Dolphin Bay Hideaway
San Cristobal Island
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Why people book this hotel
“Brian and the staff are really helpful, hospitable and kind”
“The best experience, stay and host, really special and unique experience”
“The accommodation and location are wonderful”
“I loved the jungle walk (10$), the most incredible boat tour to see dolphins”
“Beautiful rooms (just 4) and stunning garden amd jungle”
“Beautiful, quiet and serene escape into nature”
“the room was just amazing and it got cleaned every day”
“My expectations were even exceeded: Brian's hideaway is enchanting: it is quiet,…”
“Days can be spent kayaking around the bay finding the abundant amount of dolphin…”
“This is the perfect place if you want to get off the beaten track, relax, eat de…”
“Alle the nice cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner, lemonades”
Overview
The eco-friendly B&B Dolphin Bay Hideaway features a wooden terrace with hammocks, plus garden and Dolphin Bay views. It is located on Cristobal Island, 20 minutes’ boat trip from Bocas del Toro. Offering wooden furniture, tropical-style décor and a seating area, the rooms are equipped with mosquito net, fan and a private bathroom. All come with garden views, while some units feature bay views. Activities such as beach excursions, snorkelling, canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, plus bird and dolphin watching can be arranged. The Chocolate Tour is another option.
Traveller reviews
Annemieke
family_with_children
May 26, 2026
“One of the best places I've ever stayed.”
The accommodation and location are wonderful. Brian and the staff are really helpful, hospitable and kind. They make sure you have a great time. The food is delicious and the view is the best. The fact that you can watch dolphins from the balcony made this place even more wonderful for me. I highly recommend it.
Marco
couple
May 6, 2026
“Unique stay in a natural paradise”
The best experience, stay and host, really special and unique experience. Fantastic food, service and atmosphere, a real place, difficult to find it anywhere else in the world.
Marco
couple
May 6, 2026
“Unique stay in a natural paradise”
The best experience, stay and host, really special and unique experience. Fantastic food, service and atmosphere, a real place, difficult to find it anywhere else in the world.
Patrick
solo_traveller
April 14, 2026
“Perfect spot to watch the time slow down. 🐬”
Absolute amazing spot with great and welcoming crew. Food was excellent and Brian very generous.
Lazar
couple
March 16, 2026
“Absolutely recommend!”
Brian and the entire team are fantastic at what they do; and create a totally unique and frictionless experience from start to finish. As avid travelers, who rarely make the same stop twice, we’ll absolutely be back!
Maximiliane
couple
January 10, 2026
“Wonderful jungle experience!!”
Everything! The boattransfers are 50$ each way - keep this in mind. I loved the jungle walk (10$), the most incredible boat tour to see dolphins!!!! Kajaking to the snorkelspot was great. Alle the nice cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner, lemonades! The familiar dinner with other guests from all over the world. Saw so many frogs, an opossum, a caiman, lizards,.. the room was just amazing and it got cleaned every day. We lived to hang out on the outdoor ,,living room“-area. I appreciate the reforesting of that part of the island, that Brian is doing! Thank you for that.
Ell1981
couple
January 7, 2026
“So Special”
A real hidden gem. Brian the owner is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the jungle and it's animals. Days can be spent kayaking around the bay finding the abundant amount of dolphins, going on snorkel trips, jungle treks or just sitting by the pool. Beautiful rooms (just 4) and stunning garden amd jungle! I have never stayed anywhere quite like it and doubt I ever will again. A perfect blend of luxury, homeliness and adventure.
Sam
solo_traveller
October 8, 2025
“Full of wildlife and an incredible place to stay.”
What an incredible place! I can’t recommend staying here highly enough. The setting is amazing, beautiful gardens and surroundings, overlooking the bay. I saw such a wide variety of breathtaking wildlife, including sloths, beautiful frogs, birds, butterflies and the local snorkelling was simply stunning. Brian is a fantastic host and has such impressive knowledge of the local flora & fauna. The food is delicious, as well as the cocktails. The staff are all really nice and friendly. I will definitely stay again if I go back to Bocas and strongly recommend anybody with an interest in nature to stay here.
Kathleen
solo_traveller
July 3, 2025
“A little slice of paradise”
Beautiful, quiet and serene escape into nature. My room was slightly bigger than expected, great food, the grounds are beautiful, there's no end of wildlife to watch and Brian is really passionate about regenerating the land. A personal highlight was doing yoga in the pavilion one morning and having a hummingbird hovering over my face during savasana. I'd recommend 3 nights here, as 2 wasn't quite enough.
Berjan
couple
June 10, 2025
The food and location was amazing. The staff was very friendly and made sure we were not lacking anything.
Aitor
couple
May 20, 2025
“All really nice”
Very nice location and surroundings, nice activities around to do. The kitchen is very good and all the personal as well.
David
couple
March 31, 2025
“Nice stay in Nice place”
Very nice place, VERY quiet, charming, very good cooking, you better speak English or Spanish. Perfect place to stay 2-4 days. No need to go fareway on Zapatilla...
Sanne
couple
March 23, 2025
“We absolutely loved our stay at Dolphin Bay Hideaway! 10/10”
The excellent service (thanks a lot Brian & team!), the great food, the beautiful location of the hotel, the available tours
Jessica
couple
March 16, 2025
Un véritable paradis We wish we would have stayed longer !! Thanks so much Brian for the jungle tour, the boat tour with dolphins and the sloth adventure 🦥 The food is delicious 🤤
Lucy
couple
March 16, 2025
“A jewel of a place”
Dolphin Bay Hideaway is a little gem tucked away in a beautiful mangrove-lined bay where Dolphins hang out (yes they really do) and surrounded by its very own rainforest that the owners have worked tirelessly to regenerate. This is the perfect place if you want to get off the beaten track, relax, eat delicious food (and drink amazing cocktails), in beautiful surroundings, with lots of options for swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking straight from the dock, or boat-ride excursions, such as snorkelling or visiting palm fringed beaches (deserted if you get up early). Brian is a warm and welcoming host and had thought of everything to make our stay a special one.
