Bocas del toro Hotels

LAGUNA
LA VERANDA
AL NATURAL
EL LIMBO
PUNTA CARACOL
SOLARTE DEL CARIBE
BOCAS DEL TORO
LOS DELFINES
CORAL CAY
TIERRA VERDE
DOÑA MARA
ANGELA
LULA’S BED & BREAKFAST
ESTRELLA DE BOCAS
COCOMO-ON-THE-SEA
CASA ACUARIO
BUCCANEER RESORT
ODESEN
HIPOCAMPO
CALALUNA
SUITE HOTEL COSTES
TROPICAL SUITES
CARIBBEAN VIEW
VISTA MAR
LA RUMBA
OLAS DE LA MADRUGADA
CASA SELVA DEL MAR
BLUE MARLIN RESORT
THE LODGE AT SWAN’S CAY
CAREENING CAY RESORT
HACIENDA DEL TORO
TRANQUILO BAY
LA LOMA JUNGLE LODGE
PLAYA MANGO RESORT
HOTEL MACCA BITE
DOLPHIN BAY HIDEAWAY
NATURAL LODGE
BOCAS BACKPACKERS
GARDEN OF EDEN
KOKO RESORT
PLAYA TORTUGA
LA CORALINA
CASA CAYUCO
ECLYPSE DE MAR
SWAN’S CAY

We built Tranquilo Bay inside the rainforest overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the beautiful Panamanian Jungle. Our central location within the archipelago of Bocas del Toro permits us to explore some of the most biologically diverse areas of Panama and Central America. Bocas del Toro, Panama includes an archipelago of some 68 tropical islands which are excellent for beach combing, birding and exploring. Around the many reefs and lagoons, you may fish, snorkel and surf. There are also beautiful spots perfect for laying back and letting the cool ocean breeze wash over you.

The province of Bocas del Toro hosts two national parks, one of which is a world heritage site and two protected cloud forests. The trans-boundary protected area consists of 1.4 million contiguous acres, extending from the continental divide to the Caribbean Sea, covering all five altitudinal zones know to the tropics. One park, Bastimentos National Marine Park, covers a large portion of the archipelago and is home to a variety of ecosystems which thrive at or around sea level. The other park, Palo Seco Nature Reserve, is on the mainland and reaches through the cloud forests up to and beyond the continental divide.

Tranquilo Bay, the best Bocas del Toro hotel, is your home base to explore the islands and highlands of Western Panama. Our guests unpack, settle in and experience our unique tropical location. Tranquilo Bay provides you with six deluxe air-conditioned cabanas, beautiful views, eco-adventure activities, personal attention and fine cuisine.

Please explore our site. Bocas del Toro, Panama and Tranquilo Bay have a lot to offer you. We look forward to having you and your group spend some time with us in paradise.

“Just sensational”

I chose Tranquilo Bay as our final desination in Panama partly because of the rave reviews on TripAdvisor. And every compliment paid to Jim, Jay, Renee and Stephanie on these pages is well deserved.

The whole place is exquisite. The cabanas are beautiful and incredibly comfortable. The location is stunning. The food is incredible. The hospitality is second to none.

We’ve stayed in a great many places throughout Africa and Latin America to satisfly our cravings for wildlife and this is one of the very few that I shall definitely return to. There is a terrible cliche that is often used in reviews of this sort that runs along the lines of “We arrived as guests, but parted as friends”. However, nothing could be truer of the wonderful people that built and run Tranquilo Bay.

There’s a huge range of activities on offer - and you can pick and choose as you please. I’ll give a brief account of what we got up to:

DAY 1: We were met at lunchtime in Bocas by Jay and were taken across the sea in the pouring rain to the resort. A sumptious lunch was followed by a little rest and then Jay took us sea kayaking through the mangroves. The rain stopped. Incredible silence - apart from the clicking of the barnacles and other molluscs, exposed on the roots of the plants. Then we snorkelled along a reef for an hour or so before paddling back to the dock.

DAY 2: Jim took us for a short boat trip and then we sea kayaked along a river through the jungle. Local Indians were paddling their wooden boats down the river as we went up it, admiring the caimans, crabs, birds, sloths and frogs. Stopping at a farm, we hiked to a cave full of bats and wonderful stalactites and stalagmites. We were able to walk about 300 metres into the cave, exploring the untouched splendour of the place with torches. After returning to the lodge, we had lunch and then hiked through the jungle looking out for birds and poison dart frogs, whilst learning about the huge variety of lush plant life that abounds in the area.

DAY 3: Jay took us in the boat to an Indian village on a neighbouring island. We hiked to the top of a hill with one of the locals and an American Peace Corps worker, learning all about banana growing and the uses of the many other plants we met along the way. We then toured the village, had sandwiches on the boat and then made stops at two islands for some incredible snorkeling.

DAY 4: Jay dropped us off at a beach on another island and we sea kayaked slowly back to Tranquilo Bay - watching all variety of birdlife (including an osprey with a fish), stopping for a beer at a little bar on one island, snorkelling at various points Jay had told us about, and getting onto a old fishing platform to eat our packed lunches. The late afternoon was spent birdwatching whilst sitting on the veranda of our cabana.

DAY 5: With Jim and Jay, we took the boat to the mainland and spent a wonderful day kayaking down a river, with incredible birdlife all around us (and a sloth that happened to be dangling on the end of a vine over the river at head height!). We arrived back in the late afternoon, just in time for some snorkeling with Stephanie who took us swimming to a reef near the Tranquilo Bay dock.

DAY 6: We visited a chocolate farm and a stunning garden on our way back to Bocas, for our early afternoon flight back to reality!

