Name: Cosmic Crab Resort
Address: Carenero Island Trail, Carenero Island, 00000, PA

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jul 2026

Sylvia

The hotel offers a true mixed bag. While the rooms are quite tiny and the price feels steep for the size, the staff were absolutely excellent, friendly and attentive throughout. The furniture is worn but spotless, though the outdoor seating isn't great for lounging. Be aware that the water taxis can be a bit unsteady to board and un-board. That said, the views are simply magnificent, the cook is outstanding, and I even enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool. Overall, a memorable stay despite the drawbacks.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Jaida

Met the owners a great family. Food was best on the island

Partner

4/10

Poor

15 Jul 2026

Piero

According to Hotels.com, this is an “excellent” hotel, and as for atmosphere, sure it is, the lack of service, unreliable electricity, terrible WiFi ( except in the common area), power outages (twice in 3 days) and annoying sandflies notwithstanding. But at the price, the glum service and the surprised stares which greet you when you ask for service offers very low value. ( I am a native Spanish speaker…that wasn’t the problem,)We stayed three days and not once during our stay was the room cleaned, the trash cans emptied or the towels changed. There was a constant puddle on the floor by the bed. The restaurant offers barely palatable meals. And being on Carenero means that the taxi boat fares to Boca town do add up. Not at all recommended. Nice pool. AC okay, when power is working.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2026

Brad

Staff were all excellent and helpful! Had friendly conversations with a bartender, the owner, and his daughter. She was very helpful in her suggestions on local places to eat and things to see. In addition, the meals from the kitchen on site are top notch. I was pleasantly surprised after thinking the prices were a little on the high side, but the portions and the quality are worth every dime. Everything we had was superior and fresh. Property was clean, even though showing its age. Was priced right for what it is! If I had to find a negative, some of the wooden walkways (going to gift shop and to Butterfly room) are super slippery and need a pressure wash. Great island adventure!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Jun 2026

Susan

Nice spot on the water with a pool and wonderful staff and food.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2026

Sarah

Cosmic Crab was one of the most memorable places I’ve ever stayed. As a solo female traveler, I immediately felt welcomed, safe, and comfortable. The property is family-owned, and you can truly feel that in the atmosphere. The owner is incredibly kind and made me feel at ease from the moment I arrived. The overwater bungalow was a dream come true. Falling asleep to the sound of the water and waking up to beautiful views every morning never got old. The room was clean, comfortable, and had everything I needed for my stay. I also loved how walkable the area was. I enjoyed taking daily walks around Carenero, visiting nearby markets, and exploring the island. The food and drinks were fantastic, especially the Atlantis Colors cocktail and the bacon cheeseburger. The location was perfect because it felt peaceful and relaxing while still being close to everything. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave. I’ve only been home a day and I’m already looking at dates to come back. I would absolutely recommend Cosmic Crab to anyone visiting Bocas, especially solo travelers looking for a place where they’ll feel welcomed and cared for.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2026

Maria del Pilar

Cosmic crab was an amazing place to spend time while visiting Bocas del toro. The place is magical and very colorful. Joan the owner is such an artist 🎨 she painted the whole place with different colors and built her own tables with crab mosaic designs matching her resort, even the planters where mosaic and design by her. Naina's food was absolutely delicious 😋 Junior and Alfredo the bartenders where always aware of our needs, specially at the pool bar. My little bungalow faced the ocean and had a private deck. I totally recommend The Cosmic Crab for a nice relaxing vacation 😎 👌

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2026

Luis

The place is awesome!, the staff is very helpful and kind. A great place to stay and highly recommended. The hotel seems old, but it gives a nostalgic feeling. A great place if you want to have some rest and connect with the nature.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Mar 2026

Michelle

Staff was friendly. We got one of the cabins on the water. It was cute, but i kind of wish we would have got one of the landbased rooms.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Feb 2026

Lynette

Room was in fairly good condition. Staff did not appear to be happy!

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2026

Paula

Great staff! Great amenities for the price. Location was an issue at times getting transport to/from restaurants tours but overall good stay for a relaxing vacation.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

04 Feb 2026

Billy

This place has great views and the food is good. They have a varity of drinks good luck getting service. Service is terrible you have go hunt someone down. They move very slow and never check back on you. The owner could make much more money if they just serve people.

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

28 Jan 2026

Lukas

I have travelled all.over central america and this was the single worst experience I have ever had. EVER. Avoid this place completely as you have many great options

2/10

Poor

28 Jan 2026

Lukas

The worst customer service I have ever experienced. Impossible to get a hold of or communicate with on needs. These islands have so many great places so make sure you avoid this one it's not worth your time.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jan 2026

Claire

Though we were in one of the cabins we were on the front sp the noise of the bars were so loud, even earplugs didnt work. Quite a bit of rain so lots of biting animals! Pool didnt look very inviting. Had a problem with the plumbing and though we were offered to move we were only there for 3 nights. Though it was Christmas time we thought it was overpriced as did not include breakfast. Everyone was very pleasant and helpful.