Peter
couple
March 9, 2025
“Wonderful.”
Johanna
couple
March 4, 2025
“fantastic!”
Thank you Brian and your lovely Team! I had chosen the accommodation with high expectations from home in Germany (cold and gray in February) and was really looking forward to it. My expectations were even exceeded: Brian's hideaway is enchanting: it is quiet, the garden and forest and rooms are lovingly and tastefully designed in every respect, the food is incredibly delicious, Brian and his team are extremely attentive, caring and kind and the rooms and all communal areas are super clean. The tolerant, loving approach of Brian and his team is not only evident in their hospitality, but also manifests itself in nature. They are reforesting the existing forest and focusing on diversity and naturalness; the renaturation will bring back animals, and they also rescue wild animals kept as pets. The fact that they are saving areas of nature and networking with neighbors brings hope and confidence and I can definitely recommend a stay at Dolphinbay Hideaway (yes, you will see dolphins :-)).
Louise
couple
February 2, 2025
“Don’t want to leave”
The location is a perfect place to unwind. Bryan and the staff are perfect hosts. The food is generous and flavoursome. Free use of paddle boards and kayaks are a lovely bonus and daily dolphin sightings make it a wonderful place to stay. If you come try Bryan’s signature passionfruit daiquiri- yum!
Jorge
couple
January 31, 2025
“Paradise !”
This place is truly a hidden paradise on Earth, but what makes it even more special is Bryan and his incredible team. They are the perfect hosts, with a wonderful way of making you feel taken care of and ensuring you enjoy every moment here. We even extended our stay because we just didn’t want to leave! They’ve done an amazing job transforming this place into such a paradise. Don’t miss the chance to spend time with Bryan – he’s like a walking encyclopedia, full of knowledge and stories. The room was beautiful, spotless, and everything was designed to make you feel like you're in heaven. And the food? Absolutely delicious – a true treat! C’était un régal. Thank you again for this unforgettable experience. We will dream of returning one day!
Rachel
couple
January 12, 2025
“A magical place to visit”
Such a wonderful piece of paradise. We loved staying here, welcoming and friendly, wonderful food and great location. We enjoyed a wildlife walk in the surrounding jungle, seeing lots including a couple of sloths. We also went kayaking and saw coral and starfish….but the stand out activity was a sunset boat trip to see the dolphins, something that will stay with us for a long time
Facilities
Activities
Fitness centre, Fishing, Massage, Canoeing, Hiking, Diving, Horse riding, Snorkelling, Water sport facilities on site, Open-air bath, Spa/wellness packages, Full body massage, Fitness, Yoga classes, Fitness classes, Walking tours, Happy hour, Tour or class about local culture, Aerobics
Cleanliness & disinfecting
Guests have the option to cancel any cleaning services for their accommodation during their stay, Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against Coronavirus, Linens, towels and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines, Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays
Entertainment and family services
Board games/puzzles
Food & Drink
Kid meals, Special diet menus (on request), Bar, Wine/champagne, Fruits, Coffee house on site, Breakfast options
Food & drink safety
All plates, cutlery, glasses and other tableware have been sanitized, Breakfast takeaway containers, Delivered food is securely covered, Physical distancing in dining areas, Food can be delivered to guest accommodation
General
Family rooms, WiFi available in all areas, Non-smoking rooms, Designated smoking area
Internet
Free WiFi, Internet services, WiFi
Outdoors
Outdoor pool, Garden, Terrace, Sun terrace, Outdoor pool (all year), Outdoor furniture, Picnic area
Physical distancing
Cashless payment available, Physical distancing rules followed, Screens or physical barriers placed between staff and guests in appropriate areas
Pool and wellness
Swimming Pool, Sun loungers or beach chairs, Sun umbrellas, Swimming pool, Swimming pool toys, Pool with view, Pool/beach towels, Pool bar, Shallow end
Reception services
Invoice provided
Safety features
Face masks for guests available, Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities, Shared stationery such as printed menus, magazines, pens, and paper removed, Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas, Process in place to check health of guests, First aid kit available
Services
Shuttle service, Concierge service, Private check-in/check-out, Shuttle service (free), Shuttle service (additional charge), Daily housekeeping, 24-hour front desk, Babysitting/child services, Packed lunches, Tour desk
Premium King Room
This room is decorated in sea glass green with locally made furniture including a four post canopy bed with overhead netting, ceiling fan and a private bath. It is our largest and most secluded room. It is located on the bottom level of the lodge with a private seating entry and view of ponds and garden. An additional twin bed can be added for an additional charge.
Premium Queen Room
Decorated in beautiful tropical orange and crème yellow colors, it has a walk-in closet, private bath, ceiling fan and locally made four post canopy queen bed with netting. This room is on the main veranda next to the kitchen that you can walk out to magnificent views of Dolphin Bay out front.
Standard King Room
This extra-large room is on the main floor veranda next to the kitchen. It has views of the bay, ponds, garden and of course Dolphin Bay. Wake to the morning sun, highlighted by fiesta yellow room colors, in a locally produced four post king memory foam pillow bed with netting. There is a private bath and fans above the bed. An extra twin bed can be added to this room for an additional charge.
Standard Queen Room
This is a cozy, comfortable room with a secluded seating porch with views of the garden. With margarita green and deep ocean blue colors, it contains a locally made queen sized bed, ceiling fan and private bath on the bottom level of the lodge.
Hotel Policies
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