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Hotel Bocas Del Mar, in Boca Chica, is a boutique hotel with modern, luxury features. In a privileged oceanside location on the mainland, it is perfectly positioned for a completely relaxing vacation. In 2024 we were Top Hotel in Panama in the Travelers' Choice 'Best of the Best' awards for Central America. Our focus is on a friendly, warm welcome and attention to detail. We have large contemporary-style guest bungalows that are set in tropical gardens right alongside the glistening blue water of the Gulf of Chiriqui. Open your drapes each morning and the Pacific Ocean is there to greet you! There's a good-quality restaurant & bar on site and we have not one but TWO stunning infinity-style pools to bathe in. We have our own dock to head to local beaches via water taxi or excursion boat - we are opposite the beautiful islands of the Gulf of Chiriqui and have a full ocean and land trip program. Just 45 minutes by car from David city (towards Panama City) and 90 minutes from Boquete.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Dutch
Location
Road to Boca Chica, Boca Chica Panama
Hotel Bocas Del Mar
823 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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The property is beautiful and well maintained. The room was acceptable and clean. However, the "ocean view" required you to stand way on the right side of the room (Room #5 called Isla des Ventanas), look all the way to the left and try to see some blue through the vegetation. A little misleading.
Other than sitting at the pool, there is nothing to do. There is no beach at the property. The hotel is isolated. Although we walked to two other resorts and to town (about two miles away), you would not feel safe doing that in the evening, as you are either walking on a wooded path adjacent to the ocean (to get to the other resorts) or on an isolated dusty road (to get to town).
When we arrived, we asked the receptionist how you could find a beach. She said that there's a tour ($80/person) to a few islands. When we were in town, we used a local travel guy to hire a water taxi to take us on a tour to a few islands for $35/person. Nice, but not worth doing a second day.
The breakfast food at the hotel restaurant was fine. The lunch/dinner food at the hotel restaurant was mediocre. Because there was nowhere else convenient to eat, we dined there anyway - I ended up eating Caesar Salad (without the excessive dressing) four meals in a row. The lettuce was fresh and the shrimp/chicken that I added to the salad was fine. A nice touch was that one of the managers introduced himself to us, and welcomed us to the property, at dinner one night.
The hotel was more expensive than other hotels in the area, but I didn't see the value in paying the additional amount.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 24 Jun 2022
Thank you for your very much review and for choosing us for your stay. We’re pleased you enjoyed so many aspects. For the information of future guests: Hotel Bocas del Mar is in the unspoiled tropical area of Boca Chica, where tourism is still developing, and not part of a larger resort town. While relaxation is one of the key advantages to a stay, we do offer a very extensive and popular trip and activity program on land and ocean for all ages to discover this beautiful area which we feel is Latin America at its best. We can email our pdf guide on request. We also have two infinity-edge pools, courtesy tennis, optional kayaks and watersports and short walks in the gardens. There is also a water taxi service to local beaches and to the village, even in the evening, as well as by road, for an extra choice of simpler eating options. We regularly review our rates and confirm they are competitive for similar standard hotels in the region. Kind regards, The Hotel Bocas del Mar team
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Lovely stay for 2 nights in August with 3 teenage boys. Unfortunately we were there when storm Franklin hit so we had a lot of rain. Luckily they have lots of umbrellas. Eduardo was so helpful, enriching our stay. He is a credit to the hotel. We did a great boat trip that although was rather rainy (so we got a bit cold despite it being warm) was fantastic. One of the restaurant staff Mark came with us and was absolutely brilliant in helping us. We caught 4 fish which he then served to us in the restaurant however we wanted. It cost $ 15 pp per Lb to prep but you get sauces and vegetables and carb if your choice. We have sashimi (outstanding), ceviche and then hot fried and grilled. Delicious. Mark was a great member of staff. Although I have to say all the staff were lovely. The hotel itself is a high standard. Probably the nicest we stayed in for the price in Panamá. Large airy rooms in single or double one story configuration. Gorgeous bathroom. Ours was cleverly inter connecting with a short corridor between. There are 2 pools. Lovely grounds with some rescued toucans and macaws to see. Be wary of walking in open for shoes as there are poison dart frogs around (we saw them) . There is a serene deck with hammocks. The restaurant is very good too. We also hired kayaks (quite expensive). I very much recommend staying here.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â If you are going in the rainy season get a room near the restaurant (rooms 1-8). . If you want an...
