Best Budget Hostels in Bocas del Toro, Panama

Schools' Accomodation Options | Boquete Accommodation | Bocas del Toro Lodging | Panama Home Stays
Boquete Budget Hostels | Bocas del Toro Budget Hostels
Boquete Mid Range Hotels | Bocas del Toro Mid Range Hotels
Boquete Luxury Resorts & Country Inns | Bocas del Toro Upscale Hotels
Bocas del Toro Apartments
Boquete Vacation Rentals | Bocas del Toro Vacation Rentals

Only Habla Ya Spanish Students are eligible for the special rates for extended stays that appear on this page when they make their reservation through us. These special rates are offered to our students due to the amount of traffic that we generate for these hotels. Most of our recommended lodging options are located within walking distance to our Spanish school in Bocas del Toro (from 1 to 15 minute walks).

Tungara Calipso Bocas Hostel

Best Choice for Habla Ya Students

Tungara Calipso Hostel is simply your best option if you are looking for a budget hostel in Bocas del Toro with a fun, socially intense and laid back atmosphere, but in which you can still get a good and comfortable night's sleep. At the end of the day, Bocas is a party town in Panama's Caribbean so being able to call it a day when you're studying Spanish by the beach is a must!

One of Bocas del Toro's most popular hostels, Tungara Calipso has an international backpacker vibe, with guests from all over the world and it aims to offer the highest quality service and comfort to its guests, with new mattresses, each room with its very own bathroom, great customer care (24 hours reception service), and gives you the opportunity to live in the very heart of Bocas del Toro.

Tungara Calipso is our #1 recommendation for Spanish students traveling on a budget, mainly for 2 reasons. First of all, Tungara Calipso Hostel is managed by the same group that manages Habla Ya Spanish Schools, so as an Habla Ya Spanish student, you will be specially taken care of, and you'll also have the opportunity to live amongst other Spanish students just like yourself. Secondly, our team strives for perfection in everything we do, and lodging in a comfortable place offering you the best value for your money is just part of our goal to provide you with the most amazing Spanish learning experience.

Great Location in Town

Tungara Calipso is located on Bocas del Toro’s main street (3rd Street) diagonal to the Central Park and across from the Municipal Building. This is Bocas' center of activity, right next to Bocas’ best restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and just a couple of minutes walk away from the public docks where local fisherman will take you paradisaical islands with turquoise waters and white sand beaches... or to uncrowded surf breaks. It is also only a short 10 minute walk away from our Spanish school, allowing you to always be in time for your Spanish lessons.

Private & Dorm Rooms

Tungara Calipso has 7 dorm rooms and 3 private rooms, all of which are air conditioned and have their very own bathroom (most hostels in Bocas offer shared bathrooms). Dorm rooms can accommodate 4, 6, 8, 10 or 11 guests and the private rooms can sleep up to 4. Breakfast is included in the price of your stay (pancakes and coffee until you are full), and you are welcome to use the kitchen facilities at any time to prepare yourself a meal. You can store your food in the fridge, and use the stove, microwave and kitchen utensils as you please. The entire hostel is also covered with free wifi internet access.

Quality Service

When you’re traveling on a budget nothing beats being able to have a clean and welcoming room (cleaned everyday) with sufficient privacy at the end of the day. And most importantly at Tungara Calipso you will find a friendly staff with insider knowledge willing to go the extra mile to make sure you experience your Spanish vacation in Bocas del Toro, Panama at its best. As an Habla Ya student, you also get access to better rates when you stay for a week or more.

Tungara Calipso Hostel's Rates

	Rate Per Night			1 Week		2 Weeks		3 Weeks		4 Weeks
	LS	HS	PH	LS	HS	LS	HS	LS	HS	LS	HS
Bed in a Shared Room	$15	$18	$22	$95	$115	$175	$225	$250	$315	$325	$395
Private Room	$45	$65	$75	$295	$425	$525	$775	$725	$1055	$850	$1275

Note: Rates are per night and DO INCLUDE Panama’s 10% Hotel Tax, clean bed linen, towel (and change when required), personal locker, daily room cleaning, and pancakes and coffee or tea for breakfast. Rates for private rooms are based on double occupancy – for each extra guest add the following per night: $10 (LS), $15 (HS) and $20 (PH). High Season (HS): Nov 1 - Apr 15. Low Season (LS): Apr 16 - Oct 31. Peak Holidays (PH): Apr 6, 7, 8 (Holy Week), Sep 14, 15, 16 (Sea Fair), Nov 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 (National Holidays) Dec 20 - Jan 6, 2013 (Christmas and New Year Holidays), Feb 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (Carnivals 2013). Weekly extended rates are not available during Peak Holidays. A $5 deposit is required for the towel and room keys. Reservations require a 50% deposit with credit card. Cancellations with 30 days or more in advance incur in a 1 night penalty fee (the rest is refunded). Cancellations with less than 30 days loose their 50% deposit. Cancellations with less than 7 days get charged a 75% penalty. No shows and cancellations within 24 hours = 100% penalty.

