Estelle's Paradise - Playa Bonita and the Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Estelle Reyna, the Latin Supermodel host of Estelle's Paradise, considers Panama as the ultimate paradise for lifestyle and business. Saying that "Playa Bonita" and the "Gamboa Rainforest Resort" are some of her favorite places to stay when visiting the country. Estelle's celebrity status through her television shows, which air on over 800 television stations around the world and a website that greets more than 100,000 unique visitors per day, is a significant contributor to the discovery and image of the small Central American country of Panama.

Her video portal provides an ever growing collection of videos as she discovers the sights and sounds as well as the taste of various sites from around the world. Her work in Panama alone means that over 300 million people from around the world will discover the country and learn about its dynamic culture, thriving business sector and ecological diversity.

Left: Estelle has the time of her life at the Grand Opening of the Playa Bonita Resort, the new "Bern Hotel" in Panama

The InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort, located on a former military recreation beach, is ideally situated on the Pacific Ocean, less than three miles from the Panama Canal, 15 minutes north of Panama City. This self-contained resort is eco-friendly and includes 300 beautiful ocean view guest rooms with numerous amenities.

Empresas Bern, Panama's largest hotel and tour group operator, who was behind the development of the InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort, said soon after having signed the letter of intent for development: "It is truly one of the most beautiful and pristine environments in the world today. We are confident that it is a property that will earn international acclaim."

Right: Estelle interviews Ruben Blades, Panama Minister of Tourism and former music and movie star.

Ruben Blades was a pioneer in the Nueva Cancion (New Song) movement and recorded his first album in 1966 at the age of 18. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Panama City. In 1974 he moved to the United States, where his music was eventually recorded and several enormously popular and ground-breaking salsa albums made him an international star.

His film credits include Robert Redford's Milagro Beanfield War playing Sheriff Bernabe Montoya.

In 2004, he was appointed as Panama's Minister of Tourism, and in his spare time he is a social activist for worldwide human rights.


Below: One of the many fantastic views visitors can enjoy from the Gamoboa Rainforest Resort.


The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a luxury destination resort located on the Panama Canal. The main hotel facility is comprised of 107 deluxe, air-conditioned river front rooms and is surrounded by the lush Panamanian rainforest. The resort is located within the Soberania National Park, 30 minutes away from Panama City on the Pacific Coast. A vast diversity of flora, mammals, birds, insects and reptiles coexist in the rainforest, making for an unforgettable experience for visitors to the resort as they stroll along pathways and trails located throughout the resort, or discover a variety of educational exhibits. Each of the exhibits is designed to explain a different element of the rainforest. The resort also offers a freshwater fish aquarium, orchid and botanical gardens, butterfly nursery, turtle and iguana nesting areas, a reptile exhibit, and historical and cultural displays as well as various nature and observation tours.