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Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 27 Aug 2023
We really appreciate your review of your stay, thank you. All the team aims for everyone to have the best time with us possible and it was a pleasure to take care of you and your family. We have passed on your comments to Mark. We are thrilled you were able to take part in one of our trips on water and that you were able to enjoy your catch in the restaurant - we believe that is a really special experience too. We are also glad you enjoyed our guest rooms so much, and the innovative interconnecting Duplex suite for families and small groups. Thank you for your recommendation of Hotel Bocas del Mar to other users. Best regards, The Hotel Bocas del Mar team
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I stayed at this resort for a yoga retreat at the end of August 2023. The grounds were beautiful and well-kept - manicured, but still natural. My room was lovely and overlooked the water. The staff kept everything so clean. The staff was friendly and very competent. They were very concerned with making sure that your needs were met. By coincidence I attended the yoga retreat over my birthday. The staff made the dinner, so special with a lovely fruit jello dessert that was amazing and even gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my room. There were excursions you could experience or simply stay in the area, relax by the pool sit on the hammock, or on a swing under a tree, I'm a vegetarian and the food was delicious I always felt safe even though I was very far from home. I highly recommend staying here and I will return. Thank you thank you for an amazing week.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Take the whale watching / Island hooping excursion! It was amazing!
Also, the masseuse had magic...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 25 Feb 2024
It was a pleasure to host your group and we really appreciate all your feedback and kind comments. With best wishes from all the team. Hotel Bocas del Mar.
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Having visited this great location two years ago I was so excited to be returning for a relaxing great value stay at one of my favorite places. Sadly it didn’t turn out that way. Service was awful the entire week and the food was pretty mediocre compared to my last visit. Value for money was none existent as prices had skyrocketed and they seemed to want to charge for absolutely everything top dollar. Our final night we provided the restaurant with a significant amount of freshly caught Tuna. Some of the belly (around 2 kilos) we specifically asked to be prepared for sashimi and the rest (around 3-4 kilos) we asked for the chef to prepare a couple of dishes of his choosing. Well we had some sashimi (no wasabi to be seen) that was around 0.25 kilos and asking for more we were told initially that the remaining belly was not suitable for sashimi. I called BS as I regularly prepare my own fresh tuna belly sashimi but they were adamant. Then we were Presented with a mock poke - dry And with odd ingredients and nothing like the sesame oil and freshness that is normal in the dish - so that was disappointing and finally the piece de resistance a main prepared and cooked so badly that 50% was inedible being so ridiculously overcooked. I spoke to the manager to gently express our disappointment and there was every excuse put forward but no responsibility taken. Then the bill was presented and yes there was a charge for the inedible food. Manager (Ignatius) and I had words. He was frankly awful refusing to take any accountability for the dreadful state of the food and actually telling us that others were served the same ( presumably ours) with no complaints. That was my final straw. I explained in no uncertain terms that despite what other diners were prepared to put up with I could not and would not accept that any part of the dish or our treatment was acceptable. I explained that my son is a chef and he would rather commit harakiri than ever allow that sort of awfully prepared food leave his pass. As if the food wasn’t enough, the pool is in sad need of a major overhaul and the rooms, whilst pleasant are looking a little tired. I feel both sad and ripped off and unless something changes we won’t be back. Such a shame.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 14 Apr 2024
