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4BR villa in Nosara

Casa del Mar - Eco Aqua Villa - Villas for Rent in Bocas del Toro Province, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama

This is not a conventional holiday home – and that is exactly what made our stay memorable. Casa del Mar really feels like living in the middle of the Bocas archipelago: a house on stilts over the sea, surrounded by water, jungle and mangroves, reached by boat rather than road. We especially enjoyed the rhythm of everyday life there: watching the weather move across the water, using the SUPs to get around, spotting wildlife and dolphins, and experiencing how a remote house works with rainwater and limited resources. It felt much closer to actually living on a tropical island than simply staying at a resort. The house is spacious and very well placed for exploring the area by boat. José took us on a great trip around Dolphin Bay, to Coral Cay and Zapatilla, and we also enjoyed visiting the nearby cacao farm. A distinctive place, and one of those stays where the location itself becomes a major part of the travel experience.

It was beautiful. The villa is superb, very well decorated, ideal for 6. We were able to try out the tree house at the bottom of the garden, a nice experience. The kitchen is very well equipped, and the ceiling fans are very welcome. We used the canoes to go for a ride; it was great. The water is clear, and you can see beautiful starfish. A big thank you to Captain José for taking us on his boat. We took the cocoa farm tour: a must!! And the cherry on the cake: we could see dolphins from the terrace 💕

C’était magnifique. La villa est superbe, très bien décorée, idéal pour 6. Nous avons pu tester la cabane perchée au fond du jardin, une expérience sympa . La cuisine est très bien équipée, les ventilateurs de plafond sont bien appréciables. Nous avons utilisé les canoës pour se balader autour, c’était super. L’eau est clair et on peut voir de belles étoiles de mer. Un grand merci au capitaine José pour nous avoir emmener sur son bateau. Nous avons fait la visite de la ferme de cacao: à faire !! Et cerise sur le gâteau: on a pu voir des dauphins depuis la terrasse 💕

I don't think I can write a review that fairly reflects the incredible experience we had in this house. I can venture to say that this house is the embodiment of happiness and joy. The people who support this house are all exceptional individuals. They went above and beyond to ensure our happiness at all times. I recommend a stay in this house to everyone!

Je ne penses pas que je suis capable d'écrire un commentaire qui reflète de manière juste l'expérience incroyable que nous avons vécu dans cette maison. Je peux m'essayer en disant que cette maison est l'incarnation du bonheur et de la joie. Les gens qui supportent cette maison sont tous des personnes exceptionnelles. Ils ont tout fait pour s'assurer de notre bonheur à tout moment. Je recommande à tous de vivre un séjour dans cette maison!

The house is as it appears in the photos. Very nice and super comfortable. There were 7 of us, and it was perfect. The house is super equipped. It has everything you need to go on excursions and have a beautiful stay.

La casa es tal cual se ve en las fotos. Muy linda y súper cómoda. Éramos 7 y estuvimos perfectos. La casa está súper equipada. Tiene de todo para hacer las excursiones y para tener una estadía hermosa.

We spent five nights at Julia's place during the rainy season end of June/first of July, and we had a remarkable experience. The transportation from the airport was seamless. Papa Jose is the best boat captain. He is super flexible and knows many people. Chef Jose - you just have to experience his fine cuisine. Don't miss out on the chef opportunity - it is well worth it. The place is wonderful, calm water, paddle boards, kayaks and the resident sloth. Erika helped tremendously coordinating our excursions. The chocolate farm and the monkey sanctuary are an experience you will not want to miss out on. Also Papa Jose navigates the waters brilliantly even in our groups adventurous trip out during some rain (don't let it stop you). Papa Jose also took us to a mangrove island with an amazing coral reef for those wanting to snorkel-it was AMAZING! I would highly recommend this place because you are well cared for your entire stay.

We had a terrific stay with our three kids (14,  11, 7)! The house has everything you need. We fished off the docks, snorkeled, played with the dogs, and walked on the jungle path step. It was a quiet time of the year - we enjoyed watching the locals passed by on the dugout canoes. This will be a super memorable experience for the whole family!

Everything was absolutely wonderful. The house is beautiful, super quiet and relaxing. 1000/10. I highly recommend it. I would definitely come back. We went snorkeling, paddleboarding, and saw dolphins in their natural habitat, coral life, and starfish! You really have to live the experience to understand.

Todo absolutamente Maravilloso, la casa es precioso, súper tranquilo y relajado, 1000/10 lo súper recomiendo, volvería sin duda alguna. Hicimos snorkel, Paddleboard, vimos delfines en su hábitat natural, la vida en los corales, las estrellas de mar! La verdad deben vivir la experiencia para entender.

My family just returned from spending a week a Julia's place in Bocas. From the moment we arrived in Bocas, Erika, Katerin, and Jose took care of everything. What a beautiful home in a peaceful and serene setting. The sunrise was spectacular over the glassy bay. We spent countless hours in the hammocks or on the porch enjoying the clear water and wildlife that was swimming by. Our adult kids spent a lot of time enjoying the hiking trails, or snorkeling and exploring the area in the kayaks and paddle boards. The Casa Del Mar team were all very attentive and available whenever needed. Jose took us on multiple excursions during our time there. We had no problems scheduling our trips into Bocas Town for a meal, shopping or groceries. Even with 6 people in the house we had no issues with power. We ran the fans in each room every evening without issue even with the refrigerator and some fans running throughout the day. I would not hesitate to book this place again and hope to return.

We had a great time at this beautiful place. It’s not easy to describe, you have to experience it. Paddling with the dolphins almost on a daily base. Enjoying the wildlife in the backyard jungle and my daughter really enjoyed the 2 dogs who were always walking with us no matter how far we went. Having Jose available with the boat is a big plus, he took us anywhere we needed to go. From snorkelling in the reef to doing groceries in town.

Perfect.  Very special location.  Amazing view.  Great nature.  Dream team in support.

The house is spacious and located right on the water – a wonderful place of tranquility. We enjoyed the days here. The jungle behind the house was particularly fascinating: among other things, we were able to observe sloths every day. There is even a large eagle owl living under the house – a real highlight! :-) The service and transfer worked flawlessly; everything was perfectly organized. We would come back. The only criticism is the lack of hot water. With three showers, a bathtub, and a large sink area in the kitchen, you would expect the hot water supply to work reliably at a price of $500 per night.

Das Haus ist grosszügig gebaut und liegt direkt auf dem Wasser – ein wunderbarer Ort der Ruhe. Wir haben die Tage hier sehr genossen. Besonders faszinierend war der Dschungel hinter dem Haus: Wir konnten unter anderem täglich Faultiere beobachten. Unter dem Haus lebt sogar ein grosser Adlerochen – ein echtes Highlight! :-) Service und Transfer haben einwandfrei funktioniert, alles war bestens organisiert. Wir würden jederzeit wiederkommen. Einziger Kritikpunkt ist das fehlende Warmwasser. Bei drei Duschen, einer Badewanne und einem grossen Spülbereich in der Küche dürfte man bei einem Preis von 500 $ pro Nacht erwarten, dass die Warmwasserversorgung zuverlässig funktioniert.

Let’s get started here, this trip was brilliant. If you are hesitant don’t be! First let’s start with are caretaker victoriano, such a nice guy and when there was a sloth he came out of his way to come and get us so we could all see. Our boat driver Jose senior was the best he made my kids laugh and smile so much he will forever be remembered in our household. The house itself is very nice. Offering kayaks, snorkling, and much more. There are many animals to see on the property for example sloths, 2 dogs (very sweet and cute), big snapper under dock, howler monkeys, snakes, and many birds. The one insect that is bad is the bugs so make sure you use the coconut oil. The house location was pretty far and rural but Jose was always there when we wanted to explore.. There are many trails also on the islands for nice hikes just make sure you watch your step there are snakes out there. Overall we had an amazing experience. Thanks so much!

