Shelley

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Bathrooms

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3BR villa in San José

Floating Home Sum-Beach Sum-Where Bocas del Toro in Bocas del Toro, Panama

Terrific place and location on a beautiful calm bay. As advertised. Dave and Shelly are very friendly and accommodating hosts. Had a great stay.

Where to begin! Shelley and Dave were very friendly, easy to reach and it was a very memorable moment at their floating house. We took a tour with them on their boat. They showed us many places (nice birds, beach, snorkeling, even dolphins!), it was really worth the additional charges! We could see a sloth and monkeys right near their house, do kayak and snorkeling around the floating house, look at the stars and ear the forest wake up in the morning from the bed (which were really comfortable). What a wonderful moment we had there. We would recommend 100%!

Very generous hosts. We stayed  4 nights so Shelley & Dave picked us up in town and took us grocery shopping which was super helpful.  They know all the good places to eat and snorkel. We hired them for 3 days of boating and they took us all around and let us use their full face snorkel gear and pool noodles. Bring sunscreen, hat and coverup for the boat--not much shade on the boat & you can get toasty in the sun. Bocas del toro is beautiful!

It is not easy to find the right words to describe our experience. The floating house that belongs to David and Sally is something from another world. Just imagine that you have the opportunity to spend your holiday in a place you dreamed of in your childhood dreams. A fairy-tale house floating on the waves of the Caribbean. But this dream is all the better because there is something extra to it. Because where your imagination ends, David and Sally are just warming up. The bed is attached to the ceiling by chains, the grill is a natural part of the floating dining room. There are kayaks that will take you to the uninhabited islands that are just a stone's throw away. This and much more is fully available to you. And if you think it couldn't be better, there's David and Sally. The most decent people in the world, who are always ready to advise, help, or take their boat and spend the whole day with you, on a trip. Nothing is impossible. And even if you don't need anything right now, they're here for you to just talk to you. I recommend it!

Není snadné najít vhodná slova, která by dostatečně vystihovala naši zkušenost. Plovoucí dům, který patří Davidovi a Sally je něco z jiného světa. Jen si představte, že máte možnost strávit dovolenou na místě, které jste si vysnili v dětských snech. Pohádkový dům, plovoucí na vlnách Karibiku. Jenže tento sen je o to lepší, že je k němu ještě něco navíc. Protože tam kde Vaše fantazie končí, tam se David se Sally teprve rozehřívají. Postel připevněná řetězy je stropu, gril jako samozřejmá součást plovoucí jídelny. K dispozici jsou kajaky, které vás dovezou na neobydlené ostrovy, které máte coby kamenem dohodil. Tohle a ještě mnohem víc, je vám plně k dispozici. A když už si myslíte, že by to nemohlo být lepší, je tady David a Sally. Nejhodnější lidé na světě, kteří jsou kdykoli připraveni poradit, pomoci, nebo vzít svoji loď a strávit s vámi třeba celý den, na výletě. Nic není nemožné. A i když právě teď nic nepotřebujete, jsou tady pro vás, aby si s vámi jen tak popovídali. Doporučuji!

Thanks again Dave & Shelley! This atypical floating accommodation delighted us. Recommended for all adventurers who would like to immerse themselves between the sea and the Panamanian jungle. Very friendly hosts and more than available!

Encore merci Dave & Shelley ! Ce logement flottant atypique nous a ravis. À conseiller pour tous les aventuriers qui voudraient s’immerger entre mer et jungle panaméenne. Hôtes très sympathiques et plus que disponibles !

We stayed at Sum Beach in May. My mom and I stayed there while tying up some loose ends on a property we are buying in the nearby area. Dave picked us up in town, helped us get our groceries back to the property and we got the grand tour from Shelley (who has a shark eye for detail)! You won’t find nicer, more responsive hosts! They really went above and beyond for us, and we left feeling like a part of the family. We didn’t have time for excursions, but I have no doubt that any excursion would be a BLAST with these two fun-loving, vivacious hosts. Be sure to take a hike through the grounds on their mainland property, as the fora and fauna is truly stunning. Shelley has managed to create a try “Garden of Eden”. Good chance you’ll see a sloth or monkey too, but at the very least you’ll hear the wild jungle sounds and taste paradise like no where else on Earth! I highly recommend!

