Popa Paradise is the premier Adults Only (18+) resort in Bocas del Toro, and the only All-Inclusive Clothing-Optional resort in Panama. It appeals to more adventurous travelers, interested in a unique and memorable experience, and willing to give up a little travel convenience to get to their destination. We love to host active vacationers that enjoy being “off the grid”, yet appreciate luxury amenities and outstanding dining, prepared with fresh local ingredients. Popa is a popular destination for honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic and pampered time together. At our resort, you will meet eco-tourists, artists, and photographers interested in the stunning natural beauty, flora, and fauna of the Bocas Archipelago, as well as water sports enthusiasts that prefer to relax in comfort when the sporting day is done.
Popa Paradise is unique amongst Panama hotels because of its location in the outer archipelago, making it one of the most private of the Bocas del Toro hotels. Popa Paradise is located on the northeastern tip of Isla Popa. Our exquisite location, fronted by two white sand beaches and aquamarine waters is backed by lush, tropical rainforest. Popa offers various styles of accommodations. In this unique setting, you can experience the immense beauty of the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Our accommodations range from nine individual private casitas with air conditioning and private balconies, to a group of five attached lodge rooms, with simple decorations, private bathrooms, and A/C, perfect for small groups or moderate budget travelers. For the high-end traveler, we offer a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Luxury Suite, with a full-service kitchen, wrap-around balcony, living room, and dining area. On the first floor are two individual Junior Suites with kitchenettes.
We offer a variety of accommodations, making our small resort unique amongst Bocas del Toro hotels.
Popa Paradise offers nine individual casitas, five attached lodge rooms, two Junior Suites, and one Luxury Suite, most with ocean views.
The Casitas are free-standing, individual suites with King, Queen, or two twin-size beds and a pull-out twin bed. All offer full bathrooms with hot water, air conditioning, DVD player, beautiful hardwood furniture and large shaded porches for enjoying either beautiful jungle scenery or the ocean view and sea breezes. Satellite TV is currently unavailable.
The Junior Suites are on the bottom floor of our beautiful house on the point. These rooms are larger with larger TVs (DVD only) and have small kitchenettes. There is a king bed with a pull-out futon. They also have wrap-around porches with views of the sea on two sides.
The Luxury Suite is located on the top floor of the house on the point. It has one main bedroom, a second small bedroom, a living room, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. There is a beautiful wrap-around balcony that looks out over the ocean on all three sides.
The Lodge Rooms are our more economical accommodations. These rooms face the sea and are just a short walk to the beach. They have a table with chairs and a bench outside the room. All Lodge Rooms have a private bathroom with hot water, air conditioning, and a ceiling fan. There is no television in these rooms, however, there is a big-screen TV and a collection of DVDs in the Clubhouse for our guests to enjoy.
We offer a range of activities for our guests, from massage and spa services to kayaks for exploring the deserted beaches that neighbor our property, to snorkel gear for discovering the reefs that lie just off our shore. We also offer unique private boat tours to places like the Zapatillas Cays and Dolphin Bay, as well as many other favorite Bocas del Toro attractions.
The centerpiece of the resort is our 5,000-square-foot clubhouse. With a red tile roof and high ceilings, plastered walls, and dark native hardwoods, it is a perfect blend of modern and traditional Panamanian-style architecture. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available around the clubhouse.
The building houses our reception area, gift shop, pool table, 56-inch flat-screen HDTV with satellite, DVD library, book exchange, and ping pong.
Free Wi-fi is available in the Clubhouse and pool area – we plan to extend Wi-Fi to all rooms in the near future.
We also have a spa for massage and yoga that opens to a beautiful view across a grassy valley to the rainforest beyond.
In addition, there is a beautiful modern kitchen and dining area, plus a bar. The great room in the center of the building has a relaxed airy atmosphere with chairs and couches. The clubhouse has cool tile floors and large folding hardwood and glass doors custom made locally.
A series of pathways lead through the lawns to the large pool and separate water feature. The pool features a 100% mirror edge with a swim-up bar, shaded palapa, and a waterfall feature. Surrounded by mature coconut palms, the half-circle design faces out to the ocean and allows you to swim to the edge and look out to the blue Caribbean water beyond.
Our chef offers a healthy, balanced menu inspired by local ingredients and influenced by Latin flavors. With a little advance notice, we will tailor our menus to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, or any other special requirements.
For breakfast, we offer both a continental buffet and made-to-order selections. The buffet includes fresh fruit, local dishes, fresh juices, and fresh breads.
Each meal takes advantage of our proximity to the ocean and its incredible bounty, as well as local farmers employing organic and sustainable practices. Our chef can cater to a variety of dietary restrictions or food allergies.
The pool has a swim-up bar, or you can sit beneath the ranchito to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Bartenders serve up exciting cocktails and fresh smoothies with Caribbean familiarity and Latin flair.