Wow, a life changing, amazing, must have experience if you LOVE nature and being remotely located. This was the true way to experience Bocas region in my opinion. We went snorkeling for hours, hiked two times a day, relaxed in the hammocks and observed wildlife all day long. Can you image being able to see Sloths all day long in your backyard? It's possible! The birds, the howlers, the fish and the breeze all at your doorstep. AND on top of that when you come and go from the area you see the local dolphins in Dolphin Bay. When you want an adventure, you work with Katrine and she arranges with Jose Senior! If you want someone to cook for you, you can have the fabulous Jose Junior.... everyone is a boat trip away. They come with a smile to take you to Zapatilla Island or to Bocas town. And Erika never tires of you - I asked her 100 questions leading up to the stay (groceries, bugs, recommendations) she helped!  The house and the facilities are amazing and include everything you need.

If you’re hesitating, don’t! You WILL NOT be sorry. The pictures online are great but in person, it’s even better! We always thoroughly research our stays and this one WAY over delivered! We took advantage of hiring a chef to cook one night as well and it was SO worth it!

Like other reviewers, I’m at a loss to briefly describe our stay. It was as described but also soooo much more. And better. This is NOT a resort experience, thank goodness. And, by the end of the week (once I could finally relax from my hectic work life) I felt more spoiled, grateful, and connected to nature than I have in years. Lovely house, snorkeling, dinners by Jose, outings by Katerin and Jose sr. Snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking every day off the deck, and then sitting watching the clouds go by. Walks in the forest, to the lookout, and to the chocolate farm.  The no see ums were literally the only bummer, and they were manageable. If you appreciate nature and living in a beautiful house that is off the grid (care is needing to conserve electricity and water), and if you love being in and around the ocean, take the leap and book this property.  Erika, Julia, Jose, katerin, and Jose will take good care of you.

Julia, Erika and her team ensured us the perfect experience and the best time!! Thank so much for verythign, she took great care of us from the beginning until we reached in Costa Rica

We had a magical stay at Casa del Mar. This is truly a unique experience! From the beginning, Julia was a great host, answering all inquiries speedily. Once in Bocas, we were under the wonderful guidance of Jose, Katherin and Erika who helped us with all our needs. From transportation to private excursions their family was there to provide us with the best experience during the entire stay. With a coral reef to snorkel off the dock, to the fleet of kayaks and paddleboards, to our own jungle to hike outside the back door, there was always an adventure waiting for us. The house was clean and well equipped for all our adventures. This was a vacation of a lifetime and would recommend to those with a sense of adventure and curiosity who would like to experience natural beauty and a slower pace of life. If that is you, would high recommend this beautiful slice of paradise.

The house’s setting is spectacular.  Erika and her family are great hosts…they understand hospitality and are there to take care of all your needs.  The house is stocked with everything for kitchen, paddling, snorkeling.  Super fun.

Staying at Julia’s place was a truly magical experience. What a piece of heaven! The villa is absolutely stunning, beautifully designed, open, airy, and perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature. Everywhere you look you see breathtaking views. Erika was absolutely amazing to communicate with. She supported us throughout the entire trip and helped with every detail, even the smallest ones, always with patience and kindness. The entire staff was incredibly attentive and accommodating, even with last-minute requests, which made everything feel effortless. Having the boat available whenever we needed it made exploring so easy and convenient. And Jose, the cook, prepared truly delicious meals, every dish was fresh, flavorful, and made our stay even more special. We feel so lucky to have experienced this piece of heaven.

A spectacular experience, I will definitely do it again since the place has everything you need to have a beautiful vacation. Congratulations to Julia on her house!!! Thanks to Victoriano and Katherine, very kind and always attentive to any What!!! 1000% recommended!!! Thank you so much for everything, my family and I will be back soon!!!

Una experiencia espectacular, definitivamente lo volveré a hacer ya que el lugar viene todo lo necesario para pasar unas vacaciones hermosas. Muchas felicidades a Julia por su casa!!! Gracias a Victoriano y Katherine muy gentiles y siempre atentos a cualquier Cosa!!! 1000% recomendado!!! Muchas gracias por todo mi familia y yo regresaremos pronto!!!

I don't usually write reviews. Life gets busy, I forget about it and move on. But my oh my, where do I even begin to bring justice to this little slice of heaven? It's BETTER than described. We found surprise and delight around every corner from the ever-present starfish and sloths, to the craftsmanship of the home, the coconut-foraging lessons, the well-stocked amenities so well thought out, the flexibility, communication and friendliness of our hosts and plainly put — the memories (they even helped source a custom-made birthday cake!). We'll cherish them forever. We swam in the bioluminescence, played cards, ate incredible food, listened to music, laughed, enjoyed the quiet but kind nature of the locals, but most of all we remembered the importance of slowing down, giving presence to the people that matter most and appreciating the beauty around us. Casa del mar has our heart, but we're more than willing to share. :)

had a nice stay. didn't have the best of weather. but still had fun

Casa del Mar was absolutely spectacular—set right on the water with stunning views. We were able to snorkel and kayak directly from the porch, which made the experience truly special. The house had everything we needed, including snorkel gear, boots, and a fully stocked kitchen. The home itself was beautiful, very comfortable, and well maintained. Behind the house, we were surrounded by sloths and birds, and we enjoyed peaceful nature walks right around the property. It truly felt like being immersed in nature. Erika, the caretaker, was amazing. She helped us organize excursions to other islands, snorkeling trips, and horseback riding, and she always responded quickly to our messages. Julia, the owner, was wonderful as well—very responsive and happy to answer all of our questions. And Jose, the chef, prepared delicious dinners for us. We couldn’t have asked for a better stay and would highly recommend Casa del Mar to anyone visiting Bocas del Toro.

I’m writing to share our positive feedback regarding our recent stay at Casa Del Mar. My family and I had a wonderful experience in Bocas. We are very grateful for the excellent service and the opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful, nature-filled location. Thank you again for everything.

I don’t know where to start. My wife and I travel quite a bit, specifically Central America, as we scout for a retirement home. This place we have both described as our new favorite place on Earth. The isolation here is wonderful. After check-in we didn’t see another human for 4 days unless we asked to. We couldn’t stay out of the water. The Marine life was amazing. Juan was our boat taxi, he’d take us to restaurants or anything else we wanted to do. He was really nice and we enjoyed him. We stayed at 4 places this last trip and this was far and away our favorite. If Bocas is where you’re heading, book this. My wife is already scouting property to buy😀

The accommodation is located on an island. You can only get there by boat. The contact with the driver was always smooth. He drove us there at the said time wherever we wanted & also picked us up again and again. Without it, it is very difficult to get to the accommodation on your own. The place was very clean. There was enough space for 7 people. We were also able to use the washing machine + dryer without any problems. In the garden we saw our first sloth. The staff were very friendly as well as the dogs on the premises. Negative: Upon departure, we received an invoice from the boat tours (we had about 7 trips there and back). Costs were around $300-350 + $30 for parking the cars on land. In itself, no problem if you get this communicated beforehand.

