talented chefs to the various people tending to the grounds and the rooms -- whose presence was always felt through the great care they provided. And in addition to the terrific Selva Terra staff, Garrett, the visiting pottery instructor (and his wife Lynn) were AMAZING. I learned more about the wheel in one week than I have in a year at home. I have traveled quite a bit in Central America and elsewhere over the years and this is at the top of my all-time favorites. Thank you, Selva Terra, for such an incredible experience! I can't wait to come back!

I just came home from my second time being at Selva Terra! The first and second time were wonderful. I host and organize continuing education retreats for mental health providers all over the world and Selva Terra has been one of my favorite destinations. I plan to do a yearly retreat here. Everything is just lovely, the resort, the food, the rooms, the activities and the staff! Samantha is incredible and makes sure that we are well taken care of. This place is so good that quite a few of my past retreat attendees have returned and plan to return next year! I can’t wait to be back there with a new group next year! Thank you so much Selva Terra! You hold a special place in my heart.

We spent an unforgettable week at Selva Terra Resort in March, and we still fondly remember our trip. Huge thanks to the entire team for their exceptional organization and heartfelt hospitality — everything was perfect from the very beginning.||The hotel arranged our transfer, which was incredibly helpful, as it would have been quite difficult to manage on our own. Selva Terra Resort is truly a unique place. The island itself is like a fairytale: a charming, well-kept territory with perfectly positioned bungalows, each offering its own stunning view of the ocean. Watching the sunrise or sunset from your own terrace, with the water right in front of you — it’s an experience that’s hard to come by.||The bungalows are equipped with everything you need, including an excellent hairdryer — far better than the typical hotel ones, which was a lovely surprise.||From the moment we arrived, we felt surrounded by warmth and care. The staff were genuinely kind and attentive. Special thanks to Jens, a true professional and nature enthusiast, who guided us through the jungle, showed us monkeys and birds, and shared many fascinating facts — it was truly engaging.||The food deserves a special mention: the quality of the ingredients was outstanding, and the flavor combinations and presentation were equally impressive. Every meal was a delight — thank you to all the chefs for this unforgettable culinary experience!||And then there was the bar, which completely exceeded our expectations. When traveling, you rarely anticipate anything remarkable when it comes to cocktails, but here, it was different. Carlos, the bartender — a passionate professional with experience in London bars — amazed us with every drink he made. It felt incredible to be on a secluded island, surrounded by nature, sipping on cocktails that could easily rival those served in the world’s top city bars.||All in all, this was a fantastic experience for us. We’re absolutely thrilled and would love to return one day without a doubt.

Selva Terra is a beautiful boutique resort with lovely casitas, a special location and very friendly service. Two things in particular stand out for me. ||The scuba diving was awesome. Mikael is a fantastic dive master. We did two private dive trips and they were some of the best diving we have done anywhere - and there were no other dive boats in sight. ||Second, we loved hanging at the bar with (big-but getting smaller) Carlos. In addition to be a very friendly and interesting guy, he is a master bartender who relishes making special cocktails based on each guest’s flavor profile. So much fun!||Overall - a big thumbs up!

A Dream Escape – 5 Stars All the Way! From the moment we arrived on the private island, everything about this resort felt like a dream. Secluded, peaceful, and incredibly well-maintained, it’s the perfect getaway if you’re looking for luxury paired with natural beauty. The food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every meal felt like fine dining—fresh seafood, locally inspired dishes, and top-tier service. They even customized meals based on our preferences, which made the experience feel truly personal. Now let’s talk about the fishing—easily one of the highlights. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just trying it for fun, the resort offers guided fishing experiences that are both exciting and relaxing. We caught lots of tuna and even had our catch prepared by the chef for snacks off the boat and dinner . The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and everything from the private casitas to the beachfront views was just stunning. If you’re looking for a luxury retreat where you can unplug, indulge, and maybe catch dinner with your own hands, this place is unbeatable.

We brought our adult children for a week of relaxation, scuba diving, and fishing. From the time our plane landed in Panama City, the service we received was A+. They were able to schedule a day of bird watching/ziplining which were amazing. The 2 days we spent fishing were spent catching HUGE black and blue marlins as well as sailfish. The guides could not have worked harder. Saw a ton of white tipped reef sharks and some huge rays, also the expected tropical fish and eels. Food was lights out, nothing like fresh tuna steaks! ||And the staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable with amazing massages, cold drinks and an amazingly clean room.