Vacation Rentals by Owner

Caribbean Paradise Beachfront Lodge with Views [#294950] | View Property

Carenero Island
House, 5 Bedrooms + Loft, 5.5 Baths (Sleeps 14)
From $600 p/nt - $3,900 p/wk
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Traveler Reviews (25)

• a slice of heaven

  a slice of heaven

  • Guest dr judi
  • Date of stay 03/31/13
  • Review Submitted 04/12/13
  Vista Azul is the kind of home you see in a magazine but rarely get to experience firsthand. From the moment the water taxi unloads you at the private dock, you feel relaxed and overwhelmed at the beauty of the home and the surrounding area. There is a gorgeous white sandy beach right outside your front door and lush green jungle just outside your back door. The bedrooms are spacious, well appointed and comfortable. The surrounding decks upstairs and downstairs are so comfortable you never really want to leave. We had to draw straws to see who would win the hanging hammock. The kitchen is fully equipped to prepare any type of meal and Bibi's restaurant is just a short walk down the beach. Bocas town is a 2 minute boat ride away. There is a wonderful grounds keeper living nearby who checks on you regularly to see if there is anything you might need. We had a fantastic trip and are already planning a return visit to Vista Azul later this year.

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

  Owner response: On behalf of the Vista Azul Lodge staff, we are all very pleased you had a wonderful relaxing and hard working stay at the Lodge. We would also like to thank you for your very generous volunteer work with the 'floating doctors', excellent work, which the locals fully appreciate. Thank you very much and we look forward to your next visit.

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• Breathtaking Lodge with amazing views and location

  Breathtaking Lodge with amazing views and location

  • Guest DCC
  • Date of stay 02/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/12/13
  The VAL was a stunning vacation spot - perfect for a large group (5+) who just want to chill, swim in the sea, and take in the local culture. Bocas del Toro is not for people who are looking for upscale amenities, but rather experienced travelers who are used international wear and tear. It is surprising to me for instance, when travelers mention the sand fleas in their reviews and then hold the lodge accountable for their misery. Yes, the sand fleas are worth mentioning to warn other vacationers to take the necessary (though usually futile) precautions - but it is not VAL's fault that there are sand fleas on Isla de Carneros. The caretakers/ cooks/ housekeeper were all fantastic people who were always available to provide quality service. Our group opted for the cleaning lady to visit every other day and we took advantage of the local cooking by opting for Maribel to prepare an authentic Panamanian style meal almost every evening. These meals were the best we had in all of Bocas Del Toro and Maribel was friendly and charming. Armodio, the caretaker, was also extremely helpful and displayed a genuine concern for the well being of our group. Although his English is limited, we learned during our stay that his mother was sick, and he nevertheless remained at VAL to ensure the property was maintained and we were very grateful for his time and attention. The only negative I might mention - and again not Vista Azul's fault - the wifi was very spotty during our stay. Several persons in our group had a hard time "staying connected," but we understood that after the rainstorms, the connectivity was impacted on the island of Carneros and there was not much one could do to solve this problem other than take the short boat ride to Colon and hook in there. Finally, one update to fellow travelers: most of the information in tour books and on the internet indicate the boat rides to/ from Colon and Carneros are one dollar per person - but blame the economy - when we were there it was up to $2 pp one way.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

  Owner response: Thank you very much for your posting. Your words are perfect in every sense of the meaning. Very much appreciated. Warm regards.

