Costa Rica is one of the top vacation destinations in the entire world. The small, Latin American country seems to truly have it all: lush rainforests full of life, incredible mountain ranges and national parks, and some of the most beautiful beaches on earth. But why aren’t there any overwater bungalows in Costa Rica?
This guide is part of our complete Bocas del Toro Travel Guide, written by locals who have lived in the islands since 2015.
Because Costa Rica’s coastline simply doesn’t offer calm and protected areas where they could be built. Thankfully though, the island archipelago of Bocas del Toro in Panama is less than an hour’s flight from Costa Rica – and Bocas del Toro has lots of overwater bungalows!
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Does Costa Rica Have Overwater Bungalows?
No, Costa Rica does not have Overwater Bungalows, but you can still stay in an overwater bungalow when you visit Costa Rica by taking a short flight (under an hour) to neighboring Bocas del Toro, Panama!
Bocas del Toro is an island archipelago consisting of 9 main islands and hundreds of smaller islets and cays, located in the northwest corner of Panama on the Caribbean Sea and sharing a border with Costa Rica!
The Bocas del Toro island chain is famous for its incredible beaches, world-class surfing, scuba diving, and biodiversity, and is becoming known as a top destination for overwater bungalow stays on this side of the world!
how can you stay in an overwater bungalow when you visit Costa Rica?
If you have the time during your vacation to add an extra travel day in between your stay, then it is definitely possible for you to stay in an overwater bungalow while you visit Costa Rica.
All you have to do is book a short flight on Sansa from the SJO airport. SJO is the main airport for Costa Rica.
The flight takes less than an hour. Sansa does not fly every day, so check flysansa.com for the current schedule before you plan your trip.
Electronic Sim Card for Travel in Panama: Airalo is the world’s leading E-Sim brand and they offer a 30-day, 3GB plan for $18 that covers all of Panama. We use Airalo whenever we travel abroad!
Best Overwater Bungalows Close to Costa Rica
The closest overwater bungalows to Costa Rica are in Bocas del Toro, and these are the best ones to choose from:
Sol Bungalows – The #1 Rated Affordable Overwater Bungalows in Panama
The #1 choice for an overwater bungalow close to Costa Rica is Sol Bungalows in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Our hotel features 4 luxury overwater bungalows at prices from $358 to $458 per night, including breakfast (rates from May 2027). You’ll get to enjoy our top-rated service, beautifully designed and sustainably run bungalows, snorkeling, farm-to-table dining, and more. We have over 300 5-star reviews across Google and TripAdvisor, and will gladly help you plan your travel from Costa Rica to our hotel.
Nayara Bocas del Toro – Balinese Style All-Inclusive Overwater Bungalow Resort.
The luxury option. Nayara is an all-inclusive, Balinese-style resort on its own island, with the world’s only overwater beach. Expect luxury prices to match. Best for couples who want a full resort experience and don’t mind the cost.
Eclypse del Mar – One of the original overwater bungalow lodges in Panama.
One of the first overwater bungalow lodges in Bocas del Toro. It offers a quiet, private atmosphere at a mid-range price. Best for travelers who want peace and nature.
Urraca Private Island – Rustic Bungalows on a Private Island
The budget-friendly choice: rustic, colorful bungalows on a small private island, with a monkey sanctuary. Best for adventurous travelers on a tighter budget.
Azul Paradise – All-Inclusive Resort
An all-inclusive resort with overwater bungalows, so meals are part of your stay. Best for travelers who want everything taken care of.
Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge – Also one of the original overwater bungalow lodges in Bocas del Toro.
Another original Bocas del Toro overwater lodge, known for its eco-friendly design and scenic views. Best for nature lovers who want a classic overwater stay.
Bocas del Toro, Panama, is home to over 10 overwater bungalow hotels. While most fall into the eco-luxury range, like the #1 rated Sol Bungalows (us!), there is also one high-end, all-inclusive resort called Nayara Bocas del Toro.
Some other good choices for overwater bungalows near Costa Rica are Eclypse del Mar, Punta Caracol, or Urraca Private Island. There are even entire overwater houses you can rent or even entirely over-the-water hotels. As you can see, Bocas del Toro is an overwater paradise, and being so close to Costa Rica, it makes having an overwater experience that much easier!
Related Read: 7 Best Cheap Overwater Bungalows in the Caribbean
How to get to Costa Rica
Getting to Costa Rica is easy, as they have two major international airports that receive direct flights from the USA and the rest of the world. The airports are called:
- San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport – SJO)
- San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and where their primary international airport is located and where Sansa flies out of to Bocas del Toro.