Just a 10 minute walk to Habla Ya Spanish School, Hostel Tungara Calipso has an amazing location in the center of town, halfway down the main street (3rd street), in front of the Municipal Building and diagonal to the Central Park. Tungara Calipso Hostel is the colorful buidling and is very easy to spot. If you arrive by boat with Bocas Marine Tours you'll be dropped off right on main street: just take a right (up north) and you'll find Tungara 4 blocks ahead on the left hand side of the street just after Central Park. If you arrive on 1st street with any other of the boat companies, just walk through the park and you'll see Tungara right at the end of it. If you arrive by plane walk down the street leading away from the airport make a right turn on the third block (third street) and Tungara will be the third building to your right.

Top of page

Hostel Heike Bocas del Toro

Front of Hostel Heike in Bocas del Toro, Panama

The Best Place to Socialize

An undeniable favorite amongst the backpacker crowd Hostel Heike will make you feel right at home thanks to its amazing staff and great customer service. Located right on Third Street in front of the park, Hostel Heike is the perfect place to socialize with fellow travelers and have a real feel about how's life in Bocas del Toro. With a total of 8 dorm rooms and 2 private rooms, Bocas del Toro's largest hostel has an established reputation as a place where you can easily find a great group of friends to explore the archipelago, party hard at night or just laze around in true Caribbean style.

Roof Terrace at Hostel Heike in Bocas del Toro

Rooms and Facilities

Of its 8 dorm rooms Hostel Heike has two 10 person rooms (one of them with AC), two 8 person rooms, three 4 person rooms and one 6 person air conditioned room. Both of its private rooms have a double bed and a bunk bed. The rooms that don't have air conditioning are equipped with conveniently placed fans and every bed has a free personal locker besides it.

When you're not out and about taking Spanish lessons, surfing in Bocas del Toro or just enjoying uncrowded stretches of golden sand beach, Hostel Heike offers its guest an amazing roof terrace with sweeping views of town where you can grab a hammock to chill out and relax, read a nice book from the book exchange rack or take advantage of its two public computers to catch up with email. Don't forget to enjoy a cold Travelers hanging out at Hostel Heike in Bocas del Toro, Panama beer while hanging out in the balcony and taking it all in (after practicing you Spanish and doing your homework of course). and the sunlit communal kitchen opening to the street-side action is the perfect place to prepare a meal amongst friends before hitting the streets to party hard at Bocas del Toro's bars.

Staying at Hostel Heike comes with several perks: besides being able to use a couple of public computers, you will have access to free wifi access, free-unlimited pancake breakfasts served late into the morning, a roof-top sunbathing deck, free towels, a high tech purified water treatment system within the hostel, international calls, cheap surfboard rentals, and great contacts and advice to do certain tours and activities on your own.

Hostel Heike Rates

	Price per night
Dorm Room without AC	$10 per person
Dorm Room with AC	$12 per person
Private Room	$22 for 1 - 2 persons, $33 for 3 persons and $40 for 4 persons

Note: rates INCLUDE Panama's 10% Hotel Tax. A credit card is required to make the reservation but payment can be made in full upon arrival. Cancellations can be made with up to 30 days in advance with no penalty. No shows and cancellations made 30 days or less prior to arrival will be charged the full basic room rate of the 1st night + 10% tax.

Just an 8 minute walk to Habla Ya Spanish School, Hostel Heike has a great location in the middle of town, halfway down the main street (3rd street), in front of the massive trees of the central park. Hostel Heike is the blue and orange colonial building and very easy to spot. If you arrive by boat with Bocas Marine Tours you'll be dropped off right on main street: just take a right and you'll find Heike 100 m on the left hand side of the street in front of the park. If you arrive on 1st street with any other of the boat companies, just walk through the park and you'll see Heike. If you arrive by plane walk down the street leading away from the airport make a right turn on the third block (third street) and Heike will be the fourth building to your right.

Top of page

Coconut Hostel

In the Center of Town

A stay at the Coconut Hostel gives you a unique opportunity to experience local life in Bocas del Toro just as it is. Its owners and managers are local residents so you will be able to practice your Spanish 24 x 7 with them and many travelers from all over Latin America choose to stay at Coconut Hostel so you'll also be able to practice your Spanish with fellow travelers. It's located on 2nd Street just behind the Central Park which truly gives you a favorable perspective into the life of local Panamanians in Bocas del Toro. And even though it's facilities are quite basic it doesn't hurt that Coconut Hostel is one of the cheapest lodging options in town.

Rooms and Facilities

Coconut Hostel has 12 cozy dorm rooms, 6 of them on each floor. The rooms have space for either 4 or 6 guests with bunk beds in each room. Each floor has shared bathrooms with several showers with hot water.

On the ground floor you'll also have access to a small fully equipped kitchen, a TV room with comfy couch and free wifi internet. In front of the hostel there are also several tables and chairs where you can just sit down and relax while Bocas life goes on right in front of you.

Bycycles and scooters are also available for rent, at a discounted price for guests.

