Location
Palmar Tent Lodge is located on the Caribbean side of Panama directly on World Famous Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos in the Bocas del Toro Province. The property is perfectly positioned between the rainforest and the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. The location offers incredible views of the primitive coastline and nearby islands and the sunrise from the property is incredible. Amazingly, the property is only a 15 minute boat ride from Bocas Town and Old Bank on Isla Bastimentos is only a 10 minute boat ride away. You may also walk just down the beach to the very popular Red Frog Beach Resort.
How to Get to Palmar Tent Lodge
How to get to Bocas del Toro, Panama:
From Panama City: Fly to Bocas on Air Panama (around $106 one way, 1 hour) OR take an overnight bus departing from Albrook Bus Station to Almirante ($28 one way, 10 hours) and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From David, Panama: Take a bus to Almirante ($8 one way, 4 hours) and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From San Jose: Fly to Bocas on Nature Air ($104-$180 one way, 1 hour) OR take the Bocatoreños Bus Line to Changuinola, Panama that departs daily at 9 am from in front of Hotel Cocorí in San Jose ($14 one way, 6 hours). From Changuinola take a taxi to Almirante ($5-10 per person, 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica: You can either take a super fast and easy shuttle service from Puerto Viejo to Bocas (about $25-30 one way, www.caribeshuttle.com, you can sign up directly from our website by clicking here!) OR you can take a bus to the border at Sixaola ($3, 2 or so hours) and then a taxi from the border to Almirante ($10 per person, 1 hour 15 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
How to get to Palmar Tent Lodge from Bocas Town:
Once you are in Bocas Town, find your way to our sister hostel, Casa Verde Hostel & Guesthouse, located on Avenida Sur just past the ferry dock. Taxi's are only 60 cents per person and will drop you off right at the door. If you have a reservation our receptionists will be expecting you and you can check in with them and have them help you arrange your transportation to Palmar. If you do not have a reservation they can help give you more information and let you know what our availability is, if we have an opening you can book it on the spot. We can store your luggage at Casa Verde while you grocery shop or check out the town and then you can catch one of our 2 daily shuttles (9:45 and 4:30) from the Casa Verde Dock. While you wait you are welcome to relax and have a meal and a cocktail at their waterfront bar and restaurant.
*IMPORTANT: Please come check in at Casa Verde before coming out to the tent lodge! If you try to take a boat to Red Frog and find us on your own you may not find the lodge very easily as Red Frog is a large area with multiple entrances. It is no fun to be hiking around lost with all of your gear! Additionally, you need to pick up a Palmar wristband at Casa Verde reception to ensure that you don't have to pay the $3 admission fee at the Palmar Dock. This wristband is good for free entrance only at the Palmar dock, NOT the Red Frog Marina dock. At Casa Verde they can also make sure that you boat driver takes you to the correct entrance if you choose to arrive separately from our shuttle.
After a picturesque 15 minute boat ride on our shuttle through the islands of Bocas the boat will bring you to the bayside entrance to Red Frog Beach where a member of our staff will meet you and can help with your luggage if you need assistance. You then have a beautiful 10 minute walk to Palmar Tent Lodge through a nice jungle path where you can see monkeys, sloths, red frogs and caimans if you keep your eyes open!
From Panama City: Fly to Bocas on Air Panama (around $106 one way, 1 hour) OR take an overnight bus departing from Albrook Bus Station to Almirante ($28 one way, 10 hours) and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From David, Panama: Take a bus to Almirante ($8 one way, 4 hours) and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From San Jose: Fly to Bocas on Nature Air ($104-$180 one way, 1 hour) OR take the Bocatoreños Bus Line to Changuinola, Panama that departs daily at 9 am from in front of Hotel Cocorí in San Jose ($14 one way, 6 hours). From Changuinola take a taxi to Almirante ($5-10 per person, 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
From Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica: You can either take a super fast and easy shuttle service from Puerto Viejo to Bocas (about $25-30 one way, www.caribeshuttle.com, you can sign up directly from our website by clicking here!) OR you can take a bus to the border at Sixaola ($3, 2 or so hours) and then a taxi from the border to Almirante ($10 per person, 1 hour 15 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($4 per person, 30 minutes).
How to get to Palmar Tent Lodge from Bocas Town:
Once you are in Bocas Town, find your way to our sister hostel, Casa Verde Hostel & Guesthouse, located on Avenida Sur just past the ferry dock. Taxi's are only 60 cents per person and will drop you off right at the door. If you have a reservation our receptionists will be expecting you and you can check in with them and have them help you arrange your transportation to Palmar. If you do not have a reservation they can help give you more information and let you know what our availability is, if we have an opening you can book it on the spot. We can store your luggage at Casa Verde while you grocery shop or check out the town and then you can catch one of our 2 daily shuttles (9:45 and 4:30) from the Casa Verde Dock. While you wait you are welcome to relax and have a meal and a cocktail at their waterfront bar and restaurant.
*IMPORTANT: Please come check in at Casa Verde before coming out to the tent lodge! If you try to take a boat to Red Frog and find us on your own you may not find the lodge very easily as Red Frog is a large area with multiple entrances. It is no fun to be hiking around lost with all of your gear! Additionally, you need to pick up a Palmar wristband at Casa Verde reception to ensure that you don't have to pay the $3 admission fee at the Palmar Dock. This wristband is good for free entrance only at the Palmar dock, NOT the Red Frog Marina dock. At Casa Verde they can also make sure that you boat driver takes you to the correct entrance if you choose to arrive separately from our shuttle.
After a picturesque 15 minute boat ride on our shuttle through the islands of Bocas the boat will bring you to the bayside entrance to Red Frog Beach where a member of our staff will meet you and can help with your luggage if you need assistance. You then have a beautiful 10 minute walk to Palmar Tent Lodge through a nice jungle path where you can see monkeys, sloths, red frogs and caimans if you keep your eyes open!