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• Fabulous Experience

  Fabulous Experience

  • Guest Mango
  • Date of stay 02/01/13
  • Review Submitted 02/19/13
  We were a group of 4 couples and had a fantastic time at the lodge. Rather than echo all the other commenter’s praise about how gorgeous the setting is and how expansive the house is, I’ll comment on another reason why you should rent this house. It was the service provide by the Owner’s (Peter’s) staff. It’s not just that they were there to handle any and all questions, or fix problems at the drop of a hat, or help with arrangements, or grocery shop before our arrival, or clean the entire house, or cook a tasty meal, or provide diligent security, or take us to the airport at 5:55 AM with a smile, or come get us via water taxi in less time than it takes to put on your flip-flops. It was the pride the staff personally took in making sure our week was the best it could be. Each one of them. Clearly Peter sets high standards for service that were reflected in the attention to detail his lodge staff provided. I should also mention that I had a bazillion questions for Peter as our travel plans to the lodge evolved. In all cases he provided timely detailed responses that made planning our trip a pleasant experience. Two other tid-bits I should mention, one is the second floor boom-box. If you like music, it’s wonderful. Don’t attempt to move it. Leave it on the second floor where it’s at. Its acoustically perfect up there and provides a nice powerful smooth sound from the supplied iPad/iPod docking station. The other item is the stars. If you come home from Bocus del Toro at night, be sure and stick your head out the side of the water taxi roof cover. They will amaze you. The Milky Way is so thick with stars that you have trouble picking out constellations that overlap it. Or go out to the end of the Lodge’s dock. Even with the house lights the sky will amaze you (better than the big island in Hawaii, or a south Utah national park). One other item. If you see a pitcher of water in the fridge, look closely before you make coffee with it. It may be coconut water left there by the cook. If so, it makes for some rather interesting tasting Java.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Christmas 2012

  Christmas 2012

  • Guest MexEd
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 03/18/13
  Our 2 families have been taking sunny Christmas holidays together for 4 years. The household staff was able to provide a small artificial Christmas tree and some decorations as well as a piñata for the grandkids. We covered the cost of these items, and hopefully they will be used again in coming years. This was the first house we stayed in where there were not some holiday decorations. Unfortunately the cooking service was very basic, with no sample menus to choose from. Cleaning, other than sweeping the sand off the floor once a day was hit and miss. The waste baskets in the upstairs bedrooms were not emptied until the end of the week and 3 of the bedrooms had no hot water. Apparently a new hot water heater for that side of the property was pending. Neither the dishwasher nor the washing machine worked. With children, and rainy season still hanging on the washer and dryer were important. Fortunately the AC in the bedrooms worked well and the video library and supply of games are extensive. The view is beautiful but it was not possible to sit on the front porch because of the "no seems". Screens on the windows and screened in porches would be an upgrade. Even the local bug repellant and citronella candles were not sufficient to keep them at bay. The private beach and dock were filled with uninvited guests during the day. They were not daunted by the privacy signs nor the caretaker asking them to leave.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you very much for your posting. We shall propose to the lady who offers her cooking services, to put together menu samples. Housekeeping service is intended, for a person to help around the house under the guests instructions. ie. some guests like to cook but not clean and some like to clean but not cook. So housekeeping is there to help where needed. Housekeeping is $35 for 'the day' not 'per hour', so future guests should not expect too much. The hot water heater has been installed as well as a new dish washer, dryer and cloths washer. Although we never have advertised a dish washer. We personally do not like screens as they reduce the quality of the views, plus the screen does not stop 'no see'ms' (hence the name) as they are so small. So at times when they do come out, we recommend closing the doors and putting on the A/C and fans. We do not advertise the beach as being 'private', there are very few beaches in the World that are private, especially if located only five minutes away from a town. As you were staying at the Lodge during Christmas the beach must have been much busier than normal. We thank you for bringing up this point to let anyone know, who is thinking of booking. We appreciate very much your words of advise. Kind regards.

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• Not as Great as Described

  Not as Great as Described

  • Guest Daphne
  • Date of stay 12/13/12
  • Review Submitted 12/22/12
  I have just returned from spending a week with my family at Vista Azul. My sister leased the house with the idea of a great adventure for our annual family reunion. The entire family was so excited and couldn't wait to get there. We traveled from locations all over the United States to be together here. Upon our arrival, we were informed that the dishwasher did not work nor did the washer. We were assured that the washer would be running in a day or two. It is advertised as accommodating up to 14 people but there were not enough pillows or towels for that many people. Add to that a washer that wasn't working and it was not a great situation. They did get the washer running but it is so old that we had to run the spin cycle several times to get things ready to dry. In addition, bats are a major problem and are in most of the upstairs areas. Based on the description provided, it seems like there will be someone available to get you places. We did not know there would be an additional per head charge for this service every time. This adds up quickly. We were all bitten by sand fleas and found it impossible to use the beach in front of the house because of this. We all used the insect repellent recommended but it did not seem to prevent bites but maybe lessened the severity. On a positive note, the zip lining at Red Frog was great. Overall it is truly a beautiful house but the maintenance is an issue.

