Renting your own island is a bit passé — Upgrade prefers to go the full archipelago. Islas Secas, 20 miles off the Pacific coast of Panama, is relaunching in December. With four casitas (romantic cabanas with decks and private plunge pools in jungly landscape) sleeping 18 guests on one of 14 islands — the other 13 are uninhabited — you’ll feel pretty pioneering, especially after a few Ron Abuelo rum cocktails. You can see humpback whales migrating from July to October and picnic on Isla Pargo, where you’ll be marooned on a white-sand beach with a butler, kayaks and snorkels. (Look out for loggerhead turtles.) It’s what Crusoe would have wanted.
Have the place to yourself and 17 friends for £27,600 a night, full-board, including alcoholic drinks, all non-motorised watersports and spa treatments, and transfers to Islas Secas from David airport (by road, then a 75-minute boat journey). Fly to Panama City (from £486; klm.com), then David (1hr; from £150; copaair.com).
