Reviews of Palmar Beach Lodge
Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama
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Reviewed: 23 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewPalmars is right in front of red frog beach. You can roll out of bed and right into the sea. The beach is beautiful and you can enjoy it even before and after any day guests arrive, which is super cool. We loved our room and how the hotel looks, everything is super clean and staff at the reception was super friendly. Probably the best employee there is Isaac who seems to run the water taxis from and to the hotel, he is a super cool dude. Drop him a tip if you go there, he deserves it.
The room (Biriba) smelled mouldy, we didn't spot any mould (like really, 0). I guess it's really hard to keep that smell from the rooms since they have 100% humidity every day all year long. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know.
Hola Raphael, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the overall atmosphere at Palmar. It’s wonderful to know you loved your room, found everything clean, and felt warmly welcomed by our team. Isaac will be thrilled to hear your kind words, he truly is an essential part of our family, and we’ll be sure to share your compliments with him. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the smell in the Biriba room. As you mentioned, the tropical climate and constant humidity on the island can sometimes make this a challenge, but we are actively looking for ways to improve ventilation and guest comfort. Your comment helps us continue working on this. We hope to welcome you back soon for another beachside escape! The Palmar Team
Hola Raphael, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the overall atmosphere at Palmar. It’s wonderful to know you loved your room, found everything clean, and felt … Show more
Reviewed: 23 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 22 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewBreakfast was very good. Staff was very friendly .
The room was very damp and did not smell good and there was an annoying noise and the construction site next to it. They could only change us to the jungalow next day. Jungalow was ok but really needs moscito nets in all windows. Had a big snake under the hat one night. They took care of it… food in general was good only once we were extremely disappointed . Electricity outages twice during our stay. They did apologise but could have offered for example a free drink for the inconveniences
Hola Caroline, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the breakfast and found our staff friendly. We sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced with your room, the noise, and the electricity outages. Your suggestions regarding mosquito nets and gestures for inconveniences are noted and will help us improve the guest experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a more seamless and comfortable stay!
Hola Caroline, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the breakfast and found our staff friendly. We sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced with your room, the noise, a… Show more
Reviewed: 22 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewThe location is great of course! Food was very good and for a good price and the beach area for the restaurant was nice. And it was nice that were umbrella's with the rooms while it can rain heavily in the evening.
I had to pay almost 50 dollars extra compared to what I booked at booking.com. When I complaind they said it was tax, while my reservation said it was including all taxes. They were very strict and unfriendly about it. Immersive room in the jungle (for $ 165 per night) is not really special since every room and bungalow is in the jungle and the balcony is very small. Bed was good but also too small. The best thing about it was the airco. The 600 m path to the hotel is not suitable for suitcases, so make sure they come and pick you up!
Dear Carole, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed our beachfront location, the food, and the comfort of the umbrellas during the rain. We’re sorry about the confusion regarding taxes and that it affected your experience; we always aim to provide clear information and a welcoming approach, and we’ll review this with our team. We also appreciate your observations about the room, bed, and path to the hotel, your comments help us improve for future guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for an even smoother stay!
Dear Carole, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed our beachfront location, the food, and the comfort of the umbrellas during the rain. We’re sorry about the confusion regarding taxes and that it affected your exper… Show more
Reviewed: 12 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewThe property was gorgeous! Our family had a jungle immersion room and a canvas cabin - we loved them both. Staff were friendly and helpful. The food at the restaurant was delicious.
Nothing!
Thank you so much, Carla! We’re delighted to hear you and your family enjoyed both the jungle immersion room and the canvas cabin, as well as our restaurant and team’s hospitality. We’d love to welcome you back anytime!
Reviewed: 7 August 2025 · Stayed in August 2025
Verified reviewThe lodge is situated directly in the jungle, you are truely surrounded by nature and forest sounds. The architecture and design of the lodges are amazing. The staff - 10/10. Amazing customer service and all 10s. We got upgraded from the rainforest tent to a double room with air con which was a life saver. Special shout out to Gregory and the bar guy - who does the most and makes amazing pina coladas. The food was also one of the best meals we’ve even eaten.
Nothing
Hola Kelsey, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed being surrounded by the jungle and that the lodge’s design, atmosphere, and service made your stay memorable. Gregory and our bartender will be thrilled to know they made such a great impression ! Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate our whole team to keep delivering unforgettable experiences. We hope to welcome you back soon !