I could have easily have stayed longer here … pretty much forever.

“Had a great time”

We were looking for a nice place to stay in Bocas with our two young kids while on our way back to the US from Cartagena, Colombia. We initially contacted Casa Cayuco, which was closed and recommended Tranquilo Bay. We’re glad they did.

The resort was hand-built by the owners over a 5 year period and shows tremendous pride in workmanship and standards. They’ve created a really nice place here in truly the middle of nowhere. The 100 acre property is stunning jungle and some open fields, with flocks of wild tropical birds, monkeys and sloths. The waterfront is mangroves leading into coral reef, with a very nice swim and boat dock.

Tranquilo Bay is expensive by Bocas standards but if you’re looking for quality of service and comfort the money is well spent. There’s really nothing else like it in the area. Each of the 6 cabins has AC, great beds, good bathrooms and a nice deck with hammock.

Jay, Jim, Renee and Stephanie are really caring hosts and work extremely hard for their guests. They were also wonderful with our kids, who are the same age as their kids and had a great time all playing together.

The Panamanian staff, who also live on the premises, are very kind and hard working, too.

If you’re into nature and outdoor activities this is a great choice. While there’s no beach on the property, the Zapatilla Keys are a 10 minute boat ride away and have the nicest beach in the archipelago. You can swim right off the dock at Tranquilo Bay and there’s really nice reefs right out front. Also, the kayaking right from the resort is nice, too.

I did a nice scuba dive with Jim, one of the owners, but watch out for the quality of rental gear from the dive shops in Bocas Town. We rented our gear from what is supposedly the best shop in town but it was very poorly maintained/borderline dangerous. If Tranquilo Bay is serious about offering diving as a regular part of their activities they should consider securiting their own BCs and regulators and just depend on the town shops for air fills.

I’d gladly go back and left Tranquilo Bay feeling like the owners had become our friends, not just someone operating a business. My 5-year old had such a great time he cried when we had to leave.

Enjoy our exclusive “Adults only”, private island for the vacation of your dreams. Located on the back corner of Solarte at the Bahia Honda Cut, The Garden of Eden is a true Paradise Lost in the province of Bocas del Toro along the Caribbean Coast of Panama. Natures artistic beauty greets you from dawn to dusk offering all that you could desire relaxation or adventure we have it here at the Garden of Eden.

Garden of Eden is a perfect resort for sightseeing, getting away and relaxing, honeymooners, weddings, private parties & retreats, Adventures, and everyone who wants to enjoy what the real Panama has to offer. So instead of thinking of a resort room join with your friends, partners, tourist group and rent your own island!

We offer a playful and relaxing lifestyle. Our secluded pool offers the most daring sun bathers privacy.
Hey, it’s the birds and the bees with all the tropical trees (including the Apple Tree!) Be naughty or nice come see for yourself! After a day of kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, fishing, or nature walking, our beautiful breezes blow to keep you fresh and cool. Then enjoy a romantic evening in our private cabanas or party all night in our open air terrace and bar.

We offer adventure on a silver platter. Tours of the area are unlimited and can be designed to fit your personal request.

* View first hand the most amazing wildlife such as dolphins, tropical birds and a wide variety of native animals amidst the most amazing panoramic view.
* Take an adventure tour of our Panamanian ecosystem at the world class Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
* Tour the surrounding island communities or find a isolated island beach and just enjoy a private moment.
* Enjoy an exhilarating day of scuba diving or snorkeling or surfing in our beautiful waters.

The Garden of Eden offers upscale accommodations. Hi speed internet access.
Our cabanas are unique each has it’s own bathroom with hot showers, from fresh filtered rain water and a private porch with a fabulous panoramic view.

Our swimming pool is delightful with Tikki huts available for shade lovers. Hammocks for one of the best naps you ever experience.

We have well equipped boats with one round trip ride to town per day included.

Bare Bottoms Bar is fully stocked with liquors of your choice, wine and local beer. Home cooked meals are cooked to perfection daily with some of the freshest fish and lobster all from the sea around us.

source: http://www.gardenofedenbocaspanama.com

REVIEWS:

“A real treasure”

This was our first time in Bocas. We didn’t know the area and so were unsure of where to stay. We checked places on the web and found the Garden of Eden. We ended up staying there for five out of our eight day stay. We had a very nice room and the surroundings are beautiful. Helena and Bob are wonderful hosts. It was more like visiting old friends than staying in a hotel .They went out of their way to make sure that we had a good time. Helena does all the cooking and she does a very good job. Our meals were delicious. I would definitely recommend this place.

“Unbeatable hospitality”

The trip to Panama was for our honeymoon, and the destination was a surprise to my wife. I did all the planning, and I have to admit that she was nervous not knowing where we where going to end up. Had I picked one of the lower cost places in Bocas town to stay at we wouldn’t have started the marriage out on the right foot. On the contrary, I can tell you that I looked like a genius on solid footing based on my choice.

The Garden of Eden is a great place to stay, and the resort, our hosts, and the Bocas were the highlight of our trip to Panama. The resort overall is very nicely built and groomed. Even with that said the resort continues to be refined. The rooms have great views, covered porches with comfy hammocks, and are larger than they look on the web site. My wife and I had great time kayaking over to Red Frog beach using the resorts free kayaks. The food is top notch, and highly recommended. Don’t miss the aquarium at feeding time.

The best part was Bob and Helena’s attention to detail and hospitality. We truly felt like family during our stay, and I mean that in a good way! I do business all over the US and the world and I notice one formula that always works – great people have great businesses. The Garden of Eden is no exception.

To Bob and Helena: Thanks for everything!