Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Time in Bocas!

Guest: Renee (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/21/12 Review Submitted: 03/30/12

The house is great! It looks exactly like the photos. Javier was wonderful and was available to help us out anytime. Saw the howler monkey family that lives in the backyard/jungle!

Recommended for:

Great island location

Guest: Tom (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 02/11/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

The island house has a great deck, helpful caretaker in Javier, beautiful rainforest setting with howler monkeys, and easy access to beach and warm tropical waters. Bicycles were handy to see the island and to go into town. The pictures provided gave us a good idea of the property. We found the house best for 2 people.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Good Week

Guest: Janet
Date of Stay: 02/11/12 Review Submitted: 03/01/12

Hi Don: We had a wonderful time last week at your home in Bocas. As everyone says I'm sure we spent a lot of time on the deck. Enjoyed swimming in the ocean just on the other side of the bridge too. Javier was great. He was always available if we needed him. We rented bikes from him and enjoyed doing a ride each day. We rode to del Drago- took the bus back with the bikes on top- out to Bluff beach and had lunch at Carolina- what a view. Was also great to be able to ride into town. Loved it

Recommended for:

Not worth the price - be aware this is a ONE bedroom that sleeps 2 adults

Guest: McD (Coupeville)
Date of Stay: 12/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/12

We LOVE Bocas....the town, the beaches, the people - are all wonderful and we highly recommend a visit to this unique spot. This review is intended to provide a realistic description of this rental unit. The rental is described as a two bedroom, but it is a ONE bedroom, one bath house, that sleeps TWO adults, with room for a child sleeping on the cot or couch. The extra room is actually a tiny room, approximately 6’x10’ with no window or fan. There is a single cot in the room, and some shelves. The house has old, inexpensive furniture that is not very comfortable and could definitely use some upgrades. The couches have tattered and stained cushions, broken seat frames, and are falling apart. The bed is dirty and is VERY hard. The linens are stained and old. Contrary to the satellite map photo of the house, there are neighbors located next to the house on three sides, all with barking dogs. The closest neighbor is extremely rude, uses loud swearing to communicate everything on the phone and to his workers, and has a constantly barking dog tied up out front. On the positive side, the area is full of birds and monkeys and sloths, which is awesome. We enjoyed the deck, watching all the birds, the peek-a-boo view of the beach, and listening to the waves. The location was nice - a short bike ride to town. The house hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in quite some time. On the surface things are fairly clean, but don’t look too close! The house is technically “finished”, but it was built as an inexpensive project and has never been upgraded to cover electrical conduits or to extend the walls to the ceiling. It is sufficient for two people, and provides a nice location, but don't expect a great house even though that is what is suggested in the advertising. The house is for sale, so it appears as though nothing is being done to maintain it. The lights are missing covers, there are no curtains, the bed is HORRIBLE, and the cupboards are filthy. The house is quite dark due to all the local wood walls, and lack of adequate lighting. The house is advertised as having a well stocked kitchen, however there are NO supplies in the kitchen, and the pans are in very poor condition. The one dented fry pan had a handle that was falling off. There are no casserole pans or baking supplies. Don was nice and worked with us to resolve a couple of questions we had. Javier was helpful and friendly. The house is adequate, but not worth the price. Keep looking!

Owner response:The house is a 1 bedroom with a small room suitable for a child. The furniture is 2 years old and comfortable. The house also is cleaned and linens are washed every week. It is all wood so there are no white walls but it is not dark. If this person needed anything he could have told Carol the next door neighbor and manager and she would have got him a new dish or frying pan. He spent new years and Christmas at the managers house, he could have told her then or anytime. I try hard to accommodate my guests. The neighbor that was yelling at his workers and had the barking dog has moved off of the island. Most of my renters enjoy the house very much.

Recommended for:

Great family vacation!

Guest: Dennis (California )
Date of Stay: 12/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/10/12

My wife and I stayed at this house for the second time in December. We had 3 days of rain but the rest of the time was beautiful. The house is best for a couple or a couple with kids. The second bedroom is small but worked for our son. I got some good surf at Paunch, which is a short walk from the house. The large deck is the best part of the house. We saw monkeys and a sloth from there. The house has internet that works but it is slow. The caretaker was very helpful to tell us where to go and the taxis are cheap. Good restaurants in town and the zip line on Basementos is great. We are planning on coming back next year again! Highly recommended!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Love this Place!!

Guest: november renter (san diego)
Date of Stay: 11/01/11 Review Submitted: 02/10/12

My boyfriend and I visited Bocas for the first time in November, what a beautiful island. We are so lucky to have found Dons house to stay at. The accommodations are great, the house is beautiful, the jungle the beaches are right there giving you the whole experience. We enjoyed ourselves so much we are planning another trip this year with some friends. Don and the caretaker Javier were extremely helpful, suggesting places to visit, like red frog beach (my favorite), and making sure our visit was comfortable. I would definitely recommend this place...

