Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge Reviews

Spent 2 night enjoying the charming Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge . A simple and traditional resort of water villas reached by boat only twenty minutes from the main town . Closer to a Robison Crusoe type experience without all the bells and whistles some other more expensive newer resorts may offer . Very comfortable colonial style sleeping quarters overlooking the water - hearing and waking up to the Caribbean sea and occasional jumping dolphin was very special . Great value room versus competition direct from their own website , good food and breakfast options . Boat schedule through the day if more eating options or night life are required . Super passionate owner Maria was on hand to advise and support . Thank you for a super stay .

This was the perfect ecolodge experience on the water! Maria, who owns the lodge, always went over and above to organize day trips and rides to town for our family. We loved our room and the water & scenery were spectacular. My teenagers can’t wait to go back! Charging our phones at reception was a small price to pay for a unique and beautiful Panama experience. We ate our breakfasts and lunches on site and preferred to eat in town but were impressed with the cleaning staff and the willingness to help. We also had WiFi which was slow but it worked which was a pleasant surprise given that we were in the middle of the water. Just remember that you are booking an ecolodge and not the Four Seasons and then enjoy the experience. We highly recommend it!

The fact that you can get up and just jump into beautiful water is amazing !!! But other than that everything else was okay except the food, the food and only food you get is at a little restaurant they have there by the lodge. The food is horrible. Tuna is canned tuna, prices are not worth paying for the food you get there. Breakfast is also not good. In general food is not worth it. You have to pay 20 to 25 USD per person to go to a decent restaurant. No Ac so it can get hot . Overall it was a regular experience. We only slept there because there's not much to do. We would go to other islands and beaches . It gets boring quick

Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge offers a stunning, eco-friendly, overwater experience with breathtaking views and a peaceful environment. The bungalows provide a unique connection to nature, but several aspects of our stay left us disappointed. We saved up for this trip to celebrate our anniversary, and while we didn’t expect more than the basics, the unwelcoming attitude of the staff—an issue mentioned in reviews for years—made us feel like an inconvenience rather than valued guests. In an industry built around hospitality, this lack of communication or effort to make us feel welcome was disheartening. We understand there may have been a language barrier, but kindness is universal. With the exception of two older women who worked in the kitchen in the mornings and were always kind and welcoming, the overall staff left much to be desired. We ended up going into town for meals instead of dining at the lodge due to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Additionally, the food is overpriced for what it is, with limited options that don’t justify the premium price tag. While the kitchen is advertised as open until 9 PM, many items were unavailable by the evening, which was frustrating. The boat service to and from the hotel was unreliable, with some guests seemingly prioritized over others. We even had to pay extra for alternative transport to ensure we made it to our destinations on time. The billing also lacked transparency. Instead of charging per meal or activity, everything was added to our bill at the end of our stay, leaving us blindsided by unexpected costs. Furthermore, we were not informed about the free amenities such as kayaks and snorkeling, which guests must physically push and pull from the water using an unstable dock. This process felt unsafe. All charging of electronics had to be done at the reception area, which left very little privacy or convenience. The shower water had a sewage-like smell and left me with a bad rash on my leg. While the setting is undeniably beautiful, the poor hospitality, overpriced food, and logistical issues made our trip far from the dream experience we had saved up for.

This magical place was truly paradise. The staff were so welcoming and kind. The lodge was spectacular! So clean and fresh. Being right on the coral reef was a once in a lifetime experience! The food was incredible and the boat captains kind.

