From what I hear Solarte Inn has been thru a lot in the past couple of years, but as of Mid Feb 2012 it is under new management and I can tell this truly makes a difference.

The Rooms:
They are modern, clean and comfortable-- I mean what more can you want. The rooms are some of the best in the Bocas area, the air conditioning works great, the hot water gets HOT! and the beds are comfortable. The rooms are right off the open space dining area which makes it nice to just walk out and enjoy the nice views. We stayed in Room 1 and were pleased with the location (being away from the kitchen) and Nell keeps the rooms very clean which is hard to do with sand everywhere all the time.

The Area:
Isla Solarte is a very peaceful island which is great to get away from the constant noise and music of isla colon. The Inn is set on a hill which overlooks the ocean and has great views of birds in the morning and stars at night. A short walk thru the village will bring you to hospital point which is a nice area to lay out (no beach area mostly just grass) and the water is clean on that side of the island-- so its safe to swim and snorkel. Adrian has several people that he can call to bring you on a boat where ever you need to go. The only thing that was a little frustrating is because not that many people are going to Isla Solarte you generally have to call your own boat-- not a big deal, just bring a good book and relax a little-- you are on vacation after all!

The Food:
Adrian will serve you what ever you want and he makes that pretty clear-- breakfast was always great and fresh, he is very flexible and you can eat as early or as late as you want. Breakfast is included, as is fresh drinking water (from the tank). Dinner is a separate charge but is worth it-- it wasnt that expensive and his portions are generous. He generally will tell you what he has and then depending on your preferences you can let him know what you want. If you are staying for a few days and ask for something in particular he is more than willing to go the extra mile to get what you want.

All in all the place is coming around and I know in a few months with the Inn under Adrian and Nell's care the place will only improve. Adrian is very responsive to both email and phone so if you have any questions just get in touch with him. I know only positive reviews will start to roll in from this place.

Please note that all previous reviews are dated from 2010 and before.
We made a reservation for solarte Inn in February 2012 based on the information on their website.
The water taxi did not know where the resort was and had to ask people living nearby.
There was no sign near the dock and no visible mark of any life on the isle.
When we walked up the hill we only saw a house in decay. The management was not available on the phone. After walking around some more, a man came out of the bushes to show us the direction to the 'hotel'. Only one room was ready (smelly, musty and dark). There was no ocean view (management: we are still cutting trees to create the ocean view). It was not near a beach. The owner offered to eat something he prepared himself as there was no restaurant, no guests cooks (contrary to indication on their site). I asked for a natural juice at the 'bar' (after three weeks travelling through Panama I got quite addicted to them). Something was prepared that was said to be a Papaya juice, but looked nor tasted like papaya.
The couple managing the estate just arrived early February and lots had still to be done to start the place up again I think. So we were quite shocked that the price for one night was still 88 dollar.
We left the same evening and stayed in Buccaneers instead, where we had all facilities, great view, great assistance, nice local juices (!) for more or less the same money per night.
It looks like a great place to walk by during a hiking, but to stay it is not worth (not even close) the money at this moment. Maybe in a couple of months or years. Arriving at this place was our greatest dissappointment during a month stay in Panama.

If you’re looking for a place where you can party all night, try Bocas Town. If on the other hand you want a little solitude and natural beauty, and don’t mind putting in a little effort in search of dining and nightlife, this is a great option.

Isla Solarte is a 5-10 minute boat ride from Bocas Town ($3-$5 per person at the time of this review, depending on your negotiations and whether it’s day or night). It’s also a similar boat ride to the town of Old Bank and just a bit further to beautiful Red Frog Beach in Isla Bastimentos. Aside from the natural beauty of its jungle and beaches—including a top spot for swimming and snorkeling at Solarte’s Hospital Point—Solarte Inn is about the only commercial activity on the Island; aside from the Inn there are just two small and friendly indigenous villages (or perhaps more accurately, extended families). Whatever commercial development may have been planned on Solarte, there was no sight of it in Spring 2010.

In adding to what other reviews have to say, I should mention that the Inn is under new management. Chip and Sherrie—recent to Bocas from Colorado—are super nice, interesting people, and while they might not have a long history of lodging management they definitely aim to please.

The physical property itself is really beautiful, on a hill with nice breezes, huge wooden porch, and semi-open common area looking out into the jungle. The rooms are very nice, if basic (nice private bathrooms with clean hot and cold water, ceiling fans, but no TV or internet; some rooms have A/C). Continental breakfast is included, and with a little advance notice you can have a nice lunch and/or dinner on-site. Also, they are happy to stock the beverages of your choice, to enjoy as you like for a moderate charge.

On the downside, again there are no commercial amenities on the island outside of the Inn itself. To shop, sightsee outside of Solarte, or dine outside of the Inn itself, you need to get a water taxi to one of the more developed islands nearby. Again, it’s pretty quick and cheap to do that, but it’s not as simple as hailing a water taxi outside the lodge. Leroy is still around, and can run to Solarte from Bocas town for pickups with only a little notice. If your Spanish is ok you can also arrange for someone on the island to run you around, just look for someone with a boat and ask; most of the residents are happy to be able to earn a few extra bucks. And you may also be able to flag down a passing water taxi from the small pier, a short walk from the Inn. The later it gets in Bocas Town, the trickier it gets to get a water taxi back to Solarte, but we were able to stay in town a couple nights until about 11pm and were able to make it back without much trouble.

If you’re high-maintenance this place may not be for you. And if you want to party all night, look for someplace else. But if you’re a backpacker at heart but are done with hostels and crowds or want beauty and solitude, away from throngs of tourists, and don’t mind having to do a little work to get yourself around the other islands, I think you will find this a great place to stay.

We loved this place! We arrived early evening, were greeted warmly by our host, Steve, at the dock. He led us up a winding path to the top of the hill where the inn is located just at dusk. We settled into our room, while Steve put the finishing touches on our specially prepared meal. The food was delicious, the atmosphere warm and welcoming! After dinner, we sat and chatted with our host on the deck, with a gentle breeze cooling us.

Coffee the next morning was ready when we awoke, an amazing breakfast ready as soon as we sat down to table. We spent a total of four days at the inn, exploring the island on foot, and taking excursions wherever we liked. There was never an issue with getting off island, either for excursions or just to go into Bocas town to wander about. We highly recommend The Solarte del Caribe Inn as an alternative to the noise and heat of Bocas town!