Island Plantation Hotel, Bar & Restaurant — Hotel in Bocas del Toro

Island Plantation (IP) is more of an experience than a place. It is nested in the lush and exotic rainforest about 25 minutes outside of Boca Town and right on Bluff Beach. Be warned, the road between town and IP is a grueling one...

Amenities include daily breakfast (with Vegan options), free WiFi, a welcome drink, lounging options everywhere, a beautiful pool, and a Yoga studio well worth the hike. The beach is only a few steps away.

Management and the staff cannot be outdone. Juan, Herolf, Agustin, Jesus, David, John Pierre and so many others were accommodating and very personable. The food was delicious, especially the pizza and veggie wrap. They offered dinner specials on occasion, but it would have been nice to change the menu every now and then. The drinks were excellent although other restaurants nearby offered cheaper options and sometimes larger food portions.

Again, the staff was fabulous! 😘 I sincerely was not ready to go home. It was very much a memorable and pleasurable experience. I felt welcomed, very comfortable and will definitely be coming back!

A few even-better-if suggestions: POWER - the lure of an eco-friendly hotel is initially what impressed me. I appreciate the benefits, but also understand the nuances of solar power. I feel it could be better communicated that the power dies daily and can be out for hours. Communicating this point, helps guests better mange their power needs around when it will be available. It was presented in a very intermittent manner that seemed like we would not be inconvenienced, but packing in the dark is pretty inconvenient. Also, for some, the spotty WiFi could also be problematic.

TAXI PAYMENT - to/from airport transfers seemed to cause confusion for both IP and our drivers. We included transfers in each of our reservations, but each time the driver asked us to pay. It also appeared IP forgot we paid as well. Again, not a major issue, but it would be better if this was understood.

SLIPPERY STAIRS AND WALKWAYS - During our stay we had constant heavy rainfall for about two days. Taxis stopped and planes were grounded. Unfortunately, this created very slippery conditions and a few people fell exiting the restaurant. I hope that when I return they've taken extra precaution byway of EXTRA slip resistant pads, warning signs and other precautions to ensure guest safety.

Tips for future guests: Unplug. Leave your watch, phones and IPADs. Take in the green abundance (and eyecandy 😉) around you. Be present. Eat well and drink plenty. Have an open mind. Bring a few books. Understand that, yes, you likely will have visitors such as geckos, spiders, ants, and mosquitos in your room. They may join you for dinner and hang with you by the fire pit. Also, some of the staff make better drinks, so you will have a...

First, let me say that my husband and I CANNOT WAIT to come back to Island Plantation. What an incredible experience. ||Second, let me say that I had a hard time deciding where to stay in Bocas and was wracked with anxiety over my choice... until I arrived. I mean, no air conditioning? No hair dryers? Bumpy road? ||It takes an effort to get to Island Plantation, and it is worth it. We did a couple of nights in Panama City, then flew on a small jet (a bit of a rough ride) to Bocas. Then, it was a 24-minute taxi (pick-up truck) ride to Playa Bluff. It's really not fair to call the road to Island Plantation a road... most of it is a muddy, single-lane path full of deep potholes. We brought Dramamine, and we needed it - both for the few trips we took back into town (to catch water taxis to other islands) and for a couple of the rougher boat rides.||We found the resort's owners, Herolf and Chris, to be so kind and gracious. They have hospitality down pat. Their host, Juan Carlos, was very happy to make suggestions and set up transportation for us. My husband asked Herolf which of their stock champagnes was the best and mentioned our 25th anniversary was the following night. He then offered to go into town and purchase a special bottle for us that we could enjoy. And it was in a silver bottle, no less! ||We found the food (minus the steak, we're Texans) to be delicious, especially the chicken curry, seafood with Caribbean sauce, coconut rice, patacones, and thin brick-oven pizza. Breakfast selections were limited but wow, for being part of the room price, much more than adequate. Prices for dinner, pizza, and drinks were a value.||The grounds of Island Plantation are lush... we saw and heard howler monkeys often. Oh, and a sloth crawled along the ceiling of the open-air beachfront restaurant one night! We used the yoga deck both for yoga and as a cozy reading nook. The pool was lovely. Not fancy, but pristine and totally fitting within the vibe of the resort. ||We stayed in one of the stand-alone luxury beachfront suites - and it's where we'll stay again. We appreciated being a little separated from others and loved being able to see and hear the surf from the upstairs living space. Next time, we'll get some provisions in Bocas Town and use the kitchen. And no air-conditioning? No problem... the room was rather sticky between 4-6 p.m., but it cooled down at night, the breeze was perfect, and there's a powerful fan. We slept soundly.||Your walk to the beach from Island Plantation will range from 20 to 200 steps - steps! - and it's a beautiful beach. However, the surf was dangerously rough when we were there, too rough to get in past our knees. Trips that Juan Carlos coordinated to Starfish Beach and Red Frog Island allowed us to get in some...

My boyfriend and I stayed here for five nights and we had the most marvelous experience. I cannot rave about this place enough. Starting with the obvious… the location and lush landscaping are absolutely stunning. It feels (and is for the most part) isolated and private and your surroundings are so peaceful and serene. It was hard to feel anything but completely relaxed during our stay. The only sounds you hear other than the occasional vehicle passing by on the road outside the property are the sweet chimes of nature surrounding you.

Our room was gorgeous, charming, clean and cozy. The service was impeccable at every step. The owners, Herolf and Chris, are some of the very rare special gems that are hard to come by in this world. From the moment we stepped onto property we were met with friendly smiles and superb vibes. All week to the moment we left we felt taken care of and our entire experience was personalized to us. We could always find a member of the staff nearby on property to cater to any needs. And if ever Herolf was not around, we were confident he would give a quick (and at times immediate) response via WhatsApp. There was a completely open channel of communication for anything we needed at all, from planning activities to scheduling a taxi.

The restaurant on site was charming, adorable and with a beautiful view right on the beach, it was always fun and enjoyable to have a meal there. The restaurant staff was excellent, but one gentleman in particular by the name of Edwin was an incredibly attentive and friendly host and server and he had us laughing all week long. He made sure we were taken care of every time we ate there. The food was delicious and they had plenty of varied options to satisfy anybody’s taste.

We did an hour of the hot chocolate couples massage at the Spa and the two masseurs we met were wonderful. They created a perfectly catered experience and it left us feeling incredible. Herolf also referred us to a wonderful biologist named Corinna who lives near the property and specializes in the red frogs found on the island. She gave us a fantastic three hour private hiking tour through the jungle (that flew by) to see and learn about not just the frogs, but sloths, trees, plants and pretty much any other nature/wildlife we came by along the way. She was funny, charming, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned a ton and had so much fun while doing it.

Overall we had the trip of a lifetime. We would recommend this resort to anybody and everybody. If you’re looking to completely decompress among breathtaking nature and feel taken care of at every turn, then this is the...