Eco Aqua Over-The-Water Villa Located In Dolphin Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama
About this villa rental
Casa del Mar is an eco aqua villa built over the Caribbean sea in Dolphin Bay, on Isla Cristobal in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama. It is the sister villa to Casita del Mar which was built in 2017 which is located 3 lots over (150 yards apart) and can accommodate groups of up to 7 guests. Both Villa's can be rented together to accommodate 13 guests total. See listing # 4447308 The villa is situated on a mile long coral reef in a remote location approx. 25 minutes boat ride from Bocas town/airport. To get there, you would fly to Bocas del Toro Airport on Air Panama and we'll meet you at the airport, your transfer via boat from Bocas town is included as part of your stay. Our goal is to offer guests an intimate experience with nature where you can relax in comfort while at the same time minimizing the impact on the environment through off grid living. Casa del Mar was construction in 2012 of local natural building materials offered by the rich resources of the region. The result is a close to nature ambiance. From you're private 44 foot terrace, you will be able to observe impressive sunsets interrupted only by frolicking dolphins. Feel immersed in the sounds of nature while lounging on the terrace sipping a drink, watching exotic birds in the thatched jungle tree house casita or soaking in the terrazoo bathtub while gazing towards the jungle after snorkelling in the calm protected waters in front of the villa. Learn how to coexist with the most advanced earth friendly renewable energy systems. Solar panels provide electricity to the villa, double filtered rain water that supplies pristine water and an advanced engineered waste system. You can rent the villa and be entirely independent or you can rent it with optional extras such as a local Caribbean Cook (with or without shopping service) Masseuse, Boat Captain/Tour Guide and Housekeeper. The villa is situated on 3 lush acres of private jungle with a thatched tree house casita to enjoy birds and wildlife (including the resident 3 toed sloth) or experience jungle living. You will have direct access to miles of great hiking trails by lagoons, on top of mountains, through orchards and secret look outs. The villa itself has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. There is an separate outdoor bathhouse located on land behind the villa. For those that would like to experience jungle living, there is an authentic tree house casita with queen bed at the back of the property in the jungle (approx. 300 yards from the villa) The tree house does not have water or power but lanterns are provided and guests sleeping in the tree house will have exclusive use of the outdoor bathhouse located 300 yards away outside of the villa. The outdoor bathhouse includes a big walk-in shower, separate toilet with double vanity, gear storage and laundry. All 3 bedrooms have queen beds. In the villa, the living room & dining room has a 23 foot soaring cathedral ceiling along with a glass floor under the coffee table to view sea life while you sip you're coffee in the morning. The villa features a 44ft almendro hardwood deck with inviting hammocks and lounge chairs, outdoor dining as well as an hot outdoor shower. A gentil caribbean breeze acts as the perfect climate control however there are ceiling fans throughout the villa and outdoor covered decking as well as access to additional free standing fans in the bedrooms. The well stocked open plan kitchen features a granite countertop, stainless steel appliances and custom cabinetry. There is unlimited free use of stand-up paddle boards, boogie boards, kayaks and a large assortment of snorkeling gear at the villa for you're use. There are plenty of beach and bath towels for guests to use. The thatched screened-in tree house casita features a queen bed small bar and seating area. Don't miss the opportunity to paddleboard or Kayak out into the Bay at first light and be amongst the dolphin during there morning feed. A truly magical experience. You will have access to our locally made Panga (including captain/tour guide) with roof and bench seating ideal for bigger groups (comfortably seating 8) who want to go exploring or customize there own tours (additional charges apply) Customize tours could include: Zapatilla Islands, Starfish Beach, Red Frog Beach, Hiking, Bat Caves, Chocolate Farm, Zip Lining, Horse Back Riding, Scuba Diving, Sport Fishing, Salt Creek Indian Community tour to name just a few. Upon arrival, our host will be waiting for you at the airport to take you shopping for provisions, then to the dock where you will enjoy a short boat ride across the bay to Casa del Mar. Upon arrival you will be welcomed and given a tour of the property and amenities. 1 free trip to town to replenish supplies is included for a 5 night stay or longer. Additional trips to town for provisions can be arranged (additional charges apply) The villa has free wireless internet and cell phone with a local network provider. Please note: Casa del Mar may not be appropriate for small children or children that do not know how to swim. There is not a railing around the deck and the upstairs hallway and stair railing is stainless steel cable with a 8 inch spacing.
