La Coralina

Location:
Bluff Beach Road, Playa Paunch | Isla Colon, Bocas Town, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Bocas del Toro, Panama

Hotel

This Hotel is: Mid-Range

Hotel Amenities, Services and Facilities Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast Included, Internet Facilities - Free, 24-Hour Reception, Safe in Reception or Rooms, Travel Info Desk, Lounge, Book Exchange - Free, Airport Pickup - Free, Airport Pickup - Extra Charge, Linens Included, Non-Smoking Rooms, 24-Hour Hot Water, Child-Friendly Facilities, Wake-Up Call, Towels Included

Getting There:
Fly in (or sail) to Bocas del Toro International Airport (BOC) travel 2km down Bluff Beach Road out of town (past the gas station) you'll see signs pointing the way until you come to the hotel's sign and a long driveway leading up the bluff to the hotel.

Room Prices:
Lower:45.00
Higher:180
Price Description:Price does not include 10% IPAT tax.

Contact Information:
Zip: Panama
Phone: 507-6788-8992
E-mail: hotellacoralina(at)remove-this.yahoo.com
URL: www.lacoralina.com

Traveler Reviews of

Stay Away!

Rating: 0%

As a corporate travel agent for over 25 years I have stayed at many resorts but this one is one of the worst run I have encountered in years. I read the other reviews which claim it to be the “best” in Bocas and great location, but that is furthest from the truth. If you looking for a hotel in the middle of a bunch of farm fields, this is your place. After driving 30 minutes through muddy bumpy unpaved roads I was expecting a glorious beach resort with plenty to do, we found a half finished, over priced hotel. If you are looking for a hotel with others around, or a hotel with a city in the remote area, avoid this tourist trap. The owner, a former waitress, also serves as the cook, bartender, cashier, receptionist, and manager. She accepts no credit cards, cash only (probably because of all the chargebacks resulting from unhappy guest). She insist you pay, in advance, all the nights upfront, which you have no choice. I paid for 2 but decided to leave the next day. She decided to keep my 2nd night. The room consisted of 2 queen size beds on the second floor (no elevator). The room was dusty and the windows did not close at all. The noise of the waves crashing at night, though soothing to some, were more a bother to a light sleeper for my wife. I tripped and nearly fell because the floor boards were uneven. My room had No TV, No A/C, no coffee maker, shower pressure was low at best She offered us free use of the bicycles. After riding down the road the chains came off several times, the brakes were extremely weak and the handle bars were loose. I nearly killed myself trying to slow down a hill. Totally unsafe. The beach was about 3 miles from the hotel. The owner said it’s a nice walk down the road. In reality, the road was, for the most part, muddy and impassable. And to get to the beach you have to pass through a dump where locals burn their garbage. The stench was so awful my wife nearly fainted. Free wireless internet hardly worked at all. The restaurant is an open air-style with reasonably priced food. If you like spicy and you’re a smoker, this is your place. Non-smoking sections are non-existent. You need a taxi to get anywhere here. I asked her about a private boat tour when we arrived in the morning for the next day, as we were anxious to explore the other islands. She said she would make a few phone calls to find out (but never did and suggested next morning to go into town and look on your own) On the positive side, the breakfast was ok. The “fresh squeezed” juice consisted of pineapple or watermelon. The pineapple juice was very frothy so I asked the owner for a straw, (breakfast is at the bar) her response was “I don’t have a new one, but I can wash a used one for you if you like.” WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!

By V!VA User from NYC, Feb 09, 2008

If you’re looking for a place that is all frills and a tourist trap La Coralina isn’t it.

