Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort

Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort descritpion

On a private beach just outside Bocas del Toro, Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort features an outdoor pool, a gym and tropical gardens. Each stylish air-conditioned room has sea views.
Accommodations at the Playa Tortuga Hotel has bright contemporary décor and a balcony or terrace. All rooms and suites have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen cable TV, a fridge and a bathroom with free toiletries.
The on-site restaurant serves international and local dishes, and drinks and snacks are available from the terrace bar. A variety of restaurants can be found in central Bocas del Toro, a 5-minute drive away.
Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort has kayak rental and information about the local area. Red Frog Beach is 4 miles away, and Starfish Beach and Bastimentos Island are both within 7.5 miles of the property.
The hotel can provide transport to Bocas del Toro town center and airport upon request. The airport is just a 10-minute drive away, and has domestic flights to Panama City.

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Facilities of Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort

Outdoors ：Outdoor Pool (all year) | Grounds | Terrace

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Ping-Pong | Canoeing | Fitness Center | Private Beach Area | Playground

Food & Drink ：Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Snack Bar

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Languages Spoken ：Spanish | English

Reviews for Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort

Review 1：The good was very very poor quality Zero presentation & I couldn't even eat the desert , and I complained but no one seemed to care and I paid 10$ for it too This should be 3 star resort

Review 2：The beds are awesome

Review 3：Caulking in bathroom was bad Staff needs to speak more English and have more knowledge about facility's shuttle should be available for people who come by water taxi

Review 4：The location of the hotel with the view and the food and prices

Review 5：The food is terrible shocking Bad!! Very cold atmosphere Service is zero No special touches for the price u pay

Review 6：It's clean & Rooms are comfortable

Review 7：Very poor location, services do not exist, shuttle is more expensive than taxi, way over priced. I stayed in airbnb for under $50 most of the trip and was hoping this expensive place would be worth it but I was very disappointed.

Review 8：Pool is nice breakfast is ok.

Review 9：Sand flies on beach and children's sand pit, no fridge/mini bar, no kettle, shower water pressure was variable, some waiting staff lacked enthusiasm and required better training

Review 10：Gorgeous pool, amazing view from rooms, children friendly, free airport pick up, free shuttles to town

Review 11：There's no beach. Maybe in june or july when the tide is low. No courtesy room with a shower. No mini bar or fridge.

Review 12：Great location. Family friendly. The pool is fab especially if you're travelling with small kids or babies. Decent size rooms. Very confortable beds. You can book a number of tours directly in the hotel. Close to Bocas Town. Great breakfast.

Review 13：Staff does not inform guests properly, we were not inform our breakfast was not included and when brought to their attention nothing was done. On the outside bar, service was poor, I asked for two cups with ice for my water and cups never made it to our table. The waitress avoided to come to our table, she had to be called to our table in order for her to service us. Staff does a mediocre job. I do not recommend it and will never stay there again.

Review 14：no minibar in the room, no water, nothing sweet for breakfast accept 3 kinds of not very tasty fruit

Review 15：after a full day of visiting around, the swimming pool is much appreciated, great kayaks, they have a bus to take you to town but the timing didn´t fit me

Review 16：Breakfast is expensive on site. Buffet style and not always well stocked. $28. with a tip included which the staff don't serve or remove used plates so I don't know why I would need to tip for no service. Would be nice to have coffee pot in the room. Travellers would definitely benefit from being able to speak Spanish. We don't and it was a issue with wait staff.

Review 17：To do anything outside of the hotel you need to take a taxi which is $2. per person one way, pretty reasonable. Food is very American and would have liked to try a few local dishes. Great place to stay if you are content to stay on site. Fabulous view of the ocean from all the rooms. Pools were lovely and family friendly.

Review 18：I have been to many bad hotels but this hotel tops all. There is absolutely nothing i can say good about it. Reception staff lacks of welcoming the guests, constantly takes calls during check in which makes it difficult to communicate as well as check in takes much longer. There are no mini bar/fridge in the rooms. Very poor breakfast, just two types of cheese, jam, butter and corn flakes. If you want more you need to choose from the menu and pay for it. Hotel is really very far from the town and impossible to walk. You have to take a taxi every night to get back. Water pressure was very weak even though we stayed at ground floor and water temperature can not be adjusted easily. You never get what you pay for this hotel, price is 4 stars but you get a hostel service.