My friends and I had a great time at the Floating home. The location is tranquil and the water surrounding the house is perfect for swimming, kayaking, SUP, and starfish sightings. The upper deck has beautiful views with a comfy swinging bed and loungers. Was also great having an outdoor bar and separate BBQ area. The hosts have a nice boat and are available for custom excursions. Would recommend a stay at the floating home for a unique experience.

We recently had the pleasure of staying at Dave/Shelley's rental & it was truly amaziing. Dave & Shelley made us feel welcome & went above & beyond to ensure our stay was memorable. In the morning, roosters would crow, fish would jump, parrots would sing & the howler monkeys howling in the distance. They took us on exceptional excursions. They were extremely knowledgeable of the area & tailored each excursion to unique site such as hidden beaches, starfish beach, monkey island, bird island, charming local shops, floating restaurants & so much more. It was an adventure filled fun you'll never forget. Dave/Shelley provided us with unforgettable experiences ensuring we had an incredible stay. Overall, our stay exceeded all expectations. Their warm hospitality, attention to detail, and exceptional daily excursions made it a truly memorable experience. If you're looking for a 5-star rental w/hosts who go above/beyond, we highly recommend booking Dave/Shelley. You won't disappointed!

You all made our job so fun. We loved having you and wish you all the best❤️

We felt very comfortable. It was a unique experience to be in this house. Dave and Shelley met our requests,and were super helpful. Due to street blockades, we could not use full time. We were offered free transportation to Colon Island. Our car is on Dave and Shelley's property during this time. We thankfully accepted that. We are happy to have met two such warm hosts. Thank you for everything from the bottom of my heart. Ralf and Annett

Wir haben uns total wohl gefühlt. Es war ein einzigartiges Erlebnis in diesen Haus zu sein. Dave und Shelley haben unsere Wünsche erfüllt ,und waren super hilfsbereit. Auf Grund von Strassenblockaden konnten wir nicht die volle Zeit nutzen. Uns wurde ein kostenloser Transport zur Insel Colon hin und zurück angeboten. Unser Auto steht in dieser Zeit auf Dave und Shelleys Grundstück. Das habe wir dankend angenommen. Wir sind froh zwei so herzliche Gastgeber kennengelernt zu haben. Danke für alles von Herzen. Ralf und Annett

Our stay at Sum  Beach Sum Where was a truly wonderful and unique experience. Our hosts, Shelley and Dave made us feel so comfortable in our surroundings and were very attentive to any of our needs.  This was a relaxing and fun vacation full of many adventures. Shelley and Dave took us to many different beaches that each offered its own experience. We snorkeled, rode scooters on  along side a beautiful beach front, Zip lined in the jungle, and drove thru Dolphin Bay where they put on quite a show for us right behind our boat!

We so enjoyed spending time with you and your beautiful family!

Our expectations of the floating house were above and beyond a dream come true! First of all, we booked very last minute and they were very accommodating to us checking in. We spent a short time there but saw the most amazing wildlife. We travel with two daughters (9y/o and 11 y/o) and they made memories of a life time. They were very sad to leave. Dave and Shelley took us on their boat to the different places we wanted to visit (Starfish Beach .. Red Frog Beach)and also took us to some other cool spots that didn’t have crowds of people at .. We had a wonderful vacation .. a once in a lifetime experience.. that my girls will never forget.. We loved The floating house and look forward to visiting again. Thank you Dave and Shelley .. we miss you already ❤️

As I sit here to write this review, all the words that come to mind just do not do this phenomenal, beautiful place and hosts justice. It is a one of a kind, unique, memorable experience. It is remote enough to get that peace you are looking for but close enough to venture out for activities. Dave and Shelley know all the great spots. They are gracious, accommodating, fun, and just wonderful people! We arrived as guests and left as friends! :)

