Surf Break at Paunch is located at Paunch Beach on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We have four beautiful cabin-style roomswith amazing tree house like views. Here you can wake up to the sounds of Howler Monkeys and tropical birds and fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean from the nearby surf.
When you visit us, not only are you visiting an amazing tropical paradise with tons of unique wildlife, beautiful plants and landscapes, but also an epic surf spot right at our front door…with more amazing beaches and surf spots just a short walk, bike or boat ride away!
If you’re ready to start planning your amazing vacation to Bocas, go to our Stay With Us section to view more information and photos for each room, check availability and request a reservation now!
We do ask that all guests considering visiting us please take the time to read the entire Read Me section and Policies page…because while we absolutely love Bocas del Toro, it’s not for everyone.
We hope to see you soon!
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Stayed here for 2 nights of the 7 we were in bocas. Thought it was great, friendly owners were really helpful, always contactable via WhatsApp is how ordered breakfast... read more and taxi to airport etc. Room was lovely with a balcony over the jungle. Big shower...More
mstevo
May 6, 2019We stayed at Surfbreak at Paunch for 4 nights and it was fabulous. The rooms are incredibly nice with great views and the morning breakfast included fruit, smoothies and some... read more of the best most creative tacos we have ever experienced. We highly recommend staying here!
SE1954
December 2, 2018These might have been the best tacos I have had in my life (I ordered the chorizo one). Its a bit off the beaten path, but so so worth... read more it. Its in the the jungle and you get there by going up a hill(it looked...More
Anne-Roos K
August 10, 2018 -
Do not stay here! I have never written a bad review for a “hotel” but it is only fair to warn other travelers. The room we stayed in at Surf... read more Paunch was filthy. The bed had stains on it, pillows and towels dirty and the sheets had holes/stains on them too. Not to mention the sheets smelled disgusting and were not washed. None of us used the sheets/blankets.
The host was shocked that we checked in 3 people even though the reservation stated three. Apparently the number of people correlates to why we could not have a curtain over the windows in the bathroom (you could then see into the bathroom/shower from outside our room).
It should be stated that the sofa bed is an old couch. A sofa bed typically has a metal frame and thin mattress that can be unfolded or opened up to make a bed. In addition, there was no shampoo or conditioner.
I wish I could say the room was inexpensive and that would make this experience slightly better but it was beyond expensive for what it was.
Lastly, our host was unfriendly. He wasn’t welcoming and couldn’t be bothered mentioning anything about the area/hotel. He made us feel uncomfortable and ignored our complaints. It is concerning when locals would say what is going on there is not good. We were the only ones on the property... wonder why. More
August 26, 2022I spent two nights here staying in the adorable Tree Cabin. It was super clean and comfortable. I loved the sitting area on the covered porch. The... read more cabin is well ventilated and gets lots of the fresh ocean breezes and it stayed cool. Listening to...More
hobiecatsailor
March 7, 2019We loved our stay here!! We had the tree cabin and with the jungle sounds and nature views we were in Heaven! We ventured out on the bikes while we... read more were there and enjoyed a couple of the best breakfasts that we have ever had! Dave was the best host ever, he’s very cool and made sure everything went without a hitch, we really enjoyed Bocas and hope to venture out there again some day!
May 21, 2020 -
Stayed here for 3 nights this summer. We had 3 people in one room, as stated in our reservation, however one person was stuck sleeping on a makeshift futon. None... read more of the amenities you see in pictures or online were available. No breakfast/food, no hammocks, no bikes, etc. If these were available for purchase, we wouldn't know as the option was never given to us. The location is remote, a good ~20 minute drive from town, with much of it being on a rough dirt road. However, the worst part was the pillows, blankets, sheets, etc, given to us were absolutely disgusting. The smell was atrocious and there were visible stains on everything, they were unusable. When leaving my review of this property on Google, we were insulted by the owner for leaving a negative review. Extremely unprofessional. The host was not gracious at all and provided zero information about the location and things to do. He seemed bothered we were even there. Based on the past positive reviews, either the ownership has recently changed or these people are family/friends of the owner.
Diana B
December 20, 2022I stayed in the private cabin and it's very very good. the mosquito net is in well state, the breakfast are amazing. We still keep doing it at home. We... read more ate tacos a couple of time and they are good and not very expensive. We...More
August 18, 2019My wife and I stayed here for our honeymoon and had a fantastic time.
David and his team did an excellent job of making us feel welcome and safe... read more in our new home away from home. We can't wait to get back to Bocas!
February 18, 2020 -
I just completed a 10 day stay here and it was a great experience. My cabin was the standalone Tree Cabin. Nicely appointed with a great lounging balcony. A bike... read more and breakfast included. The breakfast is not a throwaway but is a choice of 6...More
Michael C
January 4, 2019Surf Break at Paunch is in the ideal location for both surfers and travelers. My girlfriend and I stayed for 7 nights and could not have asked for a better... read more home base. David and Alli are wonderful hosts.
Parkerrjp
February 27, 2019My boyfriend and I stayed for four night at Surf Break @ Paunch and we absolutely loved our time there! Dave is a wonderful host, super cool and hospitable. He... read more made sure we had everything we needed for a perfect stay in Bocas. Surf Break is nestled in the jungle in Bocas off a dirt road that runs along the beach. We stayed at the Tree Cabin room and I enjoyed laying on the hammock on the deck and listening to the sounds of the birds and monkeys of the jungle. There is no AC but you don't need it in this room as you get plenty of breeze and have a fan in the room. Mosquitos were not a problem either. Rooms are super cute. Dave lets you use the bicycles for free to ride around town and the included breakfasts were delicious!! We always looked forward to starting our day eating breakfast and drinking coffee and smoothies on the breakfast deck. I wish we never had to leave!
February 28, 2020