Villa Coco

Madeleine deserves an extra ten stars for making our kids feel so welcome. She introduced them to Lola, the restaurant's Parrot, Coco, the hotel's dog and real chief in charge, and the other family members Miel and Chichi, the cats. One night she even let my son help set the tables. She was always smiling. Truly lovely, thank you Madeleine ❤️. We were five, with kids aged seven and three and their grandpa, and spent five nights in November. This family-run hotel was the highlight of our time in Santa Catalina. The rooms are beautifully decorated, with AC and fans, and the peaceful atmosphere and outdoor shower were lovely. Each day we enjoyed carefully chosen dishes at the restaurant, cooked patiently with love from high-quality local ingredients. Everyone on staff was kind, attentive, and ready to help. This place will stay in our hearts and memories. A great choice for Santa Catalina.

The pool was lovely, with birds to watch and the sound of ocean waves, and there’s a shortcut to the Point. I also loved the outdoor showers and how peaceful it felt surrounded by nature. The staff were friendly and helpful, the place was clean, and the restaurant had amazing food with a fresh menu based on what they had. My stay at Villa Coco was much too short. I’ll definitely come back!

The on-site restaurant is fantastic, and the whole place has a relaxed feel that makes it easy to unwind. There’s no TV, but each room has comfy lounge chairs outside, nice for sitting in the shade or during a tropical rain shower. The design is stylish and very Instagram-friendly, though it seems to draw a more grown-up crowd, which we liked. Probably the most beautiful place to stay in Santa Catalina. I only wish there were more umbrellas by the pool.

It’s quiet and serene, with a lovely pool and pool bar, an in-house restaurant whose menu changes, and a daily à la carte breakfast. You can walk past the pool to a nice secluded spot for sunset. The hotel is a five-minute drive from Santa Catalina town, and just a two-minute walk from a fabulous ice cream shop. The drive from Panama City takes roughly six hours. Our only gripe: no beach towels are provided. You can buy them for 20 each at the reception/beach shop, but it would be nice to have them in the room or at least be able to rent them.