Isla Bastimentos
These stylish over-the-water bungalows offer a charming retreat right on the fringe of Old Bank. Their boardwalks lead straight into a mangrove reserve…
Must-see hotels in Panama
Panamá Province
Isla San José has 57 tan-sand beaches, nine year-round rivers and seven accessible waterfalls – and Hacienda del Mar has them all to itself. Its 17 stand…
Isla Bastimentos
Fans of Al Natural Resort who prefer conventional lodgings can book spacious lofts in this gorgeous hardwood villa further down the beach. There's screens…
Bocas del Toro Province
Part of a project spearheaded by an ex–Peace Corps volunteer and her Naso husband to offer the Naso people an alternative income, Soposo Rainforest…
Panama City
The elegant Bristol features oriental carpets, flamboyant orchids and precious woods, and that’s just the lobby. Rooms are refined and lovely. No more do…
Panama City
In a suburban two-story, this stylish and popular Italian-run hostel indulges your inner kid with projected movies in the swimming pool, a PlayStation and…
Isla Bastimentos
Run by an American couple, the bungalows at this luxury B&B hover cheekily over the gin-clear water at the far end of Old Bank harbor. Enormous fan-cooled…
Boquete
If you'd like to get away from it all but still be within striking distance of the town and its amenities, choose these lovely cottages on 9 hectares of…
Isla Grande
Owned and operated by Hotel Sister Moon a short distance to the east, Brother Sun rents four luxurious villas sleeping between two and six people. They…
Panama City
Housed in a creaky, colonial mansion, Luna’s masterfully blends Spanish-colonial architecture with funky, laid-back backpacker vibes and great service…
Comarca de Guna Yala
Six cabins provide quiet and a lovely swimming beach. Beach-side cabins have sand floors; newer cabins set on stilts over the water are the most expensive…
Comarca de Guna Yala
Our favorite new place on Isla Naranjo Chico – which is also known as 'Coco Loco' – is small, with just four brightly painted cabins (one used as a…
Portobelo
Part of a foundation that supports local arts and culture, this attractive waterfront inn features three pleasant and bright rooms and an apartment…
Isla Bastimentos
This relaxed desert-island hideaway lends a bohemian twist to all-inclusive. If you love nature, it's sublime. Based on traditional Ngöbe-Buglé…
Los Mandarinos Boutique Spa & Hotel
El Valle
In El Valle’s lush countryside, this 70-room fortresslike property contained in four stone 'towers' is way too big to be boutique but it's sumptuous…
Coclé Province
You won’t find many RV resorts with sports bars in rural Panama, so this friendly US outfit definitely has the market cornered. Three spacious guest rooms…
Panamá Province
The world's first 'action sports resort' when it opened in 2010, Nitro City comes alive on weekends. It's pretty much what you'd expect in a beach haven…
Santa Catalina
On Playa Lagartero, 11km northeast of Santa Catalina, these relaxed lodgings, owned by an Oakland, California-based hip-hop artist, fuse modern with…
Darién Province
Perched on a ridge in a gorgeous nature reserve, these 10 gaily painted wooden cabins have air-conditioning and private cold-water showers, but the decor…
Isla Bastimentos
Set in the sheltering jungle, the original Red Frog Beach resort has accommodation in a three-bedroom stilted house meters from the beach; two fabulous…
Santa Catalina
One of Santa Catalina’s only hotels owned by lifelong locals, these friendly cabins are a favorite of surfers on a budget. Each has one to three good beds…
Comarca de Guna Yala
A work in progress during our last visit, this somewhat shabby-chic lodge at the 15Km marker, run by Ancon Expeditions, has five comfortable and good…
Panamá Province
Decked out with memorabilia, this comfortable canal house tends to draw birdwatchers and hikers keen on quick access to Pipeline Rd, which is minutes away…
Royal Decameron Beach Resort & Casino
Coclé Province
Panama’s answer to Vegas, the Royal Decameron Beach Resort is a whopper, with 600 rooms and enough pools, bars, clubs and restaurants to count on both…
Isla Bastimentos
This pretty pink-and-green Caribbean-style home sits high on a forested hill. It's a hike up the stairs from the dock, but you'll find five rooms with…
Península de Azuero
At the eastern quieter end of Playa Venao en route to La Playita, Villa Marina Lodge is a stunner. Set amid tranquil gardens, this resort exudes charm,…
El Valle
Looking a bit worn around the edges but still voted tops in Panama, this central hostel counts six private rooms with shared showers, and a massive,…
Highlands
Popular with researching scientists, these very rustic, handsomely constructed cabins occupy fantastic surroundings. The smaller one has a bedroom, a…
Chiriquí Province
This recommended all-inclusive eco resort catering to only 20 guests runs on wind and solar power. Linked by a garden path, each cottage houses six people…
Península de Azuero
This remote and very basic hostel with thatched wooden huts is straight out of Robinson Crusoe. The French owners will collect you from Puerto de Cañas …
El Valle
A welcome addition, this American-run hostelry has 25 rooms in two buildings spread over a large grassy tract of land backed by a stream. Two dormitories…
Chiriquí Province
With ranchos (small house-like buildings) and attractive cabins, this fun, Italian-run place is the best bargain lodging in Las Lajas. It sits across the…
Santa Catalina
With manicured grounds strewn with hammocks and Spanish-tile roofs, this 11-room hotel is an excellent midrange option catering to the executive surfer…
Panama City
If your attraction to Panama is more about wildlife than wild life, check out this tucked-away French B&B. There are just four rooms, decorated with retro…
Veraguas Province
This handsome property about 2km down a track from the main road to Morillo has a guesthouse with large bedroom and sitting room, fully equipped kitchen…
Península de Azuero
This fabulous eyrie-like guesthouse up a steep hill at the western end of Playa Cambutal has 10 very pretty rooms with breathtaking views; the two front…
El Valle
Surrounded by beautifully tended gardens, Crater Valley's eight guest rooms are all different and executed with varying degrees of care. All feature stone…
Chiriquí Province
Capping the western end of the beach is this sprawling yellow hacienda-style resort. Its 48 terraced rooms and suites are decorated with soft, natural…
Veraguas Province
This cozy inn offers seven rooms in two buildings: the main building has five double rooms while an outbuilding offers two family rooms. All have fine…
Colón
Looking out to the Caribbean from the northern end of Colón, the New Washington offers a pentimento or two of the glorious hostelry that opened in 1913 –…
