What It’s Like to Stay in Bocas Del Toro Overwater Bungalows

I recently returned from staying in Bocas Del Toro Overwater Bungalows and I’ve got to be honest, when you think of staying in an overwater bungalow, Panama is not the first place that comes to mind! Located off the northeast coast of Panama, the province of Bocas del Toro is home to nine islands and numerous affordable overwater bungalows. These accommodations combine luxury with reasonable pricing, ensuring that affordability does not compromise the experience. After my recent trip to Bocas del Toro overwater bungalows, I thought I would share the experience, as well as some pros and cons, of staying in an overwater bungalow in Panama.

Discover Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro is a stunning archipelago located in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Panama. This tropical paradise is known for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and lush rainforests. The province is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including dolphins, sea turtles, and over 300 species of birds. Visitors can explore the islands by boat, kayak, or paddleboard, or simply relax on the beach and soak up the sun.

Bocas del Toro is also a popular destination for surfers, with consistent waves and warm water year-round. The islands are also home to a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops, offering a range of local cuisine, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

While there are overwater bungalow hotel options in Bocas del Toro like Urraca Private Island and Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge, we opted to stay at an Airbnb overwater bungalow.

Getting to Bocas Del Toro Overwater Bungalows

From Panama City, we took a one-hour flight to Bocas. Note that flights to Bocas del Toro (BOC) depart from Albrook International Airport (PAC), not Panama City’s International Airport, Tocumen International Airport (PTY).

Alternatively, you can take a 10-hour bus ride from Panama City plus a 30-minute water taxi to get to Bocas, but I’d say we chose the better option. Our flights cost around $70 USD one-way, which included a checked bag. Both Albrook and Bocas airports are small, meaning you can get there about an hour before your flight with no issues.

Once we arrived in Bocas, we took a taxi to the dock (around $2/person) and caught a 20-minute water taxi ride to our overwater bungalow. Water taxis on the island appear to be independently run and not regulated, so throughout the week, the price of the water taxi from Bocas to our Airbnb varied from $10/per person to $25/per person. I got the sense that if we had been staying at one of the overwater bungalow hotels, the water taxi pricing would have been more consistent, but a lot of the taxis didn’t quite know where our bungalow was located, hence the varied pricing.

Our overwater bungalow provided direct access to the water from the private terrace, allowing us to enjoy immediate entry to the ocean. Some bungalows even feature a private pool for a serene and exclusive experience.

Private Deck and Amenities

Our overwater bungalow featured a spacious private deck, perfect for relaxing and taking in the breathtaking views of the surrounding waters. The deck was equipped with comfortable lounge chairs, a hammock, and a catamaran net for lounging in the sun. We also enjoyed using the refreshing outdoor shower and peering through the glass floor panel at the abundant sea life below.

Inside the bungalow, there were two bedrooms, a comfortable sectional couch, and a full kitchen. The bungalow is designed with laid-back decor and features two bathrooms with hot water.

Day in the Life at Bocas Del Toro Overwater Bungalows

Our overwater bungalow days got off to a relaxed start. Each day we had breakfast and coffee while enjoying the views and figuring out plans for the afternoon. The glass floor panels in our bungalow provided a unique experience, allowing us to gaze at the sea life below. The refreshing outdoor showers were another luxurious amenity, enhancing our connection with the surrounding tropical beauty. Afternoons found us going to Bocas Town or excursions like Starfish Beach. We typically made it back to the bungalow before sunset, which we enjoyed from the porch, cocktails in hand, before calling it an early night before our power got shut down for the evening.

The interior of our bungalow was clean and reasonably well-appointed, but we spent all our waking hours out on the porch, which means I have absolutely zero photos of the interior.

Island Activities and Tours

Bocas del Toro offers a wide range of activities and tours for visitors to enjoy. Guests can explore the islands by kayak or paddleboard, or take a guided tour to discover the local wildlife and ecosystems. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also popular activities, with numerous dive sites and coral reefs to explore.