Review 19：Nothing

Review 20：Humid rooms; very unorganised staff; large breakfast but lots of room for improvement (eggs need seasoning, juice from concentrate, frozen pre-made corn tortillas). Shuttles are available a few times per day, but in most occasions you need to grab a taxi to town for 2$ pp

Review 21：Great swimming pool and facilities right on the sea

Review 22：The hotel smells of damp and has serious mould issues. So bad that if one suffers from a condition like asthma then be prepared for a possible flare up. There is no housekeeping on hand after 5pm, therefore if your sheets smell of damp you will be offered a replacement pair which you will have to change yourself. Breakfast is very basic and it now makes sense why there were only a handful of guests at breakfast. The hotel is out of the way of the main town, so you're either confined by the timings of the hotel shuttle or have to pay for a taxi yourself to get back and forth. Would never recommend this hotel.

Review 23：There wasn't much to like about this hotel

Review 24：My wife felt the whole fish dish in the Resort restaurant was too bland and needed more seasoning.

Review 25：The resort was beautiful and the staff was very friendly and helpful! We were able to organize a very enjoyable Bocas Tour through the Resort. We had an exceptional time in Bocas!

Review 26：the rooms smell like mold!!! We changed to an other room where they prayed woke chemicals in the air but still very bad smell. The whole hotel is old, worn down, dead , horrible

Review 27：They have a beautiful swimming pool and sun beds. But... no pillows to lay on, nor any parasols! You'd see guests taking the chairs to the nearby trees to get some shade. Very strange. The food in the restaurant also was not good at all, esp. for that price.

Review 28：Friendly staff

Review 29：Moldy smell of rooms, moldy smell of pillows, shuttle service only a few times daily, food at bar of poor quality, as a 4star place absolutely overrated and by far too expensive

Review 30：Room size fair, good location bit outside bocas town

Review 31：Water pressure so low at times...no shower...toilet wouldn't flush. No bueno. No elevator- was t an issue for us, but might be for some.

Review 32：Ocean view! Pleasant staff

Review 33：Don't expect to use the beach on property, but you are surrounded by secluded surreally beautiful beaches off property. Go up the road 500 meters and get the "flying pirates" to take you to pristine uninhabited beaches. (or hire a 4x4 taxi).

Review 34：Front desk staff was amazing, excellent English. Breakfast was basic but everything you could need. The views and the pier bar were exceptional. WiFi occasionally spotty, but much better than expected throughout the property

Review 35：The rooms had a mildew/musty smell. That mildew/musty smell got into our clothes. Breathing that in can't be good for people's health. The room floors were dirty and worn...they need to be replaced. The wi-fi signal was not good so the service was spotty at best.

Review 36：I liked the location of the resort being on the ocean is an obvious plus. Two on site restaurants was a good thing too.

Review 37：The hotel was poorly finished and tatty round the edges. The shuttle bus only went into town 3 times a day at not very convenient times. the gardens were very poorly maintained and the lawns either side of the entrance were a disgrace. We were supposed to have a fridge in our room as it was on our confirmation but there were none in any room. We were told that they had not had them for about six months and that it was booking.com's mistake and not theirs.The reception staff were OK but slow and a bit offhand. There was not any information in the rooms or anywhere in the hotel about anything, even times of meals. Breakfast was OK, but we did not eat there in the evening after we had been served a fish which was so overcooked it was blackened to a cinder. A $4 taxi ride got you into town to have better food cheaper.

Review 38：Location was excellent and swimming pool area was shallow but good, plenty of sunbeds. The room was good size with balcony the Hotel could have been great with better management and and upgrade of the stained floors etc.etc

Review 39：Will never return and do not recommend the hotel to anyone ... The staff behave as if the guest is a nuisance.... never a smile or a pleasure to do anything... everyone is surly .... housekeeping hardly housekeeps..... there was a dead insect in the rooom and hair from the previous guest in a corner .. that was not cleaned until we compalined... the towels and bed linen were once upon a time white.... now they are a million shades of grey ! the restaurant was the pits... the shuttle service left before the scheduled time leaving us behind.... the list is a bit too long !!! Bocas del torro is beautiful.... but stay at another hotel .... besides the price is in no proportion to the services offered..... it is a five star price with a no star service.

