Punta Caracol, 00507 Bocas del Toro, Panama
#24 of 58 hotels in Bocas del Toro
Guests' ChoiceBased on 182 hotel reviews
8.6Cleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.5
Location
9.3
Facilities
8.0
Staff
8.8
Value for money
7.9
Free WiFi
6.6
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End of dialog contentReviewed: 7 November 2024
Zoruk
PolandThe perfect place to relax in wonderful scenery.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 21 October 2024
Todd
PanamaThe view and the fact that you are actually on the water.
Stayed in October 2024
Reviewed: 17 August 2024
Manan
United StatesFood and customer service. Please invest in english speaking, friendly staff and good chefs
Great location and setting. Maria, the host was very friendly and always helpful. The rooms are as described. No electric outlets, no AC. Basic Eco-cottages. Perfect for a place like this to disconnect from reality.
Stayed in August 2024
Reviewed: 18 July 2024
Armando
Costa RicaWater in the shower and tub is desalinized, and electricity is mostly solar, being so remote from civilization. BUT they give you enough bottled water, to drink and wash your teeth.
The location is perfect for those of us looking for peace and quiet, within a great natural environment. The entire hotel is literally on the water, with all small fishes going around and under in the crystal-clear water. We snorkeled and kayaked around the hotel. Staff were all very friendly. Food was great, most of the times we ate there. They have a free boat-shuttle with Bocas del Toro.
Stayed in June 2024
Reviewed: 5 July 2024
Hunter
United StatesIt's not so much what I didn't like, it's suggestions I have. It is incredibly hot and the panels that they use for electricity are not strong enough to add good fans maybe, because there is none. I've been there twice and both times I feel like I want to die at night. My suggestion would be to invest in really good fans for the beds. The food is okay. It's nothing to really get excited about and because they are so isolated sometimes they don't have a lot. So like not a lot of fresh fruit, even though we're in a tropical location. And that's across both times I stayed there. The food is really pricey for what it is. I think breakfast is a really good bargain but lunch and dinner are very expensive and because you're so far away from everything there's really nothing you can do. I don't mind paying for good food as long as it's really good. But this isn't. Dinner I will say is way better than lunch. And honestly the final suggestion is more games. You're far away from anything and I knew the second time to bring cards and dice games. But there's not many available for people. If you're going to have people that stay for more than a day or two, especially with families then invest in some more games.
I love how remote it is. I love the location. The staff is really lovely.
Stayed in June 2024
Reviewed: 11 June 2024
Natallie
United StatesAmazing location and staff. Snorkeling for days with the family where tours are offered from on shore.
Stayed in June 2024
Reviewed: 27 May 2024
Lukas
United StatesLocation
Everything
Stayed in May 2024
Reviewed: 18 May 2024
Andrea
SpainRelax environment and clean waters full of life Free kayak and snorkeling
Stayed in May 2024
Reviewed: 18 May 2024
Julie
United StatesThe property is in need of repair. The boardwalk to the cabins has several boards that are missing or sagging. A more powerful ceiling fan would have made sleeping easier. Hot water is limited.
The breakfast was good, basic fare at a reasonable price. The snorkeling is very good and we loved jumping in the water from our cabin. Staff was attentive
Stayed in May 2024
Reviewed: 28 March 2024
Sallie
United StatesThe nights were a bit warm, and though they didn't bother a vast majority of the guests, I was allergic to the mosquito bites. Most of the guests didn't even get a bite, but the mosquitoes, much like they do at my home in the states, loved me!
The location about 20 minutes by boat from town, was magnificent! The snorkeling right off of our deck was perfect, and we snorkeled several times daily. The kayaking was also fantastic, and there is a nearly area where one would swear that they are in the Amazon. It is magical. The food was a bit TOO good, but the 2 pounds I picked up was well worth it! Also, the tropical drinks were amazing!
Stayed in March 2024
Reviewed: 21 March 2024
Katrina
United StatesThe hotel is in the middle of nowhere, so you have to eat most of your meals there. The food is absolutely terrible, I would say borderline inedible. I understand this in part bc they don’t have a lot of electricity on site, but there seems to a total lack of understanding of what can be prepped in advance. So beyond being bad it is also extremely slow. The waitresses are also terrible. Also DO NOT STAY IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN, YOU WILL STARVE
The place is absolutely beautiful
Stayed in March 2024
Reviewed: 13 March 2024
Beata
PolandHouses need to be renovated.
Fantastic location with turquoise water and direct access to it. Very helpful service and good food.
Stayed in March 2024
Reviewed: 5 March 2024
Etienne
FranceThe ''fish of the day'' frozen.
The place is amazing we were in a peace of paradise. Thanks for the personal and the good services provided. You have to be there to see and live the dream.
