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.

Service was great. Good directions to get there, and Richard lent me his GPS after I got there so i could get around Panama City. He even helped me repair the winch on my truck. I needed some laundry done and Matilda, the employee and Anita did it for a very reasonable amount. Matilda even cleaned the mud off my shoes after I came back from an expedition in the Darien.

The room was great, nice, spacious, nice furniture, comfortable and super clean. it felt very much like home, like super comfortable, i was just happy staying in it.. It had everything I wanted in a room except for a coffee makes, but this was no hardship as excellent coffee was served only a couple of minutes after I showed up at the breakfast table.

Breakfasts were superb, especially the cream cheese stuffed crepe the last morning I stayed there.

The only thing I can say was not great is the location, which is about 20-30 minutes away by car from downtown Panama, depending on the traffic. If you don't have a vehicle, be prepared to brave the Diablos Rojos or the new city buses or pay some fair amount for taxis.

And I didn't mention the price: $69 plus taxes. I think this was the best price/value ratio I have seen so far in Central America. All in all, just a very comfortable place to stay.

If you are traveling to Panama for this first time, this is where you should stay. Rick will meet you at the airport, take you to your room where you can recuperate with a nice wine or swim. Anita and Rick seem to know what travelers want and are generous with their advice. Great breakfast, great rooms, wonderful hospitality provided by two of the cutest dogs ever. Can't imagine a more welcoming or relaxing introduction to Panama.

Stayed at Pequeno Paraiso for Spring Break. The rooms are spotlessly clean and the breakfasts are fantastic. The mini fridge is well stocked . It is located a little out from Panama City which was a bit of a challenge for us, because we didn't have a car. However our wonderful hosts, Richard and Anita, went above and beyond to help us find transporation. We wanted to go into Panama City, and they arranged for an English speaking cab driver. The driver gave us a wonderful tour and stayed with us as we explored Casco Vieja. Richard escorted us on a fascinating tour of the Imbarra Indians (spg?). He was a knowledgable guide and knew the Indians personally. One night we needed a cab and Richard took us down to the Amador Causeway, waited for us while we ate, and brought us back . We took advantage of the private dining they offer at P.P. and were thrilled with the meal. The chef , their daughter, went out of her way to meet our dietary needs. It was a wonderful stay. If I had to make any suggestions, it would be to have tissues and a bath mat in the room. We would go back in a minute.