7 Reasons to Love the Overwater Bungalows at Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge
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Say what? Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge? Where in the world is this?
Also spelled Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge, it’s one of three top lodges in Bocas del Toro we stayed at on our Panama trip.
Until we visited, we weren’t familiar with it either.
Now that we’ve been, however, we’re excited to share our review of Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge – and why we think you’ll fall for their overwater bungalows too!
Overwater bungalows in Bocas del Toro
Sure, the Maldives is famous for its overwater bungalows – some with glass panels in the floor where you can see tropical fish doing lazy-eights right below.
And of course, Bora Bora’s luxe overwater villas are the stuff of honeymoon fantasies. Fiji has them also.
But guess what? The Caribbean has overwater bungalows too – like those at Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge!
Built on stilts over the water, this eco-lodge is located on Isla Colon, the main tropical island in Panama’s Bocas del Toro archipelago.
Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge review (in a nutshell)
On our visit to Bocas del Toro, we also stayed at Casa Cayuco (on Isla Bastimentos) and Island Plantation Resort (on Isla Colon).
But Punta Caracol stood out – because, well, how often do you get to fall asleep over water?
It’s an affordable way to enjoy an overwater bungalow experience without flying halfway around the world. Plus, the snorkeling is fantastic.
Pssst! It’s even in the latest Michelin Guide of the world’s most exciting hotels!
Let’s do a deeper dive into what makes this spot so special.
7 reasons you’ll love Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge
1) There’s amazing snorkeling in Bocas del Toro
The lodge is built over a thriving coral reef, where the snorkeling is nothing short of fabulous!
While the reef itself (ten feet or so below the water’s surface) isn’t especially colorful, the abundance and variety of marine life more than makes up for it.
Simply slip on your mask and fins, then climb down the ladder hanging off your deck. And voilà, you’re in the middle of a Caribbean aquarium.
We spotted needle fish, delicate sea spiders, butterfly fish, yellow-and-black striped Sergeant Majors, giant pillowy-looking pumpkin-colored sea stars and tiny neon-blue fish that dart about.
We also spied a barracuda, at least six feet in length, hanging motionless in the water underneath one bungalow. And a conch, the size of a football, was fascinating to watch as it crawled slowly along the sea floor.
To top things off, the aquamarine water is crystal clear and warm.
2) These Panama overwater bungalows are seriously cute
Built in 2000, Punta Caracol’s nine two-story wooden cabins are delightfully rustic.
They’re gaily painted in pastel colors of sunshine yellow and mint green. Thatched roofs add to the castaway vibe. And conch shells are used instead of door handles.
Did you ever spend summers as a child at a cottage? That’s how these cabins feel inside.
And how nice it was to drift off to sleep listening to cicadas, the occasional splish-splash of water beneath and the sounds of nature!
Punta Caracol Suites
We stayed in one of the five Punta Caracol Suites.
The main story of each of these cabins has painted wood floors, wooden roll-up blinds over the windows, open wood shelves, two narrow daybeds and a small round table.
The private bathroom features a painted washstand with a mirror, faded red tile floors and a red tile-and-concrete hot water shower stall.
Climb up a squeaky wood ladder-cum-staircase to the second floor (be careful you don’t bang your head!), and you’ll find a king-size four-poster bed shrouded in mosquito netting.
A large opening in the side of the thatch roof lets in the breeze and light.
Heavy plastic drapes on either side can be untied to hang down and block out the light or prevent rain from entering.
Luna Suites
There are also three Luna Suites.
They’re bigger than the Punta Caracol Suites, with additional side halls and larger front and back terraces.
Master Suite
The 1,000 sq. ft. Master Suite is perfect for families.
Octagonal in design, it has a king-size bed in the upper room, four twin beds in the lower room and over 640 sq. ft. of additional deck space.
3) Being unplugged? Priceless!
There’s no TV, no radio, no telephone – and no outlets in your bungalow to plug in your electronic toys. (But don’t worry, there’s a communal charging station for phones and tablets in Punta Caracol’s restaurant.)
It actually feels pretty wonderful to be unplugged from the always-on outside world!
If you really need to check in, there’s Wi-Fi available in the restaurant.
