FAQ
Reservations and payments
How do we book?
Every stay starts with an inquiry, and we reply within one business day.
Do you work with travel advisors?
Yes. Our compensation packages are on the Travel Advisors page.
Getting there
How do we get there?
Fly into Panama City, then take the one-hour flight to Bocas del Toro. We meet you at the airport, and the boat ride to the island is fifteen minutes. The full route, including the transfer across Panama City, is on the Getting Here page.
Do we need a visa?
Most nationalities, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, enter Panama visa-free for tourist stays. Travel with a passport valid six months past your entry date, an onward ticket, and proof of about five hundred dollars; a credit card is usually enough. The Getting Here page has the details.
When do we arrive and leave?
We plan around your flights. Tell us your flight times, and we plan the boat around them in both directions.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is at 4 pm and check-out is at 10 am.
Can we bring our pets?
Yes, and we'll treat them like family. Bringing a pet into Panama takes a few steps, and we'll walk you through every one; the list is on the Getting Here page.
What should I pack?
Light clothes, a swimsuit or two, a rain layer, reef-safe sunscreen, repellent, and shoes you don't mind getting wet. Laundry is offsite, so pack enough so you're not wearing someone else's shorts on laundry day.
The island
Where is the island?
Bocas del Toro is a Caribbean archipelago off Panama's northwest coast. We're on our own small island just off Isla Solarte, a fifteen-minute boat ride from Bocas Town, on the mangrove pass the locals use to reach the surf on the other side.
What is the weather like?
It's swimsuit weather every month. Bocas runs warm and humid year-round, seventy-five to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 29 Celsius). The dry season is November through April, steadiest between January and March. The wet season, May through October, mostly means afternoon showers and morning sun rather than days of rain.
What will I hear?
Toucans and parrots at first light, dolphins splashing and breathing, the roar of the ocean crashing against the coast, water lapping against the dock, and frogs after dark, croaking while the fireflies dance over their heads. There are no car horns, no traffic, and no crowds.
Are there mosquitoes/bugs/etc?
It's the tropics, so yes, mostly at dusk and after rain. Bring repellent for the beaches and the evenings. The bedrooms are air-conditioned, so you'll spend nights with the doors closed secure against the pests.
Are there animals on the island?
Our island dog Roo lives here and is always up for a head-scratch; if anyone in your group is allergic, he spends the week with his aunt on a neighboring island. Two cats handle pest control and mostly keep to themselves. Chickens provide entertainment and eggs, but we don't eat them - they're too cool :-)
Where does the power come from?
It runs on the sun. Thirty-three solar panels on the pavilion roof feed a 75 kWh battery bank that runs the whole island, including every air conditioner. If Mother Nature conspires against us, we have a diesel generator.
Where does the water come from?
It comes from the sky. Rain catchment, triple filtration, and UV purification supply the whole island.
Accommodations
How many people can stay?
Up to twenty-four. The main hacienda has six ensuite bedrooms and the waterfront bungalow has two more, every one of them air-conditioned. For retreats, we cap it at sixteen; the bed math is on the Retreats page. No other guests are ever on the island.
Is every bedroom air conditioned?
Yes, every one, which is rare in Bocas, and even more rare, every bedroom has its own full bathroom.
Is there Wi-Fi?
Starlink reaches everywhere on the island, so you're as connected as you want to be, and not a bit more. Retreat leaders can stream sessions live from the pavilion.
Food and drink
Is it really all-inclusive?
Yes, on the island. Food is all-inclusive, and the paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkel gear are yours the whole stay. In this part of the world, gratuities are never required, but after seeing how much Ruben and Katrin pour themselves into making these once-in-a-lifetime experiences that people remember forever, we truly hope you'll show them some appreciation as they save for their own home right here in Bocas del Toro.
Can the chef handle dietary needs?
Yes. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, allergies, kid-friendly, cleanse-style, and halal- or kosher-style: we sort it all out on the discovery call before you arrive.
Can we cook for ourselves?
Yes. Both houses have full kitchens, and we'll stock them with the groceries you want.
What about alcohol?
Panama isn't wine country; tell us what you want poured, and it'll be waiting at the dock.
Health, safety, and language
Do you recommend travel insurance?
Yes, with medical coverage, as we would for any trip to a tropical island.
What if someone gets sick?
Bocas Town has a walk-in clinic fifteen minutes away, and our boat is on the island around the clock. Panama City's major trauma hospitals are a one-hour flight away.
Do we need to speak Spanish?
No. Our hosts speak English, German, Spanish, and French.
Events, retreats, and the people
Can we host a wedding here?
Yes. The solar pavilion seats a full wedding under string lights, and the whole island is yours for the celebration. Tell us the size of the day and we'll tell you how it fits.
Can I host a retreat here?
Yes, and it's what the island does best. Your group gets the whole island, meals and your own room included, with room for sixteen.
Who takes care of us during our stay?
A live-in host team runs the island: a professional chef who handles every meal and the bar, and a guest experience director who plans your days, coordinates the boat, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. They live on the property, so help is never more than a short walk away, and never hovering when you want the place to yourselves. Meet them on the Our Hosts page.
Who built the place?
People from Bocas del Toro built it. Local craftsmen handmade the furniture in both houses, and local labor built every project here, from the docks to the pavilion. A stay here supports the people who built it.
Tell us when you're coming and who you're bringing. We'll take it from there.
Inquire