Villa Coco — Hotel in Hicaco

Not possible to make a review of Villa Coco without saying something about Santa Catalina - one of my favorite beaches in all the world: from the natural beauty, variety of activities, the kindness of the locals, and culinary experience. The natural scenarios added to the mandatory trip to Coiba make this spot a MOST when visiting Panama, and staying at Villa Coco completes the perfect getaway. The hotel is boutique, with phenomenal Balinese-inspired rooms, an open restaurant, an endless pool surrounded by trees, and a level of attention to detail and amazing service by the staff, it's incredible to find that everything was just perfect at the end of your stay. The FOOD needs a complete separate review: the level of culinary specialty ranging from the most amazing seafood dishes to prime beef, combined with the freshness of ingredients, and the originality of international cuisine with local twist, makes just going to dine, worth the trip to Sta Catalina all the way from Panama City. Definitely recommended, and will be back...

Beautiful hotel; makes you want to stay inside the entire trip. The place was clean and the shower was interesting/cool (outdoor shower, but private).

The staff is very attentive and nice.

The place is also well located.

The restaurant is delicious. Had a lobster appetizer the first night, and drinks. Breakfast in my case was included, and it was very good! (not the buffet type, but an actual menu)

I took the Coiba package, which I highly recommend. Everything ran smooth and I swam with big turtles! I recommend taking a long surf shirt.

The only thing I'd highlight about Santa Catalina is that there is not much to do (if you don't surf) or many eating options. My top restaurants were Villa Coco's restaurant, Sasy ( a new one, with vegetarian options), Pizzeria Jammin & Café Panachocolat (delicious for breakfast & coffee).

The road on the way isn't in the best condition either (loads of potholes). We stayed one weekend and I felt it was just about the right timing. The Coiba trip took almost our entire Saturday which was...

The reason of my negative review is due to the fact that this hotel has nothing special compared to other places here in Santa Catalina. But they are charging crazy prices for everything, Food is good but repetitive and unjustifiable expensive ( common factor when owners are foreigners). I had booked the last room available and I was paying a crazy amount like 190$ per night and when they saw I am one person, they did not bother to include the breakfast in the price. So they charged me for breakfast ( despite I had my meals all at the hotel) and despite I had a bad experience with the Coiba tour they sell at the hotel. The staff in the restaurant is Great, but at the reception the woman did not bother to even offer a cup of tea ( i was charged for the tea) after I had some issues reported like the tour for example. It is ok to squeeze tourist like lemons, but Please learn about what “ hospitality” is and about “ courtesy”. Sometimes small gesture can bring a client back but indifference can lead to receive this kind...