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Panama...Paradise

Guest: Ryan61 (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 08/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/04/11

You have to understand certain things when you go on a vacation to Panama, and if you are considering it then you should be fine with roughing it a bit. I really find it odd to see people complain about walls not going to the ceiling and gripes about rooms. its PANAMA this is a 3rd world country, if you have those high standards then go to Canada or Britan. If you want a great (different) vacation stay here, wake up with sights of monkeys in their natural environment behind your house. see the calm and soothing ocean from your balcony. Experience the local restaurants and nightlife(which is the best in bocas). I loved my stay, i have been twice and am gearing up for another.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Breath Taking

Guest: KristinT (Carlsbad, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

My dad has been to Bocas many times in last few years and kept telling a friend of mine and I that we have to go! Well we finally booked our trip over Spring Break of this year. I'm so glad that we did. Bocas was a once in a life time trip. Once arriving at the house the pictures didn't do it justice. The house is beautiful!! The patio is by far the best part of the house. There were four of us on the trip together which worked out perfect for the house. Everyone had their own spot in the house. One in the master, one in the second bedroom, one on the couch, and one that wouldn't leave the couch on the patio. The accommodations where just right. With a fully functioning kitchen that we just everyday and a bbq on the patio that we took fully advantage on it was perfect. We never once felt like we were in a third world country at Don's house. the bathroom is fully functioning with plumbing and running water. It was better than staying at a hotel. We spent most of our time exploring Bocas and the surrounding islands. For those of you who love night life Bocas is prefect. Every night there is a lady's night at one of the local bars where the girls drink for free during certain hours. So ladies take advantage!! Javier the grounds keeper hooked us up with a local book taxi that took us where ever we wanted to go all week for hardly any cost. Zip Lining on the island of Bastimentos is a must!! And while your there you have to check out Red Frog Beach, beautiful doesn't being to describe it. Javier help us connect with the local fisher man so we were able to buy 20 fresh lobsters for $15 which we cook at the house while we were there. Amazing!! We meet so many wonderful people that we still keep in contact with. It truely was a once in a life time trip. Can't wait to go back!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Worth a Repeat

Guest: John M. (Ada, Michigan USA)
Date of Stay: 02/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/06/11

Don has a wonderful house in a wonderful area of Bocas. It was truly "as advertised". The deck is where we literally lived except when sleeping or cooking a meal (when we didn't use the grill on the deck.) Very comfortable. Few bug problems too which was nice; around dusk and very early in the morning the mosquitoes show up but it was short-lived and a little "Off" took care of it. The nearby beach was fine; we swam there often. We loved backing-up to the jungle with the bird and monkey sounds; we never got tired of it. Javier, the all-around "did everything" guy, was great and he speaks English pretty well. He set us up with private tours we wanted and put us in touch with an excellent, totally reliable taxi driver who we used almost exclusively. Javier was great about immediately attending to things like burned out light bulbs and replacing an empty propane gas cylinder for the hot water. Bocas has a myriad of things to do and the location of the house is most conducive to doing all of them. Not right in town which is nice but certainly close enough for constant access to shopping and activities. We were there for Carnival and were very glad not to be right in town where it is constant loud noise 24 hours a day for the four day event. After being out most of the day on a tour, scuba diving, or shopping and hanging out in the town of Bocas, the house was a great place to return to every night. We stayed in the house two months and loved every minute of our time there. The master bedroom is very comfortable and yes, there is a single bed in one other small room but it is not particularly an inviting room. Our adult son was with us for two weeks and chose to sleep in the living room on the couch where he was comfortable. We would definitely stay there again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Fine Time

Guest: Maxie (Hyde Park, VT)
Date of Stay: 12/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/08/11

We thoroughly enjoyed this house. It is exactly as pictured in the ad. The best feature was the porch which is protected from the tropical rains yet airy and spacious so that most of your time in the house can be comfortably spent on the porch in a hammock. You feel you are in a tropical jungle yet the house has modern conveniences. The plumbing and appliances are modern and the shower is luxurious. The satellite TV and WiFi work well. The owner was very responsive to my questions by e-mail and the caretaker is interesting to talk to and takes good care of the house. Rental houses take a beating and houses in the tropics take a beating - so if you are comparing this home to a newly built vacation McMansion in the US, you will be slightly put off. But if you are in Panama for the tropical island experience and for the fun activities the ocean and island offers, this house will provide a great home base.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Bocas

