Entire Resort of Bocas Beachfront Lodge "BBL" Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

Margaret Dziadosz K.

21 Apr 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property in Caranero Island!

Great property right on the water! The kayak, surf boards, and paddle boards were endless fun for our family. Sizable home - great for a large group. Armodio - was an immense help throughout the duration of the trip. We loved Casa Acuario for breakfast and Bibi's for dinner. Escuela del Mar is amazing for surfing. We saw sloth, countless crabs and birds near the home. I recommend Starfish beach for a day trip as well!

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael N.

29 Jan 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Trip

House was as advertised and made for a great trip. Armodio was fantastic! He facilitated every aspect of our stay. I hope to visit again.

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alejandro S.

2 Dec 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good Place to stay

Is a very good place to come with friends and enjoy the 7 beds, livings, beaches. Ari cokes marvellous food Armodio is the best Guardian And Peter the best

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Jennifer M.

13 Apr 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

BBL family trip

It was our first time to the Islands of Panama. The staff and communication with the property manger was 5 star! Everyone was so helpful and kind. The house was wonderful, but could use some updating. One side of the house had no hot water all week which was a little frustrating. It was more rustic than I had anticipated but overall and amazing time and a lot of memories! I would rate this overall a 4 star vacation! Thank you ely, Ari and Armodio!

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maegen M.

5 Sept 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical

Vista Azul was absolutely amazing! Peter was great in answering my questions before the trip and his property manager Armodio was so helpful with everything we needed while we were there! My whole family loved our stay! It was definitely a trip we will never forget! Highly recommend! Absolutely magical

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Caitlin B.

2 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Location

The location was absolutely perfect. Right next to the beach and an easy walk to a few restaurants. Water taxi was easy to take to different islands and the main town. This is the best spot if you want a sand beach and calm water that is easy for kids to swim in.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer N.

23 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property

The property and property manager were amazing. Quick to help and assist with different tours and taxi rides. I would highly recommend this property to large groups.

Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Brian D.

7 Mar 2016

great time at a great house

Peters bouse us the best property hands down in bocas. Plenty of room for a large group and the staff is wonderful. Be sure to hire their new cook eduardo. He is tremendous and with cook anything you desire. Cant wait to come back!

10/10 Excellent

Kim V.

14 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

Everything was perfect about this property. Location was private with some beach goers that we shared our days with. The house was very spacious, beds comfortable, and outdoor space perfect. It was a short walk to fun eateries, or a 5 minute boat ride to town The staff was awesome, Armodio went above and beyond to make our stay pleasant. I would definitely recommend this property for anyone visiting Boca.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet C.

26 Mar 2019

Location, location, location!

White sand beach out the front door and beautiful views of the water from every room in the house -- This place seemed too good to be true! It was perfect for our family vacation. The staff was so helpful and kind. Catching a water taxi was easy. Our cook was amazing! ... and Bibi's restaurant, just down the beach, was a perfect place to find a refreshing fruity drink!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lori W.

14 Jan 2016

Amazing Vacation

We had an amazing time at the Vista Azul Lodge. The house is very big and a perfect fit for large families like ours. The views and sunrise from the house were amazing. We especially like the watch full eye of Armodio, the groundskeeper who watched over our familiy. The only downside is the bugs, we got eaten alive. The kids loved taking the water taxi into town for dinner. Would love to return someday.

10/10 Excellent

Karen K.

25 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

wonderful trip

Our overall stay was wonderful due to the staff at Casa Azul. I rented the property to celebrate my 60th and my niece's 25 birthday. Armodio took care of us more than we could have expected, he arranged all of our local transport and our house staff was wonderful! We knew the house was on a public beach, which was not a positive, but the whole set up worked very well. Peter and Andrea were very accessible.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sophie T.

26 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House in Paradise!

We had a wonderful stay at Vista Azul. Easy and friendly communication from the host and wonderful hospitality from the team on the ground (Ely and Armodio) who stayed in touch with us throughout the visit and made sure we had everything we needed. Carenero is a beautiful island with a few great restaurants and bars in easy walking distance of the house. We especially loved the laid back vibe at Coquito's, the excellent Sunday BBQ at Receta Michilá and the amazing espresso and breakfasts at Casa Aquario. The chitras (no-see-ums) are no joke on the island, so bring plenty of bug spray!

