Here on the calmest Caribbean water, at our off-Grid Eco-lodge, our team strives to provide the absolute best travel experience. We know you work hard to earn your vacation and we want you to relax so your focus can be on all Bocas has to offer. We do our best to combine environmental sustainability and the highest levels of guest comfort. And of course we have dolphins, sloths, frogs, birds and so much more!!
Everything about Dolphin Bay is top notch from the interesting location in the back bay mangroves, to the beautifully manicured grounds, and the very interesting jungle walks led by host Brian, the owner and a well-informed guide. And the excellent cuisine for breakfast and dinner created by Brian's wife Amy. Location allows easy access by boat to points of interest such the bat cave, snorkeling, chocolate farm, hike on a private reserve, and zip lining. Unique wildlife is abundant and yes, there are dolphins in Dolphin Bay. Room was large, tasteful and cleaned daily by local indigenous staff. Brian went out of his way to make sure that our stay was comfortable and right. My wife lost a valuable and significant piece of jewelry, and Brian searched twice after we departed finally locating it. It was just returned to her via US mail by another family who was kind enough to take it back to the states to mail. If you are looking for a unique, remote, tropical experience Dolphin Bay Hideaway is your place. Seriously.
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Mar 5, 2020
Thank you Ladd for this fantastic review. We really appreciated meeting you both and having you at the Hideaway. We know guests have a lot of choices for accommodation in Bocas, so your very high commendation means a lot to us all. We especially like your final word - Seriously - as we take guest holiday experience very seriously. The work pays off when our guests feel they had a relaxing and beautiful break from lives back home. We were so happy we found your wife's earring and getting it back just takes another guest heading back to the same country or area and it was no problem. For any potential guest reading this, Ladd has it exactly right: "If you are looking for a unique, remote, tropical experience Dolphin Bay Hideaway is your place. " Thanks again and we hope you come visit us another time when you can! Many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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Our family of four (with two adult children) visited the Hideaway for 5 days in January 2020. We've traveled a lot with our kids, and I have to say that this will always be one of the most memorable of our trips. The place is magical. There is the physical beauty, of course: the snorkeling, the swimming, the paddle-boarding, the hiking on the local preserve and the like. Second, there is the food, which is excellent, both morning and night. (If you have special dietary restrictions, the cooks adapt perfectly.) But at least as important was the camaraderie that developed among guests as they visited in the evening for dinner on the porch. Brian and Amy have a touch for creating an atmosphere that blends support for your group with hands-off independence in exactly the right proportion. And the mutual support between the resort and the local indigenous community is obviously beneficial for each. We stayed in the upper two rooms, and we did not have any issues with privacy or noise. Everyone on the staff was friendly, knowledgeable and trustworthy. To be honest, we were nearly welling up with tears as our boat left the dock and headed to Bocas Town; we definitively hope to return.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
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Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Mar 5, 2020
We are truly overwhelmed by this incredible feedback on the Hideaway. Our entire mission is to create holiday experiences in the manner you have so aptly described. Families only have so many times to enjoy vacations together, so we strive to deliver those adventures that become "most memorable". You have an awesome family and it was so much fun for us to hang out with you all as well. Thanks for including the team during your stay. We definitely hope you return and maybe bring some more family along! Until then, many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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We loved our 4 night stay at Dolphin Bay Hideaway. From the beginning there was prompt response via e-mail for booking and how to get to the resort. We were transferring from Bocas town with some time to kill and they had a place to store luggage going to and from so we didn't have to cart it around town. We stayed in the upstairs Caribbean room and we were very comfortable with the ceiling fan running at night. No need for AC. The grounds were well manicured and the pool was very refreshing after a day trip and snorkel. Amy and Brian were terrific hosts. We can't say enough about the fabulous food and drinks, most from their garden. They include the local indigenous community for cooking, cleaning, tours and ground maintenance. They support the local schools too. Kayaking and paddle boarding are available. Snorkel trips were excellent. They have masks and you don't need fins. Zapatilla Island and Coral Key snorkeling are a must. Our friend celebrated his birthday while we were there and they made it a very special day for him. We will go back for sure. Thank you Brian and Amy for being terrific hosts.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Top two rooms have the best views of the bay and gardens.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Mar 9, 2020
Being terrific hosts is easy with guest like you all. We had such a great time hanging out and we thank you for allowing us to join in on the birthday celebration fun. The kitchen tremendously appreciates your comments on the "fabulous food and drinks" as everything is prepared with care and attention to detail. We try our best here at the Hideaway, and when it comes together like it did for your stay, it really is a holiday to remember. We are grateful for your review and your stay and we look forward to that return visit! Many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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This was one of the best unwinds my wife and I have had on vacation in a long time. No deadlines, no " you have to do the excursion at 0800 or you can't go". Brian is sooo flexible, emphasizing the importance of catering to the needs of the guests. The rooms were comfortable but don't expect fancy as this is an entirely off the grid ecolodge, so conservation of water and electricity is emphasized. The food was good, and a couple of times in our five day stay, exceptional. We love to snorkel, and have done so in Bonaire and Grand Cayman. The fish viewing was average, but snorkeling at the small mangrove islands in Dolphin Bay was stunning and unique. We saw a bunch of dolphins, both while kayaking near the lodge, and on several occasions from the boat on and excursion