- Liberia (Daniel Oduber International Airport – LIR).
- Liberia is a city in the north of Costa Rica which is good to fly into if your plan is to hit some of the popular beach towns in the north of the country, like Tamarindo.
- Both airports receive direct international flights with many options from USA-based airlines, but you can only fly to Bocas del Toro from the San Jose airport.
How to Get to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica To Stay in an Overwater Bungalow
There are 4 ways to get to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica:
- Flying with Sansa from San Jose to Bocas del Toro (50 Minutes)
- Flying with Sansa from Limón to Bocas del Toro (30 minutes, when the route is running)
- Taking a Shuttle from San Jose (10 hours) or Puerto Viejo (4 hours) with Caribe Shuttle
- Taking the Public Bus/ Private Taxi, and doing the border crossing yourself.
1. Flying from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro with Sansa
- Step 1: Fly from your home country to SJO in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Step 2: Fly from SJO to BOC with Sansa
Once you have your international flights to SJO in Costa Rica, you can either head straight over to Bocas del Toro, or spend some time enjoying Costa Rica before heading over to Bocas del Toro.
For either case, you will need to book flights from SJO to BOC with Sansa. There are no other flight options from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro aside from private charters.
Limón Route: Sansa has also offered a shorter, 30-minute flight from Limón to Bocas del Toro, but this route is not always running. Check Sansa’s website to see if it is available for your dates. Limón is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, near Puerto Viejo.
You can also take the bus/ private shuttle from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro:
This ride takes about 10 hours from San Jose or about 4 hours from Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Taking the bus or shuttle is the cheaper, but a longer, option. However, it is very doable, and many people do this every day to get from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro.
Caribe Shuttle is the best private shuttle company to use for this journey, although many can be found right in Puerto Viejo.
Leaving Bocas del Toro to Go Home
After your stay in Costa Rica and an overwater bungalow in Bocas del Toro, you’ll sadly have to make your way back home to the “real world.” To get back home, you have two options:
- Get to Panama City, Panama, and fly home from PTY (Panama Tocumen International Airport)
- Get to San Jose (or Liberia) and fly home through SJO or LIR airports.
To get to Panama City from Bocas del Toro you have two options:
- Fly to Panama City with Air Panama on their daily 50-minute flights
- These flights land at a domestic airport in Panama City with code PAC (Albrook International). This is a different airport from the larger Tocumen International Airport with code PTY.
- Be sure you are selecting the correct airports when making your reservations on AirPanama.com.
- Air Panama recommends arriving in Panama City 1 day before your international flights to account for delays due to bad weather.
- Take the Bus or a shuttle (10 hours) for around $40. This is very easy to arrange in Bocas Town.
Check out our full guide on how to get to Bocas del Toro, here
Bonus: Bocas del Toro has the Most affordable overwater bungalows in the Caribbean
Not only does Bocas del Toro have overwater bungalows close to Costa Rica, they are also the most affordable in the whole Caribbean (and Western Hemisphere, maybe even the world?)
Prices for over-the-water bungalows in Bocas del Toro are around the $200-$300 per night range, with the all-inclusive Nayara Bocas del Toro, at well over $1,000 per night, being the exception.
The overwater bungalows in Bocas del Toro are affordable because they are mostly just privately owned eco-resorts which do lack many of the amenities you might find at the Four Seasons in Bora Bora. But don’t let this deter you, because what Bocas del Toro offers instead is a more authentic travel experience.
So if you are looking for culture, adventure, good food and an affordable overwater bungalow experience, then Bocas del Toro is the place to be!
Read more about why Bocas del Toro is worth visiting, here
Overwater Bungalows Near Costa Rica: FAQ
Are there overwater bungalows in Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica’s coastline doesn’t have the calm, protected water that overwater bungalows need. The closest ones are in Bocas del Toro, Panama, right across the border.
What is the closest overwater bungalow to Costa Rica?
Bocas del Toro, Panama, has more than 10 overwater bungalow hotels and is less than an hour’s flight from San José. Sol Bungalows is the #1-rated affordable option, with stays from $358 per night including breakfast.
How do I get from San José to Bocas del Toro?
Fly with Sansa from San José (SJO) to Bocas del Toro (BOC) in under an hour. Flights don’t run every day, so check Sansa’s schedule. You can also take a shuttle: about 10 hours from San José or 4 hours from Puerto Viejo.
Can I combine a Costa Rica trip with an overwater bungalow stay?
Yes. Many travelers spend time in Costa Rica, then fly or take a shuttle to Bocas del Toro for a few nights over the water. You can fly home from Panama City or go back through San José.