Amenities
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Smoking allowed
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Bocas del Toro Province
Villa in Bocas del Toro Province
Reasons to book
People love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen / Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more
$$$$
Reviews
4.8/5.0
Outstanding(38 Reviews)
1.0
Our recent Vrbo experience was nothing short of a nightmare. The remote location we chose turned out to be a disaster in multiple ways. The scorching temperatures and suffocating humidity made it impossible to endure. To make matters worse, the lack of power meant that leaving the fans on at night was out of the question, leaving us sweltering in unbearable heat without any respite.
The promised swimming opportunities turned out to be a farce. The water in the area was extremely shallow, barely reaching two feet, and filled with dangerous, sharp coral. It was virtually impossible to enjoy the water without risking injury. Moreover, despite the host's supposed remedies, the relentless onslaught of no-see-ums left us covered in painful bites. One of our children's bites became so severe that we had to rush them to the hospital for treatment.
The challenges didn't end there. The location's remoteness made accessibility a significant issue. In case of emergencies or the need to leave, it took an agonizingly long time for transportation to reach us. With an hour-long wait for the boat to arrive, followed by another half-hour journey to the mainland and yet another half-hour to reach the actual place, we felt trapped and desperate for escape.
Given the multitude of problems we encountered, it should come as no surprise that we decided to cut our stay short. Despite having paid for a five-day reservation, we wasted no time in booking the earliest available flight out there
5.0
Great property and great host family! We loved everything about our trip! Everything is as advertised. So many great things to say about our trip that it would be too long to type them all out. Recommend this property and Bocas del Toro as a destination.
5.0
We had a great stay here.
This house is located in a gorgeous location.
It has amazing snorkeling right outside.
Erika was great at answering our questions. And Victoriano took us on a great hike behind the house and made sure we got good pictures of all the animal we saw.
5.0
The positive reviews here said it all. I don't need to repeat. I've rented from vrbo for so many years and this house is the best equipped. Everything you need for a fun, relaxing, enjoyable stay is provided. All the storage areas are so well organized. The host team led by Erika made our stay so comfortable and accomodated our various wishes of activities to the utmost. The bites from the no-see-ums still itch but it's a price to pay for being so immersed in nature and all its other beauty. We wish to be back soon:)
5.0
A slice of paradise
The positive reviews here said it all. I don't need to repeat. I've rented from vrbo for so many years and this house is the best equipped. Everything you need for a fun, relaxing, enjoyable stay is provided. All the storage areas are so well organized. The host team led by Erika made our stay so comfortable and accomodated our various wishes of activities to the utmost. The bites from the no-see-ums still itch but it's a price to pay for being so immersed in nature and all its other beauty. We wish to be back soon:)
5.0
Beautiful and Remote.
The property is very nice. As advertised.
Kitchen and amenities are ok.
Do not expect superior comfort as there is no air conditioning and fans, while helpful, don’t do the same job ac does. The owner was very clear about this and she was right!
Some negatives: the water around the property is very shallow and there is no way to dive off the deck. Sea urchins abound, so transit requires caution. Reef for snorkeling is not right out front if the house as stated. It’s a 15 minute boat ride and frankly nothing to brag about.
All in all it was fun. Staff was great throughout time there.
5.0
Casa del Mar
This Casa is situated over the water. You can kayak to many mangrove islands. The water is loaded with starfish and you can easily snorkel to see coral. The water is very clear. We hiked the trails around the casa and saw a great deal of different plants. We also saw sloths in the trees. Some of our group saw howler monkeys. We all heard them from time to time. Erica is the property manager. Sh
5.0
The most Accommodating and beautiful place ever... true magic
From start to finish it was an amazing experience! Place as beautiful as it looks!! Katarina, Jose and Jose Maria are as helpful and gracious as we could have wished! If you are looking for a relaxing and beautiful place this is it! Ask Jose to take you to the picturesque snorkeling spot, and to No Name Restaurant.... for unforgettable experiences!
5.0
August visit
We really enjoyed our time in Casa Del Mar - place is great and such a beautiful location. House had everything we needed and could want.
Only thing that could have been better was the weather - lots and lots of rain, which prevented us from doing some of the things we had hoped to do. On the other hand, we relaxed and enjoyed the beauty of the place - which is much needed with our hectic lives.
5.0
Very nice property that is 30 minutes by boat to anything. A true vacation away from everything but still with the comforts of home (except AC). House location,etc was amazing and you must sleep in the tree house. One of our best vacations ever.
5.0
Exactly as expected
Very nice property that is 30 minutes by boat to anything. A true vacation away from everything but still with the comforts of home (except AC). House location,etc was amazing and you must sleep in the tree house. One of our best vacations ever.
5.0
Panama Vacation
The location and the house are beautiful - you are completely off the grid and must boat every where. The upstairs toilet was broken and several lights didn't work. Plan carefully because if you run out of anything, it is a trip to Boca for supplies for an additional fee. Geckos and insects roam freely inside and out.
