Hotel BOCAS DEL MAR

Garden bungalows on the Boca Chica shore, with island boat trips

About Hotel BOCAS DEL MAR

Hotel Bocas del Mar is a boutique hotel run by a Belgian family on the mainland shore at Boca Chica, in Chiriquí. Guests stay in garden bungalows facing the Gulf of Chiriquí, with a restaurant, swimming pools and a private dock for island boat trips. It is reached by road from the Inter-American Highway, with David the nearest airport.

Bocas del Mar stands on the mainland shore at Boca Chica, looking across the water to the islands of the Gulf of Chiriquí. Getting here takes a road, not a boat. The rooms are architect-designed bungalows scattered through tropical gardens, only a few yards from the sea. A Belgian family owns and runs the hotel, working alongside a Panamanian team.

Each bungalow has a king bed, a hot tub and a private garden, and faces the water. A Premier Suite is also on offer, and a two-bedroom apartment with its own pool sleeps up to five. Meals happen on the lawns above the Pacific: breakfast is served to guests each morning, and lunch and dinner are open to outside diners too. Fish gets pride of place on the menu.

Days begin at the hotel's private dock. Boats go beach-hopping among the islands (snorkeling is optional), glide through the mangroves at sundown, or watch humpback whales from late July to mid October. On land, you can hike to the Kiki waterfall, book a massage in the garden studio, or play pétanque and tennis.

At a glance

Check-in: After 2pm
Check-out: Before 11am

Perfect for

Couples and honeymoons
Nature and wildlife

Hotel Facts

Type

Oceanfront boutique hotel

Facilities

Pool
Restaurant
Bar / Lounge
Airport Transfer

Room Types

Deluxe Bungalow

King bed, hot tub and private garden, a few yards from the water.

Sea-facing

Premier Suite

Named separately from the bungalows, with its own master bedroom.

Private Pool Rental Apartment

Two bedrooms and a private pool and garden at the estate entrance, about a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Ocean view

Dining

Bocas del Mar Restaurant and Bar: Open daily 12pm to 3.00pm and 6pm to 8.30pm, also for outside diners.
Private dining room: Secluded room above the water, for two to four people.
Terrace bar: Sunset drinks on the terrace; bar open all day to hotel guests.

Spa and wellness

Oceanside massage studio: Massage and treatments in a studio set in the hotel gardens.
Yoga pavilion: Oceanside gazebo used by yoga groups, with yoga equipment kept on site.

On the property

Swimming pools: Pools beside the restaurant lawns, with their own photo gallery on the hotel site.
Private dock and excursion boat: Departure point for beach-hopping, mangrove and whale-watching trips.
Tropical gardens: Gardens full of tropical plants and birdsong, with bungalows scattered through them.
Pétanque and tennis: Pétanque boules and tennis are provided for guests.

Good to know

Rooms are ready from 2pm, departure is by 11am, and the hotel sets no cutoff time for late arrivals.
The hotel is signposted just before Boca Chica and reached by its own short private road.
Whale-watching trips leave from the hotel's own dock between late July and mid October.

Questions travellers ask

Do I need a boat to get to the hotel?

No. The hotel is on the mainland and reached by road, and boats are only for island trips. It runs an optional road shuttle from David Airport and from Boquete, ideally booked about three days ahead.

What time can I check in and check out?

Check-in starts after 2pm and check-out is before 11am. There is no latest check-in time.

Is breakfast part of the stay?

Yes, hotel guests get a full à la carte breakfast each morning. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner daily.

When can we see whales from the hotel's boat?

Whale-watching trips run from late July to mid October, in small groups from the private dock.

Gallery

Location

Hotel BOCAS DEL MAR, Boca Chica, Chiriqui, Panama