Casa Clearwater

A house built over the reef, ten minutes by boat from Bocas Town.

Casa Clearwater stands in clear water on a white-sand reef off Isla Colón. The house is open on all sides, so there is a breeze and a view wherever you sit, and the shady decks are where most of the day happens. Fish swim past underneath, and you can snorkel straight from the house. Two kayaks, a natural saltwater pool and two outdoor showers come with it.

There is room for six guests: two bedrooms with a king bed each and two single beds in the living room, plus three bathrooms. The kitchen is fully equipped with an oven and BBQ grill, and there is a large dining table, wifi and a workspace. The house runs entirely off the grid on solar power and filtered rainwater, with ceiling fans instead of air conditioning.

One round trip a day to Bocas Town by boat is included in the rate (between 7 am and 7 pm, not on arrival and departure day). Extra trips and tours with the boat driver are paid in cash. A caretaker is on site, and the host meets you at the Bocas airport when you arrive.

Worth knowing: the minimum stay is two nights, and there is no TV and no washer or dryer (a laundry service is available). The pool has no gate and the house is surrounded by open water, so children need close supervision. Pets are welcome; parties and smoking are not.