Review 40：The natural beauty of the beach is wonderful.... but that is nature and has nothing to do with the hotel !!!

Review 41：The hotel staff are very unfriendly and unhelpful. The hotel itself is very rundown and grass around swimming pool un kept. The TV's in the rooms reception are flakey and the rooms itself are not up to standard for the amount of money that you pay. Will definitely not recommend this hotel to any of my friends. To top it off they took 4 days to pay back my money that they took as a deposit when I arrived once I've left.

Review 42：Like the location.

Review 43：Wifi connection and food is overpriced.

Review 44：In Bocas there is a very low standard and this is probably the best you can find. Not really what you would expect from a resort but good enough.

Review 45：The only really negative was the gym was closed during our stay and the rain.

Review 46：The staff was very friendly and helpful, they provided a complimentary bottle of wine on our arrival and arranged for the same taxi driver who was a nice man called Kike to take us any where we wanted. We also stayed on Frog Beach Resort during our stay in Bocas Del Toro, but this hotel by far was the better value for money.

Review 47：The have arrangements with tour operators that provide really low quality service and are corrupted with the hotel staff. Management be careful! Guests don't hire local tours at the hotel breakfast starts at 7am when all the flights leave at 7:30-8:30am therefore you cannot take it

Review 48：The best facilities in the area. Clean and modern with decent cuisine.

Review 49：Gym equipment all broken.no tourist information.staff not all that friendly. The hotel was nice but for value of money I've stayed In better.

Review 50：The room was nice and bed extra comfy. The pool area was nice with good views of bay and food was good. They provided a shuttle bus into town which was helpful.

Review 51：Yes, there is some maintenance to do but if you don't sleep in the shower this is not of your concern. Staf can be more polite but it is what it is.

Review 52：After finding hardly any luxury in costa Rica Playa Tortuga was very nice, spacious room, good bed, balcony and shower.

Review 53：The staff was very attentive to everything. Very nice people willing to help. My boyfriend even forgot his shoes at the room and one of the staff members brought the shoes to the reception desk for us. We took one of the tours of the Hotel and was very nice.

Review 54：Found a HUGE Cockroach in the room. But what can you do if you are in jungle island?

Review 55：Really nice beach, really nice pool, good staff.

Review 56：It was a great stay at the property

Review 57：the little details were missing (fridge, coffee maker, iron)

Review 58：beautiful resort, friendly servers

Review 59：Excelent place to stay in Bocas. Close from town but far from town noise. Great swimming pool.

Review 60：Old rooms. No real beach

Review 61：Pool Staff Food Cocktails

Review 62：Smell not good in the room. Localization is far from the restaurants / stores.

Review 63：Good cost / benefit.

Review 64：Breakfast not included for price

Review 65：Shuttles to town & airport very helpful

Review 66：very good loaction

Review 67：sounds from neighbors

Review 68：View

Review 69：had to take shuttle or taxi to town and not much of a beach. Breakfast was not good at all

Review 70：cleanliness, nice pool

Review 71：they should make more effort on the meals.

Review 72：the facilities, the pool, the rooms, the personal services, the bus service to the airport and town.

Review 73：Property needs updating Service friendly but slow

Review 74：Location, pool, outdoor dining

Review 75：Loved the staff; they were all so helpful! Easy to get into town.

Review 76：too long a wait to ask front desk a question

Review 77：location, facilities

Review 78：Very dirty

Review 79：Far from town no good shuttle service Run out food for breakfast

Review 80：Swimming pool gardens Beach

Review 81：Due to the size of hotel, unpersonal atmosphere - breakfast room/restaurant not very pleasant.

Review 82：Thatched roof-restaurant very nice!

Review 83：Their prices of food and drink are a very pricy.

Review 84：The bay the property is located is very nice with great views.

Review 85：Came with the grandchildren. The pool and the beach kept them happily occupied for four days. Everything you need right here

Review 86：Food Service Room Location

Review 87：materials that they use fo desinfectation against mosquitoes in rooms

Review 88：facilities and good wilnness of the people

Review 89：the food

Review 90：The hotel generally seemed 'un-managed'. Only the basics were at the hotel. There is not a gift shop, or a place to purchase necessities. The front desk staff were hit and miss in terms of customer service. When we asked for the front desk to call a taxi, he said everyone was to busy, and to wait in the street. The location is nice in that it's away from the hustle of downtown Boca, yet on the other hand, we felt a bit stranded. The rooms were okay, but not well maintained. The overall facility appears to have 'been something' at one time, but has been 'let go'.

