Must Read FAQ
The Pink Houses and Bocas Del Toro
Frequently Asked Questions
Type of People That Will Enjoy The Pink Houses
You will enjoy your stay at one of the 2 Pink Houses if the following list describes you. We have met so many interesting people during our time in Bocas Del Toro and look forward to meeting many more in the years to come. 98% of the people that book with us love their time here and many extend their stays after they arrive BUT some come to Bocas expecting it to be like it is back home in the USA or Europe and that it is not. We have wireless internet to keep you in touch with the world but you are coming to a tropical island that most likely is very different then what you are used to. For this reason we find living in Bocas an adventure and we hope you find traveling to Bocas and staying at one of our homes an unforgettable experience.
- You will enjoy The Pink Houses if you prefer staying inside of a Panamanian community and outside of the commercial districts
- If you are laid back and like the tranquility of being far enough away from town that you just hear the waves at night but only a 3 min cab ride or 15 min walk to many restaurants and night life activities in Bocas town
- If you have a open mind and enjoy adventure in life
- If you are looking for a private home vacation rental that is rustic, tropical and built over the water.
Types of People That Should Probably Not Make A Reservation
If the following list describes you then we suggest you not book one of the Pink Houses and select one of the hotels in Bocas Town or maybe just go to an all inclusive resort and skip Bocas all together on your next trip. We are not trying to be rude just real.
- You should most likely look for accommodations elsewhere if you think coming to Bocas and staying at one of The Pink Houses will be like going to a all inclusive resort in Cancun or renting a vacation property in the Hamptons.
- If you are scared of locals and think people that don’t look like you are dangerous (you would be amazed with some people)
- If you prefer to isolate yourself with other tourists and stay clear of the local communities
- If you are not into a laid back lifestyle
THE AREA
Saigon Bay is a quickly developing area comprised of a mixture of well built
homes and locals who are living in typical poor Caribbean style. There is a
new sewer in the area , and trash service has also recently begun.
We have done our best to provide western conveniences inside the home, but
keep in mind that the locals live at a third world standard, and that is the culture.
THE HOUSES
There are 2 pink houses. They are both located just a 1 min walk from each other and are next to our other properties Bahia Del Sol and KoKo resort.
Pink House #1 is a rustic cabin located right next to Bahia Del Sol and consists of 2 levels. Each level can be rented out separately or together. The bottom level consists of 2 bedrooms, a bath room, small living area and kitchen. The top level is the Master bedroom and has its own private bathroom as well as a large deck that you can access through the french doors in front of the bed. The deck is built out over the ocean with incredible views of the bay and the mountains in the distance.
Pink House #2 is located about 50 yards down the road and is a beautiful one level 2 bedroom 1 bath home with a large living area and huge deck built out over the ocean. The home is located on a beautiful piece of land and is one of the few homes in this part of Bocas with a large gated yard with grass.
AMENITIES
The houses are fully equipped with bedding, linens and towels, and cooking supplies.
WiFi Internet is free and available. Maid service can be provided daily if requested.
Water and Hot water are standard but sometimes one or both stop working. These
are issues that we can not control and if you happen to be with us during a outage
I hope you understand its part of island living sometimes.
WEATHER
The weather here is highly variable and one December can be very wet and the next quite dry. It
mostly rains more at night than in the day. The sky can open up and deliver more
water than you thought possible, sometimes with very dramatic lightning and
thunder, all part of the tropics experience. You can view online weather reports but we find them highly inaccurate for the area.
RESTAURANTS
There are a wide variety of excellent restaurants in Bocas and on the surrounding
islands. Fare of nearly every kind can be found, including Italian, seafood, steaks, Caribbean chicken, Thai and Indian. We can make personal recommendations depending on what you are looking for so just ask.
TRANSPORTATION
Town is located three minutes by taxi or a fifteen minute walk. You can easily walk
anywhere you want to go in town. The only roads are on Isla Colon and in Bocas
town. Prices are very reasonable. Bocas has been called “the Venice of Central
America”, as most transportation is on the water. Commercial water taxi
companies are easily found on the waterfront, and can be arranged to pick you up
from your houses dock. The water ride between the homes and town is one of the best.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
You must pay your deposit with credit card and can do so easily on our online
reservation engine in the sidebar of this page. A 50% deposit is due upon booking the room. This deposit
is non refundable with less then 30 day cancellation notice. If you wish to pay via
another method you may contact us but credit card is preferred.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDS CURRENTLY.
PLEASE CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION 30 DAYS BEFORE YOUR
SCHEDULED ARRIVAL TO AVOID LOSING YOUR DEPOSIT.
UTILITIES
Water, electricity and Internet come and go in Bocas. This is the price we pay for
living in the tropics. However we do our best to keep our water tanks filled and life
comfortable at all our homes. Please conserve water, turn off your faucets and do your part to help while with us.
BEACH
A beach for swimming is located 100 meters from the house. Beaches for surfing
are 20 minutes away. We provide custom surf tours so just ask if interested.
CURRENCY
US dollars. The island has two ATM machines that give credit card advances.
Traveller’s checques can be cashed at the local bank.
SECURITY
We do have a night watchman that patrols all our properties every-night and can also be very helpful if you lock your keys inside, need some advice or just want to have a chat with a friendly local.
MEDICAL CARE
The hospital is located 500 meters from the house. All people are admitted at no
or very minimal cost. The hospitals are based on US standards and are equipped
to handle most health related issues.