Bambuda Lodge
Our next home is taking shape in Casco Viejo, Panama City's historic old town. Until then, come and stay with us in Bocas del Toro, Boquete or Santa Catalina.
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Bambuda Lodge
Welcome to Bambuda Lodge, the only 100% sustainable hostel in Bocas del Toro with a prime waterfront location, a massive freshwater pool, and a thrilling 150 ft waterslide from the bar to the ocean, located on Isla Solarte, just 5 minutes from Isla Colón.
Our hotel offers the perfect mix of a chilled-out atmosphere and good vibes where you’ll be able to indulge in delicious meals and drinks, take part in our yoga classes, snorkel in our coral reef, or explore the lush jungle surroundings. Come and experience the magic of Bambuda Lodge!
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Food & Drinks
Whether you’re a meat lover or you follow a plant-based lifestyle, our menu has something to please every palate. With affordable prices and a variety of snacks that are perfect for sharing, it’s a culinary journey you won’t want to miss. So, take a dip, sip a cocktail, and savor the flavors that will make your poolside experience unforgettable.
LEGENDARY FAMILY DINNERS
If you haven’t heard, we are famous for our legendary family dinners! Every night, we get together to connect with other travelers and share stories. While enjoying dinner we chat, drink, and laugh. After dinner we usually play trivia or any other activity planned by our awesome volunteers!
You won’t want to miss out on this if you’re staying at Bambuda Lodge. And if you are traveling by yourself, this will be the perfect opportunity to meet other people. Looking forward to seeing you here!
*The Family Dinner menu changes every night, check the board at our location and make sure to sign up before 5:30 pm!
HOW TO GET TO BAMBUDA LODGE
FROM BOCAS TOWN ON ISLA COLÓN
To get to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte from the main island of Bocas del Toro (Isla Colón), just hop on a boat next to Taxi-25 and ask for Bambuda Lodge. It’s a quick 7-minute ride and should cost around $10 for 1-2 people, plus an extra $5 for each additional person.
From Boquete
You can grab a taxi from downtown Boquete, and tell the taxi driver to take you to Bambuda Castle, the street name is El Santuario. The prices can vary during the day, and late at night are expected to be higher.
You can also catch the ‘colectivo’ a public shuttle that goes from Bruna. Bruna is a supermarket on the main street (it is the one with the huge red Balboa sign). Take any shuttle that says either: Alto Lino, Arco Iris, or Palo Alto.
FROM PANAMA CITY
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas del Toro on AirPanama.com / trip.com.pa
CHEAPEST: Take bus departing from Albrook bus station to Almirante (about 10 hours), and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (about 40 minutes). Buses leave around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm. You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.
TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus is very cold.
FROM PANAMA CITY
FASTEST: Shuttle – 6 hours
Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.
CHEAPEST:
Take a bus departing from Albrook bus station to Soná (4 hrs), then take another bus from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).
Schedule from Panama City to Soná:
5:50 am, 8:20 am, 10:20 am, 12:45 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:20 pm and 5:45 pm
Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:
5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.
You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.
TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus can be very cold.
FROM PANAMA CITY
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas del Toro on AirPanama.com / trip.com.pa
CHEAPEST: Take bus departing from Albrook bus station to Almirante (about 10 hours), and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (about 40 minutes). Buses leave around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm. You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.
TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus is very cold.
If you are flying, when you get to Bocas del Toro International Airport (BOC), you can hop in a taxi (it’s just a 5 min ride), or if you’re feeling up for it, take a 10 min walk to the taxi dock near Taxi 25. Once you’re at the dock, jump on a public boat straight to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte! It’s a quick 7 min boat ride, and it’ll cost you about $10 for 1-2 people, and $5 for each additional person.
From David
From the Airport, you can grab a taxi and it will bring you all the way to the Castle in about 40-60 min.
If you’d like to take a public bus, you can grab a taxi to the bus terminal for about 10 min. From the Bus Terminal, hop on the bus labeled Boquete, where you will be driven to Boquete’s main square (last stop) in about an hour.
FROM DAVID
To get to the main island in Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón, you need to take a bus to Almirante. Once you’re there, either grab a taxi from the bus station or ask the driver to drop you off at Taxi 25 for a boat taxi ride.
Hop on a public boat from Taxi 25, and in around 25 minutes, you’ll reach the main island, Isla Colón.
FROM BOQUETE
FASTEST: Shuttle – 5 hours
Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.
CHEAPEST:
Take a public bus or taxi from Boquete to the bus terminal in David towards Santiago (2.5 hrs), then take a bus from Santiago to Soná, and then from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).
