Living Within Nature: Rethinking Habitat at Lago Bay, Panama

For much of modern history, human habitat has been designed as something separate from nature—cleared land, controlled landscapes, and ecosystems pushed to the margins. At Lago Bay, we are exploring a different idea: what happens when human living spaces are designed inside nature rather than imposed upon it?

Our goal is not to create a manicured resort that excludes wildlife, but a living landscape where people, plants, birds, and animals thrive together. The result is not only more resilient land, but a place that feels alive in every sense of the word.

Four Habitats, One Living System

From day one we set out to preserve and enhance the natural contours of this land. Out of that vision came not just gardens, groves, and fruit trees — but four distinct habitats that coexist and support each other:

• The Lake System: A network of ponds and slow-moving waters attracting ducks, herons, egrets, and ospreys — and home to peacock bass, tilapia, tarpon, and snook.

• The Grasslands & Permaculture Gardens: Where parrots, parakeets, hummingbirds, and countless insects thrive among fruit trees, palms, and flowering plants.

• The Beachfront: A full mile of shoreline along the Gulf of Montijo that supports shorebirds, pelicans, sandpipers, plovers, and other coastal species.

• Mangroves to the North: A vital nursery and refuge for marine life, birds, and — when the mangrove flats dry in the dry season — alligators who sometimes mosey over to our stocked lakes for a fish buffet meal.

Each of these habitats slightly overlap and supports the other — they thrive together.

When you walk around Lago Bay — from the mile of unbroken beachfront along the Pacific edge to our mangrove forests to the north — you see how every element of this place is connected like threads in an woven tapestry. The beach isn’t an afterthought; it’s habitat. The mangroves aren’t a buffer; they are thriving nurseries for fish, crabs, birds, and reptiles. These landscapes aren’t just beautiful to look at — they function as ecosystems that support life on land and sea.

A Landscape Designed for Living within Nature

At the heart of Lago Bay is a connected system of ponds—more accurately, a small lake network—that functions as both habitat and natural infrastructure. These waters attract a wide range of bird species and reptiles, creating a stable ecological backbone for the property. Rather than draining or reshaping these wetlands, we chose to preserve and enhance them, allowing nature to do what it does best when given space.

The ponds regulate temperature, support biodiversity, and provide drinking and feeding grounds for wildlife. From wading birds to turtles and iguanas, life concentrates naturally around water, reminding us that thoughtful land stewardship often means knowing when not to intervene.

Permaculture as a Guide for Habitat Enhancement

Our agricultural philosophy is rooted in permaculture—designing food systems that mimic natural ecosystems. Instead of monoculture fields, we focus on layered, diverse plantings that feed both people and wildlife.

Coconut, avocado, soursop, and mango form the backbone of our edible landscape, providing abundant yields while blending seamlessly into the surrounding forest environment. These trees offer shade, improve soil health, and support countless insects and birds throughout their flowering and fruiting cycles.

But food production here is not limited to humans.

Feeding the Forest at Lago Bay

We intentionally plant a wide range of tropical hardwoods and palm species whose oily seeds are a critical food source for birds. These trees are not decorative afterthoughts—they are functional members of the ecosystem. Their fruit and seeds feed a wide array of birds, helping to ensure that wildlife sees Lago Bay as a sancturary and a welcoming home.

Parrots, in particular, have no shortage of fruit. Rather than viewing them as competitors for crops, we see them as indicators of success. A healthy parrot population tells us the land is producing enough abundance to share.

A Haven for Pollinators

Perhaps the most visible expression of coexistence is in our flowering strategy. We have planted thousands of flowering species, including hibiscus. bogainvilleas and cactus, chosen specifically to support hummingbirds and other pollinators like honey bees.

These plants provide year-round nectar sources, ensuring that hummingbirds don’t merely pass through but remain part of the daily rhythm of the land. Their constant presence improves pollination across the entire property, reinforcing the idea that beauty and function are not mutually exclusive.

Predators, Prey, and Balance within Nature

One of the most fascinating dynamics at Lago Bay appears during routine maintenance. As mowing and land management equipment moves through the fields, birds of prey follow closely overhead. The machines flush out field mice and insects, and the raptors respond instantly.

This is nature adapting in real time.

Rather than disrupting the ecosystem, these activities have become integrated into it. The presence of hawks and other predators keeps rodent populations in check naturally, reducing the need for chemical controls and reinforcing a balanced food web.

Our Aquaponics System- a micro 'circle of life'.

If you’ve wandered through the gardens behind the Lago Bay Townhouse, you’ll know one of our favorite proof-of-concepts: the aquaponics system. Here, fish fertilize plants, the plants help oxygenate the water, and a simple pump keeps the water moving in a continuous, closed loop. It’s not just clever engineering; it’s a small, living metaphor for how the circular nature of nature works — waste becomes nutrient, nutrient becomes life. That tiny system encapsulates a big idea: nature thrives in cycles, and we can, too.

Bridges, Gardens, and a Tower

Walking around Lago Bay you’ll notice endless gardens — spaces where tropical blooms and palms rise beside paths, where water lilies float in pond edges, and where artful accents punctuate the environment. A suspended bridge to our “contemplative Indian” statue on Monkey Island. Here is a great place to observe the birds in their territories hunting the many fish as they come close to the surface of Tiger Lake. The R&J bridge and our Look Out tower are also fantastic accents to capture the perfect wildlife shot or...that selfie to remember Lago Bay as a highlight along your Panama journey.

A Living Nature Experiment: Rethinking Habitat

What makes Lago Bay different isn’t just the wildlife or the thoughtful planting — it’s the idea that our Vacation homes can be part of thriving ecosystems, not separate from them. That’s not just sustainable design — it’s a practice of immersion, a philosophy of participation.

Lago Bay is not a finished product—it is a living experiment. The land continues to teach us what works, what adapts, and what needs patience. Every new bird species, every successful harvest, and every unexpected interaction between humans and wildlife reinforces the same lesson:

When we design habitat with nature instead of against it, the land responds with resilience and abundance.

In a world increasingly defined by separation from the natural world, places like Lago Bay offer a hopeful alternative—one where humans are not visitors to nature, but participants in it. And that’s the real experiment worth writing about.

Hopefully we'll see you here along your journey in Panama.

Saludos from Lago Bay!!