What an amazing place to stay! It is sooo peaceful and relaxing with parrots and monkeys chattering as the backdrop noise, wonderful! We travelled with two girls (11 & 13) and they had a great time kayaking and using the pedallo! There is Wi-Fi too, that kept them happy! What really makes this place is Dave and Shelley. They are great fun and took us all over the islands! We saw monkeys and dolphins and ate some great food! Nothing is too much trouble for them and they even arranged for us to do some subwinging! If you are looking at going to Bocas I would highly recommend the floating house so that you can experience your own slice of jungle paradise!

We are spending a month working from Costa Rica.  We went to Sum Where Sum Beach for a weekend vacation.  It was beyond amazing. Dave and Shelley were amazing.  We went to bird island, starfish beach and really good restaurants.  The house was super comfortable for the three of us.  I can't recommend it enough.

Dave and Shelley were great hosts. We loved every minute of our stay. Dave was happy to answer all questions and made arrangements for us to get from Panama City to Bocas. The place was exactly what we were looking for, quite and away from all the noise. We felt very comfortable and relaxed on the property. We went on some incredible excursions with them and very grateful. Loved the location and watching dolphins and all kinds of sealife right from our patio was amazing. Ty Dave and Shelley for the trip of a lifetime.

This is the place people!!  Dave & Shelly are your personal tour guides, know where to go for great local food, fun in the sun with exceptional people all around!  They are a hoot!!  If You want beauty, peace, fun, boating w/ fabulous music & sound system ( everywhere you go is by water!) taken to excellent snorkeling & swim sights, this is the place.  We quickly became friends & really enjoyed our time with them.  The Best part, what I, the one who made the reservations has really grown to appreciate after 4 Airbnb's in Panama, is their accuracy in their description of their place, their honesty about what they offer and don't, and communication .... all excellent!!  We loved the decor & art work... quirky & local ....Thank you for one of the best the times of our lives!!!

I have never stayed in a place so wonderful! It was truly a dream come true! Shelley and Dave were so accommodating and such fun, I felt like we were friends from the second I met them. (Sherry) Shelly and Dave’s floating house is amazing! The most fabulous unique experience I’ve ever had. Being in the middle of the Caribbean ocean! Seeing fish, manta rays, jelly fish, monkeys and parrots, dolphins and sloths everyday. They are so fun and gave their time to us ensuring we had the best experience possible! Oh did I mention the fabulous bidets! Thank you my friends. (Shari Taley) This trip to Dave and Shelley’s floating house was the most beautiful and unbelievable experience ever! Their beautiful cove and fabulous floating house was peaceful and magical. The sea life and excursions we experienced were above expectations. Dave and Shelley are excellent hosts and met our needs immediately. They also treated us as close friends returning for a visit. I highly recommend. (Deborah)

Two words come up in my mind when  we think about this location: Sublime and exquisite. It is a perfect getaway that's tucked away in deep nature. Completely private and the only sounds you'll hear are the birds chirping and the frogs and crickets at night. We would highly recommend this location to anybody who might be interested in perfection.  On top of that, you will never get better hosts than Dave and Shelly. super friendly and super helpful.

Pleasant stay but the 3rd bedroom is not one of them and around the house Otherwise a heavenly place

Séjour agréable mais la 3 eme chambre n’en est pas une et autour de la maison Sinon endroit paradisiaque

We are certainly disappointed to hear that your stay here wasn't of 5 star quality! Our description of the 3rd bedroom clearly states that it is a swinging bed on the 2nd floor sundeck with many pictures. (For our future guests) We have had multiple guests utilize that room and absolutely loved it!!! It is a unique experience for enjoying the natural beauty of our locatin. We even agreed to move the grill to a different location for you. I wish you would have considered leaving a positive comment about us giving you a $100 discount on the 1/2 day boat trip that you asked to extend to 7 and 1/2 hours. It is clearly stated in our description, full day trips are $200. We felt waving $100 was the right thing for us to do given the French /English language barrier.