Die Unterkunft liegt auf einer Insel. Hier kommt man nur mit dem Boot hin. Der Kontakt zum Fahrer verlief immer reibungslos. Er fuhr uns zur besagten zeit immer da hin wo man wollte & holte auch einen immer wieder ab. Ohne ihn kommt man sehr schwer auf eigenem Weg nicht in die Unterkunft. Die Unterkunft war sehr sauber. Es gab genügend Platz für 7 Personen. Waschmaschine + Trockner konnten wir ebenfalls problemlos nutzen. Im Garten sahen wir unser 1. Faultier. Die Mitarbeiter waren sehr freundlich sowie die Hunde auf dem Gelände. Negativ: Bei Abreise erhielten wir eine Rechnung von den Bootstouren.(bei uns ca 7 Fahrten hin+zurück) Kosten lagen um die 300-350$ + 30$ fürs Parken der Autos an Land. An sich kein Problem wenn man dies vorher kommuniziert bekommt.

This location is magical. If you are someone who appreciates nature, loves snorkeling, and appreciates privacy you will love this space. We can't wait to come back!

We absolutely loved our stay at Case Del Mar. From the pick-up by boat from the Captain Jose to wonderful dinners cooked by chef Jose (same name different person :D) everything was amazing.This place pretty much offers everything that you can ask for. If you want to go somewhere you can always text Katerin or Erika who are very helpful and set everything up for you. All you have to do is show up at your front door and hop on the boat. The house itself is wonderfully designed and it's the best equipped Airbnb, I've ever been to. From kayaks to complete snorkel equipment and boots to walkt the rainforest you have everything there. If you are worried about the chitras, don't be.They provide you with long thin pants for protection and also provide coconut oil. If you follow their instructions, it's really not a bother. The wifi worked great as well. Two of us worked remotely and even took calls without issues. Note that there is limited electricity from solar panels.

Julia’s place was amazing. Beyond our expectations. House was well stocked with everything you might need. Highly recommend A stay there.

INCREDIBLE. The best thing was JOSÉ taking us to the best places and giving us recommendations. The only problem was that it was a bit hot in the rooms, but with the fans you could sleep without any problem. I would definitely go back.

INCREIBLE. Lo mejor JOSÉ llevándonos a los mejores sitios y dándonos recomendaciones. El único problema que hacia algo de calor en las habitaciones pero con los ventiladores se podia dormir sin problema. Repetiría sin dudarlo.

A fantastic & special place: the highlight of our Panama trip. We have... the vegetation of the islands (from tree house, the sloths to the top of the hill), the sea (from swimming, snorkeling, paddling to watching dolphins) as well as the location (with all the small and large details). Thank you so much for the wonderful time.

Ein traumhafter & besonderer Ort: Der Höhepunkt unserer Panama Reise. Wir haben ... die Vegatation der Inseln (von Baumhaus, den Faultieren bis zur Spitze des Hügels), das Meer (von Schwimmen, Schnorcheln, Paddeln bis Define beobachten) sowie die Location (mit all den kleinen und großen Details) sehr genossen. Ganz herzlichen Dank für die wundervolle Zeil.

A great place if you're looking to spend a few quiet days in nature Be prepared for the cheetahs

Sitio estupendo si lo que buscas es pasar unos días tranquilos en la naturaleza Ir preparados para las chitas

The place is simply a paradise. From the porch you can see a lot of fish, starfish, jellyfish, sea urchins, everything that the reef has to offer. The house is beautiful. You can also walk around the property and enjoy nature and easily see monkeys or sloths. If you like swimming and snorkeling, the place has everything you need! Having a boat available for your tours is magnificent, Jose the captain is very attentive and helpful! The place is beautiful, simply perfect for a quiet vacation...I hope to return soon!

El lugar es simplemente un paraiso, desde el porche puedes ver una gran cantidad de peces, estrellas de mar, medusas, erisos todo lo que ofrece el arrecife. la casa es hermosa ademas puedes caminar por la propiedad y disfrutar de la naturaleza y fácilmente ver monos o perezosos. Si te gusta nadar y hacer snorkel en el lugar hay todo lo necesario!. tener una lancha a disposición para tus tours es magnifico, Jose el capitan es muy atento y servicial!. El Lugar es hermoso simplemente perfecto para unas vacaciones tranquilas...espero regresar pronto!

Julia, Erika and Katrin and the staff at Casa Del Mar were amazing! They went above and beyond! The property is on an island on the water. The pictures posted are very accurate . There are miles of forest / jungle to explore and we were lucky enough to see some resident sloths and new puppies on the property. The water is crystal clear and they have everything you need to hike, snorkel, paddle board and kayak. ( even crocs!) There are cards games and other games to enjoy and hammocks on the front porch. The kitchen and closets are well equipped . Upon our arrival Erika met us at the airport and helped us with the short drive to the local market to get food and drinks and then load up for our 20 min boat ride to the property. There is a notebook with every adventure and beach you can imagine at the house! All we did was read through the notebook and send Erika a message and it was scheduled! Jose the boat captain was a doll! A great adventure for a couples trip or family

Julia’s place is an absolute gem, nestled in the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea at the southern tip of Isla Cristóbal—about a 30-minute boat ride from the main island, Isla Colón. From the moment we arrived, we felt like we were stepping into a unique off-grid paradise. The house itself is self-sustaining, powered by solar energy and using filtered rainwater (which, by the way, tastes amazing!). While there’s no air conditioning, there are plenty of fans to keep the air moving. The views from the house are absolutely stunning. In the mornings, dolphins often patrol the area like local marine police, and right beneath the house, we saw massive snappers swimming in the clear waters. If you paddle out into deeper water by kayak or paddleboard, you’ll likely spot graceful rays gliding beneath you—an unforgettable experience. Victoriano, a local caretaker, was extremely helpful on the property and in surrounding areas and guided us on a hike to see the sloths and the monkeys.

Julia’s place was gorgeous!!! It was surrounded by corals and beautiful marine life. The paddle boards made it easy to explore. Her and her staff were very responsive and gave great recommendations.

We had an amazing stay!  Exceeded our expectations.  Would highly recommend.

An incredible stay in the beautiful Dolphin Bay! The host and caretaker’s communication was excellent and very accommodating to all our needs. There is plenty of room to relax out on the deck overlooking the bay, no matter the weather. We enjoyed the coral reef that lay directly beneath our feet, filled with starfish, tropical fish and colorful corals. Major thanks to Julia, Jose, Katerin, and the incredible Victoriano for making our stay seamless and relaxing.

This is the most incredible place I’ve ever stayed. Snorkeling right off the deck and seeing corals and fish and octopi. Very clean and well appointed with everything you could want in an escape. We loved every meal from Chef Jose, and the shopping service made everything so relaxing. Thank you, thank you.

Casa del Mer is pure paradise. We saw dolphins and snorkelled at nighttime where we saw octopuses. Jose is extremely obliging and will take u everywhere at little notice. He has the patience of a saint. Nothing is too much trouble. Katerin cooked for us some nights which was amazing. The house is beautiful. Only downside is the flies. U are given coconut oil which worked for me. Erika was amazing at communication and organising things for us. Victorian (caretaker) is great and he is always at hand to help out. The whole team work so well together.

