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At El Otro Lado, guests are invited to sit back and take in the steamy rainforests and kaleidoscopic coral reefs that surround the remote 110 hectare retreat while sipping a passion-fruit mojito. The thriving landscape that surrounds El Otro Lado provides the backdrop for endless hours of relaxation. But there are countless options to explore should an active mood strike you, including fishing, rainforest tours, and snorkeling at one of the nearby beaches, transported by one of the hotel’s four motor launches. Social activity centers on the Gazebo—the hotel’s restaurant, bar, and lounge—adorned with carnival masks and white sofas splashed with brightly colored cushions. Here, chefs bring Caribbean ingredients and colonial flavors together nightly, and guests can while away hours gazing over the infinity-edge pool, which appears to flow seamlessly into the pristine bay.
- Nearest Airport-PTY – Tocumen International Airport (Panama City)
- Food & Drink-2 Restaurants, Brasserie, Bar & Lounge
- Spa & Recreation-Beach, Hiking, Indoor & Outdoor Pool, Jacuzzi, Massage, Scuba Diving
- Conference & Meetings-2 meeting rooms
- Internet-Complimentary WiFi
- Services-Bellman, Breakfast, Catering Services
ARCHITECTURE
COLOR CODING
Each of the five houses are individually styled, with particular attention given to color and the integration of objéts d’art from the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. Among the villas on offer is the green Forest House, tucked between a waterfall and the jungle, which uses emerald-colored decorative fabrics and a quaint collection of Turkish caps all designed to attract relaxation, tranquility, and assurance. African masks made from recycled plastic embellish the yellow Sun House, which also houses pieces by Sandra Eleta, one of Panama’s most successful photographers. The purple Spirit House is decorated with a mix of indigenous handicrafts and contemporary photography.
INTERIOR DESIGN
ARTE POVERA MEETS LOCAL CRAFT
Sensory thrills emanate from El Otro Lado’s interiors, which integrate Arte Povera with 20th-century sculpture, paintings, and black-and-white photographs. In the Gazebo, a rotunda-shaped building that functions as the hotel’s all-in-one public space, an unlikely medley of sculptures and figurines combine with white sofas, splashed with pink, to create a dynamic social space.
In the villas, original paintings and handicrafts off-set mid-century modern details like vintage end tables and low-slung wooden coffee tables. Feather topped beds and Egyptian percale cotton linens by Rivolta Carmignani invite guests to lounge in comfort and style.
MADE BY ORIGINALS
JORGE ZARAK
Starting out in corporate design, Panamanian interior designer Jorge Zarak brings more than thirty years of experience to an extensive career in luxury homes. For the private retreat El Otro Lado, Zarak reinvents local cultural expression and resuscitates traditional craft pieces by resurrecting them via a bold, contemporary aesthetic. Zarak took inspiration from the breathtaking nature of Panama’s Portobelo National Park that surrounds El Otro Lado. Fusing rich colors, natural materials, Afro-Caribbean traces, and organic forms, Zarak awakes in visitors the same emotions that were his first inspiration.
Source: designhotels.com