Stayed 11 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

16 Mar 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Week in Bocas

Very nice property in a very nice location. It is a public beach, but that was no problem. Armodio was an excellent problem solver and provided security when we were gone. His wife makes great bread! Our group of 8 couples all had king suites with baths. Our group has travelled the Caribbean and Costa Rica and Bocas was at the top of the list in terms of beaches, activities and food options. We would highly recommend Bocas and this property. The only issue was the absence of a grill to cook our food. Overall a great trip.

Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2020

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Brandon G.

9 Sept 2015

dream BIG

Bocas is decidedly Caribbean. Been traveling the Pacific side of Central America and you don’t need eyes to know that Caribbean smell. Save your eyes for the drop dead gorgeous Vista Azul Lodge on Isla Carenero. The archipelago Islands of Bocas del Toro is super unique and its recommended to see, stay, surf & party right here in this home. Its without a doubt the premier home that accommodates both family and friends. The staff will make sure your vacation dreams come true. I dream big so I know…

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

16 Apr 2018

A very special place, indeed!

Vista Azul is the perfect blend of Caribbean rustic luxury and oceanfront perfection. As you can see it is situated directly on the beach, and what a beach it is! Perfect white sand, crystal clear water, fantastic snorkeling just offshore and if you catch it right there are world class waves of just around the corner... although we didn’t time the waves right there were no complaints. Peter was extremely accommodating and communicative in pre-trip conversations. Both Eli and Armodio were super helpful. The ladies who came over to cook were absolutely fantastic, highly recommended! Awesome restaurants just a short walk away, a place to rent surf and paddle boards, and a five minute boat taxi puts you in the heart of Bocas town. Check out the Cosmic Crab restaurant for excellent eats. We will be back!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

25 Aug 2014

Vista Azul is a True Tropical Gem!

My guests and I had a wonderful time at Vista Azul! Everything was wonderful. There is a yummy restaurant just a very short walk away called The Pickled Parrot. I highly recommend it! They even custom made my guest a drink to accommodate her allergy issue. Morio was amazing and was so helpful with everything. He even poured us some fresh coconut water! He has the absolute CUTEST kids who always said "hola" to us when we saw them. It was trupy so precious. Ari was very sweet and her cooking was delicious. The was was clean and gorgeous! It looks just like the pictures. The water was perfect and we enjoyed our convenient swims just a few steps from the front door. Vista Azul is absolutely stunning and we would love to stay there again!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

George K.

23 Mar 2017

Awesome Week!

Vista Azul has views from a post card. Unbelievable and breathtaking, the clear Caribbean waters, open ocean, and the nearby islands make every view spectacular. You walk out of the house onto a gorgeous beach with calm waters. The house has air conditioned bedrooms for comfort and sea breezes to keep comfortable in the living areas of the house. The staff is great and can prepare some really great local cuisine. Easy to get to Bocas Town via water taxi or just walk down the beach to a couple local restaurants. Huge glass windows on the back of the house allow birders and nature lovers to take in a little jungle view with sloths and a variety of birds from the comforts of the house. All the staff from the airport and back to the airport and everything in between are courteous and friendly. We will return! Thanks Peter and Andrea and all your great staff!!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

18 Apr 2013

a slice of heaven

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.

10/10 Excellent

Gretchen R.

11 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding location and people

The island, beach and people (hosts, caretaker, cook) are wonderful. Armodio (caretaker who lives next door) and his family made our stay so enjoyable and easy. Ely’s assistance with getting to and from the airport was very helpful. We hired Adi to cook a few meals for us and they were outstanding (our kids are still talking about the tacos she made). Watching the sunrise and listening to the birds on the 2nd story balcony every morning was a highlight for me. The lodge is very large and provided more than enough space for our group of 4 kids and 4 adults. The kids had a blast with easy access to swim, snorkel and play on the beach. We enjoyed an island boat tour, a trip to Green Acres Chocolate Farm (about 20-3 minute water taxi away), morning coffee at Casa Acuario (5-10 minute walk), ice cream and surf lessons at Mukundo (5 minute walk), and watching the sunset at Cosmic Crab (2-3 minute boat taxi). The lodge is rustic/tropical and Bocas is experiencing a drought which (rightly so) limits water use. If you are seeking luxurious accommodations, this is not the rental for you. If you seek comfortable accommodations with easy access to amazing people, activities, some dining and the beach…10/10 recommend. Bring bug spray.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sandra T.

