One week ago, Isla Palenque was a blank slate. It was a shape on a piece of paper; a patch of green surrounded by blue. Except for those of us who worked together, the fourteen of us were mostly strangers: architects (from Panama and the US), land planners, market analysts, local economists, environmental engineers, hotel operators, and developers.

This was my first trip to Isla Palenque and the island did not disappoint. Photographs did not do it justice. Our first day at the island was a perfect day of discovery. Our route allowed Palenque to slowly unfold as I began to understand the true vastness and complexity of the land. We got off on the north side where the caretaker has a house adjacent to a small protected cove. From there we hikedeast around the island, arriving at a small beach which was draped with huge trees and dotted with dark, volcanic rocks. From there, we continued around the island to another larger beach, where we drank coconut milk and enjoyed the expansive sand. Little did I know, the most beautiful beach was still to come. A small hike led us through the jungle to the huge crescent beach; I felt the immediate urge to run and jump in the water.

I have participated in several design charettes for projects as different as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Winter Park, Colorado. This one was different for two main reasons: the incredible raw natural beauty of the place and the complete lack of existing development. Both are assets, but both lead to challenges. Most sites lend themselves to a couple of options; this site had many options worthy of exploration and consideration. Oftentimes the beaches, the trees, the mountains, and the waves gave us the final answer.

Four trips to the island, two rolls of trace paper, several long dinners, a helicopter ride, and one boa constrictor later, we had defined Palenque’s future. Or at least, outlined it. The plans that we have sketched out will hopefully guide the rest of the design process. Years from now, I hope to be sitting at the beach grill with our original sketches and see if the ideas we first presented came to fruition.