I would like to petition Airbnb to request, in rare circumstances, extra stars because this was truly one of the most remarkable stays we've ever had. The islands around Bocas are amazing and beautiful, but the further away we went in the boat to get to the floating house the more the magic set in. They provide the comforts of home on a floating house and it's unbelievable. The house is adorable and more spacious than we expected. It's decorated perfectly and we wanted for nothing. We met in Bocas and they took us grocery shopping. Who does that? Then we went to lunch at a floating restaurant where my kids swam and took a zipline into the water. By the time we were eating lunch I felt like we were all old friends. I'm typically an independent traveler so even my husband was shocked when I told Shelley and Dave to take us on an adventure of their choice every day. A boat full of gas, a cooler full of beer, snorkles/noodles/towels/music/laughter. Thank you for the memories.

As I travel agent, I have the pleasure of staying at many different places all over the world, yet this place, and Shelley and Dave, offer a breath-taking experience. This is not a luxury resort, but it is a fun and relaxing way to stay off grid. You cannot beat the views or peacefulness that can be attained at this floating home, but it can also be a great place to spend time with family and friends. Shelley and Dave take care of you from the moment you arrive in Panama City, by setting up transportation from Tocumen Airport to Albrook airport with their trusted driver (who is a wealth of information). Once you have arrived in Bocas, they meet you at the docks with their fabulous boat that will take you to your fun-filled paradise, but not before they accompany you to get your groceries for your stay. They also offer half-day or full-day trips to many different places to see around Bocas del Toro. If you are looking for a glorified, off-grid experience without all the pretentiousness of many vacation destinations, but with an amazing level of courtesy and thoughtfulness, this is most definitely the place to stay and the hosts for you. We arrived in Bocas and met Shelley and Dave as strangers but left as friends! They definitely made this a trip we will never forget!

Staying with Shelley and Dave was fantastic! Her "floating home" is a pearl in the Caribbean and the many pictures on Airbnb are already fantastic, but in reality it is much, much more beautiful! Shelley and Dave are fantastic hosts and help with everything you need. You can also do boat tours in the surrounding area at any time (Bocas-Town, countless fantastic beaches, most magnificent beach cafes & restaurants) that are absolutely fantastic. In just a few minutes you can be in a new paradise by boat and the boat trips alone are breathtakingly beautiful!

Der Aufenthalt bei Shelley und Dave war traumhaft! Ihr "floating home" ist eine Perle in der Karibik und die vielen Bilder bei Airbnb sind schon traumhaft, aber in der Realität ist es noch viel, viel schöner! Shelley und Dave sind fantastische Gastgeber und helfen mit allem, was nötig ist. Man kann auch jederzeit Bootstouren in die Umgebung (Bocas-Town, unzählige traumhafte Strände, herrlichste Strandcafés & Restaurants) mit ihnen machen, die absolut traumhaft sind. In nur wenigen Minuten ist man mit dem  Boot in einem neuen Paradies und schon allein die Bootsfahrten sind atemberaubend schön!

I can't say enough about my time at the Floating House. I visited Panama for my 40th bday and Bocas was high on my list of places to visit. I considered staying at a resort or over water bungalow but wanted a more secluded experience. I'm very happy I chose the Floating House. The house itself is beautiful, the  boat rides were amazing, and Shelley and Dave were wonderful hosts. Dave maintained consistent communication leading up to and during our visit and Shelley made sure we had everything we needed at all times. The best hosts and I'm already planning my next visit. 5 stars!