Guest: JPD (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 02/09/11

While we had a great time in Bocas Del Toro this house wasn't the best accommodation for more than one couple. The second bedroom is SMALL and has a futon for a bed. The walls don't go to the ceiling so you can hear everything in the house. Basically there is no privacy which is fine if it's one couple but two couples as we had made it awkward at times. The property is very beautiful and the caretaker is very helpful. He was very helpful after the house was broken into and cameras we stolen. Everyone claimed this was the first time this ever happened in the neighborhood but it happened and we were robbed of cameras and a purse. The bikes are also in very poor shape and barely make it to town. Better to rent bikes then really try and ride the bikes that come with the house. Loved Bocas and Panama we just would stay somewhere else when we return. House isn’t bad but like I stated earlier this house is far more suitable for one couple, we were robbed, and the bikes are rusted out beyond use.

Owner response:The house is more suitable for a couple or a couple with kids. Out of the 50 plus people that have rented the house there have been only 2 that did not like the accommodations. I try hard to make the house comfortable and clean. It is hard to keep the bicycles in good shape as the salt air and rain damage them. I just had all of the bikes reconditioned. It is a great neighborhood with very little crime, we had some kids that were caught after stealing some things but no other problems.

Recommended for:

Great vacation spot/home

Guest: Elizabeth (San Diego,CA)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 11/25/11

Absolutely wonderful vacation rental. The views and scenery were wonderful.This place is cozy and very comfortable- just as described and pictured! Close to the beach but yet very quiet and safe- absolutely recommend - we will be staying again and again and have friends who will be visiting and renting in near future. Thank you for a dream vacation!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place for a family holiday

Guest: Jaime Viera1 (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/26/11

We (me, my husband and my 4 year old son) stayed at Don's house in Bocas last year for 2 weeks. Don lives back in the states and was very helpful while we were deciding to book the property. He also has a great grounds keeper, Javier that was super helpful while we were staying - with everything to brining fresh towels to telling us the best beaches and places to go. The house is very comfortable and charming. It does have walls that do not entirely go to the ceiling, but it is absolutely finished and contributes to it's charm (in my opinion). After all, it is in Panama! That is why we chose Panama, for something different than the normal vacation. The furniture is all really nice and fits with the area. It is super close to the water and I just LOVE that the jungle is right behind you, the sounds are amazing. We woke up one morning with a sloth (very slowly) crawling through the garden and we saw (and heard!) a family of howler monkeys as well. If you want a relaxing, comfortable, charming traditional panamanian house - this is the one! :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great experience --

Guest: Howie (La Crosse, WI USA)
Date of Stay: 06/14/10 Review Submitted: 07/17/10

My son (16) and I visited Don's home in June 2010. We had a fantastic time in the area. Don's home is very well cared for. The master bedroom is great. The second bedroom is small and can be stuffy, so my son slept on the couch in the living room under the air conditioner. He was very comfortable there. The house has a beautiful deck and the ocean is visible. The monkeys or the bush chickens will be waking you up early if you are a light sleeper! The house is a few miles outside town, but taxis are cheap and readily available. We used Don's bikes for a day, but they need some work if you want to take a long ride. So, if you aren't expecting the Ritz, the house is great. As I love to cook, the kitchen was fairly well stocked, but we could have used a few more quality pots, pans, and baking ware. Don was very accommodating with information about the area. His neighbor Carol picked us up at the airport and took us grocery shopping and gave us the rundown on the area. Don's caretaker, Javier, was a great help and companion. He really went the extra mile for us to make us feel welcome. For activities we went snorkeling, jungle hiking to Wizard Beach on Bastimentos, manatee trip on the mainland, hand-line fishing on a boat we rented from Javier's uncle, and lots of eating. The seafood is great, although surprisingly not locally caught due to overfishing. If you are looking for a unique experience, without the excesses of most island vacations, this is a great place for you. My son and I definitely want to return to the area.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Another great getaway...

Guest: Dennis (Oceanside, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 03/02/11

We had a great time again! Bocas isn't for everyone but for us, it's the perfect getaway to get in some good surfing, fishing and snorkeling with our adventurous 4 1/2 year old boy. The home was immaculate when we arrived and Javier's (the groundskeeper) wife was very sweet and brought fruit for our little man. It's nice beeing just outside of town for us as well because the noise from downtown gets old and Casa Oceana is nice and quiet. Can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Family Stay in Bocas

Guest: Paul & Pia (Bellingham, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/06/10 Review Submitted: 05/14/10

We (husband, wife, daughter (14) and son (10)) spent a week at this house and had a peaceful, relaxing time. The veranda was a great place to read and wait out the rainy periods. The bikes helped us be mobile and explore the area. The neighbors (Carol and Larry) were very helpful and Javier was willing to help out whenever we wanted. It's a nice distance from town that is not too far away and not too close. The howler monkeys are an exotic alarm clock in the morning.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Guest: The Richards Family (New Paltz, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/09/10