Rating: 100%

Go to Las Vegas, or the Wisconsin Dells, Key West, or Orlando. La Coralina is a beautiful, relaxing 7 room hotel on an island, in the jungle, in Panama-Of course there’s going to be bugs. For some people a vacation consisting of horseback rides on the beach, nature trails, hammocks to bask in the sun and read books, scuba diving, surfing, good food and great conversation, for some people this is a rare opportunity. I even saw a sloth, a giant turtle and a monkey! If you love nature you will love La Coralina. For me La Coralina was a delight. The staff at La Coralina picked me up right at the airport and brought me to the hotel and after the 20 minute ride I arrived at the hotel, expecting much less I stumbled upon a gem, tropical paraside! The hotel overlooks the Caribbean Sea, of course you will hear the waves. If you don’t the sounds of the waves don’t go to an island! Stacey is a genuine host and she and her staff went out of their way to make me feel comfortable when I stayed at La Coralina. I have stayed at many five star hotels and resorts. I won’t say that La Coralina is the “best in Bocas” because that would be biased as I didn’t stay in another hotel, but I was glad to have found it! La Coralina is really in a class of its own. There are two rooms on the second floor if one needs an elevator they should just get a room on the first floor. The owner was very hospitable, if I would have asked her to carry me up to the room I’m sure she would have. TV? There wasn’t a TV in the room when I stayed there, but I didn’t even miss it. What do you need a TV for when you’re only staying 2 days on an island? No A/C? I stayed in one of the rooms on the second floor, I never needed A/C as there were some nice fans. The beds were clean and very comfortable. The food I ate there was never too spicy, but always hot (except for the delicious key lime pie) and well seasoned! The house bread (free!) with garlicy mango butter was so tasty, as soon as I got home I just had to replicate it, but I have yet to get it to taste as good as La Coralina’s. How nice of her, she would even go as far as to wash a straw for you. No offense to the previous reviewer, but whiny people like that should just stay home in their air conditioned houses and watch the travel channel. Not only that, but they say it is a tourist trap. I’m not quite sure what would cause them to think that the hotel is a tourist trap? “Tourist trap is a phrase for any establishment or set of establishments that have been created to attract travelers or tourists and provide products for the tourist to purchase.”-Source wikipedia.com. Seeing as the below poster has been a travel agent for over 25 years they should clearly understand just what a tourist trap is and La Coralina is exactly the opposite of that. It’s on Isla Colon, yet a few miles out and it did not sell anything but good food and drinks. If you wanted a “glorious beach resort” why did you go to a small hotel in Panama? As far as I know the hotel has never been able to accept credit cards, but said they plan to in the future. Are you sure you stayed at this same hotel, because the La Coralina in Bocas that I went to didn’t have any floorboards only ceramic tile. I didn’t see anything unfinished, nor did I feel like it was overpriced, even the food was reasonably priced I was surprised. The middle of a bunch of farm fields? I saw a few horses on a property close by. La Coralina sits on a large piece of property, and is higher in elevation than any “farm field.” One needs to remember that Panama is in Latin America, not the USA, it’s not an all-inclusive cruise, nor is it a Starwood resort, or the Hilton. La Coralina is a special little hotel in Panama, with tastefully decorated rooms, filled with colorful local art and beautiful bedding. La Coralina was just what I was looking for: a quiet place away from town, surrounded by flora and fauna, games, books, a pool table, a fire pit for those cool nights, it really is a delightful place.

I enjoyed La Coralina and Bocas so much that I am planning my trip back!

By V!VA User from USA, Feb 16, 2008

Unexpected Pleasure!

Rating: 100%

We just returned from three lovely nights at La Coralina on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro. The hotel is in a picturesque setting with amazing views. The hostess and staff were friendly, genuine and extremely helpful and fun to be around. From boat tours to horseback riding to dinner in town, they took the initiative every day to coordinate activities through their many reliable connections.

The hotel exudes tropical ambience with a playful caribbean feel. The rates are very reasonable for this newly remodeled oceanside resort. We were very impressed with the food as every meal was a treat. The level of fine dining was unexpected and we found ourselves not wanting to eat anywhere else. The house rum punch ("Dejame Tranquilo") with fresh juices and local rums was the best.

We wish we could have stayed longer and we can hardly wait to bring our kids and friends for a return visit.

By V!VA User from Las Cruces, NM`, Feb 17, 2008