DO NOT MISS THIS EXPERIENCE WHILE IN PANAMA!  The floating house is the most unique stay. It is comfortable, well appointed, and beautifully decorated. It is peaceful and serene. Shelly and Dave are the absolute best hosts. From the beginning the communication was clear and concise. You feel comfortable that you know exactly what to expect upon arrival without having to ask. They will tell you step by step how to get to where you need to be. Once you get to the dock you will be greeted by some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. Shelly and Dave are welcoming, kind, informative, and a bundle of FUN! YOU MUST SCHEDULE SOME TOUR DAYS WITH THEM! Seriously…. Once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the archipelagos with them. I was is Panama for 3 weeks and the week at floating house was by far my favorite. Thank you Shelly and Dave for being such wonderful hosts and amazing human beings. See you again soon!

BOOK THIS ONE!!! This review is not going to do this place or Shelley and Dave justice, but I'll sure try! First of all, the floating house is absolutely incredible.... It's a work of art! The views are amazing, the beds are comfortable, it's extremely clean, and they have everything there you could possibly need or want. Definitely take out the clear kayak! They have snorkeling gear available, but you can just look at the water from the porch and see fish and huge starfish! Their property looks like paradise with all of the beautiful flowers and fruit trees. We were lucky enough to get to watch (and hear!) the monkeys that hung out in their trees for most of the week. I could go on and on about this place because it is truly special. They work very hard on the property and I can't wait to go back and see all of the things they are working towards! So about Dave and Shelley.... Just wow!! They do so much for the community and Bocas is lucky to have them. They are the most amazing, kind, generous, FUN, and accommodating hosts. I say hosts, BUT I call them my friends now. 😁 They went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed before even arriving at the floating house, and then everyday after that. They have an awesome boat (with great music) to take you wherever you want to go. You can have as much fun as you want! We did several boat days where they showed us the BEST spots and we also got to hang out with some special friends. I feel so blessed to have met Dave and Shelley and for all of the experiences they made happen. I can promise you won't find better people or "hosts" ANYWHERE else! I was sad to leave and I can't wait to go back!!!

We had an Amazing stay at Dave & Shelly's place. The house was the most unique place we've stayed at and we had a blast hanging out with them. Take snacks and groceries, but make sure to take them up on the private Tour. It's 100% worth it, don't hesitate in staying here!

Such a wonderful unusual property, a floating house. A main en suite bedroom with decking area, another bedroom, a large living area with the bar, a short walkway to the floating dining room and upstairs a third bedroom with the sun deck with views which we enjoyed on our first day.All located in a beautiful backdrop of trees and water. Kayaks, floats to keep you busy which we sadly didn't use due to torrential rain for 36 hours that flooded streets in Bocas Town. We came with provisions for 3 nights so plenty to eat and drink. With room to move around and still enjoy the rain lashed scenery we were certainly grateful we were here. A single floating bedroom somewhere else amongst islands would have been very difficult. Dave and Shelley were great hosts. Communicative before arrival and helpful when we were there. A shame the weather didn't give us the opportunity to spend a day with them touring on their boat. Despite the weather an enjoyable experience.

Thanks again for a wonderful stay. it was so relaxing, and we had so much fun. Have a safe trip and all the best.

We had a fantastic time at Sum Beach Sum Where float house. It’s in a beautiful and peaceful location in Tierra Oscura. We woke to the sounds of birds, roosters and howler monkeys every morning. Dave took us to a local restaurant in a nearby village. Another day, we loaded up our stuff in their fast and comfy boat and went to Zapatillas Island. We walked the white sandy shore exploring the island a bit and swam and floated in the crystal clear water. It was heavenly!! After Zapatillas, we headed over to Coral Cay to go snorkeling, which was a blast. The coral was lovely and we spend quite a bit of time there and then had a late lunch at the restaurant at Coral Cay and chatted with Dave. He also toured us around in his boat a bit to look at some of the houses for sale in the area. The remainder of our days at the float house were spent swimming right off the dock, kayaking around the bay and hiking around Dave and Shelley’s beautiful property. What sweet little dogs they have!! We also spent a lot of time just relaxing in the outdoor living room reading, chatting and taking in the incredible water view all around us. It was just what we needed! We celebrated our 27th anniversary at the float house and Dave and Shelley were so sweet they gave us a bottle of champagne to celebrate. We definitely plan on coming back some day.

