Forty-five minutes by speedboat ...

Off the coast of Bocas Del Toro, Panama, a rare, raw, diamond in the shape of a shoe, sits pretty waiting to be slipped into.

Arriving at Isla Zapatilla meant whizzing by mangroves inhabited by sloths, remote homes and restaurants on stilts above the salt water, dolphins, and all the other islands in the Bocas Del Toro archipelago. This was the furthest one out, and though there are tours out to the island, we arrived at a time of day when it was completely deserted. Climbing along the fallen palms and huge nets of roots, our footprints were the only ones we found left in the sand. Clear water, great for snorkeling or peering out at through your shades as you laze the day away.