Isla Palenque is located off the western Pacific shore of Panama, near the border of Costa Rica, in the Gulf of Chiriquí.
Isla Palenque has been called by that name for as long as maps can determine, and so may have been used to harbor escapees during the colonial period, or possibly as a refuge even earlier.
According to research[1] by Olga F. Linares, Isla Palenque has been a privileged location from the start of human settlement, and was the home of an ancient, pre-Columbian farming community some time during the years 500-1400AD.
[3][4] Due to its highly varied terrain and multiple ecosystems, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna on Isla Palenque.
[5] Other mammals identified on the island include the northern tamandua anteater, the nine-banded armadillo, white-nosed coati, crab-eating raccoon, agouti, woolly opossum, and the Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, in addition to various kinds rabbits, squirrels and mice.