| Dolphin Island Lodge is located on Uaguitupo Island, | | | | energy through the night. The island not being |
| a private Island directly across from the | | | | very large is almost all given over to the resort, |
| indigenous Kuna island community of Achutupo. | | | | apart from a few staff huts. |
| Known locally as the Uaguinega Ecoresort, the | | | | It is all very attractive with a mix of palm trees, |
| name derives from the Kuna language, where | | | | grass, and the cabins, which are right on the edge |
| Uagui means dolphin and Nega means house. | | | | of the sea. In fact the sea is so close you almost |
| Together, therefore, it means "The House of the | | | | feel it!! You can sit on the deck in a hammock and |
| Dolphin." During certain times of the year you can | | | | totally relax to the sounds of the sea. |
| catch a sight of dolphins, and with some you luck | | | | Each hut is equipped with a proper flushing toilet, |
| you might be able to admire them. | | | | and a semi open air shower area, but it is cold |
| It is a 45 minute flight from Panama City to | | | | only as there no hot water here. Cold showers |
| Achutupu airport, which is hardly Heathrow, with | | | | don't seem so bad with a hot sun. You won't find |
| only a tiny landing strip with a wooden hut!! | | | | any air conditioning either although there is |
| You are them met by by your Kuna guide, who | | | | electricity for lighting,so keeping the doors open at |
| will take you on a short trip in a motorised dugout | | | | night is a 'must do' but if there is no breeze, then |
| canoe to the lodge itself. If you don't like small | | | | it could become unbearable. |
| boats, and don't fancy the idea of a dugout, this | | | | There is also an open air dining area right next to |
| trip is all of three minutes!!! | | | | the sea, where all the delicious meals are taken. |
| It doesn't take long to feel you are miles away | | | | There is tons of fresh fruit, and all the gorgeous |
| from civilisation. | | | | seafood is freshly caught, in fact you can see the |
| When you hear the words eco resort, it may be | | | | Kuna fishermen arriving with their daily catch. |
| a put off, because our only previous experience | | | | There is a small shop run by local Kuna women, |
| had involved worms, and I won't tell you what | | | | where you can buy local handicrafts, and if you |
| they did, but if you go prepared mentally then | | | | cannot bear to be completely separated from |
| what you will find is a Robinson Cruso castaway | | | | your emails, then there are internet facilities. |
| style, quite basic but very comfortable, vacation. | | | | Other things you might wish to do is to visit a |
| Check out photographs at | | | | larger Kuna village a three minute boat ride away, |
| The Lodge has 11 cabins, which are pretty basic, | | | | or visit a nearby deserted island with a beautiful |
| and have electricity from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. | | | | white sand beach. |
| after which an emergency lamp is provided. | | | | The whole thing is almost like a scene from South |
| The 3 junior suites are a great deal more | | | | pacific except it is in the Caribbean, but it is like |
| comfortable and more suited for those of us who | | | | turning back the clock to a time where ultra |
| have outgrown our enthusiastic eco-warrior youth, | | | | modern full facility hotels were still a nightmare, |
| and now like some home comforts!! They are | | | | sorry a dream!! |
| equipped with solar panels to provide electrical | | | | Go see it now and experience it whilst you can. |