The Firefly

The Firefly gets an A+, a 10/10, 100% positive, and fully five stars. It’s such a unique place and there’s so much about it that has been meticulously thought about and implemented. Ryan and Michelle are the absolute bees knees, and the property is great if you want to get away on an authentic island getaway. ||I firstly want to start with the food because that’s really important to me on any vacation I go on. You will not find better food on the island, the group of islands, the city of Bocas Del Toro, or possibly in Panama City or even the landmass that is the country of Panama. Michelle can straight up cook and it’s a delicious mixture of her southern (US) roots and island vibes. It’s insane. Each four-course meal comes with distinct dishes and tastes and favorites include the chicken wings with pina, the au pied du cochon, the island ribs, and the fresh fish Pontchartrain. Oh, and there’s also the shrimp curry. That’s pretty revelatory as well. Even if you’re not staying at Firefly, you can still make dinner reservations and I suggest you do so. It’s wonderful. Oh and you’re dining al fresco as the waves crash and the jungle hoots all around you. Yep. If you do one thing in Bocas Del Toro, go eat a meal with Michelle. ||Now for the grounds! We were there in low season and we had the place completely to ourselves. Ryan and Michelle live on-site and are there to help with whatever you need, be it a tour, a place to go see music, places to eat with locals, or if you want to go dancing. They know what’s going on on the island and they’re eager to share. They’re great hosts. ||The rooms are quaint, rustic, and provide maybe the best white noise we’ve ever heard in our lives. Screened windows allow for the sounds of the ocean and jungle to pour in, and pour in it does. We slept so incredibly well. There’s also an outdoor shower in the room that is private yet out in the jungle. Super cool as well. ||There’s also a plunge pool on site and we used it a bunch as we relaxed listening to the aforementioned sounds of nature. It’s a really nice addition on the property. There’s also a great honor bar for the in-between times when you just want to have a beer in the pool. Then there are hammocks and day beds as well all over the property—very nice additions as well if you just want to relax read a book. There’s also a full bar on site and open when the restaurant is. Ryan makes great cocktails and the list is long. ||The property is in the middle of Isle Bastimentos and when you’re dropped off at the boat dock, it’s about a seven minute walk. But you are seriously in the middle of a small town and the road essentially dead ends where the ocean and Firefly meet. Then just relax, let the sounds of the jungle sink in, sit in a hammock, drink a beer or a dark and stormy, get ready for an amazing meal from Michelle, and sit back as you watch the sunset. We pretty much washed/rinsed/repeated this for four glorious days. I wish we had more but we’ll be back! ||Thanks again for the extraordinary experience. ||Dave & Ashley

Incredible week long vacation in paradise with amazing beaches, sun and jungle. Loved how friendly the locals are. Very much enjoyed island hoping via boat taxi. Also, truly enjoyed the restaurant and friendly tends studio on site. The property is a dream and I can’t wait to return for a longer stay.

We had three wonderful days at Firefly even though the weather was pretty rough and stormy. Very friendly owners, who are keen to help with your day planning. Room 1 is comfortable and spacious. Due to its location it is less sheltered and can be windy and noisy when there is a bad weather.

A group of 5 of us spent 5 wonderful nights at the Firefly over New Year's and for my husband's 50th birthday. I can not say enough wonderful things about our stay. We rented out both of the bungalows and one of the standard rooms. All the accommodations are great but the air bungalow was spectacular! We would consider ourselves foodies and couldn't stop raving about the food and cocktails. Best we had across all the Bocas Del Toro islands! The breakfast was unique each day and although there is a menu we found it best to let their chef Michelle just serve us her daily special. Dinners were great for a group as we could order a bunch of small plates and share. Ryan and Lauren were wonderful hosts. Always there when you needed them, ready to make a recommendation or set up a tour / water taxi but very low key. Their recommendations were always great! Lauren even took us all over to Bocas Town for New Year's Eve after she had cooked a wonderful 6 course meal for a full restaurant! As for it's location in Old Bank, it was great. We had a very local feel and didn't have to deal with cars or traffic noise like in Bosas Town. It was a perfectly relaxed vibe. I can't recommend this location and the owners and staff enough. Thank you all for such a memorable stay!

Our Airbnb was near The Firefly and we stopped in for dinner twice. Absolutely EVERYTHING was delicious—the pork ribs especially. It has a calm, beautiful atmosphere right near the water, and Michelle and her staff are very friendly. We will totally be visiting again on our next trip to Bocas.