5 Feb 2016

Beautiful Beach Front Property

Our stay at Vista Azul ws fantastic. Everyone took care of all the details to make the stay a big success, and we are very grateful. As you would expect, Ely and Armodio are already known star players. The new cook, Oraida (sp?) also delivered with aplomb. She cooked a myriad of dishes for all of us that were jaw-dropping. Among the huge winners ws a seafood curry that is to die for. It was clear, too, that she was a true professional- -everything always came together at each meal without her even breaking a sweat. Everyone including her always had a kind smile, and extra little tips to help out. The house itself is lovely and has a huge common area for guest to enjoy the floor to ceiling windows that face the backyard. The second level deck has stunning views of the sunset and sunrise and every bedroom you could be lulled to sleep with the sounds of the ocean and the night showers. Thank you to the owners of Vista Azul and the amazing staff who work there for allowing us to stay in your charming home.

10/10 Excellent

Peter K.

24 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great introduction to Bocas del Toro

This is a very nice house for a large group, with 6 superb en suite adult rooms and very liveable group spaces to hang out both inside the house and on the deck. Amodio lives next door, was helpful and provided some buffer from the only negative of the property, the beach in front of the house. As noted by other reviews, the house is on a public beach, which means people can set up for the day within a couple of feet from the front deck. Good news is its mostly locals, not tourists which adds charm and fun, but on the weekend its pretty busy so consider your trips to Zapatillo or one of the other island beaches for the weekend. Importantly, your stuff is secure in the house. Carenero is a great little island, about a 2.5 km walk around takes you through beach and jungle with sloths and parrots on one side, and the small local community on the other with a couple restaurants (recommend the Cosmic Crab). We were there six nites and had no trouble hooking up with water taxis to visit the archipelago or Bocas town. Had a wonderful dinner cooked in one evening for us. In sum, good enough to already be planning for a second visit.

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

3 Aug 2011

Beautiful Home

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...

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anthony L.

26 Jan 2017

Best residence for large groups on Carenero Island! Step off front steps to the sea!

The Kent's home on Caranero Island is far and away the largest, most comfortable for large families and groups. Located right on the water on the island's windward side, you wake up every day with ocean waves in front of you and sleep to ocean sounds at night. Within sight, you will see surfers learning how to ride waves. The house is equipped to prepare meals or, better yet, have the staff coordinate cooked meals for you! Within a short walk, there is a lovely seafood restaurant, Bibis. Just be careful not to run into a land crab at night (they're terrified of people)! The Kent's local staff is highly accommodative and ably coordinated any boat travel, services (e.g., in-house massages and excursions) or housekeeping we required. We echo some comments other guests had warned regarding eager locals who walk close to the house, infringing a bit on privacy especially during the afternoon hours. But once we grew accustomed to our surroundings after Day 2, we were convinced of how fortune were were to be guests of one of the nicest accommodations in Bocas del Toro. Thank you to the Kents and staff for a wonderful booking experience and vacation stay, as well as your responsiveness whenever we had questions!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

R Patrick G.

9 Dec 2017

Outstanding property, great staff, we all loved it

This is the ideal place for a medium to large group to spend time in Panama. We had 5 couples, and a 6th couple for a day. The six bedrooms with good a/c were all equally great - large with private bathrooms and king beds. There are 4 large common area inside, with a bar and a large table and dining area. The best relaxing is done on the beautiful beach or outdoor decks and balcony with lots of comfortable and varied seating. We used the very inexpensive cook and housekeeper 3 days out of eleven. All her meals were outstanding, but our final huge lobster tails and octopus ceviche with coconut rice and fried plantains was the both very inexpensive and memorably delicious. We prepared many meals in the well equipped kitchen, and walked 5 minutes to Bibi's on the Beach for 3 or 4 dinners and excellent happy hours. Armodio, the on-premise caretaker, was perfect. Everything we needed was supplied. Water taxis provided transportation to/from/around the islands, on various tours, fishing and snorkeling tripd. Our group has done many VRBO properties in the Caribbean and other island beaches, and this is simply the best we have found. The owner is a great communicator .Our highest recommendation

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