A new luxury eco-resort, Emerald Monkey, is scheduled to break ground in Bocas Del Toro this month, for completion in 2024. The resort, billed as the first zero-carbon luxury resort in the world, will feature 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas with private plunge pools and garden terraces. According to the developments website, the resort will be receive electricity exclusively from hydroelectric dams, will utilize chlorine free natural saltwater pools, and will obtain drinking water from local springs. The resort will also operate an organic farm on the premises, and will feature a market with locally grown and organically produced produce and fruit.
With relatively few eco-resorts in Panama (in comparison to Costa Rica), it is good to see developers increasing the focus on eco-minded tourists. Claiming carbon neutrality is an ambitious goal for any development, and if the development continues as currently planned the Emerald Monkey resort could be a very unique experience, and hopefully increase environmental standards and awareness among developers in Panama.
With any “eco” development, environmental benefits can often be exaggerated and “greenwashed.” In the case of the Emerald Monkey development, claims for one hundred percent hydro power do avoid releasing carbon pollution, yet could also have negative impacts on local biodiversity. While the “handmade bungalows” that make up the resort are to be handmade from sustainable materials, they are also shipped from Bali, which is likely to be carbon intensive. Despite these potential exaggerations, claiming carbon neutrality is an ambitious goal, and hopefully start to set a new standard for sustainability in Panama resort developments.
drinking water from local springs? That is very irresponsible and I am sure it is the “green wash” you are talking about. Maybe rainwater collection is used for non-potable water, and even this could be chemically treated for drinking water. I have never heard of drinking water being taken from a local stream.
Emerald Monkey developers should be looking at what has already been done in neighbouring Costa Rica and Belize, where developments have been built using timber felled on site, not shipped from southeast Asia, and solar power is used to create the electricity needed for homes. Rainwater collection is the sensible option for showers, gardens, etc, and can be made potable as well. One has to wonder as well why designers are looking for inspiration to Bali (as beautiful as it is) instead of to local Caribbean and Central American architectural styles.
I am glad that we are having this type of developments in our country; Panama is young, this country has so much potential, we are just beginning to be noticed and we still have a lot to improve, to learn from other countries but the thing is that this little country has a brite future, hope you agree……………
Thanks,
Ricky
Deja Vu Investment
I agree that Panama has much potential and a lot to improve. I believe that the future is not bright if developments like this continue to be approved and built. It hurts Panama to ignore the harm that projects like Emerald Monkey do to this country.