La Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm

My mom and I had such an exceptional stay here. Juan Carlos and Nick made us feel so welcomed, and went out of their way to make our stay incredibly memorable and comfortable. We went on the bioluminescence tour and a day hike through the jungle to the north side beaches with Roger, who was so knowledgeable and friendly. We also did the cacao permaculture tour with Mr. Kelley, which was amazing! The food was delicious, the room was clean and comfortable, and the views were incredible!!! They also went out of their way to accommodate my mom’s many food allergies, and she had equally amazing food at each meal!

So we travel a good bit but this was a little out of our comfort zone. Overall, we thought it was well worth it and a cool bucket list check mark. But given the natural beauty of the island this place has soooooo much more potential. A few minor tweaks that wouldn’t be very expensive and they could charge double honestly. Some pros and cons to help people go in with their eyes wide open: Cons/things to consider: -very inflexible on check in. We were coming from the south and they wouldn’t let our other resort drop us off at the La Loma dock even at 3pm. We HAD to go all the way back to Boca. Then their boat was half an hour late to pick us up. It was also so crowded and a super uncomfortable ride. Not a good start. -I’ve seen several other reviews here echo this but if you’re expecting this to be a super romantic stay, there are tons of families that surprisingly stay here. They used the main lodge as their living room and were running and screaming around the property the whole time. It certainly could be romantic but that makes it tough. They also seemed to cater to all the families and their various kids’ special meal needs. They even completely forgot our breakfast one day as the only couple there! Literally only 4 groups and seemingly forgot about us several times. -they have credit card capabilities and advertise the price as such, then you get there and up charge you 3% to make that payment if it’s not cash. Who carries thousands in cash around Bocas? Kind of ridiculous and not safe. -the hike to the lodge is more difficult than advertised. One older gentleman basically couldn’t do it. If you’re taking your parents here you may want to rethink. -pack some sealed snacks despite what they tell you. Very light Lunch is at 1230 and dinner not til 715ish. That would be fine during a workweek but not when you’re hiking 4+ hrs a day. We were starving by dinner and there’s no real way to get food in between. -this place really needs just one small plunge pool and maybe a small snack shed/bar near the bottom of the island. Pros: -the rooms were great. The anxiety we had about the bugs and such were unfounded. Nets worked great. Fan kept it cool. -the FOOD. So fresh and tasty. Well presented. Could have been Michelin star at dinners. This is one of the big reasons I think a management company could come in, ramp up the service, and make this an exceptional property. Overall, we were glad we went. But we paid roughly $1100 for a 40 hour stay and anytime you asked for a new cocktail, a slight accommodation of any kind outside of their very structured schedule it felt like you were being a burden. So I think they either need to charge less for that level of service or ramp it up (and we’d be willing to pay even more for that room/lodge/food but the service to go with it). I think people are too freely giving this one 5 stars just because it’s so different. But it’s probably a 3 if you’re being truly objective.

We had an outstanding visit to La Loma and highly recommend it for nature lovers. The location is incredible and the accommodations are uniquely beautiful and serene. The food is completely over-the-top delicious. We found the owner and staff to be wonderful people and very knowledgeable and helpful. Onsite yoga was an added plus! We highly recommend La Loma!

We stayed 2 nights in the Rainforest bungalow. Beautiful open air cabin with a great view. The staff here is amazing, friendly, and willing!! We very much enjoyed Kelly’s farm tour. He was amazing and extremely knowledgeable. Do not miss out on la Loma