The best part of our Bocas Adventure. We couldn’t be happier after experiencing  this diamond in the jungle right on the Bocas Bay. Julia was kind, responsive, and super flexible from the start. The coordinator Erika was extremely helpful and responsive at all times of the day & willing to help us communicate with the sweet neighbors, Capitan Jose & others in the community. Ironically, around the corner of the Bay about a 10 minute kayak/paddle or 2 min. boat ride you will find an absolutely incredible restaurant at Dolphin Blue Paradise where we enjoyed 3 different meals s/ delicious drinks. We can’t recommend this experience enough when staying here. Capitan took us out on the boat where we got to experience dolphins, turtles, and snorkeling. Zap islands were closed due to the weather, but Capt quickly pivoted and took us to Red Frog Beach where we spent a few nights after. We even swam with bioluminescent plankton just off the deck of the home at night. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of the most beautiful and tranquil Airbnb's we've ever visited. The house itself is truly stunning wood and architecture, and eating all your meals outside at a gorgeous table on top of the water is just a once in a lifetime experience. Add in the kindness and support of the team and it makes for a magical Airbnb. We appreciated Jose's pick up, help grocery shopping/delivery, trips on the boat to the chocolate farm, zapatillos, coral key. Jose-Maria's amazing cooking 3 dinners. And of course sloth hunting and coconuts in the back yard. It's incredible to wake up and paddle board outside your bedroom, then have a breakfast on the water. My ONLY thing to warn about is the insects. Not just the noceeums, we had one night where despite us all wearing bug spray we were covered up by mosquitos. I ended up with over 30 bites one night and my kids too! There are screens in the bedrooms but if you leave doors open for circulation (no AC!) you may have some tricky mosquito times!

It was a lovely restful , relaxing experience . The house was comfortable in every way. The staff were so helpful and made us feel welcome and at home Thank you so much

Wonderful home.  Felt very calm, serene and relaxed yet close enough to town and attractions to keep everyone happy.  Cannot wait to return

By far one of the best adventures I've ever taken on Airbnb let alone as a Panamanian visiting Bocas for the first time. You have the water, the hammocks, the beautiful boat rides to pristine beaches, a washer and dryer, paddle boarding, kayaking, views, sunsets, and gorgeous scenery to savor. It's the perfect home for a family trip. The jungle is incredibly beautiful. The nights are full of stars. Definitely follow their advice about coco oil and the bugs, but nothing stopped us from enjoying this house. Truly. I can't wait to come back.

Staying at Julia’s is the experience of a lifetime, the coral reef off the deck is amazing, the house is well thought out with all the gear on site to do snorkel, paddle-board, boogie board, kayaking or hiking. The home is beautifully decorated, and super cozy. The team that manages this home always goes the extra mile to be sure we have the best experience while on site, and an experienced boat captain who watches out for all our needs when on tours. This is our third time visiting and we will keep coming back, it is our family’s favorite spot to vacation, and a great deal for all the amenities.

What a great experience. Waking up to dolphins and seeing the ocean floor literally below your feet. Did a few excursions with Jose and he knew all the best beaches. Highly reccomend.

What a fantastic location! We were well taken care of by the responsive and efficient hosts. The location in the bay is unique and gorgeous. We made good use of the equipment available, and saw dolphins every day. Highly recommended!

We absolutely loved our stay at Julia’s place. After a different AirBnB host cancelled on us two days before check in, we spent a very frantic few hours searching for a new place before finding Julia’s, which miraculously was just as nice as the one we previously booked and was still available for our dates. Julia was very quick to respond and give us contact info for her local team and arrange for our pickup at the airport in Bocos del Toro. The boat captain Jose was there waiting for us at the airport and took us to get supplies before taking us to the island, and when we arrived his daughter Katerine was waiting for us at the villa to show us around. The villa was immaculately clean and looks even better in person than the listing photos. We spent an amazing 5 days relaxing at the villa, & saw beautiful fish and wildlife (dolphins were right outside in the bay!). Only negative was the chitras (little biting flies) - coco oil helps a little though. Highly recommend this villa!

What an amazing place! We had such an incredible few days here. We paddle-boarded and kayaked, took trips with Jose Sr. and visited the 2 sloths that live in the backyard daily. I can’t say enough good things about the home and the staff. Jose Jr. made us the MOST amazing meals! We would return in a heartbeat.

Loved our trip, wonderful place to unplug from it all!

Book this house! We had an incredible adventure. Everything in the listing is accurately described, and the house is perfectly equipped. The surrounding jungle and water are so interesting and beautiful. Yes the weather is unpredictable, and sure, there are bugs in a jungle, but if you're prepared for that, this place can't be beat. Highly recommend as many side trips as possible. Jose the captain is super friendly, and his funny/witty son Jose prepared delicious meals. Erika's communication was above and beyond fantastic. Pretty sure Katerina was the glue to hold it all together so shout out to her too for keeping everything on track. Victoriano deserves his own paragraph. He was so genuinely nice to us and our kids, and would light up when we chatted about the area (speaking Spanish is a must). He helped us spot dozens of sloths, showed us where the howler monkeys reside, and took us to world class snorkeling spots. The best. The treehouse is not for the feint of heart.

Very comfortable house, everything well organized, José moved us where we wanted to go, very kind. The house has everything you need to feel very comfortable and the setting is beautiful, with sloth in the trees of the house. It was a nice vacation.

Casa muy cómoda , todo bien organizado, José nos trasladó donde quisiéramos ir, muy amable. La casa tiene de todo para sentirse muy cómodos y el entorno es precioso, con perezoso en los árboles de la casa. Fueron unas lindas vacaciones.

We had the best time during our stay in Bocas del Toro.  The house is beautiful and the water is pristine. We snorkeled directly outside the deck and saw so much amazing sea life.  We watched dolphins from the deck and paddle boarded overtop jellyfish at sunset. Jose took us by boat to Zapatillas Island and we were the only people there - a private island for the morning! Jose Maria is an exceptional chef, preparing breakfast and dinner daily.  Each meal was better than the next.  We can't wait to come back to Casa del Mar!

Casa Del Mar is truly a tropical paradise. The entire staff was so attentive and thoughtful. The house is amazing and the location is stunning, on the most beautiful coral reef. We snorkeled every day and took some amazing excursions to near by beaches, zip lines, etc. The entire experience was truly magical. I do, however, have some advise (as I have noticed other guests have shared some, too). If you are particularly susceptible to insect bites and allergic responses, take extra precaution and adhere to the guidelines they recommend upon arrival. Of our 6 adults, 2 of us (myself and my daughter) were greatly affected by the "no seeums" (bugs). Lastly, they were having some trouble with their new solar panel system and it was regularly throwing the breaker which created some comfort issues for us, but they were and continue to work hard to try to get it fixed, which I'm sure they will. We highly recommend Casa Del Mar.

Wow. Casa del Mar is magical and really does live up to all the 5 star reviews. Our group included two grandparents, mom, and two kids ages 12 and 15. We loved snorkeling right off the front deck, exploring the jungle paths (sloths!), and taking day trips to Zapatillo II and Red Frog Beach. Jose and Kathy cooked for us, and it was amazing. Erika was so responsive to all our questions and needs and was so helpful when arrival plans changed due to delayed flights from the US. She even brought us a fishing line and hook when she found out our son was interested in fishing. We loved our stay and can't wait to come back.

We had a great time! Julia & Erika helped organize all of the activities once we arrived and communication was super easy. It was our first time in Panama and I'm sure we'll be back! The house was clean and there were plenty of activities to do even inside. Julia and Erika were super friendly throughout the entire stay. Thank you Julia and Erika!

the house is realy great. We stayed with our family with kids 9, 12, 13 and all loved it. Dolpins in the bay right in front the house, and perfect house with 3 bedrooms. We were not interested to visit the main city every night, so a 25 minutes boatride was no problem at all. We went fishing a couple of times, catched barracuda, snapper & jack in the area close to the house. Even hooked a 1.5m barracuda, but when jumping out of the water he snaped the line. We stayed 4 night, but a week definately would have been great.