5.0
The house itself is amazing! Being over the water was why we wanted to rent this home, and it did not disappoint! It was so nice and peaceful to be able to sit on the patio. Once the kids woke up we kayaked and paddle boarded nearly every morning. We also fished right from our deck. The house is stocked with everything you need for your days adventure! We brought our own snorkeling gear but didn't need to because they had that too! And the snorkling there can keep you entertained for hours!
The staff was awesome. Jose Jr cooked an excellent breakfast for us nearly every morning. We planned on having more dinners too but only cooked twice because it just made the house too hot. Jose Sr was our boat captain and took us anywhere and everywhere we asked. The Zappatilla islands were by far my favorite and I highly recommend everyone go there.
My only complaint is how hot it was. And the no see ums ate us alive. We used the coconut oil as as suggested and also our deet bug spray but my sister and I still came home with over 50 bites each! During the day it was fine but they ate us up at night time. We were there during a full moon and zero breeze. That's apparently when they're at the worst, go figure. So just be prepared and bring Benadryl. We were aware there wasn't AC but I was not prepared for hot it was actually going to be. If the no see ums weren't as bad we could have left the doors open for more of a breeze but instead just had a few windows open. There were several nights that were in the mid to upper 80's but had a "feels like 91." I am spoiled with my 71 degrees AC so I never really had a great night's sleep since I was hot and itchy. However, waking up to such beauty made it still worth it! We had an amazing week and will always cherish the memories we made there.
5.0
Adventure and Beauty
The house itself is amazing! Being over the water was why we wanted to rent this home, and it did not disappoint! It was so nice and peaceful to be able to sit on the patio. Once the kids woke up we kayaked and paddle boarded nearly every morning. We also fished right from our deck. The house is stocked with everything you need for your days adventure! We brought our own snorkeling gear but didn't need to because they had that too! And the snorkling there can keep you entertained for hours!
The staff was awesome. Jose Jr cooked an excellent breakfast for us nearly every morning. We planned on having more dinners too but only cooked twice because it just made the house too hot. Jose Sr was our boat captain and took us anywhere and everywhere we asked. The Zappatilla islands were by far my favorite and I highly recommend everyone go there.
My only complaint is how hot it was. And the no see ums ate us alive. We used the coconut oil as as suggested and also our deet bug spray but my sister and I still came home with over 50 bites each! During the day it was fine but they ate us up at night time. We were there during a full moon and zero breeze. That's apparently when they're at the worst, go figure. So just be prepared and bring Benadryl. We were aware there wasn't AC but I was not prepared for hot it was actually going to be. If the no see ums weren't as bad we could have left the doors open for more of a breeze but instead just had a few windows open. There were several nights that were in the mid to upper 80's but had a "feels like 91." I am spoiled with my 71 degrees AC so I never really had a great night's sleep since I was hot and itchy. However, waking up to such beauty made it still worth it! We had an amazing week and will always cherish the memories we made there.
5.0
A must do vacation
Absolutely the best place ever. We stay as a family in AirBnbs all around the world and this is the ONE I would go back to, recommend friends. The location is amazing, where else in the world can you stay on an active reef? The house is beautiful and well maintained. We stayed 5 days during "rainy" season and did not see rain even though the weather app said rain. There were 2 mama sloths on the property I spent a lot of time watching. We go to places to see wildlife and I read reviews to know where they are, well they are here!
The family of Jose's (they are all named Jose) are fabulous, whatever we needed which wasn't much they were there and always on time and very willing to help. The chocolate farm across the bay, the kids loved the owner was fabulous and kept 4 kids aged 6,8,8 & 11 engaged for 2 full hours, although I hear they are leaving in a few months and selling to a new owner who hopefully will be just as good. Hope you enjoy your stay at Casa Del Mar as much as we did.
5.0
Amazing 10 days
This house was perfect for both relaxation and fun day trips. House has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Owner was easy to work with. Erika met us on our first day at house and gave us the run down of everything we needed to know. She was available the entire time to set up all we needed. Captain Jose took us on all of our outings and gave us some very memorable days. Snorkeling at the house location was amazing and use of paddle boards, snorkeling equip and kayaks were available.
5.0
Best trip ever
It's all been said.... Great place fantastic people. What a location. All details were attended to. We used boat and chef about everyday. We felt more like travelers than tourist. Staff and owner could not of been better. Fred and Ellen. April 2019
5.0
Glorious retreat
This house was excellent, its goroues and so peaceful. The staff was excellent and took great care of us. The chef did an amazing job cooking for us. Having the boat and the captain was incredible to be at our request. We will for sure come back and we would highly receommend for any family or group to go here
5.0
Shear bliss!