Review 91：The staff in the dining area were generally friendly - especially the breakfast hostesses.

Review 92：there was nothing I didn't like about the hotel.

Review 93：Bottles Of cold water provided upon arrival. The room was exactly as described on booking.com and the AC was on in our room so it was nice and cool. The pool was nice for our 3 year old daughter, and we used it a lot, although she liked the calm waters of star fish beach more than anything. We did not eat anything at the hotel, and basically just used the room. The front desk was nice and called us numerous taxis to go into town whenever we asked. Our room was 115 on the ground floor, patio looked right onto the water. Overall this place was worth the 125 a night and I would stay there again. But keep in mind we were not expecting much from the hotel as we prefer to explore on our own.

Review 94：the fact that booking.com reservations were not easily located and the rudness of one of the clerks. Restaurant food was below average, hotel needs freshning up.

Review 95：The superb care of Jacquelyn, the manager and of Kahid, one of the front desk clerks

Review 96：Stayed day2 made came by at 7pm to clean rm. We was out all day climinghills. We were dog tired expected rm cleaned and fresh towels. No maidservice the 14 hrs we was out. She knocked at 7 to clean. We said no nottoday apparently that meant the whole time were then at check out ourcreditday no maid service at all. Then at reward in town. Then theycharged out stuff tree out. Our credit card was frozen they told clerkto have us call them.We didn't get the message until we tried ccthen. In the next 24 hrs they charged our room our brother in law creditcard without permission.and when they stopped pAYMENTS sister in lawcall hotel to find out what the charge was about. They gave them allpersonal information to them regardin.us and our card. I would notrecommend this to anyone?

Review 97：The beds were comfortable.

Review 98：not enough food variety to eat, buffet is to expensive, shuttle times need to be more of them, to far from town, rooms need upgrading-floors stained for $160 a night I expected more

Review 99：pool area

Review 100：The rooms need completely gutting during the down season. we had to change rooms because of the mold. you could smell it in spite of heavy doses of disinfectant in each room. Even with good cleaning it was still in the air, so we would suggest that they take up the tiles both in the bathrooms and the bedrooms and start over.

Review 101：The location and views were excellent. Food was good.

Review 102：The rm need updated. Tile on poor always looks dirty. It's stained from floor wax.or wood stain was put on floor and admired all over. The comforter on bed had yellow strand on it.it was late so I removed the cover the comforter had cigarette burns on it. House keeping didn't come to clean until 6pm

Review 103：The beds and hot shower

Review 104：Food was horrible and expensive, by far the worst meal we ate in Bocas. I wouldn't stay here again. The pool was the main selling feature to me but was bit worth the extra money.

Review 105：Rooms were nice. Great location biking distance of town.

Review 106：Its a rip off, the Rooms are icecold, two flatscreen tv's and no good vibes. The personal does not look like they wanna be there, total ripoff, not even worthy To pay 50$ pr night, I reccomend this place for no-one. The place stinks.

Review 107：The place is soulless, nothing good to report.

Review 108：Kind of far from downtown. Can't swim at beach - surf very wild. Facility showing it's age - ceramic tiles need replacing. Staff moves very slow.

Review 109：Quiet location. Big pool, nice cabana on the water with bar and food. Breakfast and other meals were good. Nice view of beach.

Review 110：Staff severely undertrained for a $150/night place. Overpriced food and drink. Breakfast and dinner Buffett food not replaced when low, so if your not there in the first 1/2 hour scarce pickings left. Only one pool so when your relaxing trying to read there are 1000 kids splashing around and making a ton of noise

Review 111：Ac in the rooms was nice, clean rooms also a plus. In a good central location for northern beaches and town

Review 112：Staff should be a bit more bilingual (English), although we understood each other. They should pay more attention and be quicker to respond to client. This could be at the front desk and in the dining area. At our arrival it would have been nicer to have a map of Bocas and environment for those who like to do our own activity such as walking. We asked to rent bikes, we were told to wait 10 min. but waited 40 min. and still none came, we decided to walk to Bluff beach, again with no maps we are not sure where we were going, and what was after if we wanted to continue further down and until where taxis goes. Another point is for a beautiful hotel, the bathroom corners and room corners was not cleaned also noticed the same in the dining room. Other than that I would recommend your hotel to my friend and family. Thanks for everything! p.s. Will take Spanish lessons for futur travelling.

