Casa Acuario

Casa Acuario is located in Isla Carenero, which is a one minute, $1.00 water taxi ride. Owners Mandy and JP have done a lot with this beautiful and romantic property overlooking the Caribbean ocean. You can literally jump off your deck into the ocean and enjoy some excellent snorkeling underneath and around the over the water hotel! The rooms are large and beautifully appointed with lots of wood, nice beds and bedding, lovely furniture, TV, good Wi-Fi, fresh drinking water and wonderful soaps and shampoos. Each room has its own lovely deck/balcony with a table and chairs and a hammock where you can relax and watch the boats go by. There are also rafts and surfboards and games to enjoy as guests. Casa Acuario has delicious breakfast offerings in the morning and they offer snacks and juices and beers and even a small gift area which is all done through the honor system. A special shout out goes to Gabriel, who was both delightful and accommodating. Their sweet gentle doggies on the property that make the place feel more like home. There are several restaurants within a short walking distance such as Bibi's on the beach, leaf-eaters, a little Mexican taco and quesadilla stand, and more. Only a short distance away is the Panama Dive School Bocas Del Toro where you can go on scuba diving excursions. We have been to Casa Acuario multiple times and would definitely recommend it to others looking for a special and memorable experience.

This was our second stay at Casa Acuario. What makes this stay magical for us is the beautiful setting. During our most recent stay, we were on the second floor. Having higher views of the bay, views out towards Bocas town, and looking towards the mainland was very nice. We enjoyed the afternoon sunset and, this time, a full moon in the evening. Mandy and JP have decorated the rooms with a nice homey flair, which is very relaxing. Being able to enjoy the cool breeze while chilling out in the hammock was a nice change. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable, from the soaps in the room and fresh water to the nicely sized bathrooms and showers with hot water. To me, it feels like home when staying there. Breakfast in the morning is amazing and filling, plus it draws locals in to mingle with. We even met our dive master at breakfast. You will not be disappointed while staying at this amazing establishment.

The delightful young American couple that owns this hotel have done a fantastic job of creating an upscale retreat. All of the finishes are beautiful and comfortable, They have a restaurant that serves a great breakfast. (Don't miss the banana pancakes)! Some of the thoughtful touches include an honor bar with drinks and snack available 24/7, water sport equipment such as floats, snorkel gear, paddleboards are available to use free and you help yourself. There is a lovely dock with lounge chairs (no beach). This is just the common area! Now let's move to the room...the beds were comfortable; the bathroom was spacious and nice amenities. The room was finished in a style to reflect a space of retreat. One touch that was appreciated was the noise cancelling sound bar and sound machine. There is water taxi traffic that passes right in front of all hotels on the water and it runs close to 24/7. It can be a bit much after a while when sitting on the beautiful private deck, so being able to go in to the airconditioned room and block the noise was a nice reprieve for me. The private deck has a small kitchenette. with a fridge and hot plate, microwave and kitchen supplies. They replenish fresh filtered water daily. I enjoyed the hammock with my book! They provide a special oil to repel the "no-see-ums". All natural and worked like a charm! I am sure that I have left out some of the other special little touches, but truly...They have thought of everything and it was a WONDERFUL stay!

Paradise on earth! We explored Panama with our girls (18 and 21). When arriving at Casa Acuario we felt at home instantly. The owners are fabulous and so is host Arièl. The hotel is decorated with love and the beds are even more comfortable then at home. Favorite spot; hammock on our private terrace. The girls loved jumping in the sea from our balcony. We spotted beautiful fishes and starfishes around the hotel. The team is always at your service for restaurant advise, excursion ideas and are making the best breakfast. We will come back for sure!

Such a delightful experience for all Of us! From our warm welcome to our luggage storage exit everything was perfect! Unbelievable views! Wonderful Staff to answer any questions and hosts that have such attention to detail it’s amazing! Perfect location to travel to other idk ads and a $1 water taxi ride to Bocas Town. But why leave when the snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and paddle boards are on your dock. With a picture perfect beach and delicious and delightful restaurants nearby. Can’t imaging staying anywhere else!!! It was fabulous!! Many thanks and best of luck to Mandy, JP and the resident pups!!

Our family of four, including teens age 16 and 19, stayed here over Christmas and we all LOVED it! Mandy and JP were gracious hosts, and went above and beyond to make our visit great by recommending places to visit, eat, etc. Honestly, I want to be Mandy :) and run this very sweet little inn on this special little island. The breakfast menu is awesome and everything was a hit with my family. For lunches and dinners we liked that there are several fantastic places to eat within easy walking distance of the inn - Leaf Eaters, Bibi's, and Coquitos. Per Mandy's recommendation, we also took a boat to The Firefly for Christmas dinner which we really enjoyed and we got a glimpse of the area's bioluminescent plankton on the boat trip home which was an added bonus! I echo what all others have said here - this is a GREAT place to stay, with exceptional staff, clean rooms, and access to the little things that can really make a difference on vacation in a tropical climate - Mandy and JP have have thought of it all - beach towels, functional snorkel gear, coffee, bug repellent, Zyrtec, yoga mats, an honor fridge with cold drinks, etc. This is without a doubt where I would stay again if I ever make it back to Bocas and I say this after having also stayed somewhere else on the island after leaving Casa Acuario. Stay here.