3 Best Hostels in Bocas del Toro – Island Hop, Sleep in the Jungle & Slide from the Bar to Ocean (literally)

So, you’re considering heading to Panama to check out the best hostels in Bocas del Toro – welcome to the one and only guide you’ll need.

Seriously, this collection of hostels is guaranteed to blow your socks off.

How do you like the sound of fresh water swimming pools, a 150ft slide into the ocean and yoga classes on the beach?! Err, yes please!

Your shortcut:

1. Bambuda Lodge (Isla Solarte) – for female solo travelers & couples
2. Palmar Beach Lodge (Isla Bastimentos) – top tick for solo travellers
3. Skully’s House (Isla Colón) – one for backpackers

As you can see, we’ve mentioned the island that each hostel in Bocas del Toro can be found. To help you with any confusion about Bocas del Toro archipelago, have a look at our quick introduction to Bocas del Toro section.

We wanted to include some hostel diversity, which is why we have chosen hostels on different islands. They each offer a unique vibe that we just couldn’t leave out. Further down in this guide we include even more great hostels.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when …

• tired of bad and crappy hostels
• want to avoid the “young party kids”
• happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience

Whilst you’re in the area, why not also visit the 3 best hostels in Panama City.

Just across the border you can also discover 44 AWESOME hostels in Costa Rica.

What we cover in this article?

• Introduction
• 3 best hostels in detail
  • #1 Bambuda Lodge
  • #2 Palmar Beach Lodge
  • #3  Skully’s House
• cheapest hostels in Bocas del Toro
• best hostels in Bocas del Toro for solo travellers
• fun party hostels in Bocas del Toro
• Selina Hostels in Bocas del Toro
• discounts and promo codes
• How to book?
• all hostel and sights on a map
• Flights
• FAQ

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Bocas del Toro

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Bocas del Toro cost 11€ – 16€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 27€ up to 42€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Bocas del Toro Archipelago explained: Bocas del Toro is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Isla Colón – home to the major city Bocas del Toro, also called Bocas Town – is the main island, with a further 10 islands in the archipelago. In this guide we focus on hostels situated on three of the main islands. Note: We’ve made sure to make it clear where exactly each hostel is located – check the handy map to double check your chosen hostel’s location before you book.

New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:

• how to book hostels (and websites to use)
• 23 items for the hostel packing list
• Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels

The 3 Best Hostels in Bocas del Toro

Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Bocas del Toro.

1. Bambuda Lodge
   
2. Palmar Beach Lodge
3. Skully’s House

We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler:	Palmar Beach Lodge
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler:	Bambuda Lodge
🥳 Party Hostel:	Selina Bocas del Toro
👩‍❤️‍👨Couple Hostel:	Bambuda Lodge
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel:	Palmar Beach Lodge
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads:	Palmar Beach Lodge
🎒 For Backpackers:	Skully’s House

1. Bambuda Lodge (Isla Solarte)

Let’s kick start with a fabulous hostel situated on Isla Solarte.

It wouldn’t be fair to describe Bambuda Lodge as anything but awesome… luxurious… heavenly… paradisiacal…

“Bambuda Lodge is a waterfront eco-friendly hostel that combines chilled, sociable vibes with boutique hotel features.”

We could tell you to just watch the video and have a look at the photos to get an idea of what to expect. It’s all there!

But, well alright, we’ll throw in some words, too!

Looking specifically for a Bocas del Toro hostel with slide? We found it!

Let’s not beat around the bush and highlight the best bits for you:

• Massive fresh water pool
• 150ft slide from the bar to ocean
• Private coral reef for snorkelling
• Waterfront location
• Onsite restaurant (incredible, affordable food)

If that wasn’t enough, Bambuda happens to be surrounded by acres of lush jungle which is perfect for exploring and taking photographs. There are miles of hiking tracks and over 30 different kinds of fruit trees growing here.

When (if!!) you’ve had enough of relaxing in a hammock or by the pool, speak to the staff about joining tours/excursions in the surrounding area.

The local companies are pretty helpful and will pick you up and drop you off at Bambuda Lodge.

As for the rooms; you’re in for a treat.

There is a selection of private and shared rooms, all of which offer jungle and ocean views.

Meet other people by choosing a 4-6 mixed dorm, or treat yourself to a super-spacious double room. You could really splash out and book a ‘Jungle Bungalow’ which comes with a private balcony with day bed.

