Theme Song – “Slow Ride”, Foghat

When we purchased our mangrove island in Bocas del Toro back in 2017 — now the home of Nayara Bocas Del Toro — we thought it was completely uninhabited. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

To our amazement, we soon discovered that both a sloth and an ocelot were living on the island. We only caught a fleeting glimpse of the ocelot before it disappeared, but the sloth stayed for several months, quietly observing as we began construction. Eventually, the noise must have become too much, and one day, we watched it slowly swim away. Yes — sloths can swim, and surprisingly well!

Sloths are Surprisingly Good Swimmers

That moment stuck with us. Even as we built a resort designed for people, the presence of that sloth reminded us that this island already belonged to nature.

Fascinating Facts About Sloths

Our curiosity about these incredible animals only grew. According to the Sloth Conservation Foundation, sloths are full of surprises:

• There were once sloths the size of elephants.
• They’re three times stronger than humans.
• They only poop once a week — losing about a third of their body weight in the process!
• They’re blind in bright daylight.
• They move faster in water than on land.
• It takes them 30 days to digest a single leaf.
• They can starve to death with a full stomach.
• They can fall 100 feet without injury.

And no one really knows how long they live.

It’s hard not to be fascinated by such gentle, mysterious creatures.

Meeting Keep Bocas Wild

Not long ago, we discovered Keep Bocas Wild, a Sloth Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on nearby Isla Colón, and we were immediately intrigued. As sloth lovers, we reached out to see if there was any way we could help.

At first, we thought we might host injured sloths and help nurse them back to health. But after learning how specialized that kind of care is, we realized it wasn’t realistic for us. Fortunately, Keep Bocas Wild had another need — safe release sites for rehabilitated sloths who are ready to return to nature.

Keep Bocas Wild’s work goes far beyond sloth rescue. They build canopy rope bridges to help monkeys and sloths cross safely, plant trees to restore habitats, and care for a variety of injured or orphaned wildlife. Over the past four years, more than 80 sloths have been brought to their center — most victims of dog attacks or car accidents.

Their team has learned much from The Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, which has rescued and studied more than 500 sloths. And this year, Keep Bocas Wild reached a major milestone: they were officially authorized by Panama’s Ministry of Environment to continue their work under national protection guidelines.

Could Nayara Bocas Del Toro Become a Sloth Sanctuary?

When Keep Bocas Wild visited our island, they told us it might be an ideal release site for two-toed sloths.

Our property has nine acres of dry land surrounded by over 80 acres of mangroves, filled with the plants sloths love to eat — and room to plant more. But the biggest advantage is the quiet, predator-free environment. There are no dogs, no cars, and no danger. Sloths released here could live peacefully as long as they wish, venturing to nearby islands or the mainland when they feel ready.

It’s a thought that fills us with joy — the idea that our island could give a second chance to animals that once struggled to survive.

There is Plenty of Safe Sloth Habitat on Frangipani Island the home of Nayara Bocas Del Toro

Could Nayara Bocas Del Toro Become a Sloth Sanctuary?

Our island, Frangipani, named after the beautiful flowering tree, offers plenty of canopy and calm — the perfect habitat for sloths. Volunteers from Keep Bocas Wild tell us that sloths don’t mind being around humans as long as their surroundings stay quiet. They tend to stay in one tree for weeks before moving on, so our tranquil island could host several comfortably.

If we’re chosen as a release site, we plan to share this story with our guests — not only to raise awareness, but to inspire a deeper appreciation for the fragile beauty of Panama’s wildlife.

And fittingly, just an hour and a half by boat from Nayara Bocas Del Toro lies Isla Escudo de Veraguas, home of the world’s rarest sloth, the three-toed pygmy sloth. This remote island is often described as one of the most beautiful places on Earth — wild, untouched, and full of life. It feels poetic that such a magical place shelters such a rare creature.

Isla Escudo – Home of the Rare Pygmy Sloth – 1 /12 Hours by Boat from Nayara Bocas Del Toro