Villa Camilla - The Azuero Peninsula of Panama

European elegance comes to Panama's hinterland,  By Asia Sherman.

The wild beauty of the Azuero Peninsula and European elegance meet near the fishing village of Pedasi in a guesthouse called Villa Camilla.

On the crest of a hill overlooking the vast Pacific, Villa Camilla opened in December 2005, first testament to a French architect's dream of creating Azueros, a retreat of homes and artists' ateliers built using the age-old techniques of European master craftsmen.

At Villa Camilla, the first impression is the graceful vernacular architecture, designed by Guilles Saint-Gilles, whose demand for perfection overlooks no detail. Saint-Gilles blends design elements from four continents with the peninsula's rich history of Spanish colonial architecture.

The villa's entry courtyard with its wrought-iron gate and a gurgling fountain opens onto a series of terracota terraces. Walls are smooth to the touch, hand-rubbed with Venetian plaster. Wood-pegged beams support intricately designed ceilings in the public rooms and suites.

Beside a swimming pool set with a mosaic of local river stones, guests sip tropical cocktails and relax on furniture crafted in the Saint-Gilles workshop. After the last hues of orange and red fade from the sky, a French-inspired Panamanian cuisine is served by a friendly staff at intimate candlelit tables or at the large wooden banquet table where guests share their day's adventures. Guests may explore the wide tan beach, tidal pools or traverse the gently rolling hills by foot, horseback or mountain bike. Nearby are the turquoise waters and brilliantly colored coral reef of the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, the turtle-nested beaches of Isla Canas, the famed Venao surfing beach, local artisan workshops, museums, and national parks. Known as the "Tuna Coast", the waters off the Peninsula draw fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. Scientifically-minded visitors shouldn't miss the Achotines Tuna Laboratory.

Just 40 minutes by plane from Panama City or a scenic 4-hour drive through colonial towns, the Villa is a 10-minute drive on country lanes from Pedasi.It is best to reserve one of the Villa's seven guestrooms in advance, but returning guests are always remembered. Some decide never to leave and have their own villas built at Azueros.