  Owner response: Hello, We apologize for any inconveniences caused by our failure to better prepare the home for your arrival. Thank you for taking the time to write your review with details so we may fully address each issue with care. After three years of only five star ratings, your three star review is a first and we look at this as an opportunity to better prepare Vista Azul for our future guests. As the Lodge is on an island one has to regulate water consumption, and as dishwashers use a lot of water and it broke we decided not to replace it. Therefor the VRBO site does not list a dishwasher. We will be sure to find a way to better communicate this for our future guests. The broken washing machine was very unfortunate timing during your time there, this may have played into the lack of towels, but, we have a new machine on order, and the additional towels, as well as pillows, are being added to prevent inconveniences for guests. Your comment regarding "someone available to get you places” and having to pay for boat tours, etc. The water taxi fees are additional, associated with labor and gas which we don’t have any control of. These are subject to each guest’s subjective needs and wishes for their personalized vacations. It was unfortunate that during your stay it rained which is when sandflies are more prominent. We were surprised to read about the bats. Living in the tropics has lovely aspects, but sometimes nature gets confused. We just dealt with the bats recently, but thanks to your letter, we have addressed this. We aim to create a home where our guests may relish their experience with wonderful memories and we take great care to ensure that these important matters be properly managed and addressed. Thank you again for taking the time to write these items down to allow us to remedy this for our guests. Warmly, Andrea and Peter Kent, Vista Azul Lodge PS..We have found out that each bed has it's 2 pillows but we are adding two more to each bed.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/4

• Beautiful Beach Get-Away

  Beautiful Beach Get-Away

  • Guest Erika
  • Date of stay 12/26/11
  • Review Submitted 01/21/12
  Vista Azul Lodge is a gorgeous, spacious home with ample room for a large party. The decks on each level offer beautiful views of the water and a relaxing environment. The description of the lodge on the listing was accurate, yet exceeded our expectations. The beach is just steps away from the front of the lodge and is great for snorkeling, fishing and is especially suited for surfing. Vista Azul Lodge staff are friendly, courteous and extremely helpful. There are several restaurants walking distance from the lodge and I would recommend Bibi's for the banana pancakes for breakfast. This is a great vacation spot if you are looking to relax or fill your days with activity.

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

  Owner response: On behalf of the Vista Azul Lodge staff, we are all very pleased to hear you all had a wonderful stay at the Lodge. We look forward to accommodating you again :)

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• Best Vacation Ever!

  Best Vacation Ever!

  • Guest Hannah
  • Date of stay 11/21/11
  • Review Submitted 12/07/11
  13 of my friends and I recently met up in Bocas for a week long vacation. I was expecting the house to be really nice, but I would have never imagined that it was going to be as gorgeous as it was! The house couldn't have been more perfect for all of us. Each bedroom having its own bathroom gave everyone their privacy, and the large common areas were perfect for everyone to hang out in together. Peter and Tico were there to assist us with any of our needs. I would highly recommend having Ari make her delicious dinners. Armodio the caretaker was there to help with anything you needed including making us bonfires any night we wanted. Fabian was there within 5 minutes of calling to take us wherever we wanted to go. The volleyball court was a nice surprise and provided us with countless hours of fun. We ended up spending more time at the house than we had anticipated. It was so nice to have a sandy beach right in front and a nice surf break just a short paddle away. The house is in the perfect location where the whole group didn't have to be doing the same thing all the time. Bocas town being only a 5 minute boat ride away was very convenient, but it was still far enough away where we felt nice and secluded. The chitras (sand flies) were a little out of hand, but once we got the magic bug oil from the Pickled Parrot we didn't have issues with them. We all had the time of our lives and are hoping that we can return for many years to come. Peter, thank you so much for sharing your house with us, it was truly my most memorable vacation ever!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Spectacular Island House