My feelings about this place are mixed. The manager is so helpful, she helped me rearrange my schedule and get my c-pap back. The staff was really nice but except for on my bday (they made me a cake and actually waited on us) they didnt seem to interested in anything beyond the bare. We had to get our own drinks, refill, etc. Now, we did come here knowing, things are just slower here and as long as you are patient, you'll be fine. The food was soooo good. I was nervous about the food being expensive bc of reviews but it was not, at all. Everything seemed fresh and homestyle. The tour company the recommended was top tier. The property grounds were beautiful. Crystal clear water, good snorkeling. We saw stingrays and cool fish. The rooms were cute but I didn't like that there is no power at night or barley any. In order to use the restrooms at night i had to scoot on the grou d to the stairs bc i couldnt see. LOL. Showers were hit or miss for heat(not a big deal here). There are no outlets in the rooms and the fans remain on low. Our first night was cool bc of the breeze but nights 2 & 3 were rough and we're from Florida and brought our own mini fans. Everything needs a good update. For the price we felt we've enjoyed other otw bungalows more in bocas. Eclipse del mar-better rooms, service, etc. Here-better view, snorkeling, water and food. The thing that really got me, is I'm a 20% tipper even if it's meh. I needed change for a 100, the staff member helping me told me that she didn't have change bc she saw I only had 100s. I saw the change.....which out of principle I'm not tipping tripple bc you refuse to provide change you clearly have. So they got 13%, which is standard there anyways. This place is advertised as eco lodge but there are no refill stations for water and they provide endless water bottles. The ultimate disappointment was we had a flight to catch and wanted to get a pizza first at bonbons. We asked them to call us a water taxi to town. Instead she said ok and then decided to have one of the staff members take us to town. Except town wasn't town, it was there personal laundry facility over water. Covered in barbed wire, miles from town AND charged us $40 ( the cost of a water taxi to where we asked to go lol). After 20 min of waiting for the taxi "she called" I had to beg him to take us where we actually needed to go. He was not happy. Neither was I. All in all, I don't think I'd stay here again but I'm really happy we did stay there. 3 nights was perfect. Anymore and wouldn't have been as exciting.

Punta Caracol is an accommodation located near Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón. Secluded, but within walking distance of the main residential area, it offers a break from the stresses of the city for those in need of total relaxation. The boat journey from Bocas to the lodge takes around 15 minutes and the hotel runs a service at certain times between Bocas and the lodge. The lodges are on the water of the Caribbean Sea and have direct access to the sea via a platform set up in front of the balcony of the rooms Breakfast, lunch and dinner are a la carte and offer a variety of good quality food. The resort can organise visits with other operators to other islands in the vicinity. The accommodation has a living room, bedroom, bathroom and balconies at the front and rear. The water available in the accommodation is treated but brackish. The hotel provides plenty of bottled fresh water for guests' daily use. Reception offers guests the chance to charge their mobile phones and Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant area.

Let’s start with the positives, we had accidentally booked one more night than we needed, whilst a refund for the would have been nice, the hotel did instead include our daily breakfasts throughout our stay. My partner and I are vegetarian and after highlighting the limited menu choices, the restaurant did provide a vegetarian pizza on one of the nights which was a welcome reprieve, and generally the staff are quite friendly but I’m afraid that’s where the positives end. Our experience started at the boat jetty on Bocas, I was surprised to see barbed wire adorning the jetty, but I was soon to realise the intention may have been less to keep people out, but more to keep the guests in! On arrival at the complex it was immediately clear just how in need of maintenance all areas are. The entire structure is quite frankly, one strong wind away from total collapse. We had booked the Master Suite, so the largest of the room types. The layout and decoration inside was at best, eclectic. There was only two of us, I’m not really sure how any more could be comfortably accommodated. There was a musky smell, it was very dark, and in line with the rest of the complex, very rickety. There is no AC and the thatched roof does an exceptional job at keeping the heat in. There’s three woeful fans, but they have no impact. The bed itself was very uncomfortable and I barely slept for three nights. The power outlets don’t work and everyone has to charge their devices at reception. The rear doors did not close at all, and the front door lock didn’t work. Every day someone was asked to fix these issues, but we left with neither being addressed. I am eternally thankful that we were not robbed or that no one tried to enter the room. The master suite has the perceived benefit of being further away from the other bungalows, but this affords no privacy or peace. Owing to the dilapidated state of the structure, every movement is fully audible, and if that wasn’t enough, the restaurant blasts music for most of the day too. Owing to its location, unless you go to Bocas for lunch, you are restricted to the on-site restaurant. It’s hard to accurately describe just how bad this is. Some easy tweaks could go a long way in rectifying this. Eg if you offer a burger also have a veggie option and who doesn’t love a margarita pizza? It’s also confusing that you must make your dinner order by 5:30pm each day, it’s unclear what control this affords them as it seems all deliveries are already completed by then. I asked for a portion of fries on the first night and was told no (as it wasn’t ordered at 5:30) Anyway, as I mentioned, you’ve no choice so in trying to make the best of it, my partner and I found ordering a starter and two main meals each was the optimal configuration. Yes it’s expensive, doesn’t taste great but at least you don’t go to bed hungry as we did on the first night. I’m sure at this stage you won’t be shocked to hear the drinks aren’t great either. I bitterly regret wast