Popa Paradise is situated amid 25 acres of lush tropical forest. Hike our trails with our experienced indigenous guide, and spot toucans, sloths, green tree frogs, and an abundance of exotic flowers and plants.
There are many things to do on shore without leaving the resort. Bird watching is outstanding.
For those less active days there are board games, ping pong, a pool table, a DVD library with a huge television to play them on, and a selection of books and magazines. Sorry, no satellite TV at the present time due to lack of service provider support; we do have internet TV (Roku, Netflix etc).
Our staff can arrange the following off-site excursions for you and your group:
Dolphin Bay
Located next to Isla San Cristobal, this bay is famous for hosting pods of dolphins. Watch them play in the sea from our boat! We recommend this tour in the morning, when the dolphins are most active. $45 per person includes boat, local guide and refreshments. Add a snorkeling stop to a protected coral reef surrounded by mangroves for $10 per person – starfish are abundant.
Organic Chocolate Farm
Visit a beautiful cacao plantation: a garden in the middle of the jungle where you can see how chocolate is grown and manufactured, from its fruit to the finished product. $50 per person includes boat, tour, refreshments and entrance fee. Tours start from the farm at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, every day except Wednesdays.
Dolphin Bay + Chocolate Farm Combo
Combine these tours for $65/pp, a great bargain, and add the snorkeling stop for an additional $10/pp.
Popa Dos Indigenous Village
See how local indigenous people live, visit their village and browse their Panamanian handicrafts. $45 per person includes round trip boat transportation, village tour and entrance fee.
Jungle Hike to Popa Dos Indigenous Village
Our boat will take you through a narrow channel in the mangroves, dropping you and your guide at a point where the tour will continue on foot through the rain forest, where you can observe plants, birds and animals seldom seen by tourists. It is about a 20 minute walk, along a sometimes slippery and steep trail to the village of Popa Dos. The boat will be waiting there to take you back to Popa Paradise after a tour of the Village. $60 per person.
Zapatilla Keys (Cayo Zapatillas)
Two islands, part of the Bastimentos Marine National Park, just five miles off Popa’s Beach; these are the world-renowned Zapatilla Cays. They are known for their blue water, white sand and great coral reef. $65 per person includes boat, refreshments, snorkel gear, beach towels and Park entrance fee.
Cayo de Agua
One of the best-kept secrets in the Archipelago, Cayo de Agua is the location of a stunning undeveloped beach. Outside of the Marine Park, it is seldom visited by tourists… you can expect to spend a few hours in a stunning and nearly undiscovered setting, meeting perhaps only a local fisherman. $55 per person includes boat, refreshments, snorkel gear, beach towels
Crawl Key (Cayo Coral)
Snorkel in the pristine water of Cayo Coral and observe its amazing coral reef. $45 per person includes boat, guide and snorkel gear.
Red Frog Beach
Visit Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos, home to sloths and the infamous red frogs! Walk through the rainforest or relax on the white, sandy beach of this protected area, part of Bastimentos National Park. There is a conveniently located beach restaurant. $50 per person includes round trip transportation, Park fee and beach towels. Beware of the rip currents at Red Frog Beach!
Red Frog Beach and Zip-Line
Experience Red Frog Beach and fly in the sky on Ziplines! $120 per person includes transportation and the 3-hour Zipline Canopy Tour: 13 platforms, 7 ziplines (1,000 ft total), Tarrzan Swing and much more.
Urraca Private Island – Monkey Tour
Situated between Isla Popa and Cayo de Agua, Urraca Private Island is an “over-the-water” eco-resort in an unspoiled mangrove setting. Wild and captive monkeys include the mantled howler, the Panamanian night monkey, Geoffroy’s spider monkey and the white-headed capuchin. $35 per person includes transportation, guide and entrance fee.
Direct flights to Bocas arrive daily from Panama City and San Jose, Costa Rica. The flight from Albrook Airport (PAC) in Panama city is about an hour to Bocas del Toro International Airport (BOC). Please be aware that most Air Panama flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro depart from Albrook Airport (PAC), which is a 30 to 60-minute drive from the Tocumen International Airport (PTY). We recommend allowing three hours of transfer time from arrival at PTY to departure from PAC.
It can be more relaxing and fun to spend the night in Panama City inbound and take the morning flight to Bocas. Likewise, leave sufficient time for transfers on your return journey.
Upon arrival at Bocas, you will be met at the airport by our representative, who will take you to our dock, where you will board our boat for the 35-minute journey to Isla Popa.
Due to safety concerns, please be aware that we do not leave Bocas del Toro after 5:30 pm to return to Popa Paradise. Afternoon flights to Bocas del Toro usually arrive early enough for you to meet us for the transfer to Popa before dark. If there are delays or emergencies, our staff will make special arrangements. If you are staying at a hotel for a night in Bocas del Toro, we will arrange a pick up time with you and the hotel staff.
There is also a ferry and water-taxi service that leaves Almirante on the mainland, approximately every thirty minutes during daylight hours, that delivers you to Bocas del Toro town.