  Spectacular Island House

  • Guest andy b.
  • Date of stay 09/05/11
  • Review Submitted 09/14/11
  I recently returned from 4 days at Vista Azul Lodge with a group of 6 people and had a great time. The house is unbelievable and very picturesque, definitely the best in Bocas! I would recommend this to anyone looking for lodging in this area. The house was also very close to everything (2 minutes to Bocas town) but the same time far enough away to be isolated if we wanted. Armodio the groundskeeper was very attentive and was there to assist us at anytime and we were able to arrange all boat taxis with Fabian. He took us on a couple of excursions and had a great time. Tico was very helpful with any questions and information to make sure we got the most out of our stay. Overall a great trip to Bocas and would definitely like to return.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Beautiful Home

  Beautiful Home

  • Guest Andre
  • Date of stay 07/25/11
  • Review Submitted 08/01/11
  Peter thank you so much for your hospitality, our stay at your vacation home was a wonderful experience. This 5 bedroom house is amazing, the house comes equipped with everything imaginable. We were finding new things for like two days, even water shoes for the beach :) This house is so nice people kept looking over wanting to come in thinking it was a hotel, one person even asked us how much we rented the chairs for. We were a huge group of three families totaling 14 people and we were well accommodated. There are so many things to do on the island that you will not be disappointed. The main thing that made this trip great was the care taker of the home, he went beyond his duties to make sure we were comfortable at the home, if there was anything we needed he was there to take care of it. The only negative thing about our stay at the home was that the main bathroom downstairs was out of order and the WIFI at the house needed to be reset constantly which made it a little tough to research our next adventure. However this was a small price to pay for the wonderful memories we got out of it...

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you! We are delighted to hear that you and your family enjoyed the lodge. We have taken care of the problem with the downstairs bathrooms dual flush and everything is flowing properly. :) The WIFI seemed to be an external problem with the internet company, that problem has also be resolved. Thanks Again, The Vista Azul Family

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Best Trip Ever!

  Best Trip Ever!

  • Guest Jasmine
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 07/25/11
  12 of my closest family and friends visited Vista Azul for a week over the Fouth of July and had the time of our lives. The house was absolutely stunning and got quite a lot of attention from all the beach goers. This house seems larger and better looking than any of the Hostels and Hotels in the area. The rooms were perfect for the couples who wanted privacy and the great room was an excellent place to spend time playing games or eatting good home cooked meals together. There are several small bars and resturants within a few minutes walk. The salty American who runs the Pickeled Parot is hilarious. We even fell in love with the Rasta dog that joined our crew for the week and even came snorkling with us. Cosmic Crab has a great Sunday Brunch. Fabian was great for daily boating trips, Amarrio was a champion and took a lot of pride in keeping the place running smooth. Probably the best investment was having Ari come to the hous everyday to take care of cleaning up, cooking and grocery shopping-truely made for a hassel free week. Only negative is the bugs. Several people really got bitten badly so make sure to take precautions. However, this one issue was completely overshadowed by the amazing unforgetable time we had there. Thanks Peter!

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

  Owner response: Thank you very much for the wonderful review! We are working on a solution to the sand flies, by purchasing some equipment to be placed throughout the gardens of the property, to help control the sand flies. The overall feed back from our guests is an incredible memorable time which far out weighs the sand fly's. Warm Regards, The Vista Azul Family

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Perfect location for everything

