I'm planning on going to the Pearl islands in may with my wife and another couple and was wondering if anyone has been there recently and can recommend where to stay. We are looking for a nice pool to relax by and a good spot to snorkel.

Hacienda del Mar

HDM is quite pricey but is one of the nicest places to stay in Panama let alone the Pearl islands...
On Contadora Island there are a few options that aren't so pricey... Only a few places will have pools but you always near a beach. Best snorkeling will probably be by small boat away from the main areas...

Cheers,
Andrew

Just got back from Panama 2 days ago.
We love snorkeling also. Flew to San Blas islnds on Atlantic side. Stayed at Dad Ibe Lodge. Small island half the size of a football field, surrounded by reef. Loved walking out and snorkeling right outside the hut.
Drove the pacific coast to Playa Coranoda and took a ferry to Isla Toboga but didn't get to Pearl Islands. Just a note- the water in the Pacific is about 10 degrees colder than the Atlantic. Both are beautiful and clear but we didn't get any snorkeling done in the Pacific

We recently stayed at Punta Galeon on Contadora. There is a nice pool where you can relax. There is no snorkelling off the beach--you have to take a boat out. In any case, we found the water too cold to be pleasant and didn't go on a boat trip [except for fishing].

Plum Creek,

Is there somewhere else you would recommend we go instead? Did you check out any other hotels on Pearl Island?