Ordovician Beach Resort Debuts on Panama's Isla Grande

Published on Aug 15, 2025, 10:51 am CDT

5 min read

Ordovician Beach Resort has officially opened on Isla Grande inside Portobelo National Park, adding a 47-room luxury option to Panama's Caribbean coast. The property is a $31.5 million transformation of the former Bananas Village Resort, introducing overwater bungalows, a private helipad, and upscale wellness and dining. Isla Grande sits northeast of Panama City, with access handled by road to La Guaira, then a short boat hop to the island. The debut underscores new investment in Costa Arriba, Colón, near the UNESCO-listed Fortifications of Portobelo-San Lorenzo.

Key Points

Why it matters: New high-end inventory on Panama's under-served Caribbean coast.
Travel impact: Overwater bungalows, private helipad, and private beach access expand premium choices.
What's next: On-site dive center slated for September 2025 opening.
Garden-to-table dining sources over 90 percent of produce on-site.

Snapshot

The 47-key Ordovician Beach Resort blends a boutique footprint with headline amenities, including Costa Arriba's first overwater bungalows, direct private-beach access, and a helipad for VIP arrivals. Three venues anchor the culinary program, with most produce grown in the resort's organic garden. Wellness spans a sauna, cryotherapy, a spa, and an overwater yoga studio. Access is straightforward from Panama City to La Guaira by road, followed by a quick boat transfer to Isla Grande. Opening fills a notable gap in luxury supply along this coastline, positioning the island as a higher-end alternative to better-known Pacific and Bocas del Toro retreats.

Background

The project reimagines Bananas Village Resort, long a weekend favorite for domestic travelers to Isla Grande. Following a complete rebuild, Ordovician adds upscale positioning and purpose-driven messaging, with heavy use of local labor in construction and staffing. The location sits within Portobelo National Park, near the UNESCO-inscribed Fortifications of Portobelo-San Lorenzo, a chain of 17th and 18th-century Spanish defenses. The upgrade signals growing attention to Colón Province's Costa Arriba, a shoreline historically overshadowed by Panama's Pacific resorts and by Bocas del Toro to the west. For travelers, the shift means shorter transfers from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to a Caribbean-side resort experience.

Latest Developments

Overwater stays and helipad access headline the launch

Ordovician opens with the area's first overwater bungalows, each designed for direct ocean access and uninterrupted sea views. The resort also claims the only private beach in the immediate area, adding exclusive lounging and water-entry points. A new on-site helipad supports private helicopter arrivals, complementing boat transfers from the mainland. Resort comms describe a two-hour drive from Panama City, then a roughly ten-minute boat ride from a private port, an appealing proposition for time-sensitive luxury travelers who want to skip long domestic hops.

Garden-to-table dining, wellness upgrades, and a September dive center

Three concepts form the culinary core, led by The Shell Bistro for all-day dining, El Acuario for refined fusion, and Rick's Café Americain, billed as an overwater tapas bar. The kitchen says more than 90 percent of produce is grown on-site. The wellness roster adds cryotherapy, a sauna, a full spa, and an overwater yoga studio, with programming aimed at recovery and relaxation. A dedicated dive center is planned to open in September 2025, offering warm-water trips to reefs, caves, and historic wrecks along this coast.

Analysis

Ordovician's debut materially upgrades the luxury proposition on Panama's Caribbean side, carving out a niche between high-touch boutique service and soft-adventure access. The overwater inventory is still rare in Panama, previously concentrated around Bocas del Toro, where properties like Nayara Bocas del Toro set the benchmark for premium pricing and experiential add-ons. Ordovician adds a competing over-water option closer to Panama City, with simpler logistics for U.S. arrivals via Tocumen International Airport (PTY). If the resort sustains its garden-to-table promise and delivers credible wellness and dive operations, it should broaden Panama's appeal beyond the canal corridor and Pacific beach belts. Proximity to the UNESCO-listed Fortifications of Portobelo-San Lorenzo creates storytelling heft for culture-minded travelers, while the helipad and private beach speak to premium expectations. Execution, service consistency, and seasonality management, especially on marine excursions, will determine long-term positioning against regional peers.

Final Thoughts

For advisors, Ordovician Beach Resort fits guests who want a boutique, purpose-driven Caribbean stay within easy reach of Panama City, with add-on history and light-adventure. The combination of overwater bungalows, a private beach, a helipad, and a September 2025 dive center gives planners multiple angles for longer stays or split itineraries that include Panama City. If the property maintains its on-site sourcing and service standards, Isla Grande should see a steady stream of luxury travelers exploring Costa Arriba beyond day trips, with growing name recognition driven by the Ordovician Beach Resort.