My wife and I, our 4 kids (4-9), as well as their grandmother, all traveled to Palenque and stayed at the home of Leticia and Hernan. We have traveled to many countries across the Caribbean and in Central America, but this was our first trip to Panama.
Communication with Leticia leading up to the stay was fantastic. We had an unexpected family emergency come up days before our trip, and they were very accommodating to our needs. More than they had to be in my opinion, and for that we will always consider them to be our friends in Panama. Our children cried after having to leave our new friends.
As for the property, it met and exceeded all of our expectations. It is lovely, and very peaceful. No noise of traffic, no interruptions, just the sound of the waves, and an occasional howling monkey to joyfully wake us in the morning. The home is situated perfectly on the lot, taking in views in three directions that are breathtaking at sunrise and sunset. For a family with young children, the water depth is a big plus. Plenty of areas for the kids to play in the water safely. My wife and I enjoyed the opportunity to walk and run on the property and incorporate our fitness routines into the stay.
The staff all did a great job. Dayra, Sere, and Abel were very helpful in the home. Fantastic meals, cleanliness, laundry, and most importantly for us their patience with young children. It was fun to see them share in the joy of our son catching his first fish on his own with no help from Dad, as well as many other fun memories that we will always cherish. Yuzed assisted us with driving and seeing the real Panama. I appreciated his attention to safety for the kids, and for his patience in understanding my broken Spanish. He took us to places that I would have never expected to see on a tour offered by an agency. We loved that. As with Leticia and Hernan, we will always consider all of the staff to be our friends in Panama.
Their culture is fantastic. There truly is something wonderful in the air. We found them to be joyful and patient, having faith in everything coming together as expected. On our first day at lunch we saw a sign that said "The Art of Slow" hanging above a bar. How true indeed. A nice change of pace for us, and a message we took away and will not forget.
Thank you to Leticia and Hernan and to all of their staff for making our vacation to Palenque one we will always remember with affection. God Bless you all.