This place is so lovely. We travelled as a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids (8&10) We only stayed 1 night so tried to do as much as we could Our hut was the perfect size and it was really nice to have a separate room upstairs that looked out to the ocean. They have fans and it helped make the temp perfect for sleeping. There are only 10 huts so it is not busy, which is nice. You can snorkel right off your hut deck. The water was warm and there was a nice little variety of fish, we even saw a lion fish and 2 large sting rays. We kayaked as well. The food was delicious. Sounds funny but they have the absolute best chicken fingers!!! We found breakfast to be a bit pricy for what you got (1 small pancake was $3 US) and you had to buy everything separately. It was a beautiful view and a great experience to have.

Beautiful lodge with invidual cabins over the water you can swim and snorkel right off your deck. The staff is very nice and accommodating. The resturant is lovely and the food is very good. This is an ecolodge so very little electricity in the cabins so no appliances. They have a charging station near the restaurant. There is a shuttle to boca town three times a day. The downside is the place is in disrepair all walkways and decks could use some work as well as the roofs. We still had a great time. Tips if you go book through their website and breakfast will be included . Also if you take the shuttle to boca town have a cab waiting because it is a two mile walk from dock to town.

Beware do not book here! I placed a booking with *********** that claims you can cancel up to 14 days before your arrival with no charge. I cancelled 3 months before my arrival date 4/7/2023 and was charged $900 to my CC which after 3 weeks of being told by a representative of Punta Caracol via WHAT'S APP it will be returned I am still waiting.

We stayed here for 3 nights in late September and LOVED it. LOVED having a bungalow built over the water -- the whole lodge is built over the water and you have to take a boat to get to it. Right outside our bungalow were a few rocks with AMAZING coral -- Loved watching the fish from our balcony -- the water was so incredibly clear! The staff couldn't have been nicer -- and Ismael, (spelling??) was great, setting us up with a private boat tour to see dolphins, snorkel and to amazing white sand beaches. I would definitely return here. (Even in the rainy season, it was great! Sunny in the morning, some rain in the afternoon -- great to watch the clouds and lightening on the horizon!

We decided on a 17-day trip to the Bocas del Toro region of Panama for our 25th anniversary and, specifically, wanted to be at Punta Caracol on the actual day given the spectacular views. The photos currently posted did not disappoint when we arrived in person. Our stay was seven nights. The (tranquil) Sea was spectacular, the adjacent scenery was equally appetizing and the panoramic views from our two-story, Polynesian-style cabana will long be cherished. The accommodation is simple is design but extremely comfortable. The upstairs bedroom loft, has a comfortable, 4-post, king-sized bed and further accentuates the coziness of the palm-leaf, thatched roof. Our hosts, Pilar and Luis, were very personable and take exceptional care of their guests. Their vision and values are community-oriented and include hiring local citizens to fulfill all on-site roles, which they do in an exemplary manner. Accessing the lodge by boat is the only way to get there and provides for a better (visual) arrival than Fantasy Island ever could by plane! This picturesque aqua-lodge epitomizes the beauty of Isla Colon. Snorkel gear and sea kayaks are accessible at no cost and allows you to explore the beauty of the surrounding inlet and sea. The weather was spectacular and, coupled with the privacy afforded by each cabana, the stress of the work-world back home was non-existent! If you tire of the isolation (not likely), the lodge provides daily boat-shuttle service to Bocastown with ‘los capitanes’ Lionel, Charlie and Norberto to lead the way. Our gratitude to Amelda, Melba and others in the restaurant and to all in housekeeping. On a final note, to help celebrate our anniversary, we were surprised with a small gift and a double-layered, chocolate cake…literally, the ‘icing on the cake’ for a great stay. Gracias Pilar!

We are a family of 4 and stayed for 5 nights. This place is special! We went in knowing that it wasn’t a fancy resort and I therefore didn’t expect a luxurious resort BUT With that being said, it is a VERY special place. The room perfect for the 4 of us and clean and cozy. Restaurant is good. We spent our days on our deck jumping in and out of the water and resting on our floats which I recommend you bring along. We relaxed and had real quality time and if that’s what you’re looking for this is the place!