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Cleanliness
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Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded May 3, 2020
We thank you for making time to write this great review and for your visit. We understand your travels have taken you both to some of the nicest spots in the world, so your appreciation for the Hideaway is sincerely valued by the entire team. It was a pleasure to get to know both of you and to learn about your interesting lives and careers. You both definitely deserve time to unwind and not have deadlines, and we are happy you enjoyed the relaxation. We are off-the-grid and certainly not "fancy" so thanks for emphasizing that for potential future guests. We do endeavor to provide that "special place" for guests like you and we do hope that if future travels bring you this direction, you will come stay with us again. Stay well and many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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We stayed 5 nights at Dolphin Bay Hideaway. Our family loved the location and Brian and Amy were amazing hosts. They worked so hard to make sure everyone was happy. Our young adult children (ages 16 and 22) were very pleasantly surprised by how fun it was to interact with other guests at dinner. We had great conversations and learned a lot about people's various life and travel experiences. The food was delicious and so appreciated, especially when we realized the effort that went into getting locally sourced ingredients. The diversity of guests made it particularly fun. Our rooms were impeccable and very tastefully decorated. Guests should be prepared for a jungle experience, but Brian and Amy have set up the rooms to try to minimize attracting insects. We loved drinking coffee on the large veranda and looking for birds, lizards and dolphins. Brian and Amy had excellent suggestions for activities and taught us a lot about local culture and the rain forest. They are role models for people trying to save one part of the planet and share it with others. I highly recommend reading the Frequently Asked Questions on the website to make sure this is the right setting for your family. It was for ours. The internet was spotty while we were there, which actually ended up improving our trip.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
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Room Tip:Â Rooms on lower level offer a bit more privacy.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian W, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Feb 14, 2020
Favorite stay ever is the type of holiday experience we love to deliver! It was so great to have you and the family here and you must be so proud to have such an amazing family. We really appreciate this well written and thoughtful review. Thanks for your understanding regarding the internet issues while you were here, but that service recovered quickly (but you're right - sometimes it is nice to be disconnected from it all!). We also enjoy all the great dinner interaction and it certainly becomes a highlight for many people to meet such wonderful other guests. It was fun to show you around the property and talk about the enjoyment we receive from forest restoration and animal conservation. We do hope you get a chance to come back and visit us again. We know you are busy saving lives, but keep us mind for another family adventure. Until then, thanks again and many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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My partner and I went to Dolphin Bay Hideaway in November for a week and the stay was way beyond our expectations. We were delighted and impressed by the place and how well if fits into the surrounding nature. The owners, besides being lovely, took great care of everything and have exquisite taste for everything. The installations are totally self-sustainable and it is admirable the way they take care of and value the environment in which they live, which is undoubtedly a paradise. We must also mention the delicious food made with local products for breakfast and dinner. The flexibility we had to make excursions was also great. In the evenings after dinner, Brian (the owner) had organized a tour for us according to the next day's weather forecast. After staying there, we can say that the price is more than fair. It has been a real luxury to find this place and we will certainly come back as soon as we can.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â all rooms are awesome
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Dec 16, 2020
Thank you very much Silvia for this review. We love ending up being "way beyond our expectations"! The slowdown in tourism here in Bocas has prevented us from meeting as many great people as usual this year, so we are especially grateful you chose to travel to visit us. It was a pleasure for us to host you, show you around and learn about your interesting lives from the Canary Islands, Deutschland and now Chicago, USA. Best wishes for your American experience and we are jealous you get to enjoy that great Chicago deepdish! Thanks again and until we see you again, many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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My wife and I had three segments to our vacation. The first was a short stay in Panama City to explore cuisine, nightlife, and culture. The second a stay in Bocas Town for snorkeling, and island hopping while not being too far away from the comfort of markets and taxis. The third was a little hideaway for some downtime and relaxation. If you know me, you know I'm not great at downtime and relaxation. We were greeted by Brian right on schedule and were immediately escorted to paradise. Where Bocas Town is busy and a bit noisy, Dolphin Bay is quiet, serene....peaceful. We watched dolphins from the beautiful boathouse, looked at starfish from the dock, swam, drank, and took excursions which started and ended exactly when we wanted them to. Brian and Amy KNOW what they're doing. Everything was extremely well structured without EVER feeling scheduled or inflexible. Everyone who works for the Hideaway is a pleasure to be around and happy to help you with whatever your pleasure is for the day. There are cocktails, there is beer, there is wine, there are visitors from all over the world and the owners, staff, and guests all become friends within a very short time. I have to brag a little. All of the fresh prepared meals are amazing, BUT the fresh seared Tuna with a Wasabi sauce was by far the best food I may have ever had on vacation. The last night there, we all sat out under a moon so full it lit up the water, drank wine with people from around the world, who had become friends. At midnight we paddle boarded on water so calm it looked like a mirror. We laughed until it was finally time to head to bed, surrounded by nature, happy.
