I am a little reluctant for the "secret" of Pequeno Paraiso to get out for fear of its being booked so heavily that I cannot get back in. But the personal attention given by hosts Richard and Anita was such that I feel compelled to repay them in this small way:
I came upon Pequeno Paraiso by chance off the internet. I am not comfortable in big cities but found it necessary on my way into and out of the interior of Panama where I will be living. So I was looking simply for a one night gateway into and out of the country that would be clean, not too inconvenient and not too expensive. What I found was a place that was not only clean but beautiful and private with sleeping accommodations that could have been chosen by my very discerning wife, a 20 to 30 minute drive from the airport, a breakfast unsurpassed by the finest restaurants and all for the price of a moderate stateside hotel. But the icing on the cake was the service.
I can imagine that there are other places comparable physically to Pequeno Paraiso but I cannot imagine how one could find more personal, knowledgeable and helpful hosts than Richard and Anita and their chef/daughter Caterina. Richard helped us book tours of the city and the canal and a delightful day trip to the Emberra indians. He also helped contract a chauffeur/interpreter to assist me in my business affairs in the city. He also helped me get a local cell phone and a gps map of Panama so that I could strike out on my own. As you may have noticed, we ended up staying more than one night.
We still have several things currently unsettled as we make our possible move to Panama but one thing is settled: Our gateway to Panama is Pequeno Paraiso.