Unique experience for us. This was a fantastic experience that came along with a luxurious bed. To live floating on the water was the most unique for us. We have lived in the tropics 11 years and this is unique. This floating in the sea or right on the sea is achievable in this region as no hurricanes, sheltered shorelines by 365 islands and a  minimal change in tide. With the jungle shore nice and close, mangroves and open bay the sights and sounds varied.  Since our   super hosts David and Shelly once lived in this floating house it is well set up for day to day life.  Relative to a lot of the other rentals in the area  this is a distance front the main center of Bocas del Toro, 20 minute boat ride. For us that is our preference to be on the "quiet" side. We were after the nature, open water vista, paddle board, kayak, swimming, a walk on the shore, away from crowds and cook our own food. We got all that! The water could be perfectly calm or with some wind only a little choppy.  Each scenario brought  it's special experience of sight, sound and motions. One morning a dolphin was feeding  30 meters off our porch. The next morning it was a spotted wray swimming by.    I was really fascinated by the  daily routine of the indigenous people living near by paddling their dug out canoe to the spring for fresh water.    For light sleepers you may want ear plugs  to address the sounds of the night and early morning, fish jumping, howler monkeys, distant music, birds and  the sounds generated when a wave sways the house.   It is truly a live outdoor experience with the 2 bedrooms that can be wide open for  outdoor experience or closed right off  for shelter from rain. There is lots of shade. The upper deck with the swinging bed was also a great experience for afternoon naps. I would highly recommend this  experience and stay. If  you want more outings to  explore beaches etc,  David and Shelly are most accomodateing to provide this service. The longer you can make your stay, the more you will see as you live life on the floating house.  We would love to come back for a longer stay next time!

This place is really incredible! Very nice location  and a house build with love! The clear bleu water surrounding it invites for swimming, canoeing and to explore the islands in front of the floating house. Wakeup with stunning views over the bay and lovely cool winds breezing through the house. The hosts are really something! Very kind and outgoing and taking us/guests to gorgeous beaches, places to have lunch (and Party) on their very special fast music boat. They are always ready to take you anywhere you want and the possibilities are endless. While living off grid, discover the dolphins in dolphin bay, and the monkeys in the trees behind the house. Enjoy jungle life! We will most certainly return to this lovely place and recommend it to anyone who wants to go to Bocas del Torro! Thank you Shelly and Dave for your hospitality in your marvelous floating waterhouse. Ruben & Douchka

The Floating House is amazing, we were amazed on the arrival, the connection with nature, hearing the monkeys and birds, see all the different kind of fish, starfish and marine nature around the house, the incredible view that the house has and the breathtaking sunrises! The home is super comfortable, the kitchen and the bar had everything you need, the decoration is beautiful, tastefully and with lots of details that make the experience even better, besides everything was super clean! The water was always calm so we were able to use the kayaks and the paddle board that they have to be use by guests to explore the surroundings of the house. Shelley and Dave are amazing hosts, friendly an funny with lots of knowledge. Before we make the reservation they answer all of our questions and thru all our entire stay the we're really helpful. They coordinate so we could leave our car in a safe place in Almirante just by the pier we're Dave pick us up on his boat. We did the tour with them and they show us their favorite places, we went to Bird Island, Starfish Beach, Red Frog Beach and to their favorite restaurants, they were always there to help us. The tour was amazing, the boat is super comfortable and they even let us put our music! Shelley and Dave always make sure they have everything perfect for their guests. Staying at the Floating House was an unique experience, it was our first time but without a doubt it won't be the last. Thanks to Shelley and Dave for this unforgettable floating house experience!!

