SurfBreak at Paunch

Four private stays in the jungle at Paunch, two minutes uphill from the surf.

SurfBreak at Paunch is a small property on a hillside on Isla Colón, in the quiet, green area of Paunch outside Bocas Town. You wake up to birds, and monkeys are often heard around the property in the morning.

The Paunch surf break is a two-minute walk down the hill, and three more breaks (Tiger Tail, Dumpers and La Curva) are within about a 15-minute walk. You do not have to surf to stay here: beaches and Bocas Town are close, and plenty of guests come for the quiet. If you want bars on your doorstep every night, staying in town makes more sense.

There are four separate places to choose from, each with a queen bed and a private bathroom:

• Tree Cabin: raised up in the trees, with screened open-air walls, a wooden deck, a hot shower, a mini-fridge and a coffee maker. There are no cooking facilities.
• Bungalow Left: colorful and easygoing, with a full kitchen, a hot-water bathroom and a covered porch with a hammock. From here you can see the surf.
• Bungalow Right: a relaxed jungle bungalow with a kitchen (fridge and stove), a tiled bathroom and a shaded porch with a hammock.
• Garden Apartment: on the ground level, with a kitchen and dining nook, a lounge area and the property’s only air conditioning.

The other three use fans and natural airflow. All four stays are for guests aged 16 and older. If you book all four together, up to eight guests have the whole property to themselves.

Worth knowing: the property is on a hill. The slope is noticeable but there are few stairs; it is not a good fit if walking uphill is difficult. Pickup-truck taxis can drive all the way up, and there is parking for cars, ATVs, scooters and bikes. Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out is at 11 am. You can book directly with the host through the website or WhatsApp. The property is also on Airbnb, rated 4.87 from 93 reviews.