4) There are few mozzies
A Bocas del Toro vacation is all about escapism surrounded by nature. That means you should expect mosquitoes.
But you’ll encounter far fewer mozzies (and almost no no-see-ums) at Punta Caracol. As it’s built over the Caribbean Sea, it’s blessed with steady breezes that help keep the bugs at bay.
5) It’s an eco-friendly operation
Punta Caracol gets kudos for striving to be as environmentally responsible as possible.
For one thing, only 2% of the lodge’s 100 acres are used for its operation; the other 98% is a private natural reserve.
And when the lodge was constructed, only natural building materials (native woods, bamboo, wild cane and clays) were used.
As well, solar panels provide electricity and a bio-digestor debugs waste water.
Bath products are also eco-friendly, as is the soap used in their laundry facilities back in Bocas town (where towels and sheets are taken by boat for laundering, along with all the trash).
Of course, there’s no air-conditioning, just ceiling fans.
One thing the lodge could perhaps do is to provide refillable water jugs and glasses in the cabins, instead of plastic bottles of mineral water. (But we’re not eco-experts, so there may be reasons that militate against this.)
6) The orange sunsets are spectacular
Talk about unforgettable sunsets!
We loved reading quietly at the end of the day and watching the sun set from the cushioned wood lounge chairs and hammock on our private balcony.
7) You can see dolphins!
And let’s not forget! Playful dolphins are regularly spotted swimming close by the lodge.
What to know if you stay here
Uh oh, sea lice
Sigh…. Paradise is rarely perfect.
Apparently, people in the know are aware that Panama waters have teeny tiny jellyfish which cause little stings. They’re commonly referred to as “sea lice.”
We mostly wore “onesies” – a thin, zip-up swimsuit with full arm and leg coverage, offering protection from the sun as well as stingy things in the water. We’d bought them on our Safari Voyager adventure cruise to Panama (from Costa Rica), after staff mentioned jellyfish could be more of an issue in Panama than in Costa Rica.
The one time we didn’t wear them, we felt little stings, which bothered one of us (bet you can guess who).
Other guests at Punta Caracol, including children, swam and snorkeled in regular swimsuits, however – and we never saw or heard anyone complaining.
No A/C means warm nights
Bocas del Toro is hot and humid – you’re practically on the equator, after all. While ocean breezes, fans and daytime dips in the sea help take the edge off, we missed the lack of air-conditioning at Punta Caracol, especially at night.
We found it pretty warm for sleeping until around 2:00 am – even with just a sheet or none at all. (Granted, we’re used to cooler Canadian temps.)
Tip: Take a cold shower before bed – it helps.
Essential booking info
How to get to Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge
We flew to Bocas del Toro from Panama City on Air Panama (a one-hour flight).
The airport in Bocas is just outside the bohemian town of Bocas on Isla Colon. The lodge will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport and taken to their dock in Bocas town.
From there, it’s a 20-minute boat ride to Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge.
Tip: In Panama City, before flying on to Bocas, we stayed at the Global Hotel Panama. (We loved it! See our review.)
Rates
Rates include:
- Bottled water in your room
- Free Wi-Fi in the main public areas
- Use of top quality snorkeling gear and kayaks
- Transfers to and from the Bocas del Toro airport
If you book a package, the following perks are also included:
- A welcome cocktail
- Breakfast and three-course candlelight dinner daily
- Daily afternoon tea and cookies
- Half-day excursion by boat to Starfish Beach
More information and to book
- See the hotel’s website.
- Find more Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge reviews on TripAdvisor.
- Check Booking.com and Expedia, as you may get a better rate than booking directly through the hotel.
Discover other Caribbean escapes
- Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro? 7 Top Places
- Casa Cayuco: Fabulous Eco-Adventures in Bocas del Toro!
- Bali-Style Vibes at Island Plantation Resort on Isla Colon
- 19 Caribbean Overwater Bungalows for Your Bucket List!
- 17 Lovely Resorts on St. Martin/St. Maarten
- St. Barts: The Caribbean’s Swankiest Island
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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: 4, 6 to 13 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 1 to 3, 14, 15 Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge
We were hosted as media guests at Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge. But we never let media invitations influence our reviews – our thoughts and words are always our own.
About the authors