Absolutely incredible and beyond words. Exceeded all expectations. The island, excursions, food, drinks, people, accommodations were fantastic. Extremely reasonably priced. Truly cannot wait to book another trip here and was sad we had to leave. If you want a unique immersive experience and to see up close birds, monkeys, sloths, possums, dart frogs, bats, caves, tarantulas, national parks, and meet some of the friendliest locals and natives then this is truly a must stay. We did the bioilluminescence, night hike, bat cave, farm tour, kayaked and hiked the green and red paths in 3 nights and had ample time to rest, relax and enjoy the nature. It’s a sustainable glamping lodge that gives you an upscale experience while connecting with the surroundings. One concern I had prior to arrival was arriving early but it was no problem at all. Bocas town is very safe. You can taxi or walk freely with luggage and no one will bother you. The airport is extremely small and walkable to the docks, JJs. They were both wonderful and accommodating as we arrived to Bocas sleepy beach town on a Sunday mid morning when everything is closed and they let us stow our items. We went to Lighthouse for lunch, walked and had an Atlas (as recommended by a local) before heading back to the docks. At the lodge, they take care of all your luggage since there are stairs to get up to the main lodge/rainforest rooms but you can take your time and they have benches along the path. Sophia made our arrival wonderful and easy. There are bugs but they are not an issue near the lodges, I only was bit wearing shorts on red trail. We stayed in the king rainforest room which is absolutely amazing. The netting works fine at night, we just tightened it all down during the day. They provided fresh towels daily. The cacao tea and muffins each morning was such a unique and personal touch. It’s warm during the day but quick showers help cool down in the mid day and night. They have hot water tanks, too. And when it rains the temperature drops significantly and the down blankets are a must. I would recommend doing absolutely any tour with Roberto or Roger as they truly love the land and made our experience so incredibly special. The cultural input and their interpretation of the land was indispensable. The indigenous tribes appeared appreciated by La Loma and it really made the experience wonderful. The owner also made an appearance and also endorsed supporting the sunstainability, land, natives, and elevated experience. The largest threat to this lodge is the Karen americanus. But seriously this place is amazing and entirely worth the trip to Bocas if you’re looking for tropical vacation. If we had not had other engagements I would have begged them to let us stay longer!

From the moment you are picked up to the moment you are dropped off this place is an experience. The staff, the food, the drinks, the property are beyond words. The attention to detail is incredible. They have thought of everything. We were in the highest treehouse which had 2 queen beds. Super comfortable and spacious. The views were amazing and the hammocks!!! So fun! I mean you shower outside!!! They give you ear plugs, bug coils and binoculars too! We only stayed one night but packed everything we could in. We did the 2 hikes as well as the tour of the garden and cacao farm. Sergio was the sweetest and let us try so many different foods and taught us to make chocolate. I highly recommend this. We went kayaking in the evening and it was beautiful. There are bugs so be prepared with bug spray. The food! I can’t even! Probably the best meals I have ever eaten. Everything is sooo fresh and flavourful. They are super accommodating for any food issues you have as well. I can’t say enough positive things about La Loma. If you are lucky enough to stay here you won’t want to leave.

We had a wonderful stay in the Rainforest Queen at La Loma. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the food and drinks were delicious. During our stay, we took advantage of almost every excursion that was offered, using La Loma as our “basecamp.” Our two favorites were the permaculture farm tour (do this first to learn about the food you will be eating) and the bat cave tour (which I NEVER thought I would do) with our expert guide Roger. We also loved seeing wildlife on the property - sloths, monkeys, red tree frogs, parrots, and more. In my opinion, La Loma is best for those who are adventurous, easygoing, curious, self-directed, self-advocating, friendly (you may be seated with other guests for meals), comfortable living IN nature AND in very good physical shape (there are LOTS of step here and they can be slippery). Be sure to do your research before you come so you know what to expect. For us, La Loma was an amazing adventure, a welcome break from everyday life.

Our experience on Isla Bastimentos had everything to do with our stay at La Loma Jungle Lodge. While the beaches and attractions there can undoubtedly be enjoyed by anyone, our gorgeous accommodations, dining, and tours were all arranged by the wonderful staff at La Loma. All the stress that often accompanies independent tourism completely vanishes when an attentive hospitality team steps in to take care of the details. And that is exactly what happened. We were just in awe! This is hands-down the most unique property I have ever stayed at. The experience of staying in our treehouse bungalow lounging in our hammocks while white-faced capuchin monkeys swung by was unmatched. Surprisingly, it was not that buggy. We had no complaints about mosquitos or anything unpleasant. The most startling thing that happened was we had a monkey jump on the roof of our bungalow around 3 am and freaked us out a little. But, honestly, it was all part of the adventure of sleeping in the jungle. Loved every minute of it!

We stayed at La Loma for two nights. The views and the food are incredible! It is quite a hike up the hill initially, but you are rewarded with amazing views when you get to the restaurant area. The food was amazing and they were able to accommodate special diets. I definitely recommend taking the farm tour with Kelly. He was able to show us everything that is grown on the farm and he takes great pride in it. Two nights felt like the perfect amount of time, but I definitely could have stayed another night or two. We moved around and tried several different places in Bocas and this definitely stands out as a favorite spot. We were able to do a yoga class one morning as well. The room was huge and private and had amazing views. It is all open air and the bed is surrounded by a huge mosquito net. We enjoyed the suspended hammocks off of our room too. The chocolate tea and muffins served each morning were a great treat to wake up too as well. If you love nature and are able to do steep steps, this place is a must do!