“Our approach has always been to be a permanent part of the community in which we live. We believe this colors all the decisions we make. When you begin with a permanence mindset and you know you’re in it for the long haul, you make different decisions than if you expect to be around for a season of life.”
We’re in great company with Renee Kimball, Owner & Chief Steward of Tranquilo Bay, an Eco Adventure Lodge in Bocas Del Toro, Panama, sensitively positioned among the convergence of three ecosystems, providing a spectacular opportunity for guests to comfortably immerse themselves in one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.
Since relocating their families from Houston, TX to build what would become Tranquilo Bay back in 2000, Jim & Renee Kimball along with their friend Jay Viola, have built a team and a place in the hopes that all guests feel like family when they visit, and that each guest experience is unique with the breadth of excursions they have to offer.
To continue our celebration of our planet Earth this month, Renee sincerely expresses her passion for and commitment towards her local people and sense of place, stewarding the resources entrusted to her, so they flourish for generations to come.
Top Takeaways
[1:25] From a young age, Renee realized her fortune in being adopted into a family full of southern hospitality, which instilled in her core values such as caring for and stewarding her neighborhood, that stand true today.
[4:05] “We wanted to do something different. We weren’t exactly sure what different was going to be.”
[5:50] How a map, a small boat and a machete led to the purchase of 19 acres in 2000, now 200 acres that make up the Private Conservation Reserve today.
[10:55] From a local saying, to a physical place - the blending of cultures behind the name Tranquilo Bay.
[13:00] Renee gives a glimpse into the journey to get to “an island off of an island”, to experience all the vibration and vibrancy that the all-inclusive Eco Adventure Lodge has to offer.
[20:00] Panama is home to the fruit of the earth…bananas, coconuts, chocolate and tropical fruits galore.
[25:00] How the local town of Bocas del Toro is similar to the soup rondón, it is known for - a blend of flavors and cultures.
Notable Mentions
- La Gruta Cave, Isla Colon
- Nivida “Bat” Cave, Isla Bastimentos
- Wanderlust Panama Tours
