Nayara Bocas del Toro
Nayara Bocas del Toro is the resort that comes up whenever someone on traveler forums asks whether anything in the Americas compares to Bora Bora overwater bungalows. It sits on Isla Frangipani in Panama's Bocas del Toro archipelago, opened in 2021 as Bocas Bali, and now runs under Nayara (the group behind Nayara Springs in Costa Rica). Accommodation is a small set of overwater villas, each with a private saltwater plunge pool and carved Balinese interiors, plus IBUKU bamboo treehouses by Elora Hardy perched 50 feet up in the forest and a newly unveiled 2,056 sq ft Presidential Overwater Villa with its own infinity pool, private chef dinners and a 24-hour concierge. The whole island is off-grid and Green Globe certified, and none of that costs you comfort: every unit has air conditioning, a Smart 4K TV and free high-speed Wi-Fi.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Conde Nast Traveler readers ranked it the #1 resort in Central America and #20 in the world, and it also holds two Michelin Keys, so the reputation is not just marketing
- +Overwater villas of 1,100 sq ft each with a private saltwater plunge pool, a swim-up staircase straight into the sea and a Balinese 'Tumpang Sari' canopy over a four-poster king bed
- +The standard Overwater Pool Villa has a glass floor inlay, so you can watch fish, rays and starfish under the room, and on many nights the water below glows with bioluminescence
- +IBUKU bamboo treehouses designed by Elora Hardy sit 50 feet up in the canopy, built from local bamboo and hardwood reclaimed from the bottom of the Panama Canal, with hand-hammered copper tubs
- +The chef writes a new dinner menu every night at the Elephant House, a 100-year-old pavilion shipped from Bali, so a week here never repeats a meal
- +Snorkeling, mangrove kayaking and paddleboarding are complimentary, and the boat transfer from Bocas del Toro airport is included both ways
- +Fewer than 20 keys on an off-grid, Green Globe certified private island with a two-guest maximum in every unit, so staff learn your name on day one and it never feels crowded
Cons
- −Getting here takes a full day from most of the US: a flight to Panama City, a regional hop from Albrook (PAC) to Bocas del Toro (BOC), a short drive and then a 20-minute boat ride
- −Biting insects come out around dusk; the resort supplies repellent in every villa and there are no mosquito nets, but many guests bring their own DEET as backup
- −Bocas del Toro gets rain in every month, and the resort itself calls May through August and November through December the wet stretches
- −There is no natural beach: the sand is an elevated 'aerial beach' on a platform over the water, which surprises anyone expecting a long stretch of shoreline
- −Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, Dolphin Bay and Zapatilla trips are all chargeable excursions with a private boat and captain, and they add up quickly
- −Treehouses trade the private plunge pool for the canopy view, so pick your category carefully if a pool on your deck is the point
- −No accessible rooms, no on-site doctor (medical cases go by boat to Bocas Town) and a 16-and-over age floor, which rules it out for some travelers
- −A 7% Panama VAT is added to the rate, and pricing sits at the very top of the Central American market
The food is the other headline. The chef writes a new dinner menu every night at the Elephant House, a century-old pavilion shipped from Bali and set over the water, while the poolside Coral Cafe handles breakfast and lunch beside the main freshwater pool, and in-room dining runs 24 hours. The rate covers meals, premium drinks, non-motorized water sports and the round-trip boat transfer, and there are no resort fees, though a 7% Panama VAT applies. The Colibri treehouse spa runs treatments from 45 minutes to two and a half hours, or they come to your deck, and there is a small 24-hour gym. The practical caveats: the 'beach' is an elevated sand platform built because the island had none, biting insects appear around dusk, rain is possible any month, and the journey involves two flights and a boat.
This is a couples resort first: adults only from age 16, two guests maximum per unit, and full of honeymooners. It suits travelers who want the overwater villa fantasy without a 20-hour trip to French Polynesia or the Maldives and who are happy to be remote. Published rates start around $1,550 per villa per night before tax and run past $3,000 for the top categories, which still undercuts most Indian Ocean overwater resorts. Off the island, the resort's naturalist boat captains run trips to Dolphin Bay, the Zapatilla Islands, the starfish beaches and Bocas Town, although plenty of guests never leave.
Common Questions
How hard is it to actually get to Nayara Bocas del Toro?
Are the bugs actually that bad?
What does the all-inclusive rate actually cover?
Should I book an overwater villa or a treehouse?
What's the best time of year to visit Bocas del Toro?
Is Nayara Bocas del Toro worth the price for a honeymoon?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Caribbean & local | The Coral Cafe |
| International & fusion | Elephant House |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Google Reviews★ 4.9 · 145 reviews
“This was the best experience we could have asked for and made our honeymoon perfect! The staff make you feel like family and everything was 5 star! If you stay here, you will find yourself waiting for dinner at The Elephant House each night. Scott an...”
“Nayara Bocas is an absolutely stunning hotel in Balinese style, set on its very own private island on the Caribbean coast of Panama! It instantly reminded me of the best resorts in the Maldives and Bora Bora. The overwater bungalows are incredibly co...”
“Amazing time staying at both the Treehouse and the Ocean Villa for the week. The attention to every detail made this an experience like no other from arrival to departure. The treehouse created a one-of-a-kind experience especially with the views and...”