Hola Kelsey, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed being surrounded by the jungle and that the lodge’s design, atmosphere, and service made your stay memorable. Gregory and our bartender will be t… Show more
Reviewed: 6 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewReally secluded spot and felt like you were in the middle of a jungle
Only one restaurant option for lunch and dinner which is fine but it’s the same menu for both meals
Hola Darren, Thank you for your kind words! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the peaceful, jungle-like setting! We appreciate your feedback about the menu. Our team is always working on ways to improve, and variety is definitely something we’re looking into. We hope to welcome you back again for another relaxing stay in the future! See you soon! The Palmar Team
Hola Darren, Thank you for your kind words! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the peaceful, jungle-like setting! We appreciate your feedback about the menu. Our team is always working on ways to improve, and variety is definitely something … Show more
Reviewed: 3 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified review- Resort in the middle of the jungle, great to disconnect for a few days and explore the beaches nearby. - Good beds
Hola Elisabeth, Thank you for your kind words! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the peaceful jungle setting and got to relax and explore the nearby beaches. We hope to welcome you back soon for another disconnect in nature! The Palmar Team
Hola Elisabeth, Thank you for your kind words! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the peaceful jungle setting and got to relax and explore the nearby beaches. We hope to welcome you back soon for another disconnect in nature! The Palmar Tea… Show more
Reviewed: 2 August 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 23 July 2025 · Stayed in July 2025
Verified reviewBeautifully located on the beach
Taking a water taxi into the main island sets you back 8$ per person one-way so plan your outings
Hola Miriam, Thank you so much for your kind review! We're happy to hear you enjoyed your stay and appreciated our beachfront location. We understand the water taxi costs can add up and appreciate you mentioning it for future guests. We always recommend planning outings in advance to make the most of your time here. We hope to welcome you back to Palmar again someday! Warm regards, The Palmar Team
Hola Miriam, Thank you so much for your kind review! We're happy to hear you enjoyed your stay and appreciated our beachfront location. We understand the water taxi costs can add up and appreciate you mentioning it for future guests. We a… Show more
Reviewed: 14 June 2025 · Stayed in June 2025
Verified reviewEverything
Nothing
Hi Anne, We're truly happy to know that everything met your expectations and that you enjoyed your time with us. It was a pleasure having you, and we hope to welcome you back soon for another great stay in the jungle and by the sea!
Reviewed: 9 June 2025 · Stayed in June 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 7 June 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewEVERYTHING! There is great detail to every aspect of the grounds and the staff is exceptional and the food is delicious and the location is private and secluded. Strawberry poison dart frogs everywhere and we even saw a sloth moving around like crazy! BEST STAY EVER!!
Nothing. Absolutely LOVED it!
Hola Amy! Wow – what an amazing review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you had your best stay ever with us. It means the world to know that you appreciated the details of the grounds, the food, the service, and the peaceful location. How lucky that you spotted one of our more active sloths too – not everyone gets that treat! Thank you so much for your kind words. We truly loved having you and hope to welcome you back for more frog sightings and unforgettable moments soon!
Hola Amy! Wow – what an amazing review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you had your best stay ever with us. It means the world to know that you appreciated the details of the grounds, the food, the service, and the peaceful locatio… Show more
Reviewed: 18 May 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewWell polished, modern, and hot water.
The walk from the boat to the hotel and no lights.
Hola Daysiree, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're so glad you enjoyed the overall vibe, comfort is important to us, and it's great to know we hit the mark. We understand the walk from the boat can be a bit of an adventure. It's part of the jungle experience, but we're actively looking at ways to make it more comfortable for our guests, particularly at night. Thanks again for your feedback, and we hope to welcome you back soon for another unique stay in nature!
Hola Daysiree, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're so glad you enjoyed the overall vibe, comfort is important to us, and it's great to know we hit the mark. We understand the walk from the boat can be a bit of an adventure… Show more
Reviewed: 14 May 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 12 May 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 11 May 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewThe dormitory room was comfortable, the hotel itslf is well located The workers helping for the luggage transport, are really nice
The staff is not really trained, the breakfasts were a bit of a chaos, they know not much about service if I would have paid my room 200eu i would have been pissed. The fact that the restaurant is being renovated , makes a lot of noise, i didnt stay at all at the beach of the hotel because of that.
Hi Melissa, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed your dorm room and appreciated the help from our luggage team they’ll be happy to hear your kind words! We’re very sorry that other aspects of your stay didn’t meet your expectations. We’re currently in a period of growth and renovation, and while we’re doing our best to minimize the impact on our guests, we understand it can affect the experience. Your comments about breakfast and service are very valuable to us, and we’ll be using them to continue improving our training and operations. We truly hope to have the chance to welcome you back once our renovations are complete, so you can enjoy the calm and beauty of Palmar at its best. The Palmar Team,
Hi Melissa, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed your dorm room and appreciated the help from our luggage team they’ll be happy to hear your kind words! We’re very sorry that other as… Show more
Reviewed: 9 May 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 7 May 2025 · Stayed in May 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 5 May 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewVery friendly restaurant staff, sun loungers on the beach with included beach towels, great food and drinks - large portions, free polo beach hike, yoga studio. Great location as no other hotels on the beach except day trippers.
