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Cocomo On-the-Sea

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When I first stayed at Cocomo, back in '97 while conducting research for the first edition of Lonely Planet Panama (I wrote the second edition, too, if you must know), I was impressed with the thoughtfulness its Canadian owners put into it, from orthopedic mattresses for finicky backs, to doubling-up the roofing material to temper the sound of rain, to having bed frames made a tad higher than usual for knees that aren’t what they once were.


The Bocas Inn

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 All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com
This soothing seaside bed-and-breakfast is owned and operated by Ancon Expeditions of Panama, the country’s premier tour operator. Most of the people who stay at the Inn, which features a handful of well-kept second-story rooms, do so as part of a tour package, but Ancon Expeditions will gladly rent rooms on a space-available basis.


Hotel Bahía

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 All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

The Hotel Bahía occupies an historic building that has been dutifully restored by its amiable and knowledgeable owner, Jose “Tito” Thomas.


Hotel Laguna

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 All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

The Laguna’s foremost feature is its central location. That also happens to be its worst feature—if you value quiet, because the street noise can be excessive at times. But want to check your email? There’s a computer with Internet access in the lobby for guest use free of charge (if it’s occupied, there’s an Internet café a two-minute walk away).


La Loma Jungle Lodge

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 All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Occupying 57 acres of verdant rainforest stretching north from the edge of Bahía Honda to one of the highest points on sprawling Isla Bastimentos, La Loma Jungle Lodge and Butterfly Farm is a labor of love realized by an amiable young couple, Henry and Margaret, who passed on the comforts and security of an ordinary life in their native lands to create something special in a remote slice of Panamanian wilderness.


Al Natural Resort

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 All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

In Lonely Planet’s guidebook to Panama, second edition, I wrote that Al Natural on Isla Bastimentos was my favorite place to stay in the entire country. Five years later, it remains at or near the top of my list of favorite Panamanian destinations.


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