Ever go somewhere with too high of expectations? It did not happen here. Everything was so well coordinated from being met at the airport, to arranging excursions. The place was well stocked, kitchen, bath, and bedding. The coral reef right off the dock kept our interest the entire trip. The snorkel gear and variety of sizes was impressive, well organized and and in perfect condition. There are plenty of toys to keep you busy.
Jose senior and the entire staff were very attentive and personable. We arranged several excursions with them day by day. We went to the chocolate farm, bat caves, snorkeling, fishing, to dinner, and had Jose junior cook for us most nights. We offered but paid nothing until the end. We were amazed that we only owed $450 aprox. at the end.(split three ways)
Now the casita! 100 yards or so from the main house is a lovely screened porch elevated into the tree canopy. Do not miss the opportunity to sleep out there! As the sun sets the air is filled with jungle noises, birds, howler monkeys, crickets etc. Then it quiets down after a half hour, forty five minutes and the fire flies come out. It is very quiet and peaceful through the night. At first light the jungle noises resume and awaken you to watch the sun come up over glass waters.
I was the instigator of this trip (as it has been on my bucket list for some time). There is a lot of pressure for things to go well when you drag along family and friends. I emerged the hero and everyone had a stellar time. We were very impressed with Casa del Mar and Panama in general. I hope to return some day. Thank you Julia, from all of us. Glen Hickey
5.0
Awesome Vacation
We have been renting beach front homes for a good twenty years, and this one is definitely up there. Prior to booking this home I went over the previous 21 reviews. All of them rated five stars, unusual in my experience. So here is another five star review.
The lovely pictures and testimonials fairly reflect our experience as well.
This house is a great choice for people wanting to get away from a hectic life to a temporary peaceful existence. Not the best place to party.
Julia, the owner was very helpful and pleasant to deal with, even though she resided in Alaska throughout our interaction. Erika and her family that reside on the other side of dolphin bay, a couple of minute boat ride from the house, made our stay highly enjoyable. They are just good, helpful people. Special thanks to Jose Sr. who boated us around with patience and willingness to go with his boat to places no humans have previously set foot in. Also to his son "Jose the cook" that cooked most of our dinners and I would bet is the best cook in all of Panama. Also very good experience with the masseuse lady. we asked to position the massage bed right on the bridge that connects the house to the island. With the sound of waves and pleasant breeze it is definitely recommended.
The house resides on "Dolphin Bay". Surprisingly the bay is in fact full of .. dolphins. We first encountered them on a day trip to the Zapatilla cays, when a couple jumped right in front of the boat. We ended up spending an hour watching about a dozen of them jumping around us and even jumped in to swim with them. A couple of days later Jose senior and I spent a couple of hours looking for them right in front of his house and found plenty including a mother and a baby, LOVELY. The Zapatilla cays are picture perfect although at a certain point several boats from Bocas town concurred and parts became busy. We manged to find a private beach for a couple of hours on #2. Bird Island is another fantastic experience we would recommend for a half day or day trip.
Wild life - Victoriano that lives behind the house on the island took us for a jungle tour ten minutes by boat on the edge of the mainland. Saw several monkeys fluorescent frogs and a baby sloth. We later saw right behind the house a few sloths and monkeys on the trees and on our last night a Kinkajou, look it up, on a tree right above the "Tree House.
5.0
Amazing Jungle Retreat
This is my second trip to Bocas Del Toro, and second trip to “off the grid” home on one of the many islands of Bocas. The home is beautiful, well maintained, a perfectly stocked kitchen and comfortable bedrooms. The manager of the property, Erikka, was perfect and has family in the area to help. Her husband Jose and father in law Jose were excellent help with trips to restaurants and other islands.
I highly recommend staying in the tree house in the back of the property for an amazing immersive jungle experience. There is nice reef, in very tranquil waters surrounding the house, and the trails on the island are perfect for spotting monkeys and sloth.
I have been to Panama four times, and staying in Bocas is always a highlight. Because most of the islands are off the grid it is a unique place. I can only hope it stays that way. Enjoy your stay in this very special place.
5.0
Best casita in all of Bocas!!
Very well maintained, comfortable home. Helpful people, great food in the bay. Don’t miss the walks out back. So much to see on the paths. Fresh flowers through the house made a nice touch. Say hi to Petey the parrot for us. He visited us every day and made our vacation. We can’t say enough good things about everyone at this wonderful home.