Sea is rough with strong currents but there is a lifeguard. Not much to do if it's raining, evening entertainment can be improved. Dorm room gets dirty easily with sand so can do with more regular cleaning.
Hola Rea, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the hospitality of our restaurant team, the beachfront amenities, our generous food portions, and the unique location of Palmar! We truly appreciate your constructive feedback as well. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve, and your comments about dorm cleanliness, rainy day options, and evening entertainment are very helpful — we’ll definitely take them into consideration. We hope to welcome you back again soon, perhaps with clearer skies and even more to enjoy!
Hola Rea, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the hospitality of our restaurant team, the beachfront amenities, our generous food portions, and the unique location… Show more
Reviewed: 22 April 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewReviewed: 20 April 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewThe property has the Tulum vibe and the location feels nicely remote if that is what you are into. Overall, it is kept well. After the constructions are done the space is promising to look even better.
This place looks nice but that is where it ends. The service quality, customer care, food standards, drinks taste and all other parts that make up a package at this price-point were simply lacking. If you want salt or spicy sauce to add to the bland food you will ask for it three times and will probably finish your meal before it arrives. Your food will arrive without cutlery and you will find yourself eating with fingers. Waiters will mess up tables and bring wrong drinks. Your toilet will clog multiple times during your stay during normal use. If it rains (as it did for us every day) there is simply nothing to do and you will be fighting for a seat under the roof as there is simply not enough seating. Your bags will be brought from the port drenched as no cover was put on. The list goes on and on. It this was 100 usd a night it would have been acceptable but we paid 300+ per night and I really regret staying there.
Dear Stan, Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and honest review. While we're happy you appreciated the natural surroundings and the potential of the space, we're truly sorry to hear that your overall experience didn’t reflect the value you expected. We take your feedback very seriously. From service inconsistencies to logistical shortcomings, these are not the standards we strive for, and we sincerely apologize for the frustration and disappointment this caused. Your comments have been shared directly with our team and are already informing improvements in both operations and training. It’s true that your visit coincided with an important transition for us, as we are currently undergoing renovation and upgrading several aspects of the guest experience. While this certainly isn’t an excuse, we hope it gives some context — and we are confident that many of the issues you encountered are already being addressed as part of this process. We deeply value your feedback and truly regret that we weren’t able to offer the experience you deserved. We do hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future, under much improved and more polished conditions. Warm regards, The Palmar Team
Dear Stan, Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and honest review. While we're happy you appreciated the natural surroundings and the potential of the space, we're truly sorry to hear that your overall experience didn’t r… Show more
Reviewed: 20 April 2025 · Stayed in April 2025
Verified reviewIs the location is on a beautiful beach on the island. The cabins are tastefully done. The food was very very good - fresh tuna, salads, chicken.. you won't miss other restaurants
Whereas the service was super friendly, extremely friendly in fact, it was a little bit chaotic. Not probably organised.
Hi Jacqueline, Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of our beach, the comfort of the cabins, and especially the food, it’s wonderful to know our fresh dishes made such a great impression! We also appreciate your note about the service. While we’re thrilled that the team’s friendliness stood out, we recognize the importance of pairing warmth with consistency and organization. Your feedback is valuable and will help us continue refining the guest experience. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back soon for an even smoother and equally enjoyable stay. Warm regards, The Palmar Team!
Hi Jacqueline, Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beauty of our beach, the comfort of the cabins, and especially the food, it’s wonderful to know our fresh dishes mad… Show more
Reviewed: 6 April 2025 · Stayed in March 2025
Verified reviewFantastic location at the beach! Nice (barefoot) dinner in the open restaurant on the beach. Lovely people. Great service. And a really nice experience to sleep in a cabana surrounded by nature.
Our beach cabana was a bit dark (due to the rainy weather). Prices are high, even during the contraction works.
Hola Elvira, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed our beachfront location, the barefoot dining experience, and the warm service from our team. We’re sorry the rainy weather made your cabana feel a bit darker than usual—hopefully next time the sun will be on your side! We also appreciate your feedback regarding pricing during the construction period; we’re doing our best to improve the space while continuing to offer a special experience. We truly hope to welcome you back again soon for more beachside moments! See you soon !
Hola Elvira, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed our beachfront location, the barefoot dining experience, and the warm service from our team. We’re sorry the rainy weather made your cabana feel a bit … Show more
Reviewed: 5 April 2025 · Stayed in February 2025
Verified review