Visitors can also take a boat tour to explore the surrounding islands, including Isla Bastimentos and Isla Solarte. The tours offer a range of activities, including swimming, snorkeling, and beachcombing.

Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Our bungalow was committed to providing eco-friendly accommodations that minimize the impact on the environment. This is true for many overwater bungalows in the region, and many are designed with sustainable materials and practices, including solar power, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets. The goal is to provide luxurious accommodations while respecting the environment and local community.

Cons

• I’m not sure if this was specific to our Airbnb or common throughout overwater bungalows in Bocas, but our water was shut off during the day. This wasn’t disclosed in the listing and we only found out when we checked in, so it was a bit frustrating to not have known this in advance.
• Similarly, our electricity was turned off during the night. We knew going into the trip that the property had solar panels, but we didn’t find out until check-in that we wouldn’t have power overnight.
• I touched on this a bit above but overwater bungalows don’t have addresses, so many of the water taxi drivers didn’t exactly know where ours was located (we would just tell them “it’s the yellow house in this bay”) so pricing varied widely, making water taxis a higher expense for the trip than we had anticipated.
• Our Airbnb was 100% self-provisioning, which we found out a few weeks prior to the trip (but well after booking). We had to bring 100% of our own groceries, including drinking water. While this isn’t the end of the world, it’s definitely a bit of a hassle when you’re having to take water taxis to Bocas Town and then walk or get a cab to go a decent distance to a grocery store. And it’s not like it’s easy to just pop out to a restaurant. We were lazy and ended up eating lots of peanut butter and jelly because we didn’t want to deal with the hassle. We’d have gladly paid our host a fee plus the cost of groceries to provision for us had that option been available. Airbnb hosts take note!

Pros

While the cons list makes the location seem to be a con thanks to the water taxi issues, location is one of the biggest pros of staying in an overwater bungalow. With 360-degree water views and the ability to jump off the dock into a great snorkeling spot or hop on a kayak and cruise along the coast, overwater bungalows are a water lover’s dream, whether they’re in French Polynesia or Panama. The thatch roofs enhance the tropical setting and premium amenities, adding to the aesthetic and experiential appeal.

The peace and quiet of staying in an overwater bungalow cannot be matched. At least, in our Bocas del Toro overwater bungalow. I’ve definitely, um, heard honeymooners, while staying in overwater bungalows in French Polynesia. But this bungalow was pretty peaceful and I feel like it would be the perfect place to write your novel (or work on some project that doesn’t require a super fast internet connection as the service could be spotty).

You can do as much—or as little—as you’d like. We took trips into town to explore and eat at local restaurants, we passed some time at a nearby floating bar, and we spent the afternoon at Starfish Beach, about a 20-minute water taxi ride from our overwater bungalow. One day while most of our group went to Bocas Town to explore, I stayed back at the bungalow in an effort to ward off an impending migraine (spoiler alert: it worked!). The day passed pleasantly as I napped, read, and took dips in the Caribbean Sea to cool off. Highly recommended!

Panama’s overwater bungalows are a heck of a lot closer to home than those in French Polynesia and the Maldives. Flying from Orlando, I spent about half a day in transit versus 30 or so hours en route to the Maldives.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for easily accessible overwater bungalows from the U.S., check out Bocas del Toro. Just look for a bungalow that comes provisioned to make your vacation a bit more relaxing!

Tips and Essentials

Accommodations: Bocas del Toro overwater bungalows are designed with luxurious amenities and eco-friendly practices.

Getting to Bocas del Toro: The easiest way to get to Bocas del Toro is by flying into Panama City and then taking a domestic flight to Bocas del Toro. Alternatively, visitors can take a bus or shuttle from Panama City to the port town of Almirante, and then take a ferry to the islands.

Transportation: Once on the islands, visitors can get around by water taxi, kayak, or paddleboard.

Weather: Bocas del Toro has a tropical climate, with warm temperatures and high humidity year-round. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to April.

Activities: Bocas del Toro offers a range of activities, including surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Visitors can also explore the local culture, beaches, and attractions.

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