Getting there: In Bocas Town, go to any dock and ask a water taxi to take you to Bambuda Lodge – they’ll know exactly where you mean and will drop you right at the hostel dock for less that $8. From here it’s possible to take a water taxi to almost anywhere around the Bocas Islands.

This is one of the best hostels in Bocas del Toro for

• Female solo travellers
• Couples

Book Bambuda Lodge here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

2. Palmar Beach Lodge (Isla Bastimentos)

Now it’s time to swim across to Isla Bastimentos and the famous Red Frog Beach. Set slightly back from the crashing waves is Palmar Beach Lodge.

“Prepare for the harmonizing sounds of the jungle and ocean, the softness of filtered rainwater showers, and the constant warmth of sand, earth, and local wood beneath your bare feet.”

This is a gorgeous eco-friendly hostel, running entirely on solar power and set up well with a recycling system and built with local hardwoods. It is even on our list of “the best beach hostels worldwide”.

For those solo travellers that enjoy a social hostel buzz, this one is for you.

There are plenty of daily activities to take part in, including coastline hikes, bonfires, BBQs, movie nights and outings to town.

Oh! And every day there are yoga classes in their dedicated open-air beachfront studio. Nice.

Looking for adventure? The friendly staff will help you book a zipline, ATV, deep boarding or cave tour.

The handy onsite restaurant has a superb daily menu, with everything from cocktails and fresh juices, to cooked breakfasts (sorry no free breakfast here) and filling dinners. The prices are seriously reasonable, too!

Be prepared: There is no cash machine on Isla Bastimentos so make sure you have enough cash on you. Also, there is only one basic supermarket on the island so if you’re planning on cooking, make sure you bring your own ingredients.

Let’s quickly show you the room choices:

• Private bungalows & beach cabanas
• ‘King Bungalow’ (2 floors, outdoor shower & bath)
• Rainforest/Safari tents
• Cabin-style shared dorm (8 people)

The dorms here are pretty snazzy. Each bed has a little window, fan, light and locker.

Super cool: This hostel offers a work exchange programme. Work 25 hours a week in exchange for accommodation, breakfast, discounted food & drinks, free yoga and free transport to/fro town.

Getting there: There is a free boat shuttle leaving Isla Colón three times a day. From the dock it is a 10-minute walk through the jungle to reach Palmar.

This is one of the best hostels in Bocas del Toro for

• Solo travellers

Book Palmar Beach Lodge here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

3. Skully’s House – (Isla Colón)

For our last recommendation, we thought it a good idea to include a hostel that’s located on the main island, Isla Colón.

Skully’s House is the perfect base for anyone looking to have a break from loud, noisy places and to be close to the best surfing spots on the island.

“We are surrounded with the jungle so you will be able to see a lot of animals around. Without going out from the hostel you can see eagles, vultures, humming birds, howler monkeys are visiting about once a week.”

Depending on the season, it’s possible to surf right in front of the hostel!

Spend the day relaxing…

• On the sandy beach
• By the outdoor swimming pool
• In a comfy hammock or swing by the sea

When the old stomach rumbles kick in, meander to the onsite restaurant where the best Bloody Mary you’ve ever tasted awaits! Yummy international dishes can be enjoyed in the poolside dining area.

It’s possible to hire an eBike here – a great way to explore the area.

Otherwise we highly suggest joining in their famous ‘Flying Pirates’ activity. A high adrenaline excursion along exclusive trails and look out points. Fun!

Back at the hostel there is ping pong, pool table, a slack line and more.

If you’re into surfing, the staff have boards and beach essentials for sale to make your life easier.

Altogether there are 3 dorm rooms and 6 private rooms. The private rooms come with A/C and are set by the ocean front.

Cute: There are three hostel cats that live and roam freely here.

Sunday is set aside as Family FunDay and the swimming pool is a popular attraction for local families.

Getting there: Just outside of Bocas Town, it will cost around $3 and take just 10 minutes to reach Skully’s by taxi.

This is one of the best hostels in Bocas del Toro for

• Backpackers

Book Skully’s House here

Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

What about cheapest hostels in Bocas del Toro?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget hotels!

We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.

Why?

The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.

Twin Fin Hostels is a good example of a hostel to miss in Bocas del Toro.

However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Bocas del Toro.

1. Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Bocas del Toro
2. Order the listing by price

Simple as that.

Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels

Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.

Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.

