Hotel Eclypse de Mar Acqua Lodge

Hearing the sea at night was so calming, and we had a truly magical time here. The rooms were sparkling clean, and staying right on the water felt like a special treat. Behind the hotel there’s lush jungle with sloths, caiman and turtles. The hotel sits over the water, a bit like the Maldives, with clear panels where we could see fish and jellyfish below. There’s a lovely terrace with direct access to the sea, and the thoughtful staff were always ready to help. We loved our stay, and I’m surprised to see any bad reviews for this perfect hotel.

The overwater rooms are fun and nice, and the food is okay. The staff were attentive, but seemed worn out, like they were thinking about having to do it all again tomorrow. It’s not White Lotus level service. For the price, though, it isn’t bad. You’d spend a lot more for a quiet, exclusive overwater cabin in French Polynesia. This won’t suit you if you want a peaceful getaway above the water. It’s near town, with music at night, constant boat traffic and barking dogs. Given the location, that’s to be expected, and it’s easy enough to see on a map. There’s a reason the map photos show the hotel and not the surrounding area. I haven’t tried their day trips or forest accommodations. The forest walk on the property is interesting, though some sections are run down. Smoking in the outdoor lounge annoyed me. Staff should stop it, because smoking sucks. I’d suggest looking at lodges farther south from Old Bank. Three stars from me.

We only went to the restaurant for lunch, so I can’t comment on the rooms. The location is good and the view is pretty, but it took about 15 minutes before we got up and went to the counter to order. The owners seemed to be there and both gave us unpleasant looks, which set a bad tone. We ordered hamburgers. Mine may have been the worst one I ate during my five weeks in panama. It was flavorless and the bread was incredibly dry. The staff seemed not to care and spent the whole time talking to each other. I hate leaving negative reviews, but hope they take this feedback on board, including the owners. We paid quickly and left. I won’t eat here again.

The view and atmosphere were amazing, and we wished we could have stayed longer. We visited in November, the off season, so that may have been a factor. It didn’t rain once, the music from the main island wasn’t too loud, the fan kept us cool at night, we didn’t need the mosquito netting, the staff were on point and the drinking water was filtered. Our room was cozy and clean, though on the small side, and it was attached to the restaurant. Next time we’d choose one of the orange water bungalows, which are a bit bigger and have a more private deck for swimming. You do need a water taxi to get to and from the bungalows. The hotel calls one ahead, and it costs $5 per person each way. Breakfast is delicious and served at 8am, and the restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. The nature walk just behind the hotel is amazing. We hope to come back one day!