The Firefly Bocas Del Toro

Five rooms on the Caribbean side of Isla Bastimentos, with a pool

About The Firefly Bocas Del Toro

The Firefly is a five-room bed and breakfast for guests 15 and up on Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, facing the open Caribbean beside Old Bank village. It has an infinity plunge pool, a yoga pavilion and a dinner restaurant. Fly to Bocas del Toro (BOC), then take a water taxi from Bocas Town.

The Firefly stands on the open-sea side of Isla Bastimentos, around the point from Old Bank, where the island has no roads and a single sidewalk runs through the village. Its five rooms sleep two each, and the house welcomes guests 15 and up. You hear the waves from your bed, and a steady sea breeze does the cooling instead of air conditioning. The owners opened it in 2012 with just two rooms.

Rooms 1, 2 and 3 are in the main house. Room 1 is the largest, with a chaise, a private deck and the sea a few steps away. Room 3 looks onto the garden and the plunge pool rather than the ocean. The Water and Air bungalows stand apart, built into the hillside, each with a hammock deck, a four-poster bed with a mosquito net and an outdoor shower. Air sits higher and has steep stairs.

Dinner is the other reason to stay: Asian-style small plates built on Caribbean ingredients, a menu that changes often, and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Breakfast comes with the room, and arrival begins with a rum punch or a non-alcoholic version. Red Frog and other beaches are a short boat ride away, snorkel gear is free to borrow, and local boat drivers take guests surfing, diving or island hopping.

At a glance

Size: 5 rooms
Check-in: 2pm
Check-out: 11 am
Airport (BOC): Short cab ride or walk to the Bocas Town dock, then a water taxi

Perfect for

Couples and honeymoons
Food lovers
Surfing

Hotel Facts

Type

Boutique eco B&B

Facilities

Pool
Restaurant
Bar / Lounge
Internet access / Wi Fi
Adults Only

Room Types

Room 1

Largest of the three house rooms, with a chaise, private deck and the closest spot to the restaurant.

Ocean

Water Bungalow

Freestanding, directly above the plunge pool, with a hammock deck and outdoor shower.

Ocean

Air Bungalow

Same layout as Water but higher on the hill, level with the trees; steep stairs.

Ocean

Dining

The Firefly Restaurant: Asian-style small plates with Caribbean ingredients; reservations needed, open to non-guests.
Bar and deck: Cocktails on the Caribbean-facing deck; the welcome drink is a rum punch.

Spa and wellness

Yoga pavilion: Open-air Vinyasa Flow classes twice a week in high season.
Massage: Arranged on request, on your private deck or in the yoga space.

On the property

Infinity plunge pool: Beneath the Water Bungalow, surrounded by jungle garden.
Snorkel gear, paddleboards and beginner surfboards: Snorkel gear is lent to guests; boards can be rented by the day.
Caribbean-facing deck: Shared deck for drinks, dinner and sunsets, facing the Caribbean.
Private dining and celebrations: Dinner can be set up in the yoga space; the deck also hosts small weddings.

Good to know

The house is for guests 15 and up, every room sleeps two, and children can stay only when a group books the whole property.
Bring US dollars in cash: the restaurant and the room balance are paid that way, and credit cards are not accepted.
Rooms are cooled by fans and the sea breeze, with no air conditioning, and the last stretch from the village is a sand and rock path, so pack light.

Questions travellers ask

How do I get from Bocas del Toro airport to The Firefly?

Take a short cab ride or walk to the public Bastimentos water-taxi dock on Main Street in Bocas Town, then cross to Old Bank. The hotel does not send a pickup to the airport.