Stayed in March 2024
Reviewed: 24 February 2024
Emilee
United StatesI didn’t have any issues at all with our stay at the lodge, but for future travelers, here are a few things to know: *Due to its remote location, the lodge is hard to get to, but that’s part of the adventure! *There is no A/C and no screens on windows/doors in the property, it’s all open air. I will caution other travelers that we had one night where we were bitten by mosquitoes, so be prepared (unlike us), and bring some sort of mosquito repellent with you. *You also cannot drink the tap water and so are provided daily fresh bottles of water for brushing your teeth and for drinking by the cleaning staff. Because the property aims to be climate-friendly (I loved this!) you will also need to charge all of your electronics at the reception lodge. *There are tour guides in Bocas Town, wholly unaffiliated with Punta Caracol, who run the taxis from the airport and who will try to sell you on island-hopping boat tours. We decided to take a day and do this, but we personally did not enjoy the tour and found it profoundly disappointing and unsafe. It was not worth the money we and caution you to think twice before saying yes. You’re welcome to experience it for yourself but we were not pleased and should have declined. Again, I absolutely loved my stay at Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge, it was incredible, but I want to make sure others know what to expect ahead of time.
This was the quintessential place to unplug and unwind. Breathtaking views of the Caribbean, a cozy lodge, with unlimited access to snorkeling and kayaking. The food is deliciously fresh and the drinks are sumptuous. The property itself is lovely and the staff were absolutely fantastic, they all went above and beyond to make sure our stay was as enjoyable as possible. They even made a homemade cake for my birthday, it was very tasty and the kindest gesture I’ve ever received in all of my resort stays abroad.
Stayed in February 2024
Reviewed: 21 February 2024
Magdalena
PolandRestaurant is a nice place with music and drinks. Do not expect culinary experience there. The quality and taste of dishes will make you not to be hungry, that's all. The serving ladies could not even prepare a tea! They used to bring me lukewarm water and a tea sachet so of course the tea did not have a taste at all. I am a tea drinker so I found this a nuisance. Coffee as well was never served enough warm. But these are just details not so important for most of people.
I liked the experience of staying there for 4 nights although my family said for 2 nights is max. If you expect just nature , silence and relax it is a good place. It is just water around so the activities you may do are reading, sunbathing and water activities ( swimming, kayaking and snorkeling but you may see no much underwater wonders there). No wifi in the lodges only in the restaurant area. You may charge devices only at the bar counter. It was doable for us so bring mobile batteries with you if you cannot survive without your mobile/tablet or laptop.On the other hand it is a perfect place to disconnect. The cleaning service was offered each day, bottled water delivered by cleaning ladies every day,Be aware that there is slightly salty water in the bathroom. You have to use the bottled water to brush your teeth. The place offers 4 times a day a boat transport to Bocas for free. Otherwise for a boat taxi to a nearest beach - star beach we had to pay 75$ ( 25 per person)- which I think too much for to and back - twice 10 min drive. They took advantage that you do not have a choice, no other alternative. Star beach, which is I think the nearest one was ok - do not expect the beach will look like from holidays brochures. No nice golden sand , plastic chairs everywhere , a lot of rubbish behind restaurant areas and no really place to put your towel and relax. I did not really like it although starfish beach - sounds nice, doesn't it? Many restaurants but the quality of food seemed to me very low- for me it was a risk to eat there- of course my very personal view on hygiene. We ordered in one but we did not eat what was served. Bring your own biscuits and order bottled drinks- my recommendation.
Stayed in February 2024
Reviewed: 14 February 2024
Jacob
DenmarkSuggest to include breakfast as part of the stay.
Relaxing, beautiful location, snorkling from your room.
Stayed in February 2024
Reviewed: 25 January 2024
Leith
SwedenThe lack of electricity inside the cabana. We had to use the lobby if we wanted to charge our devices and the internet was slow.
I liked that it was secluded and that we had our own cabana and that we could go straight into the ocean whenever we felt like it.
Stayed in January 2024
Reviewed: 19 October 2023
Nemanja
SerbiaGreat, beautiful, remote, authentic. It is not about luxury but being free. Pilar snd her staff are great (all indigenous people)
Stayed in October 2023
Reviewed: 12 September 2023
Magalie
Belgium- it’s such a shame that the restaurant of this hotel is not good. Everything was perfect just the food was 1/10 , it came cold, not tasty
- unique beautiful place to stay - snorkeling - the house is amazing - shuttle from-to town
Stayed in September 2023
Reviewed: 11 September 2023
Jennifer
United StatesMore remote than expected
Beautiful place, friendly staff
Stayed in September 2023
Reviewed: 4 September 2023
Antoine
United StatesAmazing experience for a very reasonable price!
Stayed in September 2023
Reviewed: 29 August 2023
Darwin
EcuadorSnorkeling gear of a very bad quality There could be maps for kayaking
The experience was amazing, the best it was the freedom to explore the area.
Stayed in July 2023
Reviewed: 15 August 2023
Manuel
ItalyWell located, very near from Isla Colon.
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 25 July 2023
Eisenberger
United StatesWe loved the fact that it was so secluded on the water. We also loved the
Stayed in July 2023
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