Sunset cocktails. Sunrise beach walks. Private villas. Water taxis.
To me, these words paint the quintessential Caribbean experience in Panama, and nothing says Caribbean Panama like Bocas del Toro.
My wife and I recently spent a weekend on this oceanfront, master-planned resort and we were impressed even before we arrived.
Red Frog brings in 5-10 mega yachts over the course of the month, and as our water taxi was approaching the resort, the 25 meter mast of a catamaran valued at a cool $2 million dollars was rising up into the blue Caribbean sky. So we knew pretty quickly that this island wasn’t going to resemble the backpacker friendly, party-all-night Bocas town we knew and loved when we were young and single.
Needless to say, the marina set a pretty impressive standard as we entered the open air front desk and were whisked away on golf carts to our 3 bedroom oceanfront villa. Which, by the way, was equally impressive and valued at just under $1 million.
Being a real estate guy, I’m always looking at the details. It was clear the builders at Red Frog were too — this was probably the most well constructed beach home in Panama I had ever set foot in. I was impressed by the super high-end quality finishes, over-engineered structure, and the kind of floor plan that says “relax, you’re home. It’s time to forget all your worries, life can wait. Enjoy, be present, breathe.”
And enjoy we did.
Breakfasts by the ocean, lunches by the pool, and dinner and drinks in town was pretty much our day, every day. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I recommend a visit to Bocas del Toro and a stay at Red Frog? If you’re looking to relax, get away from it all, and experience island living with a luxury finish, then yes. Go with the family, go with a group of friends, or go solo with your favorite book. Just go.