Partner

2/10

Poor

04 Jan 2026

Amanda

We were really hoping for a positive stay, but unfortunately this property did not meet basic comfort or maintenance standards for us.

The host was friendly in communication; however, the property itself was very rundown. The bed and bedding were extremely uncomfortable and felt worn, and there was very limited seating in the room. The chairs that were provided were unstable and in poor condition. Much of the property appeared to be in disrepair, including areas of flooring that felt soft and rotting underfoot.

The shower had very low water pressure and was broken, and the drain did not work properly, causing water to pool significantly during use. Our room was not serviced or cleaned at any point during our six-night stay. The air conditioner barely worked - the lowest it would get was 23C. Music was so loud from nearby bars I struggled to fall asleep every night. Some nights music went till 6am.

Several advertised amenities were not available during our visit, including complimentary breakfast and kayaks. Additionally, the location is close to marshland, which resulted in a large number of insects throughout the stay.

While the host was polite and responsive, the overall condition of the property and lack of functioning amenities made our stay quite uncomfortable. We would recommend significant maintenance and clearer listing information for future guests.

Leisure Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

31 Dec 2025

dilraj

I am very positive and always find great things to address, but I failed on this one! Located in really bad and in inaccessible part of the island. There is nothing to do unless you take a boat. LOTS AND LOTS of bugs (noseeems) we couldn't even step outside without being devoured. Off didnt do anything! Food was ok nothing to rave home about I got Fish Skewers, go fish lol. Dog poo was constant annoyance in front of the room door. Pool water was very dirty we couldn't work up courage to go in. There was a small handsoap in the bathroom for toiletries. It was a real disappointment.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2025

William

We received a room upgrade due to being assigned the wrong room upon arrival. The room was brand new and large with a comfortable bed and huge bathroom. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant meals were excellent with good portions. And the pool with the swim up bar was a welcome treat.
portions.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2025

Toni-Q

Everything was fantastic, my host Joan was incredibly welcoming and helpful in making my experience in Bocas great.
I was fortunate to get a room upgrade which I’m grateful for and got to be in the over water bungalows.
The food was delicious, especially the lobster!!
The staff, location… I reiterate, everything! Simply enjoyable. Highly recommend

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Sep 2025

Maureen

I could have done without loud reggae especially in the morning disturbing the tranquility, some bossa nova perhaps? Dining was a too expensive for mediocre food, drinks expensive & very weak.theres an awful lot of chitras around the area due to plants in standing water surrounding the property but the view off porch from overwater bungalows was amazing! The AC is great & all staff very helpful and kind😊

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2025

Maureen

The view from room cannot be better! All staff & owners are amazing kind & helpful! The dining options limited as you must take water taxi to town but the food on site is wonderful & delicious! I am so happy I found this place!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Sep 2025

Heather

This is an adorable place on the water! It is walkable to anywhere on Carenero Island! And just a quick water taxi to Bocas town! Cosmic Crab has a beautiful swim up pool over looking the water, jungle and water front cabanas! Very clean, two restaurant s on the site. The coconut shrimp is the best! If you have a boat, you can easily dock alongside the waterfront cabanas. The day I was there they had tropical live music by the pool (Atlantis) . A beautiful little landscape place to hang out either by yourself or with friends. A little tip: If you’re walking around Isla Carenero, you may want to bring sunscreen and bug soray for no see ums. You can add Cosmic Crab to your unique stay in when visiting Bocas del Toro.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jul 2025

Jennifer

I have stayed here many times, and the relaxed vibe always brings me back. The grounds have one of the best sunset views. The staff is fun and attentive. We think the restaurant has some of the best food and drinks in Bocas. It easy to get a water taxi to Isla Colon or other islands. You can relax by the pool, enjoy the beautiful garden, or read a book in your over the water cabina.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2025

Jenna

We had a wonderful getaway for the week. Best sleep in years! Beautiful grounds. Love all the wildlife. Joan and Steven were lovely.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2025

Robert

Me and my partner stayed for 3 nights. The hotel is right on the water. It is on a smaller, more secluded island, which is only a 2 minute boat taxi from the main island. The hosts were attentive, they helped us book day tours around the different islands. The food served at the restaurant was delicious and well worth eating there.
There is a very chilled atmosphere in the hotel which is ideal for the island feeling.

We spent a lot of time in the pool, it was clean and fresh, overlooking the ocean and some amazing sunsets.