The Firefly has become our 'equatorial home away from home'! We just returned from our second visit and could not have had a better time. Ryan and the crew took such amazing care of us from the beautiful accommodations to delicious meals (I'll get to that) to ginger tea delivered to our room on a day when I was not feeling well. If you are looking for a Caribbean adventure less traveled, this is the place for you! ||1. Getting there: we flew direct from Boston to Panama City, then a short domestic flight to Bocas del Toro. After a quick boat taxi (no cars on Basti yay!) and a 5 min walk, we arrived at the Firefly. A welcomed island punch as waiting for us at the bar! Because of the flight times, we had to stay in Panama City on the way home. However, we found a rad little airbnb for $100 right on the water in the Casco Viejo district, which is GORGEOUS!||2. Things to do: Honestly, the Firefly is its own destination- I could have spent another week sitting on our bungalow porch overlooking a beautiful garden filled with parrots and hummingbirds, joining the thrice weekly yoga classes on site or chatting on the deck with our fellow guests. You can also snorkel right in front of the property where there is a bustling reef to explore. Wizard beach is a pleasant 30min walk from the Firefly and you can also take an inexpensive boat taxi to Red Frog beach which is where the only 'resort' on the island is located. You can take a tour of the Up the Hill Farm and sample their amazing goodies such as cacao, coffee and local fruits. You can hop over to the main island and explore Bocas Town with lots of food/drink/shops. You can also ATV through the jungle, surf or deep-sea fish for more adventurous activities. As a nature buff, I particularly loved exploring some of the more remote islands in the area such as 'Bird Island' (viewing only for conservation) and spending the afternoon sunbathing and snorkeling at Cayo Zapatilla. ||3. Now let's talk foooooood: my husband and I are vegan and have been pleasantly surprised at growing options globally, and Bocas is no exception. We enjoyed the most delicious vegan breakfasts, veganized dinner entrees and even some special, 'off menu' goodies from the amazing Chef Michelle! Other places to check out would definitely be Leaf Eater and El Ultimo Refugio as well, you won't be disappointed. TBH, there were other places to try but we truly had our fill right at the Firefly, note they are open to non-guests for breakfast and dinner Wed-Mon ;)||I cannot say enough about how much we love our visits to the Firefly. As locals stop by for work or just to say hello throughout the day, you truly get a sense of community there- this is something we try to prioritize when traveling so far away from home. I already can't wait to go back!

A truly magical wedding by the sea We cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible experience we had at this charming little hotel by the sea. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and cared for in the most heartfelt way. We chose this hotel for our very intimate wedding, just the two of us, and it could not have been more perfect. The setting is breathtaking, with the sound of the waves and the fresh ocean breeze creating a serene and romantic atmosphere. The hotel itself is cozy, beautifully decorated, and impeccably maintained. The staff went above and beyond to make our day unforgettable. They helped with every little detail, from setting up a stunning private spot by the sea for our ceremony to arranging a delicious celebratory dinner for two. Their warmth and attention to detail made us feel truly special. We will forever cherish the memories of our stay here and highly recommend this gem to anyone looking for a peaceful, beautiful escape or a unique place to celebrate life’s special moments. Thank you for making our dream wedding come true! With all our hearts, L & D

We spent a wonderful week at the Firefly in the water bungalow, slept every night with the sound of the sea and nature.||The highlight of our stay was the boat trip that Michelle spontaneously organized for all guests to go to the Zapatillas together (cheaper than in Bocas town). Michelle and Emilee were on their free day and were able to join, this made that we all bonded so nice together during the rest of our stay!||The food from international award winning chef Michelle was exquisite, we loved especially the seared ahi, the gnocchi, filet mignon, the ribs and many more! The breakfast is as fancy as the rest and everyday something different. Also the cocktails are delicious!||Ryan was always welcoming and hospitable and had a zen vibe and good tips about what we can do, such as Wizard beach and Polo beach (last one the most beautiful and easy to reach!)||The upstairs yoga with sea view with Rachel made for a good start of the day.||The pool we had to ourselves most of the time, superb views. If it rains, look for red frogs in the garden!||The bungalow was very comfortable and private, we loved hanging in the hammock and shower under the sky even when it rained. The room was made every day by a nice lady.||Michelle and Ryan, thank you for your hospitality and hope to come back sometime and meet Lala too!