Island Plantation, Bocas Del Toro: A Beautiful Bali-Style Boutique Hotel
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You could be forgiven for thinking you’re in Bali.
After all, Island Plantation on Bocas del Toro bills itself as a “Bali-style eco-resort.”
And surrounded by tropical greenery – complete with a yoga and meditation plantation on a jungle hilltop – it feels very Bali-esque, similar in many ways to some of the luscious Bali luxury hotels we’ve dropped our suitcases in.
But Bali this isn’t. This is Bocas del Toro, Panama.
And Island Plantation is one of three lovely small resorts in Bocas del Toro we stayed at when visiting Panama.
Island Plantation Resort review (barefoot luxury summed up)
The owners hail from Norway.
And they know how to professionally run a small boutique resort.
The Island Plantation Bocas resort is a delightful, adults-only, chill-out place (which would cost twice as much on, say, Hawaii, if you could find such seclusion).
Beautiful Bluff Beach, Bocas del Toro
Is Island Plantation on the beach? That’s probably the Number 1 thing you want to know.
Yes, for all intents and purposes.
Located on Isla Colon, the main island in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, the hotel sits across a narrow sand road from Bluff Beach. The beach is one of the most gorgeous and pristine gold-sand beaches we’ve ever left our footprints on – it’s certainly one of the loveliest beaches in Bocas del Toro!
Don’t worry about the “road.” It really is just a potholed sandy strip.
While it’s officially an extension of the paved coastal road from Bocas town, very few if any vehicles drive along it this far out from town. You might see a few bicyclists though.
You hear cicadas chirping and waves crashing – but no trucks, no traffic noise. You’re surrounded by jungle-like rainforest, with the ocean right in front of you.
So, across the “road” you go to the resort’s BomBom Beach Club on Bluff Beach.
Stake out a hammock strung between two palm trees. Or settle into a beach lounger with wooden tree stumps for tables.
Drinks are whipped up at the beach bar.
Ginger margaritas? Excellent, and very reasonably priced.
When you return to the main resort area, simply rinse the sand off your feet in the tin footwash bucket before stepping onto the concrete path leading into the “no-sand zone.”
The walk back to your room from the beach is literally a hop, skip and a jump (okay, maybe a few hops and skips).
Next question: Can you swim at Bluff Beach?
Much of the time, no. The waves are simply too wild.
We lucked out though.
When we visited in January, the sea was calm and ideal for swimming. Guess the travel gods wanted to swim too!
Still, even if the ocean isn’t swimmable when you go, the beach is still spectacular.
You can walk for ages along that golden sand – and not bump into another soul.
Nor will you see any litter (something which unfortunately is becoming more of an eyesore around the world).
Are you a beach babe? Check out the most beautiful beaches in the world!
Rooms at this Isla Colon hotel
Island Plantation has just 10 rooms and suites. Most are set around an attractive garden pool, which is long enough to swim lengths.
Beachy in feel, they have red-tile roofs (which catch rainwater for drinking), louvered shutters (with mosquito screens), high ceilings and dark wood floors.
Walls are painted in mint green and white; framed pictures add splashes of color.
A huge four-poster king bed under a cloud of mosquito netting is extremely comfortable.
And waiting for you on the writing desk is a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses, with a note: “You may drink this on your porch or on the beach ($15 will be added to your bill).”
Each room also has a small covered porch, furnished with wicker chairs and a small table, facing the pool.
Bathroom
Best feature? The outdoor bathroom!
The shower has a pony wall so you can look out over all the lush green foliage as you lather up.
And that tall vase with a striking red lobster claw flower between the double sinks? A bold little touch of island drama we couldn’t help but love.
Do you go ga-ga over amazing bathrooms? Take a peek at some of the world’s coolest hotel bathrooms!
Suite
You can also book a beachfront suite in its own two-story, thatch-roof building.
The top floor living room has a balcony overlooking Bluff Beach.
Tip: If you want a little extra space and privacy, this is probably the room to book.
Dining
Dining at Island Plantation is relaxed at their BomBom Beach Club, which serves up more than just beachy cocktails.
Breakfast and lunch is offered here too. And at night it transforms into a romantic barefoot dining spot, offering a three-course prix-fixe dinner emphasizing fish and seafood.
Dinner is typically available five nights a week. And when it’s closed, no worries – Island Plantation partners with three other restaurants on Bluff Beach, all a short stroll away (so you don’t have to venture into town for dinner).
Oh, and there’s a wood-fired oven too. Naturally, we had pizza for lunch one day.
An eco-conscious hotel
Like most of the smaller resorts in Bocas del Toro, Island Plantation is self-sustainable.
Energy is supplied by solar panels.
For drinking, rainwater is collected and filtered. You won’t find bottled water in your room; a green glass pitcher is refilled daily with water and left on your writing desk.
A vegetable garden supplies produce for the restaurant.
And there’s no air-conditioning – but a strong fan kept us coolish at night (we slept with just a sheet).
Being an eco-resort, there’s no TV or radio, of course. But we enjoyed strong WiFi – and everyone on the beach or by the pool was often glued to their smart phones.
Go figure! In today’s age, it seems even an eco-resort must have WiFi!
For us, though, the natural beauty of our surroundings was a stronger draw than what awaited for us on our laptop and tablet…
What to know about staying at Island Plantation
Location and transfers
The resort is located on Isla Colon, off the east coast of Panama.
Book an airport pick-up in advance with the resort; it’s a 20- to 30-minute bumpy drive from the airport to Island Plantation.
Fun freebie
Complimentary wine, Prosecco and beer are served at sunset at the beach bar on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Best room?
Starfish – it’s the only one with an extra huge deck offering peek-a-boo views of the ocean.
Must love animals
The owners’ friendly Golden Labs wander about to get petted and like to follow you down to the beach. A little kitty loves having her tummy rubbed in the lounge.
Be aware
It’s hot and humid in Bocas del Toro.
We previously mentioned there’s no A/C; the fan in your room should keep you reasonably cool at night. The “coolest” room is the Luxury Beachfront Suite, which has a thatched roof.
Also bring mosquito spray (though we were less bothered by bugs here than elsewhere on Bocas del Toro).
You have a few nearby options for eating out, but the food is best – and the dinner setting more romantic – at Island Plantation.
Breakfast
Mmm… Rates include a delicious three-course breakfast, made fresh for each guest.
More information and to book
- See the hotel’s website.
- Find more reviews on TripAdvisor.
- Also look at Expedia – you may get a better rate than booking directly through the hotel.
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Our top travel tips and resources
General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 6, 8 to 10, 12 to 14, 18, 19 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 1 to 4, 7, 11, 15 to 17, 20 Island Plantation Resort, Bocas
We were hosted as media guests at Island Plantation. But all words and views are our own, and we are always free to write what we want.
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