The Caribbean coast of Panama is in the tropical rainforest where high temperatures are in the mid 80′s to low 90′s year-round, with the potential for high humidity after a rainfall. Evenings are generally refreshingly cooler due to the sea breezes. There is no distinct wet or dry season, but some months are generally wetter than others (January and February). Often, our rain falls at night and you awake to beautiful tropical sunrises. Panama is outside the hurricane zone and storms, when they do come, tend to blow through quickly.
Casual beach clothes for warm tropical climates are most appropriate. A waterproof, lightweight jacket, rubber-soled water shoes, hat, and sunglasses are good basics. For snorkeling, you may want to bring along a long sleeve tee shirt to protect your back from the sun’s rays. Sunscreen and insect repellant are also a good ideas.
The perfect way to explore the Caribbean waters of the Bocas del Toro archipelago… “S/V Rosie” is a 10 meter sailing catamaran fully outfitted with everything you need for the perfect day at sea – bar service, snacks, snorkeling gear, bathroom and loads of deck and shaded space to relax and enjoy your cruise.
Excursions on “Rosie” are subject to weather, sea conditions and a minimum number of four passengers.
Hop on board our catamaran for a sailing adventure to the Zapatilla Keys, part of the Bastimentos Marine National Park. These islands are known for their clear blue waters, white sand beaches and a nice reef for snorkeling. Included are the catamaran, transport to/ from the beach, beverages, picnic lunch, snorkel gear, beach towels and park entrance fee. Bar service on board and complimentary snacks while sailing back.
Join us for an afternoon cruise including a snorkeling stop at the lovely Coral Key. Sailing back as the sun sets, this cruise of three hours duration includes champagne, beer, wine, water, soft drinks and snacks, all accompanied by tropical music and relaxing good company.
Our clubhouse includes a Spa where you can enjoy a relaxing massage (by appointment) in a peaceful and beautiful setting. Please give us a couple of days advance notice so we can arrange to bring Spa staff in from Bocas Town.
Yoga – individual and group lessons can be arranged. Popa Paradise is an excellent venue for Yoga and Wellness retreats.
The signature bird of the Popa Paradise Beach Resort is the Passerini’s Tanager, the jet black male with its fluffy scarlet rump appearing in the trees from the beach to the jungle. Other Tanagers abound, too, from the aptly-named Blue-gray Tanager and smaller Golden-hooded Tanager to the Palm Tanagers in the palms around the pool.
In the tops of the larger trees, you can see pairs of Red-fronted Parrots and Blue-headed Parrots sitting, with flocks of Crimson-fronted Parakeets screeching as they fly by.
Hummingbirds feed at the flowering plants, looking as extravagant as their names: the Bronzy Hermit, the Green-breasted Mango, the White-necked Jacobin, and, if you are lucky, the Purple-crowned Fairy. Yes, we do have Fairies at the bottom our garden!
From the beach, you may see a Red-billed Tropicbird join the Magnificent Frigatebirds in harassing the Brown Pelicans to get their fish. A walk of a few yards takes you by the swimming pool, where you can watch the Greater Kiskadees calling out their names, while tiny Banaquits probe the base of each flower.
A short walk further on to the other side of the resort brings you to the edge of the jungle, where Blue Morpho butterflies (not a bird, but nearly as big) flap slowly along the trail amid the heliconia flowers, and here you may see small troops of Golden-collared or Red-capped Manakins hop through the bushes. The oddly-named Plain Xenops and the preposterous-looking Long-billed Gnatwren may join the flocks, too.
Popa boasts a beautiful white sand beach with 1,100 feet of golden white sand, the shape of the beach changes with the tides and ample sun loungers are available for your comfort. A small tree-topped island at the northern end of our beach can be reached by a dock and stairs. On the island there is a small concrete-floored area with an outstanding view that has been used for Yoga, private dinners and wedding ceremonies.
Our property is approximately twenty-five acres of grassy rolling low hills, interspersed with a mixture of giant mature hardwood trees and various types of palm trees. This provides a picturesque blend of shade and ocean views from all parts of the property.
Offshore a short distance is a coral reef, just a few feet below the surface at low tide. This barrier creates the calm waters on our beaches and makes swimming a safe activity for all our guests. The reef is living coral that provides habitat for dozens of marine species, including tropical fish, docile nurse sharks, and eagle rays.
Our clubhouse has an equipment room filled with snorkeling and fishing gear for exploring and enjoying the ocean. We also have kayaks available for you to visit some nearby isolated beaches.
At the rear of our property is a majestic primary rain forest that blankets the majority of Isla Popa with its huge hardwood trees towering into the forest canopy. Our southern border is defined by a stream that runs into the ocean. We have a jungle tour guide who will happily take you for an afternoon walk to see amazing birdlife including resident toucans and parrots, alternatively, you can opt for a nighttime tour to find nocturnal creatures such as the native coatimundi and spectacled owl.