Thanks to Brian, Amy, JA, Mireya, and Nathaly. You all made our vacation amazing. To those guests we met while staying - Let us know when you go back...we'll meet you there.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Cleanliness
Service
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Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Apr 25, 2020
Thanks so much for this remarkable review of the Hideaway. We have been striving diligently for years to create unique holiday opportunities and your perspective helps reinforce those efforts. "Best food I may have ever had on vacation"! That really inspires the kitchen team as they always look to fashion incredible meals with fresh local ingredients. That last night you were here was especially spectacular with full moon and glassy sea - hard to ever forget for any of us. And the end of day, what else could you ask for - "head to bed, surrounded by nature, happy". It was such a pleasure to have you both here and thanks for sharing so much about your interesting backgrounds and lives back home in Colorado. We know your futures may take you to other destinations, but we do expect to see you again in Dolphin Bay someday. Until then, many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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Bocas was the last stop on our roadtrip though panama and the highlight. We stayed with Brian and Amy at the Neighourhood House next to Dolphin Hideaway (a short two minute boat ride).
We went on numerous adventures with Brian like snorkeling at a hidden Mangrove Forests (while snorkeling you see a colourful corals reef, lots of fish swarms, jellyfish and if lucky little octopus), watching the wild dolphins at the bay or walking though his rainforest project behind the house. What Brian and his local team create is stunning: they are reforestation the local rainforest and plant up to 2000 trees a month. To learn about his vision, the trees, insects and how it all works together was inspiring. Brian is a true host, he loves to explain, cares about his guest a lot and will custom the activities for you. For dinner Brian picked us up at our house and we enjoyed Amy's delicious home cooked meals and cocktails on their terrace.
The neighourhood house is located on the top of a small hill where you have a beautiful view over the bay and into the garden on the other side. The house offers three bed rooms, two bathrooms, a big living room with TV (and netflix) and a huge terrasse with bbq grill. The interior of the house is very tasteful and the kitchen well equipped. For us staying at the house was a real highlight! You are in the middle of nature, without neighbours and can calm down into holiday modus.
From the house you walk down a minute to a private pier from where you take long swims in the crystal clear water. In morning or evening hours you always have the chance to see dolphins.
Brian and Amy will make sure that your trip will be filled with unique experience and endless memories. The place is a paradise and we can not wait to be back. We can highly recommend to stay at Dolphin Hideaway.
Thanks again - Brian, Amy and your team!
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â We stayed at the neighourhood house and loved it. Great for families and friends traveling together
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Sep 21, 2021
We strive to be the highlight of every trip to Panama, so we really appreciate this feedback. We are fortunate to receive a constant stream of tremendous families like yours. We thank you for visiting us and for sending referrals as well already! We enjoyed spending time with you; whenever people are eager to experience the sea and forests and good food, we end up having as much fun as our guests. Best wishes with your lives as we emerge through this Covid fog and we do expect to see you all again here at the Hideaway. Until then, many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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We absolutely loved our stay here. From beginning to end, we felt welcomed and at home with Brian and Amy. I just loved the balcony outside our room where everyone gathered at happy hour and for meals. The food was delicious and well prepared. They accommodated my gluten free needs without missing a beat. Amy made a wonderful lemon grass sangria for happy hour.
We loved the property and our room was very comfortable. I was a little nervous about having no air conditioning, but it wasn't a problem at all. It cooled off at night and we had fans on the bed.
We loved all of the activities!! We weren't there more than 20 minutes when Brian said the other guests were going snorkeling, did we want to join them? Of course, we did!!! The snorkeling was great....lot's of cool coral, star fish, a variety of fish! We went out searching for dolphins (which our wonderful Captain Natalie found for us), we went kayaking into the mangrove and on a hike. At night we went down to the dock and swam in the bioluminescent water. It was very cool. On our last day we went out to Zapatilla Island and it was absolutely gorgeous and virtually deserted for the first few hours we were there. Again, the snorkeling was great. Amy packed a wonderful picnic lunch and even threw in a bottle of Prosecco for my husband's birthday toast on the beach. Such a thoughtful addition to our day. That evening at dinner they surprised my husband with a homemade birthday cake and Happy Birthday sung in English, Spanish and German!!