Schedule from David to Santiago:
6:15 am, 7:30 am, 8:45 am, 10:00 am, 11:15 am, 12:45 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Schedule from Santiago to Soná:
Every 30 min until 6 pm
Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:
5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.
FROM DAVID
To get to the main island in Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón, you need to take a bus to Almirante. Once you’re there, either grab a taxi from the bus station or ask the driver to drop you off at Taxi 25 for a boat taxi ride.
Hop on a public boat from Taxi 25, and in around 25 minutes, you’ll reach the main island, Isla Colón.
When you arrive, head to the dock beside Taxi 25, and for just $10 for 1-2 people (and $5 per extra person), you will take a 7-minute boat ride to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte.
From Panama City
You can either fly to David or if you’d like to take a bus, ride from the Albrook Bus Terminal to David, during the day it takes around 7-9 hours, or if you take the express night bus, it will take around 6 hours.
The bus will leave you at David’s Bus Terminal, where you’ll have to take a taxi or another bus (see steps from David for more info.)
FROM BOQUETE
You can book directly at the reception of Bambuda Castle and our staff will take care of the rest!
FROM BOCAS DEL TORO
FASTEST: Shuttle – 7.5 hours
Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the boat and shuttle booking for you.
CHEAPEST: Take a water taxi to Almirante (around 40 minutes), then take a shuttle from Almirante to David, in the bus terminal get a bus to Santiago (2.5 hrs), then take a bus from Santiago to Soná, and then from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).
Schedule from David to Santiago:
6:15 am, 7:30 am, 8:45 am, 10:00 am, 11:15 am, 12:45 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Schedule from Santiago to Soná:
Every 30 min until 6 pm
Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:
5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.
FROM BOQUETE
You can book directly at the reception of Bambuda Castle and our staff will take care of the rest!
From Bocas del Toro
Ask our staff at Bambuda Lodge or Bambuda Bocas Town and they’ll be able to organize the transfer for you.
You can also take a public taxi boat to Almirante, followed by a public bus from the Bus Terminal in Almirante to David.
FROM PUERTO VIEJO, CR
FASTEST: Take the Caribe Shuttle directly to Almirante (around 4 hours, it includes a boat to Bocas and Wi-Fi).
CHEAPEST: Take a public bus to the border at Sixaola (around 2 hours), then a bus from the border to Almirante (1 hour 20 minutes), and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).
FROM PLAYA VENAO
FASTEST: Shuttle – 5 hours
Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.
CHEAPEST: Take a bus from Playa Venao to Panama City. In Panama City, take a bus departing from Albrook bus station to Soná (4 hrs), then take another bus from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).
Schedule from Panama City to Soná:
5:50 am, 8:20 am, 10:20 am, 12:45 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:20 pm and 5:45 pm
Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:
5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.
You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.
TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus can be very cold.
FROM PUERTO VIEJO, CR
FASTEST: Take the Caribe Shuttle directly to Almirante (around 4 hours, it includes a boat to Bocas and Wi-Fi).
CHEAPEST: Take a public bus to the border at Sixaola (around 2 hours), then a bus from the border to Almirante (1 hour 20 minutes), and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).
FROM SAN JOSÉ, CR
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Green Airways.
CHEAPEST: Take a bus from San José to Changuinola, Panamá (around 6-8 hours). If you don’t make it on time, you can always spend the night in Puerto Viejo and leave the next day for Changuinola – You’ll have to cross the border walking either way.
From Changuinola (on the other side of the border) take a taxi to Almirante (around 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).
ALSO CONSIDER: Caribe Shuttle Bus directly to Almirante from San José. It might include lunch, it has Wi-Fi, and includes a boat to Bocas (around 10 hours). You’ll also have to cross the border walking but you’ll have a shuttle waiting for you on the other side. You can contact us directly or book online.
FROM SAN JOSÉ, CR
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Green Airways.
CHEAPEST: Take a bus from San José to Changuinola, Panamá (around 6-8 hours). If you don’t make it on time, you can always spend the night in Puerto Viejo and leave the next day for Changuinola – You’ll have to cross the border walking either way.
From Changuinola (on the other side of the border) take a taxi to Almirante (around 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).
ALSO CONSIDER: Caribe Shuttle Bus directly to Almirante from San José. It might include lunch, it has Wi-Fi, and includes a boat to Bocas (around 10 hours). You’ll also have to cross the border walking but you’ll have a shuttle waiting for you on the other side. You can contact us directly or book online.