Casa del Mar is truly amazing!! From the minute we met Jose in Bocas Town for the boat ride to Isla Cristobal, we knew we would be in good hands. The house is remote so you will need to stock up on groceries in Bocas Town. This was a bit stressful thinking that we needed to get everything before we got to the house but it turns out Jose and team can help with getting the small things you might have forgotten in the rush. The house itself is just as the pictures show. We loved hanging out on the deck and the kids LOVED being able to snorkel right in front of the house. Lots to see! There were 5 of us - two parents, two kids (7 and 10) and one grandma and we had plenty of space for everyone. We also explored the jungle trails behind the house and spent an afternoon riding horses and learning all about chocolate making. The tree house in the back is pretty cool but it's a bit far from the house so the kids weren't interested in that! Jose, (the senior) and Angel took us on several boat outings to snorkel, visit starfish, Zapatila island, and on these rides, we saw a ton of dolphins! Jose (the son) prepared meals almost every night we were there - which was super helpful (and tasty too). The whole team, was really helpful in answering any questions we had along the way. I suggest you take their advice on using the coconut oil to repel the no see-ums. But even with the coconut oil, they are no joke. We did our best to stay inside at dusk and dawn but you're in a tropical location so you don't really ever avoid them. The coconut oil does help though. The only issue we has was with the solar power system. The battery was malfunctioning and we lost power several times but thankfully Victoriano the groundskeeper was quick to turn on the generator. All in all a wonderful trip and we highly recommend Casa del Mar!

All 6 of us fell in love with Panama. The house amd the hosts are amazing. We couldn't have asked for better place to stay. We will be back

This house is absolutely perfect for six friends to get away! We loved snorkling and hiking in the day and laughing and playing cards at night. Gary's chocolate farm tour at Green Acres is not to be missed! We also kayaked around the bay to a spontaneous happy hour at the Blue Dolphin. Erika and Jose were great helps - and we very much enjoyed the dinners prepared by Jose-the-son. We were a little nervous about going during the rainy season - but it just provided some perfect overcast skies for outdoor activities! We already want to come back!!

Obviously you don’t book something like this without high expectations coming here was a must after spending so much time in Costa Rica (from Los Angeles) I drove from puerto viejo to sixaola where Julia/Erika recommended me a car parking lot where I left my car for 5 days then had a taxi lined up for me at the boarder crossing- then a boat from Almirante straight to the house! Was a breeze and from there all I’d like to say is wow incredible- I recommend communicating with erika who is a local and knows the area well and gave me recommendations left and right and accommodated my every need and want she is nothing less than amazing and I loved the boat captains they were super dope overall I’d rate my stay a 11/10 my only complaint would be I didn’t want to leave! Even booked an extra night because of how amazing it was I hope anyone who goes here reads my review and pulls the trigger- I will be back

I hardly know where to start, as being at Casa Del Mar was over the top amazing! Being there for a week was so much more than our family could ever have wished for….we all feel as though we made the most magical memories while there! The property is truly a jungle paradise and impeccably maintained. The house was lovely, fully stocked with everything we needed, extremely clean, and had such a wonderful flow. A fleet of kayaks and paddle boards were at our disposal, as was a large supply of snorkeling equipment and boots for hiking. Beautiful floral arrangements greeted us upon arrival and we were taken on a tour of the property by Katerin, who patiently answered all our questions. Jose, her dad, was very helpful, bringing us to the grocery store in Bocas after our flight landed and shuttling us to Casa Del Mar. Jose also brought us on an expedition to the Zapatilla Islands one day, stopping for incredible snorkeling opportunities on the way. Another day he brought us back to Bocas town to replenish our supplies and explore the town. All the folks who keep Casa Del Mar afloat were wonderful, though a huge shout out goes to the resident caretaker, Victoriano! What a helpful and sweet man! He knew we loved the resident sloths and he would come to find us whenever he spotted one in a tree! From cracking open a coconut to making sure we had everything we needed, Victoriano was always there! Now that we have returned to the USA, all we can think about is swinging on the porch hammocks, watching beautiful sunsets, and taking in all the glory that is Casa Del Mar! We would return in a heartbeat! Thank you, Julia, for everything! Ann Fay Lawton

Everything is very nice, the house is spectacular and the people who are there the best! A place to rest and disconnect. Highly recommended.

Muy lindo todo, la casa espectacular la gente que está ahí de lo mejor! Un lugar para descansar y desconectarte! Muy recomendable

A peaceful place to rest. Many activities are offered and their organization is simplified with a smiling and warm team! We recommend this little piece of paradise

Un lieu paisible où il fait bon se reposer. De nombreuses activités sont proposées et leur organisation est simplifiée grâce à une équipe souriante et chaleureuse ! On vous recommande ce petit coin de paradis

Staying at Casa del Mar is a wonderful and I highly recommend this property. Bocas del Toro is tiny, and everyone knows everyone. Hosts Jose and Erika are interesting, knowledgeable and personable, and make themselves readily available for everything from dumb questions to tequila deliveries. Jose’s son (also named Jose) can be hired to cook lunches and dinners, and we were never disappointed. His plátanos maduros (fried sweet plantains) were so good that we asked for them at every meal. The house is comfortable and well-appointed, with literally a jungle for a back yard and a coral reef for a front yard. We usually spent dawn, dusk, and the hot midday relaxing on the deck drinking coffee or cocktails or coconuts. Listening to the howler monkeys and watching dolphins, stingrays, parrots, pelicans, and Indians in dugouts called “cayucos” go by never got boring. In the evenings, we enjoyed watching bioluminescent jellyfish, and fishing bats swooping after minnows. The snorkeling is as good as anywhere else we’ve been. For variety Jose will take you to other reefs; we especially liked the one off the island of Zapatillo. Hiking behind the house, it seems like there’s a sloth in every tree once you get the eye for spotting them. We also saw a few howler monkeys, a huge, iridescent blue Morpho butterfly, and a basilisk lizard. Be sure to follow Erika’s directions to avoid being bitten by no-see-ums so that you don’t spend your vacation scratching, and check the swim ladder for sea urchins every time you use it. The one thing we wished we’d brought was a dive light to explore the reef at night. If you spend a night in Panama City on either end of your trip, Casco Viejo (the old quarter) is worth seeing. All in all, this was a wonderful break from our New England winter, and we are hoping to make it a regular thing.

What a beautiful location! Dolphins each day, sloths and monkeys on property, bioluminescence right out your front door, and more! The house was well equipped to house our party of 6 and each day we enjoyed local adventures. The staff who supported us while there was fantastic and very accommodating for our excursions, dinners, massages, and questions. Highly recommend this location if you are looking to enjoy a beautiful view each morning and see a part of the world that is breathtaking and relaxing.

Amazing house! Beautiful location and house, very clean, and wonderful snorkeling right by the house (although watch out for the many sea urchins!). It was great to be able to kayak anytime and Jose, the chef, made delicious food for us all to enjoy. The chitras were bad in the afternoon those days when there was no wind, so I would definitely recommend long pants/shirt and coconut oil. The glass bottom floor was a hit with our 3 year old. Highly recommend this place for a beautiful and relaxing stay with friends or family.

