Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Casa Cayuco?

Casa Cayuco is located in Punta Vieja on the remote island of Bastimentos. Please click here to view a map of the surrounding Bocas del Toro archipelago.

What time are pickups and dropoffs?

Our scheduled pickup time is at 3:00pm, and return trips depart from Casa Cayuco after lunch around 12:30pm. Due to our remote location, the high cost of transportation, and in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, we schedule daily trips to and from Bocas. If you would like to book a transfer outside our schedule, this can be arranged for an additional fee.

What flights should I book?

Air Panama: We recommend arriving on Flight 980 from Panama City which gets to Bocas around 2:00pm. Our recommended departure flight leaves Bocas at approximately 2:30pm with Air Panama Flight 981.

These flights coincide with our daily boat transfer. If you arrive on our recommended flights from Panama City, our boat captain will meet you at the airport with a sign.

How do I get to Bocas from Panama City?

The most convenient way to get to Bocas is via Air Panama. Flights should be booked from Panama City Albrook Airport (PAC) to Bocas del Toro (BOC).

Fly Trip is another airline offering daily flights to-from Panama City & Bocas. The arrival and departure times vary by day of the week.

For private charters, Blue Skies is a safe and highly regarded company.

A far more inexpensive option is to take an overnight bus from Panama City to Almirante which leaves daily at 8pm and arrives at 6am. From Almirante, you take a 30-minute water taxi ride to Bocas Town where we will pick you up.

How do I get to Bocas from Boquete?

We recommend booking a bus transfer with Hello Travel Panama via Almirante. This trip takes 4 hours and includes a water taxi ride to Bocas Town where our boat will pick you up.

How do I get to Bocas from Costa Rica?

Fly Sansa has a direct flight to/from San Jose into Bocas del Toro, currently flying on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The flight time is approximately 50 minutes.

There is also a shuttle company called Caribe Shuttle that can arrange transportation from Costa Rica to Bocas.

How do I get to Casa Cayuco from Bocas?

Casa Cayuco is located 35 minutes from Bocas via speedboat. It's a beautiful boat ride through the protected mangrove islands of the Bastimentos National Marine Park. Included in your stay is a roundtrip speedboat transfer from Bocas Town. Our scheduled pick up is around 3pm.

How do I get to the pickup location from the airport in Bocas?

Our daily pickups leave from our bookkeepers office. This is a short 10-minute walk from the airport. You can also take a quick taxi ride for only $2/person. Cabs are readily available outside the airport and any driver will know where to take you if you mention "Oficina Virginia Vasquez".

Is there somewhere in Bocas I can store my bags?

Luggage can be safely stored at our bookkeepers office. It's a yellow and turquoise house between the Policia Nacional and Brothers Restaurant. Any taxi driver will know where to take you if you say "Oficina Virginia Vasquez". There is a covered porch at the back of the building where your things will be safe while exploring Bocas. To access the back area, walk along the left side of the house towards the water.

What can I do in Bocas while waiting for my transfer?

A great place to spend the afternoon is at Bibi's on the Beach. This is an open-air bar and restaurant with great views and a nice beach. A short water taxi ride from Bocas Town will get you there for only $1/person. Luggage can be stored at our bookkeepers office while you're gone.

If you would prefer not to leave Isla Colon, another great option is La Buga, a lunch restaurant on the water.

Can I book a transfer at a different time of day?

If your travel plans require a trip outside of our normally scheduled time, a private boat transfer can be arranged for an additional fee. Please get in touch to inquire about availability as early arrivals are determined by our guest schedule and cannot always be accommodated.

Where should I stay in Panama City?

Guests of Casa Cayuco receive special rates at American Trade Hotel in the picturesque Casco Viejo. Simply mention Casa Cayuco when making your reservation.

Can you recommend a driver or tour guide in Panama City?

We highly recommend Hobby Pro Tours. They offer personal airport pickups and tours of Panama City, including the Panama Canal. All drivers are English-speaking. To inquire about a transfer or tour, reach out directly at hobbypro@msn.com.

Uber is also a great way to get around Panama City, and more inexpensive than a private driver.

What should I pack?

• Reef-Safe Sunscreen
• Natural Insect Repellent
• Flashlight or Headlamp
• Trail Running Shoes / Water Shoes for Hiking
• Lightweight Rain Jacket

Do I need to bring cash?

We recommend bringing petty cash if you wish to purchase crafts in the local community, or chocolate products at the end of the tour at Green Acres Chocolate Farm.

