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