The Firefly is for you if:
*you enjoy nature and adventure (or just kicking back with a book & a cocktail). Bocas has tons of natural beauty to be discovered.
*you want a local experience, not to be stuck behind walls where you never really see the local people.
*you are a foodie who is always looking forward to their next meal. Our restaurant is the best food in Bocas for a reason and we believe in sourcing locally and organically whenever possible.
*you enjoy traveling to rustic, off the beaten path types of places in a beautiful, natural setting yet you want to return to a super comfy memory foam mattress ,a hot shower and a room where attention has been paid to the details.
*you enjoy the intimate feeling of staying in a small, laid back, eco B&B as opposed to a 24 hr hotel with a large staff. Keep in mind this is a home that has been opened up to guests. Our staff, although small, are always willing to help should you need it.
* you appreciate the planet, taking care of it and the often fragile ecosystem of an island
*you are laid back and understand that “island time” can be an amazing concept in which to de-stress
* you want a hip environment in affordable rooms where attention is paid to design and comfort
*you are not bothered if the internet decides to not work one day or if the power goes out unexpectedly (because this does happen)
If this sounds awesome to you….keep reading about us!
The Firefly is a small, rustic, 5 room, eco bed & breakfast located in the most convenient location in all of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. Isla Bastimentos is a short 7 min boat ($5) ride away from the center of Bocas Town making it easier (& cheaper) to get to from town than other parts of Isla Colon. Bastimentos is home to Bocas’ most beautiful beaches and we sit in the center of it all including all of the surf breaks, the best snorkeling and all of the activities. We are geared toward couples who love the outdoors and a local experience, surfers who want to be near the breaks and of course those who love adventure & amazing food. We are also a great option for a girlfriend getaway, yoga retreat or surf vacation. Do everything or do nothing. You just might not want to leave our grounds. **Please note, we are an ADULTS ONLY property accepting guests 15 and up.
Bastimentos is the REAL caribbean. Chickens, reggae and locals…you won’t find tourist t shirt shops here. Just an actual caribbean village with our ocean front location being close to everything. We are minutes from touristy Bocas Town, yet far enough that you feel like you are in your own island paradise. We are located just out of Old Bank, the Caribbean town in Bastimentos; a 5 min walk from the public boat dock. Our location is private and serene, has the best breeze on the island and is away from the noise of Old Bank. We are in the middle of everything, including Bocas best beaches (Wizard, Red Frog, Polo), hiking trails, surf breaks and snorkeling. Basti also has Bocas only jungle zip line tour, our favorite excursion, the Bastimentos Bat Caves and the cutest organic chocolate farm on the islands, Up In The Hill ( 15 min walk).
The Firefly strives to be earth conscious and eco friendly. Sustainability is high on our priority list as much of The Firefly was built out of plantation grown hardwoods, fallen trees and reclaimed lumber. We use a rain water catchment system to provide all of our water. We even use biodegradable, compostable straws in our bar made from a plant-based materials (never plastic!). We compost as much of our refuse as we can in our quest to minimize our footprint. We ask guests to bring a travel container for water as we do not sell bottled water in order to not contribute to the growing plastic problem on the islands. We will provide you with a carafe for your room with endless filtered water. We will be happy to re-fill your personal container with filtered water whenever needed. All of our other water needs (showers, sinks & toilets) here at The Firefly are provided by the rain. In keeping with our eco friendly mentality and water being a precious resource, your linens will be changed only if requested during your stay.
We built the restaurant/bar ourselves with the help of our friends and our local Panamanian builder, Augustine Vidal. The Firefly is a place for those with a respect toward our planet who still want stylish decor, a cool vibe & comfort. We are not a 5 star resort or large hotel chain preferring a more local, intimate island experience. We do not have a/c or tvs, preferring the sounds of the ocean and jungle life. The house was constructed in a rustic manner & the geckos will still find their way into your room. Never fear, they eat the bugs! 🙂 The house itself is not built in a soundproof manner and the waves/rain can be loud. Bastimentos is a bit rustic and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We feel this adds to a unique, island experience. You will walk through the local village to get to us. The people here are kind and love a wave hello. Everybody here knows everybody and their way of life is much simpler than most of us are used to.
Here in Bocas, we have the occasional power outage. Bocas also tends to have a water shortage certain times of the year in the dry months. This is an island wide issue as we can go without rain for more than a month. Most of the time, these are not issues and the rain can be plentiful, however we ask guests to be responsible with their water usage. Please realize that we are on an island and life is much slower here. Leave the pace of life at home, enjoy yourself and relax. None of the excursions/tours need to be planned ahead of your arrival time except diving if you are planning to get certified. Everything else can pretty much be arranged the morning of.
We provide an amazing breakfast that is included for our guests. Everyday is something new, whether it’s banana pancakes, an omelette del dia, or coconut french toast with fruit from our yard, it’s all fresh & yummy. Coffee is grown in the mountains of Panama and smoothies are made with local fruit. We believe in using local food & organic produce whenever possible and everything in our restaurant, sauces to ice cream, is made in house.