Amazing home!  Excellent support staff. The no see um’s are brutal, bring some lightweight long sleeve pants and shirt. The snorkeling around the deck, literally right off the deck, is some of the best I have ever seen, and I have snorkeled and dove all over the world, really fantastic!!!  We didn’t have hot showers, which was a bit of a bummer. But overall, an amazing place and we would strongly recommend staying here. Thanks Julia, Katarina and Jose.

Hi Jon,  So glad to hear you enjoyed the property and the staff looked after you! I wish you had mentioned no hot water in the shower as soon as you noticed, its hard for us to check all the system between guests so we do hope any issues are brought to our attention so we can fix them quickly. We could have easily fixed that for you, im guessing the propane tank just needed switching out which our caretaker could have done. We keep a spare hotwater heater on hand if there is ever mechanical issues. Guests comfort is #1 so we are so sorry you couldn't enjoy a hot shower during your stay.  Hopefully the fabulous snorkeling made up for it! We appreciate the positive review and recommendation.

We spent 3 wks in Bocas and 11 of those days at Casa Del Mar. We loved our time there. It is an amazing location with a great feel. The house is stocked with many extras almost everything you could need.  To name a few things-  a cooler, ice packs,  boogie boards, a room of snorkel gear,   rubber boots of all sizes, cotton pants for buggy evenings, bug oil, sunscreen, head lamps, flash lights, lots of extra linens, zip locks, foil,  coffee and the list goes on.  My kids 8, 10, 13 loved diving and snorkeling right in front of the house and walking through the jungle on the many paths from the house. My oldest slept in the tree house most nights and loved listening to the howler monkeys. We were even able to kayak with the dolphins right in front the house one morning which was truly magical. The host family Ericka, Jose boat captain, and chef Jose were all  top notch and made our stay a 10+! We went on quite a few excursions with capt Jose. He was so easy going and always happy to do whatever we wanted. Chef Jose cooked for us many nights to include local dishes and fish that we caught. He was fun to visit with and his food was awesome! Thank you, Julia for sharing this special place with us.

Great staff.  Very helpful and nice. Beautiful home.  A great place to unplug and enjoy Bocas.

Casa del Mar Eco lodge exceeded all of our expectations. We could not have asked for a better place to experience a true off grid home with all the amenities you can imagine. Erika and the Murillo family were there for anything we needed including the day trips and meal preparation for our family. There are no words to describe the beauty and serenity of the home, grounds and the expanse of Dolphin bay. We are planning our next visit already!

A fantastic place to stay. Everything was perfect all around!!!

Eine traumhafte Unterkunft. Alles war rundum Perfekt!!!

Six of us 30 year olds stayed at Julia’s place in September 2020 for 12 days and had an amazing time. There is plenty to see and do in dolphin bay (tons right off your deck!) and Erica (property manager) made our stay a breeze. She had plenty of recommendations for us on how to fill our days and was an incredible communicator; typically responded to any request within 20 minutes! She also helped us coordinate our covid tests in Panama City before our return flight which was incredibly helpful (8hr turnaround time for pcr test results!). Make sure to utilize José’s water taxi services to get around so you can make the most of your stay at Bocas!

A place highly recommended! Erika's advice on the use of coconut oil for the chitras did the trick. A gem of a place. This is where you can really unwind and find yourself again. So well equipped with everything needed to have a comfortable stay. The detail of everything supplied made us miss nothing and was like home away from home. The morning sunrises and regular visit from the dolphins made it super special. The hosts friendliness and helpfulness is commendable. Ideal for the family and we will definitely visit again!

A lovely house, perfect location, and great hospitality. We loved that we could step off the deck and snorkel. The fact that my girls could safely snorkel on their own was just wonderful. The coral reef made our stay extra special. We made use of the paddle boards and kayaks to explore the nearby islands. We saw the sloths, dolphins, and many more marine life. We absolutely loved our stay and will go back anytime.

Every once in awhile I have an experience where I can use the phrase I learned in college. Staying at Casa Del Mar is one such experience. This place is greater than the sum of its parts. There is nothing special about the kitchen sink or the bathrooms or any other room in the house. However, when the house, environment and the staff/family come together it becomes magical. One just feels at home. I’ve learned that when things run smoothly in life every one is happy. When there are bumps in the road there are people that will place blame and then there are people who roll up their sleeves and get to work. We did have a couple bumps at the house but they were handled with efficiency and professionalism and the staff got to work. Goodness we were a world away from Home Depot but when the water heater and microwave went kaput magically new ones had appeared before we returned from our outings. You rarely saw staff but when they were needed they seemed to emerged from the jungle ha ha. The gardener Victoriano (also goes by Victo) despite not knowing any English understood my weird gestures and met every request to come see whatever silly thing I was going on about. Once I heard water dripping behind my out building shower. I was concerned that they may be losing precious water. This was at night but he still followed me to investigate. It was kind of funny. I had the only flashlight between the two of us. So when we got to the building with the washer and dryer he needed to go in the back to look. So he gestures for me to hand him my flashlight. I was happy to share until he went around the back and now I’m standing in dark of darkness in the jungle. Of course it was safe but I’m afraid of the dark. It was really fun and he was just the best. I also slept in the back in the tree house by myself. It’s pitch black back there and so cool. He always assured me if I become frightened in the night he would come to my rescue. At least that’s what I thought he was saying! When we arrived at the house we were greeted by Katherin. She explained where everything was located and how things worked and made sure we were settled. We set some times for Jose the captain to pick us up for dinner the following night for the No Name Restaurant which our host was also the chief. I wish we could have stayed there for 5 nights instead of 3. * Tips for the guests: * We packed in our suitcases from home a little oatmeal some (I like raw organic sugar so I packed that too.) cereal in baggies and those tuna/chicken packets for lunch and breakfast and then bought mayo. * In Bocas in the building where the golf cart rental is there is the best to go prepared meals that are frozen. They fed us for a couple nights. A must stop before going to the casa. * I only used 25% of what I packed and I packed light. * At about 16:00 lather the cocoa butter they provide by the quart lol because the no seeums come out. * I recommend not washing clothing if it can be helped as it took hours to dry in the dryer. Keep that in mind when grabbing another towel. * We kayaked to the Green Acres Cocoa Farm. We are four 62-67 year old women. It was fun one-way. We asked Jose to come get us and the kayaks on the return lol. Took us about an hour and fifteen minutes to kayak across the bay. * We took a trip to monkey island. It’s $30.00 pp. which she uses to provide for the rescued primates. Bring your own water and some treats I.e bananas for the monkeys. * The hike behind the house was not as easy as we thought. Several times we felt we were not going in the right direction. Victo had offered to take us but we declined thinking it would be a walk in the park. It had rained the night before and the trail was thick with mud and it was difficult to get your footing. Fun and beautiful but not for everyone. I recommend taking Victo and wear rubber boots as was suggested! * The original meeting place in town was difficult for us to find. There is a bright orange sign and it looks like a new restaurant. Hopefully I can add some pics. * My only suggestion to the owners would be to purchase new binoculars and some backs for the kayaks. In as much as you can have a 5 star place in the jungle this is it. We did stay at another Air B & B the following days in Gamboa and the service and quality did not compare although it was the best house in Gamboa. Just remember to be conservative with lights and such as your power comes from car batteries and solar panels. Your only water comes from rain again it’s respectful to not waste it. I just want to shout out how patient our boat captain Jose was and his son. Erika was not able to meet us but took the four hour trip getting up at 04:00 to send us off from the house. Julia always responded quickly to all my emails and questions. One final point having to shower and wash my hair in the rainwater made my hair so soft that I didn’t wash my hair for two days after arriving home. I hope your stay will be as fantastic as ours was. De vez en cuando tengo una experiencia en la que puedo usar la frase que aprendí en la universidad. Alojarse en Casa del Mar es una de

Really neat and unique Eco-Lodge experience..! Stayed @ Casa Del Mar for 3 nights with my girlfriend and we really enjoyed the calm, beautiful, "off the grid" setting. Julia & Erika were both quick with communication and always made themselves available to answer any questions or provide suggestions.  We had a relaxing  massage on the deck with the sound of the water splashing and the birds chirping enhancing the already ambient setting. During the day we would  take the Kayaks out and explore the surrounding mangroves or take a nice hike around the island looking for sloths and monkeys. We also had 3 Amazing dinners prepared by our private chef Jose, highly recommended..! We were warned about the tiny biting "No-see-ems" and Erika clearly explained some of the precautions to take to avoid getting collection of bites, I would listen to her. Pants tucked into your socks might not be the most sexy or comfortable look but you will gladly take that over dozens of itchy bites. But don't let that stop you...! Its all part of the Panamanian  adventure. Highly recommended..!

