Palmars is right in front of red frog beach. You can roll out of bed and right into the sea. The beach is beautiful and you can enjoy it even before and after any day guests arrive, which is super cool. We loved our room and how the hotel looks, everything is super clean and staff at the reception was super friendly. Probably the best employee there is Isaac who seems to run the water taxis from and to the hotel, he is a super cool dude. Drop him a tip if you go there, he deserves it.

The room (Biriba) smelled mouldy, we didn't spot any mould (like really, 0). I guess it's really hard to keep that smell from the rooms since they have 100% humidity every day all year long. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know.

The location is great of course! Food was very good and for a good price and the beach area for the restaurant was nice. And it was nice that were umbrella's with the rooms while it can rain heavily in the evening.

I had to pay almost 50 dollars extra compared to what I booked at booking.com. When I complaind they said it was tax, while my reservation said it was including all taxes. They were very strict and unfriendly about it. Immersive room in the jungle (for $ 165 per night) is not really special since every room and bungalow is in the jungle and the balcony is very small. Bed was good but also too small. The best thing about it was the airco. The 600 m path to the hotel is not suitable for suitcases, so make sure they come and pick you up!

The location is wonderful and all of the food is very good. I stayed in the cabin dorm which is very nice and felt private behind the curtain. Each bed has a window which is a nice touch. It rained for much of my 4 day stay, but it’s still a lovely hotel to wait out the rain.

My biggest disappointment was when someone was very sick with symptoms of norovirus in my dorm the first night, I informed the desk and asked if they could do extra cleaning. Several hours later no one had been in to clean the dorm. I didn’t feel that anyone took it seriously or seemed to care if anyone else got sick too. To be clear, I don’t know if the guest had norovirus, nor am I suggesting they got it at the hotel, but in a dorm, it’s important to take it seriously to protect all guests. Hotel is under renovation. They make it clear when you book to expect this so it’s not a surprise. Not a problem so much as to just be aware that there are minor inconveniences temporarily.

Lovely location right on the beach, rooms/ huts in the jungle, meals at the beach bar, really good food at resonable price, very kind and helpful staff. Nice evening programm and volunteer taking us to Polobeach. Thank you catering staff ( Elio & Mathew) and thank you Pablo for the nice walk and bomfires. Thank you Alexandra at reception for your great service.

Very pricy rooms for what they offer ( at other beach location we had better equiped room for half the price) our expensive room at Palmar had no fridge or hairdryer. But it was very nice room, just smelled very moldy when we arrived. Building noise during the whole day… but had a price reduction for it The beach is very dangerous, we experienced 3 ladies nearly drawning, very strong undercurrant.

We stayed in de AC-cabin which was just stunning and so so so so incredibly comfortable. Super clean, great design, good bed, amazing shower and a little kitchenette with fridge. Truly the best room we stayed in during our trip through Panama. The restaurant serves amazing food, literally every day I looked forward to lunch and dinner and every dish (we almost tried them all) was fantastic. Very friendly staff.

Not nearly enough sunbeds for the guests, so you’d have to go to the beach rather early or they’re all taken. Outside visitors also used the sunbeds. As mentioned in other reviews, there’s a lot of construction noise and it’s also pretty visible, with big netting al throughout the property. It’s a bit of a weird concept, with luxurious (and expensive rooms) but also a dorm. Keep in mind that the beach is north-east facing, so no sunset.

Location is absolutely stunning. The beach is beautiful, and there’s a trail that goes to a dreamy beach a 20-30 minute walk away. The room (I had a cabin) was clean and simple, with a comfortable bed and a great shower for the location (nice products too). Being in the jungle was awesome, waking up to the sound of birds and frogs. I saw several red frogs (don’t touch!) on the leaves surrounding my cabin, it felt really unspoiled. Breakfast was very simple but at least, not too expensive and with some variety. Staff was very young on average, cheerful and high energy, although sometimes a bit distracted. I really liked Ernest, Gregory and a third guy whose name I forgot (a bit shorter), they were kind and had a nice conversation (I was travelling solo). The front desk girl whose name I forgot is a sweetheart too, so great job Palmar. Very easy to get to with the boat arranged in advance, and to leave with any of the taxi boats waiting at the pier (8 dollars each way).

