The Pearl Islands are a beautiful and breathtaking archipelago of over 200 islands in the Gulf of Panama. The islands are lush and tropical and are surrounded by waters teeming with an abundance of marine life and coral reefs.

The Pearl Islands gained their name from its long history of being a place for almost guaranteed results when pearl diving. So many pearls have been collected from the rich waters surrounding the Pearl Islands that a counting house was constructed on one of the islands by the Spanish. This island became known as "Contadora" which when literally translated means accountant. It is still known by that name today.

If island hopping is one of your favorite pastimes than the Pearl Islands should definitely be on your list of destinations. Besides the amazing aqua waters and abundant bird life, one of the major attractions of the Pearl Islands is that most of the islands in this archipelago are uninhabited, making it ideal if you want to relax on a deserted beach.

The Pearl Islands lie directly south of Panama City and are just a 15 minute plane trip or 2 hour boat ride away.