When settling your bill at the end of your stay, we accept cash and credit card payments. Staff gratuities can be paid in cash or added to your final invoice.

I have food allergies, can you accommodate my needs?

We are no strangers to living with food allergies and take pride in accommodating all our guests dietary needs. That said, we do use nuts and gluten in our kitchen, but all recipes can be adapted as needed.

Do you recommend any vaccinations?

Hepatitis A and B are always great to have for traveling abroad, but by no means required for visiting Panama.

Our region of Panama is very benign. We do not recommend going out of your way to get any vaccines ahead of your trip. With this said, we are not medical professionals, so will always defer guests to speak with their medical doctor.

Is Malaria or Zika a problem in the area?

Casa Cayuco is about as remote as it gets so mosquito-borne diseases have a very hard time taking hold. Malaria and Zika are not a concern in our region of Panama.

Are there a lot of critters?

Casa Cayuco is nestled at the edge of the jungle and surrounded by all sorts of wildlife. Expect to see our resident bug catchers: geckos, golden silk orb-weaver spiders, and bats. You may also come across poison dart frogs (not as scary as the name suggests) and small caimans. There are plenty of interesting creatures to stumble upon.

We recommend bringing natural insect repellent to ward off mosquitos and chitras that tend to come out around dusk and dawn. Our bug nets are tightly woven to prevent insects of any kind from penetrating.

Do the rooms have fans or a/c?

The only accommodation that has a/c is our Tropical Villa, Estrella De Mar. All of our cabins and suites are built in an open-air style that allows for maximum air-flow and cross breezes. We have high-speed fans in every accommodation, to ensure cool nights.

Do the rooms have electricity?

Yes, the lodge has 24/7 electricity with plenty of outlets and high-speed fans. We do ask our guests refrain from using blow-dryers, in the spirit of energy conservation.

What kind of electrical outlets do you have?

All our plugs are Type A which is a standard US wall outlet.

What is the weather like?

The weather is warm all year round averaging temperatures of 27°C/82°F. Weather patterns change rapidly and are difficult to predict. The driest months of the year are February, March, September, and October. The rainiest months are June, July, November, and December.

When is the dry and rainy season?

Throughout the year, any rain will typically fall at night and clear up by late morning. Sunny days and rainy nights make for the best combination since it powers our solar batteries and fills up the water tanks all in one day. Given that we're nestled on the edge of the rainforest, we do get some rain all year round.

The drier months of the year tend to be February–April and August–October. November–January and May–July generally see the most rainfall.

Are you affected by hurricanes?

Panama lies outside the hurricane belt.

When is the best time for snorkelling?

The sea is exquisitely calm during the months of August–October. This means perfect conditions for swimming and snorkelling. However we do have several protected snorkelling locations throughout the islands that are great regardless of weather conditions.

When is the best time for surfing?

November through April sees the highest swell.

What is the best way to contact you?

Email is the best way to get in touch with us.

Do you accommodate children of all ages?

Due to our remote location, we are unable to accommodate guests under the age of 5 for safety reasons.

do you offer massages?

Yes, we have an in-house massage therapist! You can reserve your massage, once you check-in.

Do you have a minimum stay?

Due to our remote location, the high costs of transportation, and attempting to minimize our carbon footprint, we require a minimum stay of three nights.

What is the recommended tip for staff?

Recommended gratuity is 12-15% of the cost of your stay.

What is the local currency?

Panama's official currency is the Balboa. Panama does not, however, print its own paper currency and instead uses the US dollar.

Do you have a full bar?

Yes, we have a full bar which includes well and premium liquors, an organic wine list, and classic Panamanian beers. Outside liquor is not permitted on property.

How safe is Casa Cayuco?

There are no safety concerns at Casa Cayuco. We are located at perhaps the most remote part of the archipelago and all of our employees walk to work from the local village. There is a great sense of community in our area and everyone knows each other.

We do have watchmen during the evening hours keeping an eye on the property, although their main job it is to keep our boats from sinking or disconnecting from their moorings.

What is a Cayuco?

A Cayuco (kai-yoo-ko) is the indigenous watercraft; a boat carved from the trunk of a tree that locals have been using for centuries. These vessels increase in size based on need; you will see children paddling to school in small cayucos, fisherman delivering their daily catch to our dock in a medium-sized cayuco, as well as deeply drafted cayucos made to ferry very heavy loads. The size of the boat is determined by the size of the original tree.