All the team aims for every guest to have the best experience possible at Hotel Bocas del Mar and that commitment is as important to us now as it has always been. We are especially sad to receive your comments therefore. We value all feedback, however we regret we could not do more to satisfy you further on this visit. Kind regards, Hotel Bocas del Mar
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Catamaran Cruise (5 nights): Captain Jairo and Chef Alex are fantastic! Both gentlemen worked constantly to take good care of our family (2 adults, 1 teenager, 1 preteen). We were able to see many whales during our cruise, as well as sea turtles, dolphins, tropical fish, monkeys, and birds. We requested two kayaks and one pedal board that we used every day. The snorkel gear was in excellent condition. The catamaran is equipped with fresh water for rinsing off and hot showers after a day of swimming in the ocean. We caught several yellow fin tuna, Mahi (dorado), and other fish. Both Jairo and Alex were always cleaning the boat so that it was pristine the entire trip. Chef Alex prepared three meals and multiple snacks (smoothies) every day. Some of our favorites were the sashimi tuna (daily catch), tuna steaks, lobster salad, shrimp and rice, croquettes (mozzarella with marinara), fried chicken, filet mignon with mushrooms, Shrimp Ceviche with plantains, chicken tacos, key lime pie, crepes with chocolate ice cream, Gallo Pinto, and traditional Panamanian dishes (stew, yucas, tortillas). There were plenty of fresh towels and basic toiletries. We all had some minor discomforts with jellyfish stings every day (they seemed invisible in the water!?!) and only one of us experienced sea sickness. Jairo does a fine job of anchoring in calm water.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â The hotel was not crowded, the catamaran was in excellent condition
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 23 Sept 2022
It is awesome for us to receive such a detailed review of your stay and for other users of Tripadvisor to be able to read it. Our 43ft (13m) Power Catamaran is spacious and extraordinarily well-equipped for a unique vacation experience on the water. It is available for rental with captain and with or without on-board food service. It was great that you were able to enjoy eating the daily catch as you visited different coves and beaches as far as UNESCO protected Coiba Island National Park for a real adventure – as we say, many hear of Coiba but few get to visit. Please do come and visit us again soon. Thank you also for the excellent feedback to Jairo and Alex – we have shared it with them and the team; much appreciated. Best wishes, The Hotel Bocas del Mar team
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Our family had such a wonderful time at this hotel! A shuttle picked us up at the airport, and the driver Eduardo was very helpful and pleasant. We were greeted by Aurelise who got us oriented and gave us the most warm welcome. The room was perfect for our family, very clean as well. We did the Discovery Snorkeling tour with the guide Orlando and Captain Xavier. Orlando is a wealth of knowledge, very passionate about the environment, and we had the best conversations, ate fresh coconut, swam, etc. We saw dolphins too!
The service at the hotel was truly, consistently exceptional, and we had most of our meals at the hotel. The breakfast was perfect each time. Chef Xavier wowed us with delicious amuse-bouche at dinner, and each plate we tried was super delicious. All the food tasted fresh and looked like a piece of art.
The manager Marcus checked on guests' experiences on a regular basis and never hesitated to help. The hotel we were going to for our stay in another town had to cancel on us, so Marcus spent all the time we needed to assist us to find lodging. My birthday celebration was unforgettable! For that, my husband only had to tell them what I liked and they took care of everything. The Chef made the most spectacular chocolate cake and came to check that I enjoyed it. Waking up to bird sounds and the sounds of howler monkeys only a few meters away made it even more special each day and evening. There were birds, frogs, iguanas all around. I loved sitting on the hammock overlooking the beach with nothing but the sounds of nature. What a wonderful stay overall! We will definitely return to stay in this place and we highly recommend it to anyone who wants a memorable stay in Boca Chica!
