Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge

The lodge is fantastic for outdoor adventures. You often start the day with a short boat ride. The guides went out of their way to do special things. They knew I really hoped to see poison dart frogs and showed me three varieties of two different species. We saw hundreds of species of birds on our field excursions and lots of mammals and other cool animals. The rooms are comfortable and clean. The food was very good and the staff in the lodge was absolutely wonderful. I would love to go back again and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have never been to an eco-lodge before, but I am sure Tranquilo Bay is one of a kind. From the moment we arrived by boat, we were greeted by one of the owners who escorted us around the property and to our secluded Cabana.

We chose a couple of excursions every day. You can schedule a trip to the Bat Cave in the morning then get on a kayak and snorkel around upside down jellyfish in the afternoon. The next day you can go on a hike in the jungle and then go sloth spotting before dinner. Our amazing guide for all of our excursions was Christian. His attentiveness, deep knowledge of the area and genuine passion for wildlife made everything more memorable.

All meals are locally sourced, prepared and served in a cozy dining/social area with a bar. You get to mingle with the other guests and the Tranquilo Bay families. You can’t help but admire how much hard work and dedication that went into this place to make it what it is: unique and special.

Just outstanding. My idea of heaven. Immersed in nature for just 4 days and I wish we’d booked in for a fortnight. There is so much to see, so many different ecosystems on their doorstep. From the geology, corals, upside down jellyfish lagoons, the lifting of an ancient seabed to form Panama and turned on the Gulf Stream current, gorgeous mangroves and lush seagrass, rain forest and cloud forest and fascinating swamps all occupied with 94 wildlife species and 61 at Tranquillo. Then there’s the wonderful staff, Delicious meals, gorgeous gardens and a library of rare wildlife books that could keep you up all night reading. There is no bad time to visit .. a steady climate and If it rains .. it’s warm and there are no hurricanes! Look forward to visiting again and hope that many many more will get to see all this nature .. it’s under pressure 👍😂

I wanted to plan a trip for 10 adults for the last two years and was glad that finally after Covid has waned that Tranquilo Bay was a part of that trip! We headed to Panama with my husband, 4 adult children and their spouses/boyfriend/girlfriend. We spent 4 nights with Renee, Jay, Stacey and the rest of their fabulous staff. We saw amazing birds, clear, clean snorkeling, a beach day, a chocolate farm and a bat cave, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Each day brought new unique experiences and tons of family memories. On our long trip back yesterday we all chimed in on our favorite parts of the trip and none of us were disappointed. From being picked up by boat for the 35 minute ride to the resort to the accommodations-mighty comfortable all while keeping the eco resort feel-we were not disappointed. Being greeted by monkeys in the morning to watching parrots head out to feed and return in the afternoon was just a part of the magnificent nature experience. I learned of and saw bird and insect species I have never even heard of and Stacey was always so patient with our questions and ready with explanations. I will forever treasure our memories of our stay and I know my whole family will as well. Stacey you rock!!

Extraordinary week at Tranquilo Bay - fantastic Lodge deck, dining room & bar (drinks included in our stay!) above a pristine mangrove forest, with exquisite & rare birds, monkeys, sloths & more. Our cabin was beautifully decorated and super clean with cold AC and fresh potable water from the tap, and we watched Golden-collared Manakins and other rarities from the comfort of the Adirondack chairs and hammock on our porch! Thanks to the staff for the tip - leave the binoculars outside to prevent fogging.)
The owners Jim, Renee' & Jay are just wonderful people & accommodating hosts; and the entire staff was welcoming, caring and fun! We looked forward to appetizers and drinks on the deck every evening, and all of our meals were delicious & plentiful. And there was so much to do with birding the island, birding by boat, kayaking & fishing and snorkeling - and the view from the easy-to-climb tower is not to be missed. The "jungle cruise" on the old Snyder Canal was unbuh. We loved every minute of our stay - group of 10 birders & naturalists, led by Mark Garland Nature. Tranquilo Bay's new full time local guide, Roger Morales-Flores, is outstanding - he is a sharp spotter and works to get everyone on the bird, monkey, poison dart frog, sloth, you name it. And his unfailing good humor, as well as that of the rest of the staff, made it all a joy. Special thanks to the boat crews, who took such good care of us (and all the luggage) and joined in to make sure we saw ALL the birds & wildlife. So special to visit this island paradise in Bocas del Toro. Highly recommend.

Me and my elderly mom booked a day tour at Tranquilo Bay. After a 40 minute speed boat ride we were warmly greeted by our guide Stacey. She was extremely knowledgable about ALL the wildlife and plants inhabiting this tiny rain forest island ecosystem. She went above and beyond to pinpoint some sloths and red dart frogs for us to see. And she was very flexible and considerate about my mothers slower place on the hike. Definitely a moderate/steep hike complete with dozens of jungle sounds and exotic bird songs. Was satisfied with the degree of activity required as I was expecting a bit more than just a leisure nature walk. I was not disappointed! Walked out of the rain forest muddy and breaking a sweat. Great hospitality and plenty of refreshing drinks. We were told it was the slow season so we were able to enjoy a personal tour at a comfy pace. Stacey was super helpful and kind on the water activities as my mom had issues swimming. Over all an amazing time and highly recommend! Definitely a hidden gem best suited for nature/adventure lovers who want to get off the beaten track ( aka party islands) for a day while still enjoying amenities like a nice meal and wifi at the lodge. A+++

A little slice of paradise in a remote and unspoiled area, but with all the creature comforts including air conditioning. Every detail is taken care of and all you have to decide is what activity you want to do. Climb the bird tower to watch (and hear) the green parrots morning and evening migration (affectionately referred to as ‘Parrot O’Clock’) between their nesting area and their feeding area. Go on guided rain forest hikes, sandy beach outings, mangrove kayaking, chocolate farm touring, or just hang out on the dock. Our guide was Stacey Hollis and she is not only super knowledgeable about wildlife (birds, wildlife, fish, plants), she is genuinely delightful as a person to hang around with. Her passion for conservation biology is infectious. Renee and the staff’s hospitality was much appreciated. This was an unforgettable experience.