I believe the price is just way too high. 200 dollars for a cabin that was very simply appointed is exaggerated, even in this location. They didn’t lower the price despite having works ongoing and disturbing the quietness of the surroundings. If you’re going to impose inconvenience, even for the right purpose (renovations and building a pool), at least provide some discount. Value for money wasn’t the best, but I didn’t care as I was there only for one night and I couldn’t be asked to withstand a subpar hotel on the main island. I felt the food was okay, but I mostly liked the barbecue burger, the rest was just okay and again too expensive for Panama (location premium). So were the drinks, but their happy hour is good.

The dorm rooms are the best you’re gonna get during your travels in Panama. They’re super spacious, clean and beautiful. The staff is very kind and the location is pretty spectacular.

Please keep in mind that you’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s a wonderful getaway for a couple of days but it takes a while to get back to town. I was also expecting a bit more from Red Frog Beach, but that’s a personal thing. Apart from that, there were some really minor mishaps. I was told that I would get help with my suitcase from the docks to the hostel. However, on the day itself nobody replied to me when I emailed, texted and called which resulted in me dragging a suitcase through the jungle and arriving completely exhausted, dirty and sweaty. They did make up for this when I left by helping me out.

Palmar is a hidden gem of an oasis. It’s a different experience that you have to grow into. It’s a lush jungle with a short boat ride in and then a stroll to the main reception area. I will say be prepared for beach environment as there are no roads, aside from that learning curve, it’s the closest resort to a beautiful beach with amazing and super caring staff. Everyone was friendly, accommodating, and really cares that you enjoy your experience. I was greated with a welcome drink which was much appreciated after my evening jungle trek. They have tons of things available to do and take care of all your connections and daily activities. I highly recommend the yoga classes it’s just breathtaking doing it by the water! Definitely get breakfast included because it’s a hike and boat ride into the nearest town. The restaurant makes delicious food and great drinks and pretty affordable too. They have special activities sometimes too like movie night or a bonfire or cookout. It’s a very friendly place with a very peaceful atmosphere. Definitely was more than what I expected and very glad to experience it.

They are doing some renovations which will be really nice. I wish I knew the walk in was a long sandy road because it rained that night and I got everything super wet. Fortunately they have laundry service. There is a lot of sand everywhere but you get used to it as long as you pack with this in mind your good.

The lodge is situated directly in the jungle, you are truely surrounded by nature and forest sounds. The architecture and design of the lodges are amazing. The staff - 10/10. Amazing customer service and all 10s. We got upgraded from the rainforest tent to a double room with air con which was a life saver. Special shout out to Gregory and the bar guy - who does the most and makes amazing pina coladas. The food was also one of the best meals we’ve even eaten.

Nothing

This was our 2nd time at Palmar and I love the place. People are very friendly and helpful. The food is great and very affordable. We booked a massage with Pablo and it was glorious. I ended up booking one more for another day. I love falling asleep right after sunset and waking up before sunrise. Listening to the sounds of the forrest was amazing. Also, not having to wear shoes for a whole week is very feeing and grounding. I love this place just recommend a cabin with AC in the summer. It gets really hot. Bed was comfortable, room was cleaned daily and the sheets and towels were replaced daily, which was a huge thing since we had Beach Cabana and King Jungalow with no A/C and things got sticky from the heat and humidity.

It was a lot more humid and hot this time and I wish we had a cabin with A/C. Because of the rain there was also a lot of mosquitos. Summer time, I recommend a cabin with A/C. We were here in February a few years back and it wasn't so bad, but it was very dry at that time with no rain. I was also looking forward to having yoga and I was a bit disappointed that there was no instructor available at this time. It would have been so great. We also got sick from the drinking water on tap, so my recommendation is to only drink water bottles to not risk it.