Coconut Hostel Rates

	Price per night
Beds in Dorm Rooms without AC	$10 per person

Note: rates do not include Panama's 10% Hotel Tax. A credit card is required to make the reservation but payment can be made in full upon arrival. Cancellations can be made with up to 30 days in advance with no penalty. No shows and cancellations made 30 days or less prior to arrival will be charged the full basic room rate of the 1st night + 10% tax.

Just an 8 minute walk to Habla Ya Spanish School, Coconut Hostel has a great location in the middle of town, halfway down the 2nd street, on the back side of the central park. If you arrive by boat with Bocas Marine Tours you'll be dropped off right on main street. Walk up north and take a right just before the park starts. Take another left and go up north on 2nd Street and you'll find Coconut Hostel 100 m straight ahead on the right hand side of the street in front of the park. If you arrive on 1st street with any other of the boat companies, just walk towards the park and you'll see Coconut Hostel. If you arrive by plane walk down the street leading away from the airport make a right turn on the third block (3rd Street), walk through the park and Coconut Hostel will be right in fornt of you.

Top of page

Casa Verde Hostel & Guesthouse

Casa Verde is the only ocean-front budget hostel in Bocas del Toro

Bocas' only Budget Ocean-Front Hostel

Built over pristine Caribbean waters, Casa Verde is Bocas del Toro's most popular ocean-front budget hostel and will definitively make you feel in paradise. Possibly the only budget hostel in town that offers such a unique natural setting, at Casa Verde you will be transported by its relaxed and laid back atmosphere: you simply can't beat hanging out over the Caribbean's clear-turquoise waters... do make sure to make your reservation well in advance though as it does get totally booked even in the low season!

Air-Conditioned Dorm and Private Rooms

Casa Verde has 3 dorm rooms located on the ground floor right by the water. Two of the dorm rooms can fit up to 6 persons each (3 single bunk beds in each room) and another dorm room has 2 bunk beds that have single beds on the top and double beds on the bottom. Each dorm room has lock boxes (keys available for a $5 refundable deposit) that can easily fit a laptop and other valuables, which is very convenient when you're out and about exploring the islands of Bocas del Toro. On the upper floor you will find 7 private rooms: 2 rooms with 2 double beds, 3 rooms with 1 double bed, 1 room with 1 bunk bed and 1 room with 2 single beds. Fortunately all of Casa Verde's rooms are air conditioned (dorm rooms included) and have mini fridges so you don't have worry about labeling your food as you typically have to in other hostels with a shared refrigerator.

Roof-top Deck at Casa Verde in Bocas del Toro

Outdoor Areas & Amenities

At Casa Verde you'll surely spend most of your time in its outdoor areas, laying back to relax while you enjoy the gorgeous sea and mainland mountain views. It's your choice: sit down in the terrace and surf the web with your laptop (wifi throughout the hostel), grab a hammock under the shade or catch some warm rays on the rooftop sundeck. And while you're at it grab a tube and float the afternoon away or just hop in for a quick dip after a long bike ride. Casa Verde also loans out snorkel gear so that you can explore the mini reef right under Casa Verde's dock. But do remember: you're here to learn Spanish so don't forget to also do your homework!

Restaurant and Bar at Casa Verde in Bocas del Toro, Panama

Restaurant, Bar & Additional Services

Casa Verde is also home to La Mama Loca Chill Bar & Grill which provides you with reasonably priced food and cocktails (special days on certain days of the week for backpackers). Or if you prefer to cook your own food, you can also do so in the common kitchen area (just make sure to tidy up after!). And for guests entertainment, you will be able to enjoy live music during several nights of the week (it can get quite busy so if you're not up for a party vibe, you should maybe stay somewhere else). Laundry services are provided at $4 per load (includes drying and folding of clothes) and if you'd like to have your room cleaned daily (instead of weekly), maid service can be arranged for an additional $5 per clean. Clean sheets should be requested weekly.

Casa Verde Hostel Rates

	Price per night
Single Dorm Bed	$12.50 per person
Double Dorm Bed	$15 for 1 person, $20 for 2 persons
Private Room, 1 Bunk Bed	$25 for 1 or 2 persons
Private Room, 2 Single Beds	$33 for 1 or 2 persons
Private Room, 1 Double Bed	$33 for 1 or 2 persons
Private Room, 2 Double Beds	$44 for 2 persons, $49.50 for 3 persons, $55 for 4 persons

At 15 minute walk away from Habla Ya Spanish School, Casa Verde is located on Avenida Sur (South Street) just a couple of houses after the ferry dock and within walking distance of both the airport and all water taxi stations. From the airport follow the main street that leaves the airport (Avenida E) to 4th street and make a right. Go to the end of the street and you will be directly in front of Casa Verde. Or just take a taxi for $1 per person. From the water taxi docks turn left upon exiting the station and follow the road until the road curves around to the right and you pass the ferry dock. Casa Verde is the second house on the left. It is about a 4 minute walk.

Bookmark or share this page...