We were celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary on a remote carribean island. The accommodations were top notch excellent and even though the resort is remote you have everything you need and for us that’s AC in a humid tropical environment. We loved the food and the Rene and Jim were great hosts. Their kids and the whole staff were kind to us. Hope to go back again some day. 😊👍😎

We are just leaving what felt like our home away from home. The resort was beautiful and our cabanas immaculate and comfortable. We enjoyed snorkeling, many boat rides, kayaking, an excursion to Green Acres Chocolate Farm, great meals, and as much beer and wine as we wanted. :) The owners and their employees are fantastic!! We saw some great wildlife and birds also!

Our recent stay at this fabulous lodge did not disappoint! Everything was truly phenomenal. The lodge is reached by a short boat ride from Bocas del Toro and the ride is gorgeous, with dolphin sightings along the way.
The island that the lodge is on is thick with tropical vegetation and rich with tropical flowers and beautiful birds and abundant happy sloths.
Our room was on the second story of a solid two story house (cabin 9) with a living area, oriental rugs, king size bed, spacious bathroom with fresh flowers and a lovely patio overlooking the lush grounds.
Delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners were served in the main lodge house by ever attentive staff. This area also featured a little bar and a cozy sitting area surrounded by guide and coffee table books about the fauna of the region.
The great room also featured our absolute favorite component- a large wrap around deck over the jungle from which one could sip a drink, read a book and watch for tropical birds.
There were numerous activities available to you during your stay and we chose daily nature and birding walks. We were put into the excellent hands of Ramon who would meet us every morning at the top of the observation tower with his scope and point out the myriad bird species below us, explaining a bit about the life and habits of each one. We took a canal excursion with Ramon one day which involved travelling by boat from our island to another area where we spent several wonderful hours slowly motoring down a jungle lined canal while Ramon would spot fascinating creatures for us to see.
The last bit of review I’m going to leave is about the incredible owners and staff of Tranquillo Bay. From the moment they greeted us at the Bocas del Toro airport to our departure they made us feel like family. That feeling continued throughout our stay with the charming and delightful staff they have hired.
Jim, Jay and Renee, thank you for showing us such a great time!

We have stayed at multiple eco-advertised lodges throughout Central America and the Caribbean and have had many great experiences. Tranquilo; however, was on a bucket list that I didn’t know I had. My wife and I enjoyed a regrettably short 3 1/2 days of as much or as little as we wanted to do. Amazing birding on property and a nearby canal, kayak fishing from the dock, surfing via boat to a nearby point break, eating wonderful meals - so close to the vine, and oh yeah, fantastic bungalow accommodations. The Owners have created something extremely special at Tranquilo. To Jim, Jay, Stacy, Ramon, Natalia, Trace, Scott and the unnamed amazing people at Tranquilo, Thank You. We will be back as soon as we can.

I have been to Bocas del Toro a few times over the past decade and all the hotels have been average at best or lacking something in the way of service, food, or cleanliness (or all the above). I just spent two nights at Tranquilo Bay and had a great time, by far my favorite hotel in the Bocas area. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the rooms were for being an island-based eco lodge, but it was basically 4-star luxury with AC, private bath with hot water, super comfy bed and high quality linens & towels. Despite being an eco lodge out on Isla Bastimientos you won't be roughing it here.

I went fishing with one of the owners, Jay, and we boated two tarpon and two jacks on our first day (missed two other bites too). The next day we fished a bit in the morning and then came back early to go snorkeling at a reef right in front of the lodge. The owners - Jay, Jim & Renee - clearly take pride in what they have created and want to make sure you are enjoying your stay with them. In addition to them being on-site, they have two phenomenal nature/birding guides named Ramon & Natalia who have been with them for a decade. Whatever you want to do in Bocas - beach, snorkel, birding, fishing - this is the first place I'd recommend in the area.

Amazing experiences each and every day. Guides had actual wildlife conservation experience, were super knowledgeable and accommodating. The owners and staff went beyond their way to ensure a top level stay.

I came here to work on a nature documentary. It's that "world class."
This very special resort is located in one of the most pure and untouched areas I've ever seen -- the relationship between the main building and the forest is just spectacular. A 30-minute boat ride from the main town, this feels like a little slice of heaven in the middle of the rainforest.
You get it all here -- dockage, mangrove, water access for snorkeling, and of course significant tracts of land extending into the Panamanian rainforest. Birds, amphibians, crabs, soooo many sloths, and every species of flowers imaginable bloom in this special space. The family that is hosting is just so sweet and knowledgable about the area -- they've lived here for over 20 years and care deeply about the community and ecosystem that they are a part of.
I can't recommend this space highly enough. Their COVID-19 policies were rigorous and made me and the crew feel very safe. Now is the perfect time to come to Tranquilo Bay.

The comforts of home with the jungle at your doorstep. Many activities to choose from and lots of flora and fauna to see. Stay on the property or take a boat trip to several destinations, accompanied by very knowledgeable guides.

superb accommodation, great staff, great activities, excellent food and bar and unreal air conditioning and hot water, can't ask for a better holiday. lots of activities to do and the owners are fabulous hosts

Beautiful cabins, great food, amazing location. Guides Ramon and Natalia are the best! Knowledgeable and fun to be with.

Having a fun time seeing all the animals.

It was a wonderful vacation back

Jim and the team run a beautiful setup at Tranquillo Bay. You may never want to leave @