We really enjoyed the family style dinners and the conversation with the other guests. It's truly a wonderful place and we definitely hope to go back next year.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Apr 22, 2020
Your headline on this response is incredible! Thank you from the entire Hideaway team. We are so pleased you enjoyed your precious holiday time so thoroughly. The community veranda for happy hour and dinner is indeed a special place, where guests from around the world get the opportunity to meet others and share a bit about themselves. You had a packed agenda and really experienced a lot - dolphin watching, snorkeling, bioluminescence swimming, beach getaway and a birthday party! As far as nighttime temperatures, we appreciate your comments for others regarding how it cools at night and how fans are available. We had a lot of fun hosting you and appreciate your efforts to visit again soon - we will be ready for you. Many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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It is difficult to describe how special this place is. The owners Brian and Amy are very much hands on and this really contributed to the enjoyment of the holiday for us. With just 4 rooms, the service is personal and very much adapted to what you want to do, be it nature walks, snorkelling, boat trips, searching for dolphins, photography, exercise or just doing nothing but enjoying the views and passing birds and the dolphins in the bay. Brian is very passionate about rewilding the property and working closely with the locals and this shows in the great trees, plants, flowers, insects, birds and tiny colourful frogs found on the property as well as the quality of the staff/partners who work for/with him. This is not a place where you will be shipped off on a tour of the islands crammed onto a boat with a dozen other tourists. The activities feel very personal and their cost is very reasonable. The food produced by Amy and the chefs was consistently excellent and there is a good choice of cocktails, wine and beers to buy at any time. It was great to sip a cocktail on the dock at the end of the day watching the dolphins and other comings and goings. The kayaks and SUPs that you can use any time mean there is a good chance of getting up close and personal with the dolphins. We were very sorry to leave after 5 nights and could have stayed longer. If you come here you should stay a minimum of 3 nights but longer if possible. Brian and Amy - keep up the great work!
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Stay for at least 3 nights, preferably more.
The Island room on the 1st floor has the best views.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brian Wilcox, Owner at Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Responded Feb 2, 2024
Thank you for this superb review and personal encouragement. It was so nice to have you here and we were happy to be the location to get you over the top of 200 birds identified in Panama. Your bird watching skills and passion were very welcome here. Our entire team and other guests learned a lot from your stay and it was awesome to make your friendship and share a lot of laughs. We are happy to provide that intimate experience as you certainly have the desire to travel to places like the Hideaway to enjoy birds, animals, gardens and the afternoon relaxing cocktail. We know you have a lot of the world still to see, but we will always be here to welcome you for an early morning walk in the forest! Thanks again and until then, many safe and happy travels - Amy and Brian
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You will coordinate the transfer directly with Brian from Dolphin Bay Hideaway. Use WhatsApp.
In my case, we were met at the entrance to a restaurant on the water front, by the dock where the DBH boat docks.
It was a leisurely walk from the Bocas airport (landing strip, really) to the restaurant on the water...an opportunity to get a feel for Bocas, shop, eat lunch, etc.
You can also take a taxi from the airport, if it rains or you don't feel like walking. It should be a 3-4min ride.
I can't remember the cost of the boat transfer.
Bocas del Toro Province, Panama19 contributions6 helpful votes
Hello Isaac,
The truth is that it is really hard to define exactly the weather for this part of the world. We are supposedly now in the rainy season, that is from November trough usually end of January and again from May until end of August. How ever last year we had a drought in November and December and few years ago it poured for 8 days in February. so really you never know what the weather will do from one day to another.
Warm regards,
erika
Bocas del Toro Province, Panama19 contributions6 helpful votes
Hi Nicole, it is possible to have a captain arranged for night transfer. Please contact us and we can answer any further questions regarding details. Thank you!
There are more places to choose from in the Bocatorito area.
PRICE RANGE
$110 - $142 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
dolphin bay hideaway hotel isla san cristobal
LOCATION
PanamaBocas del Toro ProvinceIsla San CristobalBocatorito
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dolphin Bay Hideaway
Which popular attractions are close to Dolphin Bay Hideaway?
Nearby attractions include Green Acres Chocolate Farm and Nature Preserve (4.1 miles), Dolphin Bay Preserve (0.7 miles), and Finca Montezuma Chocolate Farm (1.2 miles).