Great friendly hosts with a lot of local knowledge, set up dinner reservations for us at the local restaurants and knew what days they were open. Welcoming and super helpful. The home is comfortable and unique, cool art and decorations, and practical with a second half-bath and even though it's off-grid, we never had any lack of power or water. We tried to conserve, but we did use the clothes washer, which worked great! It was the rainy season when we were there but there were plenty of areas under cover where we could stay dry and cozy. Well stocked kitchen and bar area to make meals and frozen cocktails. The floating lodge rocks you gently to sleep, and has a nice fan and bug screening but you are still connected with nature. Being close to the jungle, you can hear howler monkeys, see various birds, bats, and fish.

This place is incredible. Shelley and Dave are fantastic hosts. Super accommodating and generous and very fun. We spent a day with them cruising their awesome boat and they had some great things for us to do. We had a really fun time with them. When we did not have plans with them, they were great about giving us our privacy. The house is so much fun. This beautiful unique home floating in a tropical bay in the Caribbean. Waking up to the view and the sounds of the jungle was incredible. This place is just a unbelievably fun place to stay. If you are traveling to Bocas, this should be where you stay. If you aren’t planning on visiting Bocas, this house alone is worth the trip. Do your self a favor and book an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Shelley and Dave were wonderful hosts. They were extremely easy to communicate with and always helpful. We drove from Panama City to a nearby city called Almirante. They helped us store our car in a secure property and took us to the property in their boat. We had lots of questions about the attractions and excursions, including different islands, beaches, restaurants, bars, events, etc and they answered every question and actually took us to many wonderful places in their boat for 3 full days. We visited amazing islands, beaches, restaurants, bars, etc. We had the opportunity to meet a number of their friends in various places during our stay, they were all very nice and friendly. Dave and Shelley were extremely flexible with the tour hours throughout our stay, and the price was very reasonable. We also had many questions concerning the investment opportunities in the real estate market there, and they provided great insight and took us to a number of properties that were for sale there. The house is amazing and you have it all to yourself. The pictures online are beautiful, but I was blown away when we arrived. The house and surroundings were gorgeous, and my time spent there was the most relaxed I have been in a very long time. There are 2 bedrooms downstairs, a well-equipped kitchen, one open bedroom with a rocking bed upstairs, a patio with a wet bar with a second refrigerator, and a spacious outdoor dining area. Every room is tastefully decorated. This is a very unique house and highly recommended for a rare opportunity to live out on the water. The water around the house is crystal clear and always full of different fish. You can swim amongst them or view them from the window in the floor in the living area. Dave can also provide kayaks free of charge.

Staying on the floating house was a unique and amazing experience!! We truly felt a connection to the surroundings of Panama as we listened to the sounds of monkeys, birds, fish, frogs and more each night and morning. We watched beautiful sunrises and sunsets right from the ‘living room’ and enjoyed eating exotic fruit grown right on site and from nearby villages. We used the available kayaks to explore the area and paddle underneath the beautiful coconut trees and mangroves as we hunted for sloths. We have stayed at many other AirBnb’s and Shelly and Dave are one-of-a-kind, amazing hosts! They showed us all their favorite spots, from the best restaurants and bars in Bocas del Toro to some of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen. And they were there to help us whenever we needed it. Most special of all – my boyfriend proposed to me on our last evening from the top deck surrounded by an amazing view and special friends. A moment to remember, always. We will definitely be back! 