Over Delivers! If you are shopping at this price point, you are hoping for something truly special - not just nice, but really memorable. This is that place. Julia does a good job describing everything, her info is all accurate, and I don't blame her for not wanting to over do it. But our family wants you to know that Casa del Mar is even better than you think. It fully delivers on nature, eco-responsibility, location, and comfort. And Julia's team is great to work with. We won't soon forget Casa del Mar and you won't either!

The only negative thing I can say about the place is that we had to leave! Casa Del Mar absolutely lives up to the pictures and overview provided at the time of booking. We were a family of four looking to get away and relax and we feel truly lucky to have found this place. Breakfast on the deck over the water with the sun shining and watching dolphins in the distance was how we started each morning. That was followed up by strolls through the jungle out back looking at sloths and monkeys and then paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling out front over the coral reef. We went into the town of Bocas one day and another day was spent zip lining through the jungle at red frog beach and hanging out at the beach there. Everyone we dealt with was fabulous. The owner Julia was so helpful and happy to provide me with everything I needed to know before we left, Erika and Kathrin who helped take care of things for us before and when we arrived, Jose who cooked a couple of fabulous meals for us as well us another night at his restaurant just before we had to leave, Jose who boated us around and Victoriano who took my kids and I on a tour in the jungle. The house was great and filled with beautiful tropical flowers upon our arrival. The kitchen was well stocked, there was a BBQ out back, games to play and the glass floor to watch the fish swim under the house and all the little extras from boots to wear in the jungle, snorkelling gear in assorted sizes and the list goes on. We hope to return to this beautiful place one day. Goudron Family March 2019

The Location over the coral gardens and level of comfort provided with the home are superb, we want to make this a yearly tradition its a "pinch me I am in a dream" kinda place.  Especially nice that it has something for everyone,  we had a range of ages of 11-72 kids can play in the water all day and others can enjoy watching fish and dolphins from the porch. This is the first place i recommend to  anyone going to Bocas

Our family of six (24, 22, 21, 15) spent an amazing week at Casa del Mar and we would highly recommend it. Communication from Julia and Erika was fantastic, and the local team on the ground of Jose and family could not have been more helpful. We arrived via Almirante and Jose was there ready to collect and transport us to the property by boat. The house itself is incredible, built on stilts over the caribbean sea with snorkelling right off the deck. The deck itself is amazing for chilling, playing games and eating and we spent much of our time on it, with sun and shade available at all times. The house is fantastically well equipped, one of our group is a great chef and found the kitchen perfect for his needs. The kitchen was full of spices, salt and oil but you do need to bring everything else with you as ‘popping out for something’ is no easy task! The only thing we didn’t bring with us was fresh fish, but a quick chat with the gardener and six snapper style fish arrived on our doorstep for a bargain $25. Two of our group spent one night in the garden tree-house which is an amazing experience, high up near the canopy and woken at first light by the howler monkeys. Other wildlife was a continual supply of dolphins in the bay, a reef full of all kinds of fish plus resident sloths in the back gardens. Everything we hoped for, and more. This was the end of our Panama adventure tour so we mostly stayed around the villa to chill, swim, kayak, snorkel and paddle-board. However we took the boat for lunch in Bocas Town one day which was lovely (highly recommend Leaf Eaters Cafe for a great veggie/fish experience). One evening Jose collected us for dinner in their family restaurant ‘No Name’ which is well worth doing for some amazing fresh fish, shrimp and octopus, plus incredible cocktails. Finally Jose Jnr took us out for a few hours snorkelling at a local reef where we saw an eagle ray and a nurse shark. All in all we would highly recommend Casa del Mar, Julia was an excellent host and you will not be disappointed.

This is the second time we have stayed here and it was just as wonderful as last time. The house is beautiful and stylish and a lovely place to relax and unwind for a few days. Julia and Erika are great hosts and nothing is too much trouble. I would definitely recommend this house to others!

First of all, Casa Del Mar is great. So is Bocas del Torro. If you're looking at these places for your vacation, you're on the right track. Casa Del Mar is exactly what it's advertised as; an off-the-grid retreat. If you're looking for the ease of an all-inclusive, it's not for you. If you want an impeccably detailed eco home in a beautiful secluded bay.....it's exactly for you. The rooms are comfortable and spacious. The view from the dock is beautiful. The island has great trails if you've got a special someone with you, definitely make time for some "intimate conversation" in the treehouse. My husband NEVER takes naps and he took two in it over the course of the week. It's incredibly relaxing. Erika,who is the point person, is absolutely wonderful. She leaves no stone unturned when explaining to you how things work and what to prepare for. If I owned a rental in the tropics, I can not possible think of a better person to run it. I would highly recommend taking up the offer to have Jose Jr. as your personal chef. At least for one meal a day. It's very affordable and the sitting down as a family to eat simple, delicious home cooked meals was a highlight of the trip. He's sweet as pie and very easy to have around. On Valentine's Day he cooked us each fresh caught whole fish caught by a member of the family and I don't even like seafood that much and I loved it. A few not-negatives, but things to be aware of: The water right next to the dock is very shallow so there's no running and diving off the dock. The bottom is a beautiful, but rugged combo of sea urchins, coral and sharp rocks. You won't be wading in it. The best thing to do is take a paddle or boogie board and paddle out a bit and swim there. It gets deep fast. The bugs are no joke. But only at morning and evening and just take precautions and you'll be fine. Erika will fill you in. The wifi worked about 20% of the time. Just make sure you download your playlists beforehand. Be prepared to take a boat wherever you want to go. The perks of the Casa Del Mar is that it's isolated, but that also means that you'll need to hire a captain whenever you want to go somewhere. Just factor it into the budget. However, it too is very affordable and the boat captains are wonderful and they're extremely flexible. Just think of it as really scenic Uber rides. Overall, resounding high praise. We had six people with very different personalities and each one had a fantastic time. If you're looking to truly decompress and experience a new place....Panama, Bocas, and Casa Del Mar are exactly that.

It excelled our high expectations! We (a family of 6), coudnt have asked for more! Everything was like described on AirBNB or even better. The calm and queit nature arround the house is ideal for relaxiation. There are loads of supplies to have fun with in the water (Kajaks, snorkels...) and all in very good condition. All in all, there is nothing to complain about! The house and its location is just amazing!

Such a beautiful house, perfect if you want to have a good time with your family or friends.

A great place to stay right in the water. We can only recommend this house. Super friendly hosts.