  Perfect location for everything

  • Guest Douglas T.
  • Date of stay 06/11/11
  • Review Submitted 06/26/11
  My wife and I and two other couples enjoyed Vista Azul for a week in June. Even though it was the rainy season, we enjoyed several days of sunshine and great snorkeling in front of the house. Though the reef is small, there was an amazing variety of sealife including nurse sharks, small rays, large schools of various reef fish and my favorite - a lionfish. Three of us are schoolteachers and we were there primarily for rest and relaxation to start our summer. Vista Azul is located perfectly for lazing on the beach, floating in the shallow water or walking isolated beaches. Carenero is a very small island. One morning, my wife and I walked around the entire island without encountering another soul until we reached the village on the other side. The house itrself is a wonderful retreat with everything one needs for entertainment or relaxation. There were two great bars just a short walk down the beach ( Pickled Parrot with an eccentric ex-pat owner/bartender and Bibi's on the Beach with amazing Happy Hour drinks from 4 to 7). There was also a great restaurant a little further into the village called Dona Mara's, although Bibi's also served fantastic seafood. We never left Carenero except to go to Bocas Town ( a 5 minute water taxi ride away from the dock in front of the house) for quick trips for supplies. Another plus at Vistal Azul was Armadeo, the caretaker. He was always nearby whenever there was a question or something was not working at the house - no hot water, fixed quickly by replacing the empty propane tank in back. The one drawback we encountered was the chitras - sand flies. Make sure to bring plenty of Deet as the local home remedy repellants sold at the bars are not very effective. The nasty little critters ate us alive until we finally figured out that only at least 30% Deet held them at bay. That said, the chitras were a minor inconvenience in what was a wonderful vacation at a fantastic location.

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

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your kind words. If I had to submit a posting, your words would have been it, even the part about the sand flies ! The trick there is knowing when to not be outside i.e. just after rain or drizzle. The time of year and month weather wise, plays a big part. It's nice to hear another happy guest :) Hope to see you again soon. Saludos, Andrea and Peter Kent

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Absolute paradise!

  Absolute paradise!

  • Guest Elaine
  • Date of stay 06/02/11
  • Review Submitted 07/11/11
  Wow! The house was so beautiful and secluded, the island couldn't be more beautiful. 5 minute beach walk to great happy hour and restaurant, be sure to take a few boat trips to surrounding beautiful and peaceful beaches. We loved every detail of this house, the perfect holiday we will be back!

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

  Owner response: Thank you Elaine for your kind words. We are so glad you fully enjoyed your stay at the Lodge. You have to love those beach bonfires with the moon and the waves lapping up onto the beach. It's special :) We hope to see you all again.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Amazing vacation rental.Pictures don't do it justice

  Amazing vacation rental.Pictures don't do it justice

  • Guest Bryanlut
  • Date of stay 04/03/11
  • Review Submitted 04/19/11
  Peter has a wonderful home with everything you could ask for. He made us feel like family and provide us with any information we needed before and during our trip. He went out of his way to make sure we had a wonderful time. We had a group of eight with two families ages ranging from 29 to 70's. Every room with attached bath and private balcony was beautiful. The property care taker Arimodio was always available with a smile building us a fire on the beach one night to getting us a fresh coconut to drink out of. Ari the cook was also great she always had a smile on her face and took great care of us. The property location is perfect. Less than five minutes from town but felt like a secluded get away at night and in the mornings. The beautiful views of the jungle behind the house and the white sand beach in the front made this the perfect house. We even got to encounter a tree sloth right on the ground with in a foot of us. Peter arranged Fabian a local water taxi guy to take us around when ever we needed and took us on tours all over the islands. Peter also arranged varrious fishing tours with some of his friends. Even caught my first tarpin..150lbs!! We will definitely be coming back to this location. Bocas is a wonderful place and the secret will shortly be out on this beautiful destination. Thank you again Peter for the wonderful vacation.

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

  Owner response: Hi Bryan & your two families, Thank you so much for your very kind words. The Lodge team, is very pleased you all had a wonderful time. Do remember to send a picture of the 150 lb.Tarpin you caught on 30 lb. line, so we can post it with the other pictures. Would love to see the fish :) It also looked like you took full advantage of the divers who came by the house selling lobster and the such. Nice :) We thoroughly enjoyed having you all stay at the Lodge and look forward to your return. Kind Regards, Andrea & Peter.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• It doesn't get any better than this!!

  It doesn't get any better than this!!