Shelley's floating house was simply amazing. Shelley and Dave are very welcoming and available for any needs a guest has, but their house is far enough away that you have complete privacy as it is nice and remote. Right off the bat before we even booked the stay, they answered all our many questions in advance and responded quickly. We drove from Panama City to Almirante to be picked up in their go-fast boat. We had never driven that much in Panama and Shelley coordinated our parking right at the dock where we met the boat and gave us tips for the road trip. A short boat trip later we unloaded right at the house from the boat making things super easy. The pictures of the house matched everything we expected and there were many little details that made our experience even better. They have great lighting setup inside and out with dimmers and ceiling fans, a great BBQ area, a washer, magnet screens on the doors, and they have sun chairs that fold up under the bed on the sun deck and there is a roll up shade as well for lounging on the bed. Many other things like built in speakers with Bluetooth, two full size fridges, and swim up dock off the house made our time here super enjoyable and easy. There is typically a mellow breeze and the climate is great. Most nights we did not use the ceiling fan. You can tell that Shelley and Dave take pride in making sure everything for their guests is perfect and were available with anything we needed. Boat trips to town and for fishing/snorkeling excursions were a blast and really comfortable on the boat. They have a swim ladder, floating chairs, and coolers to keep all the food and drinks nice and cold. They have done a great job setting up the place and all the amenities. We caught pargo and spade fish and saw many barracuda, sting rays, jellyfish, and tropical fish among the many close by mangrove island reefs. The internet was plenty strong to stream videos and have video calls which was very handy as I was working remotely most days. The water around the house is almost always clear and calm. Lots of neat places to check out close by and with the kayaks and paddle board it was fun exploring. We were only 2 people and a dog, but the place can easily fit more people with 3 separate but connected floating structures. We really enjoyed our two weeks here and are already starting to plan our next trip here!

This place is amazing. Encantado,!  Simply beautiful.  The sunrises are amazing.  The facilities are environmentally great.  A dream place that leaves you totally relaxed.  Shelly as a host is magnifique.  The tours they provided were second to none. I would recommend this place to anyone  any time!!!

We met with dave and shelly and they were such a lovely couple. Their attention towards our need was 10/10. You might think that you are overnight staying in an island house is going to be bad, you will be wrong in this case. House had everything it needs for you to enjoy your staying in bocas del toro Hot shower, electricity all day, stunning views, cozy good looking rooms. With ease of transport to other islands. So much fun and a repeatable experience overall

This was our second time staying here and definitely not our last! The floating house is very unique with all the creature comforts of home, very spacious with three queen size bedrooms, and three large common areas such as the front deck, the lounge deck and the up stairs sun deck with the most amazing views of the bay. The house was sparkling clean. The location is perfect to take in a lot of what Panama has to offer. From beautiful sunrises and dolphins playing right of the deck, to howler monkeys deep in the jungle out the back door. We also got to see sloths up close and brightly colored frogs. Then jump in Dave and Shelley’s SUPER COMFORTABLE BOAT and took a trip to red frog beach, where we got to enjoy the beach, beverages and food! All was amazing and even saw a small caiman in the pond on the way out. Dave and Shelley are the best hosts I have ever had with airbnb and are very attentive to your needs. Also the pick up and drop off boat ride from town is included! So no hassles trying to get a water taxi, they will also show you the grocery stores and give you a list of best places to shop. We also took an extra excursion with Dave and Shelley to Bird island and Starfish beach and had an absolute blast, plus going with them we did not have to get water taxis. We will be staying here again in the the future!

What a unique place to stay close to Bocas town! We absolutely loved our time here. It is peaceful, very clean and well maintained. There are kayaks and a paddle board for use. The hosts were so helpful and friendly. We really enjoyed our time spent with them. We also enjoyed snorkeling, walking through the jungle paths and lounging around the decks. Although the spaces/ bedrooms are all near each other, you still felt like it was private from the other people in our group. We had five people and this place worked out well for us. We appreciated having the kitchen so we could cook while we staying there. Our favorite part was having the deck space so you could watch all of the fish and starfish. We had never seen so many starfish! We also got to see dolphins near the deck. We spent two weeks in Panama and this was our favorite place. All five of us would all highly recommend staying here!

If you are looking for a unique experience this is the place to be in Panama! We had the opportunity to use their kayak and we saw dolphins while we were kayaking one morning. We heard the monkeys every night and morning. We saw a sloth that live in one of their magnificent trees. We hiked on the trail of their propriety and we were able to see the monkeys, frogs and cacao tree and more. We went to Red Frog beach with Shelly and Dave's boat! We had a fantastic boat ride and day with this nice couple! Shelly and Dave are great guide to help you to discover the region. Thank you Shelly an Dave for a memorable stay at your place!

3BR Villa