Eine grandiose Unterkunft direkt im Wasser. Dieses Haus können wir nur weiterempfehlen. Super freundliche Gastgeber.

What a beautiful place! We had an amazing time! The house is in paradise and the accommodation stylish and comfortable. Julia and Erika were very helpful and great hosts, always willing to be accommodating and help us. Very enjoyable 👍😊

We had an amazing family holiday. This place was wonderful. Communication was very easy and fast with everyone. Julia the owner, Erika the on spot manager and Jose our chef. The best decision we made was to have young Jose as our chef for 6 meals. He was friendly and entertaining, bought the majority of the food for our stay so it was well stocked when we arrived (We just bought the drinks and snacks) He prepared delicious meals and all up the food cost approximately $20 per person per day. We also really enjoyed going to Jose's family restaurant (No Names) just a short boat ride across the bay. Jose senior was our boat captain. He was friendly and punctual, taking us wherever we would like to go. (snorkeling, sloth viewing, day trip to Redfrog Beach) A highlight was having lunch and a cocktail plus swimming at Redfrog Beach...so relaxing in the tropical paradise! Don't miss the hike behind the house into the jungle to the Grandfather trees. The path is clearly marked, circular track and takes about 70 minutes, wear the boots provided at the house. We also saw the 2 resident sloth that live behind the house. Sadly we didn't get to snorkel much around the front of the house as there were quite a lot of jelly fish at the time but we did use the 4 paddle boards and kayaks daily and could see the dolphins not far away. Beware.. the sandflies can be quite nasty at sunrise and sunset but the coconut oil provided definitely helped our daughter who is the one who attracts insects. The home was exactly as portrayed in the photos. It is well stocked with towels, games, books, kitchen extras, snorkeling goggles and flippers, hiking boots, washing machine and dryer. Overall a fantastic family vacation. We will not forget the experience or the lovely house!

what an amazing home and amazing experience.  loved the reef right off the deck and jungle right out the back door.  our family with grown children had a great time and many memories.  couln not have asked for more

This is a peaceful, beautiful, amazingly special spot, fully equipped with outdoor gear to enjoy it. We never figured out the oven but cooked several nice dinners with the stove and outdoor grill, enjoying game filled evenings after active days. The Jose family is a gem of a family, always helpful and good natured.  Jose took us snorkeling and also to Bastimento, waiting with our stuff while we hiked there.  He arranged a great private dinner at the No Name restaurant for NYE for us and was always available and open to anything.  I would love to return and definitely recommend!

The Casa Del Mar ( Julia) provided my family (wife and three boys, 23, 20, 14) a vacation with serenity and relaxation, that was private yet not lonely. The whole experience allowed me to rediscover how great and interesting my boys are and how special my wife is ( this place is special).   The new luxurious ( 5 star) house has a breathtaking wrap around deck and dock that take in the panoramic dolphin bay, and literally surrounding the house is the calmest, clearest caribbean blue water with tropical fish, sponges, sea urchins, octopus, and starfish. We spent a lot of time in the water in front of the house: swimming, snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding, and kayaking; all with equipment provided.  Behind the house there is a separate facility for equipment storage and clothes washing. The island provides cleared and safe rain forest trails for walking and discovering birds, sloths, cocoa and banana trees, and views atop the island of the surrounding water and other islands. Julia has ensured you are taken care of through her local hospitality team of:  Mr. Jose Murillo, the wise and experienced guide for transportation to and from mainland , the other islands, fishing and snorkeling and overall knowledge of the islands, flora, fauna, weather , winds, and ocean. He was equally engaging, pleasant, and interesting with adults and the boys. A true joy to be around; we miss him already.  Jose, the the talented epicurean and chef, who shopped for our groceries and prepared deliciously appetizing meals for during each of days at the CDM. He was polite, hospitable, and truly gifted in cooking, preparation , and presentation.  Victoriano, the resident grounds keeper, maintenance, and security guard ( not that one was needed). He was readily available in the event you needed anything and humbly invisible if and when you didn't. He resides on the island and expansive property proving a sense of security and yet privacy.  Erika Bakk, a nearby resident who provided calming instruction and educational information and details of getting to and from the resort, special needs for the guests, coordination of the local hosts, meals - food - beverage preferences, tours for local fishing, water sports, and dining if not by Jose , the chef. She was wonderful and knowledgeable about all things CDM and Panama.  I sincerely thank Julia for allowing me and my family to stay at her wonderful resort and for the experience and special treatment she assured we received before and during our stay at CDM. Days have passed since we left CDM and I am indulging in the nostalgia of the CDM experience; I dreamed about it last night.  Thank you Julia.  Sincerely and Best,  Phillip Brown, Susan, Joseph, Luke, and Zachary

The owner lives outside of the country but the families she has hired are friendly, honest and reliable.  It was my first time booking Airbnb and so glad I did. There were 7 in our group from ages 10, 18-25 and 45-47 years. We equally loved the place. Arrival was smooth and I love how the boat drops you off practically at your front door. Yes, the beautiful photos you see are accurate, but what you don't see is how the ease of having all the water activities you desire right there on the property.  All the snorkeling gear, fishing poles, three kayaks, two paddle boards rain boots, clogs, washing machine and extra outdoor showers right in the property.  You don't have to wait for everyone to decide what to do for the day and what time.  Snorkeling is great with beautiful corals. Not a lot of fish varieties but we did see starfish, octopus, manta and sting rays, needle fish, jellyfish, etc. We saw Dolphins about 1/4 a mile away while eating breakfast so a few of us just hopped onto the kayak to get closer to them while others took the paddle board. That was the highlight of the trip.  We saw dolphins on a daily basis.   If you want to go on excursions, the Joses (father is Jose and so are his three sons) can take you where ever you want for a reasonable price and they don't try to rip you off.  They are native to the area so they make the best tour guides.  Also had great dolphin experiences with Jose traveling to and from CDM. The care takers would let us know when the sloth was hanging around.  He also would cut the coconuts for us when we wanted coconut water.  Prior to our trip, we saw that it was thundering and raining everyday.  However, it didn't. It only rained one morning so we were really happy.  It is the rainy season but if you are family with tropical rainstorms, they don't usually last long. in fact, we were with the dolphins the morning it rained and it was still warm. The sea water is calm and very warm.  You don't even have to get acclimated to the water temperature. It's perfect!! We did our own cooking, all utensils and cookware was provided also basic oil and spices.  Make sure you swim or kayak at night, the bioluminescent plankton are amazing! It is solar powered and has wifi. We only lost power once but Victoriano turned on the backup generator.  I really can't say enough positive things about this place.  You won't be disappointed.  I'm glad I chose this over staying in Bocas town.  Town is not that clean and I would not swim in that water.  Here in CDM, it's quiet, private and so beautiful!  You can hear all the lovely nature, even the holler monkeys!!

Lovely place, all of us were astonished of Casa del mar.. I recommend it 100%

Casa del Mar is magical -- gorgeous views, well-built, isolated and eco-friendly.  The house is truly built over the water on a beautiful reef with tropical fish and stingrays swimming by.  It even has a glass viewing area from the living room.  Jose and his extended family are all fantastic, gracious hosts -- they took us fishing, snorkeling, surfing and to a local restaurant on the water as well.  We loved our stay here.

This was an amazing place to stay. Erika and Jose were gracious, informative hosts who took all the planning and work out of our hands. It truly was an amazing vacation. The house is great, the surrounding grounds beautiful, and you can literally snorkel off the front porch on a reef with plenty of fish and marine life.  We would definitely return if traveling in that part of the world again.

4BR Villa