  • Guest lauren
  • Date of stay 02/15/11
  • Review Submitted 03/05/11
  Myself and a group of friends rented Peter's house for 10 days and seriously couldn't have had a better vacation. The house is gorgeous, even better than the photos online, the perfect mix of luxury and practicality with a breath-taking location. We were the envy of everyone who walked by!! The beach in front of the house is the best on the island, sunlovers from all over seek it out to soak up the rays. We were extatic to see that there was a fantastic surf break literally right in front of the house...an easy 5 min paddle and you were riding beautiful friendly waves perfect for both beginners and intermediate surfers. No shortage of places to rent boards from either, there are great deals just down the path. We enjoyed having Ari keep the place nice and tidy (and sand free) for us while we were at play. She was so helpful and even helped us to practice our spanish. Armordio, the caretaker is a warm heart willing to do anything to make your stay perfect. He even built us a fire on the beach and chased down the fisherman on his surfboard so we could buy fresh fish. Peter made himself available for any questions we had, even at peculiar hours of the night :)Caranero has all you need just steps away but make sure to take advantage of Fabian and his boat service to take you all over the islands, the adventures are endless. We were a group of couples ages 27-33 and we were not bored for a second. This vacation destination is the perfect mix of rest, luxury, adventure, exploration and nightlife. We have travelled a lot and this trip definitely makes it to the top of our favorite list. Thanks Peter for a fantastic time!!!

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

  Owner response: Hi Laura and the rest of the gang, It was our pleasure to have you stay at the Lodge and thank you very much for your kind words :) I must say, you maxed out your stay, mixing it up with every possible available activity and experiencing a wide variety of memorable moments. It made me realize your ten day stay made this possible, as most guests say, I wish we had booked for longer. Thank you for treating our home with respect. We look forward to seeing you again and continuing our conversations :) Armodio and Ari send their regards. Do keep in touch. Abrazos, Andrea and Peter.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Great location, central to Bocas activities and beautiful, spacious property

  Great location, central to Bocas activities and beautiful, spacious property

  • Guest cludden
  • Date of stay 02/05/11
  • Review Submitted 02/13/11
  Vista Azul provided us (a group ranging from nine to 11 people, couples and singles) with a great and memorable vacation home. The house is incredibly spacious. Rooms offer private baths, king beds (twins also available) and a welcoming open floor plan with a large living area and connected kitchen. Also worth mentioning is the air-conditioners in each room. You might not need it every night of your stay, but it's a definite treat for colder blooded folks. The property is a quick water taxi ride to Bocas Town, where you'll find great dining variety, night life and boutique shopping, but its location is pleasantly removed from the in-and-out of daily life in the busier town near by. We had a blast exploring the nearby beaches, surf breaks and watering holes (Bibi's offers a great happy hour and is a quick two-minute walk down the path). Local guides were readily available to take us to landmarks further away, such as Starfish Beach and Bird Island. The local house staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. We opted to do our own grocery shopping and cooking, but were told these services were available for a nominal fee of $30/day. The kitchen is fully equipped. Washer/dryer are also available, however water is limited so we only used once or twice. Although it didn't bother us, it's worth noting that the beach out front of the house is not a private beach and locals and visitors alike end up in the "front yard" from about 10:00am until 4:00pm. Again, not a huge deal unless you're looking for total privacy. Wireless is available, but not entirely reliable. And definitely take lots of bug spray; the sand flies/flees were definitely noticeable throughout the day. All in all, the house is a great find. Although none of our crew were getting hitched, it would have made for a great small family wedding destination or family reunion location. As it was, we were a group of family and friends, all ages and activity levels, coming in from all over the states and we all had a blast during our stay. Highly recommended for a those looking for a fun, family-friendly, community-friendly, luxurious vacation home!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing house in perfectly location, cannot go wrong!

  Amazing house in perfectly location, cannot go wrong!