Overall, we had a wonderful time with the wonderful hosts. We would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a few days in paradise.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2025

Semen

Great location

Great location - you can’t beat staying on water and being 15 min from a beautiful tropical beach! Also, Jesse and Steven are very welcoming and attentive hosts. They gave us good advice what to do and how to get there. We liked their breakfast, it’s quite filling.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 May 2025

Daniel

The food here at the restaurant was amazing! Great service also.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2025

Joseph

The property is really nice with a nice clean pool, ocean front and over water bungalows, great food and awesome staff! 1 minute boat ride to Bocas.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

28 Feb 2025

Laura

There are limited dining options - the first day we arrived the both restaurants were closed - breakfast took over an hour each day which is too long - dinner was great the lobster with passionfruit butter was well work it. It is a cute spot but you do need to take a water taxi anywhere you go, the rooms are small but okbjust for sleeping

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2025

Jeff

Definitely Recommend

It was awesome from the minute I arrived. Family owned business that went out of their way to ensure every detail was covered. Helped book excursions, gave suggestions on things to do. The food was incredible, everything I had and I had at least 2 meals there a day was delicious. The waitresses were friendly and responsive The bartenders were all so much fun with great personalities. Gave average rating on noise but learned turn AC on and that drowned it out.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2025

Mary

Great place to stay

Really enjoyed staying here. It is a cute, well-kept-up resort that is family owned. The staff are very nice and helpful.

Self

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2025

Roxana

En general la limpieza estuvo genial y el lugar rústico un poco antiguo pero todo en Bocas es igual. Para quedarse en familia está súper bien. La comida es poca, la ducha estaba mala, calentaba a quemar o completamente fría. Habitación sin ventalacion porque si se abría la ventana se metían los mosquitos que además pican súper duro. La piscina de agua muy fría.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

03 Feb 2025

Harald

Good for max three days

Don’t look into the corners. One week was too long. On the bright side - hot showers were good and the bed was comfortable. Sink was loose and toilet third world. The bar staff (Ana) was the best😁

Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2025

Jory

quiet place a couple minutes and $1 water taxi to and from town. Great owners and staff.

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2025

amy

This place was the best spot on the island in my opinion. Our dogs loved it and the staff were really great. Felt safe and welcome. Great location on the island with easy access to taxis whenever needed. Highly recommend if staying on canenero island.

Leisure Pet

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2025

Georgios

Can’t wait to visit again!

Great hosts with great meal options.

Business Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Jan 2025

Peter

We stayed here for 2 nights and the hosts were great. The rooms were great as well. I only wish the bar was open later and on Wednesdays seems like they do not open at all. For a hotel I would think guests want to have drinks by the pool while they are on the property. You can jump right off the docks into the clear water and see all types of fish. If they ever change the restaurant/bar times I will go back for sure.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2025

Jeremy

Had a great stay at the Cosmic Crab. Dining options were great on premises and the property was clean and beautiful. Hope we can join you again someday!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jan 2025

Wendy

Just a quick boat ride from Bocas Del
Toro to a super cute small waterfront resort with pool bar and restaurant ! Staff was very helpful with tours and directions to give the water taxis for what piers and so on

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2024

justin

Must stay

It was great Jone the owner was awesome, the food was great. To get a water taxi to the property is not a problem.

Self

4/10

Poor

16 Nov 2024

Chelsea

I do not recommend the cosmic crab. There were 3 of us staying for 4 nights in the hummingbird cabin and we could not wait to leave. The property has potential but has been neglected. The cabins smell like raw sewage inside and out. The water pressure was very low. I have been living in Panama for years now and am very accustomed to rustic accommodations but this place is just poorly managed, and poorly maintained. The restaurant closes at 7:30 and was barely open during our entire stay. Whenever we needed anything it always felt like we were inconveniencing the staff and like our being there was such a burden. We never asked for housekeeping but when we did ask for towels the owner scolded us for not asking “in advance”. The owner also was very rude and passive aggressive whenever we needed anything. There was no coffee the morning after we checked in and it was like we were asking for a million dollars just to get coffee that was supposed to be free every day. when we asked if we could get lunch on our last day, the owner literally told us “that’s not going to happen”. Complete lack of hospitality especially from Joan, the owner. She tries to make you feel welcomed but the moment you need something you feel like a burden. This place has potential but the management is terrible. Just stay somewhere else far away from the krusty crab.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jun 2024

Dale

Like that the property is on the water.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2024

Charlene

Inexpensive for what you get. I stayed in a private over the water cabin with my own private bathroom. Conveniently close to Bocas Town. Host was friendly, patient, and very helpful. Has its own restaurant and bar, so really no need to go anywhere else. I would rent again.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2024

Verified traveler

A Very Crabby Stay

Only stayed 2 days as we were ending our 6 weeks in Panama

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Feb 2024

Allison

It was wonderful. We just had some issues with the air conditioner, should be changed. Other than that, we had a very good time.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Jan 2024

JASON

Great stay overall

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2024

Lisa

Beautiful as always ..

2/10

Poor

01 Jan 2024

Béla

The website (expedia) photo are very diffrent. Room has a bad odor, noisy ac, and sadly a very poor neighborhood with houses with poverty on a garbage field. All the dirt are floating on the sea. I wish i could read the other comments. Expedia helpdesk didnt help me at all. This is my last trip with expedia, asap its over i will cancell my account!

10/10

Exceptional

20 Nov 2023

Dale

The staff was great! Had a great time there. Will definitely be back!

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2023

Carlos

Staff treatment

Leisure Self