A simple, cheap hostel we found with good views is Hostal Hansi, located right in Bocas Town. There are only private rooms here.

Best Hostels in Bocas del Toro for Solo Travellers?

What is seriously the best hostel in Bocas del Toro for solo-travellers?

We decided one hostel isn’t good enough for you, dear reader. Instead, choose between:

• Best Hostel for Female Solo Travellers: Bambuda Lodge
• Best Hostel for Partying Solo Travellers: Selina Bocas del Toro
• Best Hostel for Solo Backpackers: Skully’s House
• Best Hostel for Solo Digital Nomads: Selina Red Frog

Overall, we’d have to go with our number 1 choice, Bambuda Lodge. There is a reason it sits in the #1 spot, after all! Scroll back up to find out more.

Party Hostels in Bocas del Toro

Selina Bocas del Toro wins the award for best party hostel in Bocas del Toro.

Why? Well, it’s simple:

1. They are within walking distance to all-night clubs & reggae bars
2. They offer daily Happy Hours at their restaurant-bar
3. There’s live music to go along with your cheap drinks

As there’s no curfew, you can party until sunrise and look forward to returning to a comfortable bed, before waking up to a lovely cooked breakfast at the restaurant.

A pity 😔, the discount code to Selina Hostels expired. Check all valid discounts here.

Book Selina Bocas del Toro here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Selina Hostels in Bocas del Toro

In case you don’t already know, we love Selina! So much so that we teamed up with them to bring you a special discount code on all Selina Hostels worldwide.

Over in Bocas del Toro, there are two Selina hostels. Let’s check them out.

Selina Red Frog (Isla Bastimentos)

Located just minutes from Palmar Beach Lodge, Selina Red Frog offers a more down-tempo vibe that’s better suited to couples and solo travellers that enjoy doing their own thing.

Having said that, there are still plenty of activities to join in, just no crazy up-all-night parties to attend.

You’ll be slap bang in the middle of the jungle, with just a short walk to the stunning Red Frog Beach.

Feeling lazy? No worries, there’s an outdoor swimming pool here, too.

Other perks worth noting:

• Yoga lessons
• CoWork space + speedy, free Wifi
• Beachfront bar & restaurant
• Live music
• Free walking tours

The palm tree garden looks like the best place to hang out. See you there!

A pity 😔, the discount code to Selina Hostels expired. Check all valid discounts here.

Book Selina Red Frog here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Selina Bocas del Toro (Isla Colon)

Selina Bocas del Toro is your answer to the best and closest hostel to the airport – it’s just 500 metres away!

Right on the beachfront on Bocas del Toro, this hostel is also super close to excellent nightlife of the main Bocas Town.

It’s a top choice for digital nomads thanks to the dedicated CoWork space, and is set up perfectly for any solo traveller that likes to be entertained around the clock.

Stretch out on the yoga deck, bounce along to live music and enjoy a drink (or three) at the onsite bar.

All that’s left to do is wind down with a couple of rounds of pool with new found friends.

Psst! The female only dorms come with private a ensuite. Just so you know.

A pity 😔, the discount code to Selina Hostels expired. Check all valid discounts here.

Book Selina Bocas del Toro here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

How to book?

We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.

Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.

Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Here is the overview:

1. Bambuda Lodge Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Palmar Beach Lodge: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Skully’s House Bocas del Toro: Booking.com | Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!

All of Bocas del Toro best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

Any Discounts?

You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox. You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.

All 3 Hostels put on a map + sights

Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Bocas del Toro hostels on a map.

Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.

What are the best things to see in Bocas del Toro Panama?

We’ve added the main tourist attractions you’ve to know on to the map below:

• Starfish Beach
• Carenero Island – a good hostel here is Aqua Lounge
• Red Frog Beach
• Bastimentos Sky Zipline Canopy Tour
• Plasticbottle Village
• Simon Bolivar Park

Flights to Bocas del Toro?

We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Bocas del Toro.

This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Panama and find the cheapest rates for the area.

Here is our review of Kiwi.

FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Bocas del Toro Panama.

We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in Central America:

• 43 best hostels in Colombia
• 13 best hostels in Nicaragua
• 3 best hostels in Antigua Guatemala
• best hostels in Cartagena de Indias

Coming soon: best hostels in Pedasi Panama.

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?

Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Bocas del Toro hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.

Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.

Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.

At Hostelgeeks we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. Our promise is to only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!

Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.

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