  • Guest Curtis
  • Date of stay 09/07/10
  • Review Submitted 11/11/10
  We had a group of 10 people stay at Peter & Andrea's home back in Sept. Upon arrival we were simply stunned by the property. This house is without a doubt a special one of a kind home that had an enormous amount of time and thought put into it. Furniture like the very large wooden dinner table are from all over the world. The home is massive and has plenty of space for many people. As another reviewer hit on, we had someone walk right up on the porch and ask us where the "front desk" was - people really do think it's a hotel or resort of it's own. A/C in the bedrooms works great. Special touches to each room makes them unique. The beach right in front of the property is perfect, and you can easily swim out to the small reef and snorkel. Water taxi's are easy to get a hold of and the house is not that far from Bocas Town, even if you want to stay out late at the bars, you can get a ride home. It is very quite and nice being away from Bocas Town. Andrea and Peter helped arrange everything for us upon arrival and were very informative. We will absolutely return! Thank you Andrea & Peter!

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Fantastic Property

  Fantastic Property

  • Guest Clint
  • Date of stay 09/06/10
  • Review Submitted 09/17/10
  We had the pleasure of spending a week at the Kents property and I wish we had scheduled an additional week! We had 10 people in our party and there was more than enough room for everyone... never did we feel limited on space. This is an absolutely beautiful property with a high level of attention to detail to make sure everyone is comfortable and relaxed. All you need to do is show up and they will take care of everything! This house and the people supporting it definitely made our vacation what it was. Thanks again!! We'll be back.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Great Place

  Great Place

  • Guest keoneu
  • Date of stay 07/13/10
  • Review Submitted 07/30/10
  We stayed in July 2010. I travel with my large family. The house can only be accessed by boat which is fine because there are water taxis are available in abundance and that is how things are done in Bocas Town area. The house and beachfront are actually as nice or nicer than the photos show. The occaisional passerby often mistook the home for a resort. Although I must say that home and the grounds are much nicer than the resort located a ways down the island. The look on my family's faces was priceless as we arrived at the dock. The property was clean, well maintained, and spacious enough to comfortably accommodate our family of 9. The owners, Andrea and Peter were very helpful and accommodating. We had never been to Central America and they are very knowledgeable and well connected down there. We came in accross the Costa Rican boarder. Peter had arranged for our taxi to be waiting for us. Willie (our taxi driver) was extremely competent. He recognized us as the car pulled up (even though we had never met) and had two large men waiting to carry our bags accross the Sixaola bridge. Given that bridge I can tell you that felt like a Godsend. From there it felt like Willie swept us off of our feet and got us were we needed to be safely and on time. He was very knowlegable about the area and a pleasant man to be around. If there were any questions or issues Peter was very responsive and on top of it. He has an entire network of people set up that are there to give assistance and provide service. Plus, he is well known and respected in the area. We relied upon Fabian to provide our taxi service and he was responsive on a moments notice and always available and accommodating. The Bocas Islands are beautiful,we experienced about 40 foot of visibility in the water when we were there. The hose has a reef in the bay out front. We did some snorkeling and diving in other spots there in the islands, but I found the reef right there in the bay in front of the house to be just as good as any of the other places. The people are very congenial and genuine. A water taxi ride to another local island is $1. Land taxis in Bocas Town are $1. Panama is rich in natural beauty.

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

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• One of the Best Houses on Carenero

  One of the Best Houses on Carenero

  • Guest mundo numero uno
  • Date of stay 04/08/10
  • Review Submitted 04/08/10
  I had the fortunate experience to stay at the Kent's home on Carenero several times in the past three years. I have stayed in other homes on the island and consider the Kents as having all of what I need in a Caribbean stay; right on the water, great view of the channel, close to the best surf in the area, close to several good food and drink establishments, nice groundskeeping bordered by lush vegetation. The home is airy, clean and made from some beautiful local woods. Bocas central is a short boat ride or walk away but far enough to keep you in quite comfort. Any person who has the opportunity to stay at this home will be extremely happy. Edmund

