Boutique Hotel in Boquete: A Lush Mountain Retreat at Isla Verde

Our first stop in Panama was Boquete and the timing for us was a bit tricky. We had just come out of an intense week running back and forth seeing family in the States. And the month before that, my husband and I were apart while he worked on a music tour and I continued to travel in Belize and Guatemala. Suffice it to say, we were both exhausted and eager to catch up with each other, as well as some much needed sleep.

Isla Verde ended up being a perfect place for us to recoup on our first stop in Panama. The rooms were so spacious and comfortable and the grounds were so beautiful, we didn’t want to leave this boutique hotel in Boquete! We did drag ourselves out for a couple long walks, and a beautiful waterfall hike, but the rest of the time we let ourselves enjoy sleeping in on the comfortable bed, getting some work done at the dining table, and catching up with each other over glasses of wine on the patio.

Every suite has a kitchen or kitchenette. Our suite had a portable gas stove, a small refrigerator, sink, coffee maker, toaster, pots/pans, plates, bowls, cups and utensils. We had all the basics we needed to make some meals at the hotel. We were even given a sample of some delicious local coffee grounds to brew for our first morning at Isla Verde.

Since we travel longterm, it’s invaluable to have a place where we can prepare a few of our meals. We love to eat out and experience the local food, but it’s nice to be able to prepare breakfast, or lunch at our temporary home.

Our suite was super spacious. We had plenty of room for a double bed, a single bed, a dining area, a kitchen, and a large bathroom. We could easily spread out to rest, do some work, or cook our meals. There was a curtain we could pull between the bed and the kitchen in case one of us felt like a nap while the other wanted to be on our laptop at the table.

It was great to have a separate dining area to enjoy our freshly cooked meals from the kitchen. We felt at home in this large space.

I LOVE a great shower. If I find one with hot water and good pressure, I’m in heaven. The shower at Isla Verde was just that. Since the weather is a bit cooler in the higher elevation of Boquete than in the lowlands, it felt amazing to take a hot shower after a long day of exploring.

There was a problem with the hot water during our stay, but the staff realized it even before we did, and bought a new part and repaired the problem right away.

There was also a big window in the shower that faced over the river, allowing you to enjoy the surroundings as you cleaned up.

Isla Verde is just a couple blocks from the main street, giving the boutique hotel in Boquete a quiet location, yet super close to all the amenities of the town. It’s only a 3 minute walk from the main street, where you can find restaurants, a couple bars, grocery stores, tour operators, and the main park.

We took the bus from David, and only had to walk 3 blocks from where we were dropped off to the hotel entrance. Anytime we wanted to find some food, or do an activity, we only had to walk 5-10 minutes to reach our destination.