Just returned from a one month stay at this peaceful home. We spent many hours on the front deck, listening to the wildlife while reading and relaxing. We rode the bikes everywhere - town and beaches. A wonderful addition was the caretakers next door. Larry and Carol were always there when we needed them and quick to help. One important thing to mention is that at this time the home truly only sleeps 4 - 2 on a queen, one single bed and enough room for one adult on the couch. Overall, if you are looking for a real tropical setting, with all the raw beauty it offers, Bocas is a great choice and this house with its location is ideal.

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Great friends' getaway

Guest: Jill0120 (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 03/02/10 Review Submitted: 04/10/10

We spent a fantastic month at this beautiful house in Bocas. Set in the jungle, not too far from Bocas Town and Bluff/Paunch breaks, easy access to water taxis and the many beaches of the archipelago. Everything you could want in a getaway. Satellite TV, beautiful huge outdoor living space with gas grill, hammocks and comfy couches. We loved it here and look forward to visiting again! Note that this house is not directly on the beach, but riding your bike into town takes about 15 minutes and from there water taxis take you direct to many beaches.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Underwhelming

Guest: ECNY (Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/03/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

This is a semi-finished cottage on a side road far from Bocas town. The walls do not go all the way to the ceiling, so there is no privacy. It is one bedroom. There is another bed in the electrical room, but no window. Construction crews clean their trucks into the creek using very noisy gasoline-powered water pumps about 100 yards from the deck all day. The beach nearby is possibly the only beach in Bocas that you would not want to swim at. Everything else requires a taxi ride. Taxis are unreliable as there is no central dispatch.

Owner response:Of all of the people that have rented my house these are the only ones that did not enjoy it. The house is finished, it has high ceilings and the whole inside is wood, which to some people looks unfinished. Next to the master bedroom there is a small room that is used for a bedroom but it is not the electrical room, it just has a small sub panel in it. The trucks that were at the bridge pumping water are gone, they were only there when the road was being worked on. The house is in a very quiet area. The beach nearby is a good beach when it is not raining as a small creek runs out next to it. I now have a cell phone at the house for tenants use with taxi's numbers on it. They are very reliable and cheap. There is now wireless internet

Recommended for:Pet owners

Guest: Ryan61 (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/23/09

I stayed at Casa Oceana in March of this yesr with my father and my uncle. We got some good waves at Dumpers, we also did some diving and exploring other islands. We has 2 days of rain. The house was great, especially the large deck We bought some fresh lobster from locals and BBQ'd, it was fantastic. We are planning on going back next year

Recommended for:

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Guest: Mylers (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/04/09 Review Submitted: 04/04/09

We enjoyed our Bocas vacation for one month. Every day we would ride bikes into town. Please note that on the house web site it states that internet is available and that it is not. You must go the 3 miles to town to an internet cafe.

Owner response:The house now has wireless internet

Recommended for:

Guest: Dennis
Date of Stay: 03/21/09 Review Submitted: 03/28/10

My wife and I stayed at Casa Oceana in March of last yesr and we very much enjoyed Bocas and the house. Javier the grounds keeper was very helpful on any requests that we had. He was able to arrange surf adventures and fishing adventures for us. The house is in a very peaceful and in a good location. We saw monkeys from our deck and many cool birds.We plan on going again this year.

Recommended for:

Guest: Jaime21 (-)
Date of Stay: 11/28/08 Review Submitted: 11/28/08

We had such a wonderful time at your property! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home with us. Every morning we woke up hearing birds or monkeys in the jungle behind us. It is such a peaceful spot. We spent many days on the veranda in the hammocks reading books, or just relaxing on the comfortable furniture. We had plenty of BBQs (getting a HUGE tuna for 20$ at a local shop) on the veranda. It is a very short walk to a gorgeous swimming beach and very handy to town. Your place is everything we could want in a holiday home, comfortable, beautiful, and peaceful. I highly recommend it!

Recommended for:

Guest: Jaime Viera (New Zealand)
Date of Stay: 08/28/08 Review Submitted: 08/28/08

My husband and I stayed at Casa Oceana for 1 week and we did not want to leave. It was very relaxing and beautiful. We spent most of our home time on the large deck. We rode bicycles daily and my husband was able to find good surfing close by.

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Guest: Susan216 (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 04/01/08

We spent an amazing ten days in this house which was a perfect island getaway. We were close enough to town, yet far enough away to really feel the tranquility of the area. I would highly recommend it for anyone staying in Bocas and looking for a Home away from Home.

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