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Angela and Pedro
  • Date of stay 04/01/10
  • Review Submitted 04/12/10
  Wow, this is a beautiful place! I feel refreshed, inspired and awake. Each morning I awake to the sun beaming over the water into our room calling me to my morning yoga. We are staying in the upstairs master suite w/the outdoor shower and jacuzzi tub, thus the outside deck is spacious enough for me to do my stretches and meditate. I keep getting distracted by the views! I went for a walk up to the headland and now understand why they call it Bocas Del Toro (mouth of the Bull). Beneath the headland point is a small cave like are carved by the waves which is the "mouth" roaring with each pounding surf (or at least that's what I think). Today I will continue my journey around Carenero to the other side of the island and do the whole loop through town. Last night we enjoyed dinner at the Bocas Bamboo Beach Club in town. It was so pleasant to sit outside and watch the people walk by while sipping a South American wine. Tonight we head to El Picado (the sin). We heard it is a Thai fusion type place with great Sangria. We also were told to go enjoy the BBQ burgers at the Pickled Parrot down the beach from the house. Friday is the Marina. I don't want to step on a scale. Thank you Andrea and Peter for providing our perfect vacation get-away!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• wow

  wow

  • Guest pete e.
  • Date of stay 02/15/10
  • Review Submitted 04/21/10
  jawdropping views every day, amazing architecture . Carenero seduced me immediately. It was like walking into a postcard.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• A week in Paradise

  A week in Paradise

  • Guest Ruffino
  • Date of stay 02/15/10
  • Review Submitted 04/16/10
  I was fortunate enough to stay at the Kent's Caribbean Beachfront House for a week in Feb '10. Their beautifully appointed house has everything that one could want in a luxury rental - the house is very large and open with spectacular Caribbean views from every room !! When i visited, we a a total of 7 people, never once did i feel cramped or crowded - we were all able to work comfortably in the kitchen for our nightly dinners !! The house has a wonderful floor plan - each bedroom is a suite with it's own bathroom and deck overlooking the beautiful Caribbean Sea - was absolutely perfect !! There are large native hardwood decks that are great for dining alfresco or just enjoying a drink and taking in the beautiful surroundings - something we did every evening. The Kent's beautiful Caribbean property is spotless, has a beautiful beach, is quiet and serene, yet is just a short boat ride (about 10 minutes) to the the cute little town where there are shops, grocery stores, restaurants and nightclubs - was never a problem getting a water taxi to hit the town. I had a wonderful visit and would HIGHLY recommend vacationers to stay at their oasis - i look forward to returning again - a special thanks to the Kent's for sharing their property with me.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Amazing Holiday Getaway

  Amazing Holiday Getaway

  • Guest EastBayFootie
  • Date of stay 08/10/09
  • Review Submitted 04/22/10
  I had the pleasure of staying in the Kent's home for 10 days in August of 2008. The home and island offer all sorts of activities. From relaxing on the veranda, to wandering the secluded beaches, snorkeling just off the shore to bbq-ing on the beach in front of the house. The home was decorated impeccably, designed to take advantage of it's unique location. Standing in the center of the living room, you look out to the lush jungle at the back of the house and turning around, out toward the Caribbean. The house includes all sorts of amenities, high speed internet, television, etc. that can keep the little ones entertained while the adults are enjoying the natural amenities. The house was a short boat ride from town so it was easy to get groceries, and anything else that you might need. Relaxing has never been easier.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Great place to Relax

  Great place to Relax

  • Guest oaklandca
  • Date of stay 08/01/07
  • Review Submitted 04/16/10
  Great, spacious home that has everything you'll need. Snorkeling is only a few feet from the door, quiet beach as well. The home is very spacious, the decks are perfect, and a huge family dining room table makes large meals really enjoyable. I miss this house.

  Recommended for: Families with young children

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest grantie
  • Date of stay 07/23/07
  • Review Submitted 04/26/10
  We stayed in this home almost 3 years ago and it is just spectaclar. It is truly what you envision when you imagine what paradise is like. The house accomodates a lot of people very easily and is right on its own private beach. It is quiet, a little path takes you to a casual dinner out if you are so inclined or you can get a water taxi over to the main area of town where there are all the ammenities. There is great surfing and snorkeling or you can just enjoy the foot paths around the island. The weather is what you would expect in a tropical country - warm and balmy. If you are looking for a tropical paradise - this is it.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2