Review 113：We really enjoyed the place, its beautiful and all but need a bit of improvement. I should say about Bocas that we liked the service of taxis and they are numerous. We liked the free shuttle from the hotel to downtown, that was excellent. The outdoor was beautiful and clean. It was nice to see that there were a Tour service in the hotel. Room service were quick.

Review 114：service at the restaurant was very slow but I think that's par for the course anywhere in Bocas. Probably not specific to Tortuga.

Review 115：The pool was incredible, great beach volleyball court, very chill & relaxed atmosphere, easy to get cabs into the city, rooms were nice for 2-3 people. I really enjoyed our stay here.

Review 116：The rooms are old and dirty. The food was bad and overpriced. The free shuttle was not at convenient times. Not a pleasant stay. You can find accommodations that are cheaper with the same quality.

Review 117：The pool area was nice.

Review 118：Buffet supper seemed to be abit high. We were told in the afternoon that the buffet was $15.00 per person when we cAme for supper that evening we were told it was $25.00 per person. The town of Bocas was incredibly filthy!!! You have beautiful beaches ut I feel it won't last long if the town doesn't get control of the filth!

Review 119：We liked the size of the resort.

Review 120：room: dirty aircondition: smelling bathroom: dirty and mold breakfast: no cups no glasses, you allways have to wait for.. food: poor and cold mattress very old and uncomfortable, you hear everything from next room, everything very worn..definitely not a 4 star hotel

Review 121：nothing

Review 122：We were a group that stayed on the other side of Panama a week. Our hotel burnt down and fatalities ensued. The Playa Tortuga hotel refused to amend our request to move the booking ahead one day due to this extreme situation, despite having available rooms the next day. Do not give a hotel like this any future business - they give hoteliering a bad name

Review 123：Bad location, really bad service at the front desk ( had to wait 30 minutes to check in), just too far from everything with no on sight services like a store. A nightmare to get taxi in and out of the hotel.

Review 124：Swimming pool and beach front

Review 125：The service at the restaurant. The utensils for breakfast always missed at the buffet A bit expensive for the price/quality

Review 126：Location perfect for our honeymoon Good tours to the atractions Calm A pool with a beautiful view The hockey table was terrific

Review 127：The transport offered by the hotel to the village.

Review 128：The location is extraordinarily beautiful and the rooms are very comfortable and with a marvelous view.

Review 129：- Hotel looms a bit old - some renovations are needed - for more than 100 per night to expensive

Review 130：- private beach - rooms are OK - pool area is nice

Review 131：First they told us that we had breakfast included but then on the lastday they said we didn'T. They tax everything individually so thefinal bill was higher than we expected, a bit confusing for europeans...

Review 132：We were upgraded by the friendly staff when we arrived and picked upat the airport. Nice beach and good coctails at the bar. A greatplace to relax!

Review 133：Seemed over priced, There was only a trickle of water in the shower the entire two night stay

Review 134：The grunds were very nice and away from the hustle of the town.

Review 135：Musty smell in the rooms. Air conditioners in room had not been cleaned.Games room was unavailable. Games provided were either broken or lowquality. Same buffet every morning. No shuttle to Airport. Pricey foodand drinks.

Review 136：Free shuttle from airport. Nice pool and patio area. Nice restaurant.Great views. Very secluded. Great taxi/shuttle service into toBocas town. Tours available from the hotel. Breakfast buffet had agood selection. No qualms about bringing your own food or beveragesto the pool.

Review 137：Ugly sea. Far from places to visit. Way to expensive 18USD for beers is not acceptable.

Review 138：The view from the terrace. The bed.

The Fine Print

The property has a regular free shuttle service to Bocas del Toro town. For timetables or to book this service, please contact the property directly.Airport transportation can also be arranged for an extra fee. These transportation must be booked at least 48 hours in advance by contacting the property directly, using the contact details found on your booking confirmation.