5.0
Wonderful Retreat in the Tropics
This place is great!!!! The house has everything - comfortable beds, well equipped kitchen, lovely deck, lots of toys - but then they take total care of you by offering a boat and captain, a masseuse, and even a cook. I definitely recommend hiring the cooks - the food was so delicious and they even cleaned up. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure we had a fun vacation. I'd go back for sure. Thanks.
5.0
Amazing over-water villa
Idyllic location to vacation. Endless hours of relaxation. Very well equipped with all you need to enjoy the 'on-water' location. Julia was very helpful getting us set up, and Erika extremely helpful once we arrived. Saw Tucans, Amazon Parrots, Spider monkeys, numerous sloths, and the snorkeling right off the deck is top notch. The local restaurants right on Dolphin Bay are a 'must visit'. Erika arraigned for a chef (young José) to cook meals at the house, and he was fantastic. José (senior) the boat captain was always prompt and very nice to work with. Zapatilla Cays are also on the 'must visit' list for sure.
5.0
Absolutely wonderful
The owners were great with communication and the care taker was extremely informative and showed us all the ins and outs of the home, and extras that were available for our use like the paddle boards, snorkel gear, and kayaks. The home was comfortable and had great snorkeling right out the front door! Hiking trails are beautiful and surrounding dolphin bay stunning ! Our boat captain was very helpful and always on time taking us wherever we wished and even set up a fishing trip for the boys for a half day. There's a wonderful taco place across the bay for lunch as well as another place called no name that served great food. Absolutely wonderful and would stay again in a heart beat! Thank you!
5.0
My only regret is that I didn't stay longer
This is a unique and incredible house. We were late but our host waited 3 hours for us to arrive. He took us to the grocery store and then on a moonlit boat ride to the house. It was dark when we arrived. It wasn't until the next morning we saw just how amazing this location was.
We only stayed 3 nights but made it to Star Island, another Island to snorkel, got to town to party one night and even managed to find time to have massages at the house. One night they provided a cook.
I was initially concerned about the lack of AC. I stayed in the downstairs bedroom. With the door open and fan on it was as comfortable as my home with the AC set to 72. It did get very warm in the afternoons there but we usually out doing something and not sitting around the house anyway.
Our guide Jose knew the area perfectly and was a great guide as well as boat captain. Whenever we were ready to go (even at 2am) he was right there.
There is loads of wildlife. There were large JellyFish viewable from the dock the first day, Egrets around almost all day, howler monkies (heard but not seen) and a resident gray 3-towed sloth. Just ask the gardener to point him out.
Just don't make the same mistake we did and book too short of a trip. There is a lot to see and do here. You won't want to leave. Oh and make sure you check out the glass floor under the coffee table that looks into the ocean. I didn't notice it until the last day.
5.0
Off the grid never felt so gooooood!!!
I will start off by saying that we had the worst weather possible while we stayed there! Spoke to a couple locals and they said that it was one of the heaviest rains that they had seen in years!
With that said, we absolutely loved the property! When the rain let up, we would grab the kayaks, stand up paddle boards or snorkel gear and hit our "front yard" for some amazing snorkeling and kayaking. Loads of things to see so you can spend hours entertaining yourselves. Even got to swim with a spotted eagle ray for about 10 minutes. It was great.
They had an assortment of fishing gear, which my brother decided to use while it was raining. He sat on the patio in a hammock, fishing pole in hand, cold beer next to him, and with a kernel of corn on the hook, caught a several fish. All while sitting on the patio in a hammock while it was pouring rain!
The people taking care of the property were great. Even though it was terrible weather, they were always willing to do whatever we needed. We were able to do one excursion for a few hours where we got to see white faced monkeys, sloths and red frogs. Oh yeah, and we caught a rainbow jack on the way to the island!
We were basically locked indoors the entire time we stayed at this property and we loved every second of it. Our group was 5 adults aged 18 through 55. And we all agreed it was one of the best houses that we had ever stayed in.
Honestly, I think we may have been lucky to have the crazy rain. Otherwise, we would have not been able to spend so much time in this incredible house.
Rain or shine, if you are going with a group of friends and/or family, do not book anywhere other than Casa del Mar!!!
FAQs
How much does this villa cost compared to others in Bocas del Toro Province?
The average price for a rental in Bocas del Toro Province is $136 per night. This rental is $587 above the average.
Is parking included with this villa?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Eco Aqua Over-The-Water Villa Located In Dolphin Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this villa?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this villa. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Eco Aqua Over-The-Water Villa Located In Dolphin Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this villa is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Eco Aqua Over-The-Water Villa Located In Dolphin Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama?
We found 8 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, smoking allowed, parking, and laundry.
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