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 24 Jun 2022
Wow! All the team are truly proud to receive your comments. Thank you for sharing them with us and other users of TripAdvisor. We are thrilled that you were able to take part in and enjoy so many aspects of our hotel and activity experiences here on the shores of the Gulf of Chiriqui. It was also an honor to assist with your birthday celebrations and hope you will celebrate many more here with us. Many of our guests choose us for memorable special occasions and it was a pleasure to take care of you. Best wishes Hotel Bocas del Mar
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What a wonderful place! It's beautifully situated with views of the charming little islands that surround the coast of Boca Chica. We had a wonderful room with a king bed. It had its own private little garden with a couple of loungers overlooking the bay and a luxurious large hot tub that we enjoyed in the evenings. Everything was delightful. The bed was very comfortable and there was a very well equipped bathroom with large shower and a tub. I was particularly impressed with all the hanging space and drawers for clothes. We also had a mini fridge and a coffee station in the room. We could not have asked for more ... and the staff were all so kind, polite and helpful. Will most definitely be back.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 25 Feb 2024
We are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay in one of our Deluxe guest rooms. The terrace hot tubs are an especially popular part of this type of room. These rooms also include a private garden and you can park right outside your door. They are available for a little more than our regular rooms. We are looking forward to welcoming you again. Kind regards, The Hotel Bocas del Mar team
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My experience at this hotel exceeded my expectations. First the food at the restaurant, delicious!! The attention at reception, in the restaurant and throughout the hotel is very courteous and personalized. The location of the hotel is perfect, with views of the sea and very well-kept landscapes and trails. It has two swimming pools and a hammock area facing the sea. It is a perfect place to disconnect, relax and eat very well.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It is a beautiful and well maintained resort overlooking the bay. The staff is some of the best I have ever encountered in traveling to many countries. I didn't have to give my room number - they made a point of recognizing each guest. The unit was large and very comfortable with a full kitchen, excellent AC and a great deal of privacy. Howler monkeys could be heard when walking outside sometimes during the early morning or briefly in the evening, lending to the sensation of being close to Nature. The resort has also rescued some parrots and toucans which are kept a short walk from the main facilities and overlooking a fantastic view of the bay. Overall, it was the most relaxing experience of my visit to Panama for two weeks. I would gratefully return to Bocas del Mar for another visit.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Team Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Hotel Bocas Del Mar
Responded 25 Feb 2024
Wow! It is great to receive your feedback of your stay and thank you for sharing it with other users of TripAdvisor. Everyone works hard to ensure our guests have the best stay possible. Our spectacular natural setting is a big attraction as you say. We hope that you will be able to visit us again soon. Kind regards, Hotel Bocas del Mar
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I can’t say enough wonderful things about this beautiful place. From the moment we arrived, every one of the staff were warm, kind and made us feel welcome. We arrived early, before the usual check-in time, so they poured us a welcome beverage and pointed us to a spot with a view of the lovely property, then came to find us a short time later when our room was ready. The hotel is updating the rooms and ours was not yet remodeled, but it was still beautiful and comfortable. We especially enjoyed the view of the howler monkeys from our patio! We enjoyed several meals at the on-site restaurant where the food was excellent (and beautifully plated). Geraldo was our favorite waiter - so kind and spent lots of time visiting with us and answering our questions about Panama. The staff are absolutely the best. If you’re looking for a peaceful, quiet and relaxing place to stay, this is it!
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Enjoy the meals at the restaurant - best filet mignon I’ve ever had!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thanks for reaching out to Bocas del Mar.
We currently have kayaks available from the dock, single or double, and also two stand-up Hobie pedal boards. Not quite the same as paddle boards, but still great fun.
The shoreline round the small coves and bays dripping with luxuriant tropical vegetation and surrounded by marine life is great fun to explore and a tremendously rewarding way to get some energy-burning out of the way.
We have an emailable pdf guide on request on our trips and activities.
We hope to welcome you to our small corner of Paradise soon.
The Bocas del Mar team
Hi Beth, there are kayaks and leg powered paddle boards available at the hotel that you can use to go to the islands and beaches around. There is a little beach in the hotel when the tide is down. I hope this help you.
Thank you for your question. We accept Visa and MasterCard but not Amex for your stay and cash. We are in a spectacular rural location and apart from our popular and well-known on-site restaurant, where we aim to offer something for every traveler's taste and budget, there are a few other places in the nearby Boca Chica area to eat accessible by car, water taxi (always fun!) and one right next door on foot via steps. We look forward to welcoming you to our corner of Paradise soon!
Thank you for your question.
We are just under an hour's drive from David's regional airport (DAV) for easy, short connections to Panama City's Albrook (PAC) and Tocumen airports (PTY) for international flights. E-mail us and we can send you details of our pre-bookable transfer transportation, or there are taxis from David and also all major car-rental brands at this small, easy-to-navigate airport. We can also provide public transportation options on request plus details of how to get to us from the highlands at Boquete. We are just 20 minutes' drive towards the coast from the famous Pan-American highway, Panama's main west-east road, so easy to get to. Our website has more location details and maps.
"Obviously grab some groceries aka snacks for your room. The food is absolutely delicious. Fish & beef are spectacular. Fridge in room. Bring beer etc. Relax & enjoy!"
There are more places to choose from in the Boca Chica area.
PRICE RANGE
€190 - €265 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
PanamaChiriqui ProvinceBoca Chica
NUMBER OF ROOMS
31
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.