Step inside a 5-star resort in one of Panama City’s wealthiest neighborhoods

• Panama City’s wealthy Santa Maria neighborhood is home to the city’s only five-star resort.
• The Santa Maria Hotel is known for its Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and high-end dining.
• I spent a night in the hotel, enjoying the property’s pool and amenities.

The manicured golf course, chlorinated pool, and crisp white tablecloths differed drastically from the overgrown island I had spent the past three nights on.

But then again, I was no longer in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui. I was in Santa Maria, one of Panama City’s most expensive neighborhoods.

And if there’s one thing you can expect, it’s pristine luxury. To celebrate my final night in Panama, I spent a night at the five-star Santa Maria Hotel and Golf Resort.