Private Room in Cabin
"The Cabin" sits on a hill on a remote island with both a sea and mountain view
Isla Gobernadora, Montijo, PA
5 guests
1 bedroom
4 beds
1.5 Shared bathrooms
Vegetarian Kitchen
Meet Your Host
Ben
Panama · Joined March 2018
Born in London, England. I left as a teenager to dive and travel the world in 2002. Best move ever. I work with Parley for the Oceans in cleaning our beaches and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in protecting marine life. I am the founder of TheOtherPanama.com and the author of the book, TheDetour-TurningTheTide. I am a junk food Vegan and a lover of good rum and cold beer.
My Lifestyle
Plant based diet with the rare egg from the neighbours chickens thrown in.
Fun Facts About Me
Iv been to 75 + countries I have done 5 campaigns for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, including in Antarctica. I have made more then 4000 dives. I like being underwater more then being anywhere on land.
Hobbies & Interests
Diving Conservation Travel V Pizza Making Rum and Beer tasting
Favorite Quote
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. M.Mead
Amenities
Everything to make you feel at home
Refrigerator
Oven
Stove
Blender
Coffee / tea
Vegan snacks
Cookware
Closet / drawers
Large salad bowls
Desk / workspace
Essentials (towels, sheets, soap, toilet paper and pillows)
Living room
Garden
Kitchen
Library
Laundry – washer
Meditation / yoga space
Balcony
Porch
Backyard
Beach access
Scenic views
Hiking trails
Waterfront
Mountain views
Additional Services
Extras your host offers
Meal Preparation
Transportation
Tour Guide
Other
While the Kitchen is Self service. The small store on the island offers very little in the way of food. We advise bringing your food with you if you want to cook for yourself. Especially fresh veggies. Some tinned goods, snacks and powders can be purchased at the house. Tea & Coffee, Salt & Pepper and other basics are free. As well as any fruit growing on the trees in the garden. With advanced warning a meal package can also be arranged at a very reasonable price. Any day trips, Diving or Whale Watching includes food and equipment. For more infomation on packages and tours you can also visit TheOtherPanama.com
Overview
Capacity
5 guests
Booking
Request to book
Kitchen
Vegetarian
Minimum stay
3 nights
Check-in
Flexible
Booking window
6 months
Weekly discount
10% off (7+ nights)
Monthly discount
20% off (28+ nights)
Sleeping Arrangements
Where guests will sleep
Double
2 beds
Bunk bed
1 bed
Type not specified
1 bed
Neighborhood
Getting around the area
The island is 8 sqkm with a population of about 250 who mainly reside in the small village and then speckled along one side of the coastline from there, with a couple of of other homes dotted on the other side in coves preferring the total isolation it brings. We are based just outside the village and about a 5 minute walk along "main street" that touches the edge of the land at the bottom of our hill. Main street is the only concrete path on the island and is less then 3ft wide and runs for about 2 mile along the coast line, weaving up and down with a few side loops and steps that rejoin the path and enables you to walk a full tour of the village in 30 minutes maximum and passes through the heart of the village and both "shops" that are really kiosks as well as the village green, church and the hub of all Life...the bar. People on the island are VERY relaxed and always friendly. With only one other foreigner living on the island other then Ben and very few tourists other then those staying with us they are a little shy but curious and happy to chat if you speak even a little Spanish. Ben who is the host and owner of the cabin also runs The other Panama.com and is a professional diver of 23 years offers day trips off island to surrounding islands and especially UNESCO world heritage site Coiba national park. With 15 years of experience there and over 4000 dives in the park he runs tours there for diving and snorkeling, hiking, PADI courses at all levels from first time to deep diving advanced levels. Tours of the same activities and also Whale Watching (for 3 months of the year) are possible around the islands close to home and across the island to his other property Coco beach with it's white sand beach. Kayak and paddle board rentals are available as well as snorkeling equipment to see if the marine life.
Neighborhood map
Location
Isla Gobernadora, Montijo, PA
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Exact address is private until a booking is confirmed. This map shows the approximate area.
Guest Reviews
What guests say after staying
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About This Space
A closer look at the stay
About
If you require comforts like A/c and hot water, supermarkets and restaurants and western convenience this is not the place for you and the mainland is a better option then the island. If you arrive with the attitude of camping you will be pleasantly surprised. We are remote and not so easy to reach, but that's what makes it special and once your here you wont want to leave. Time stands still here. So much untouched beauty and marine life and numerous guests have extended their stays time and time again. The Cabin is located atop a hill, 50ft above and 100ft away from the main house on our property Casa Tortuga (Turtle House) The 2 hectares of our land around the cabin is full with fruit trees and plants, birds and butterflies. The Cabin sits facing SW and with the islands central mountain peak in the distance,and undisturbed land in-between, at night the sky is filled with stars and in the day birds and butterflies. With a sea view behind the cabin it is just a 5 minute walk from the small fishing village, and even less to the sea. The Cabin was once wood but nature ate that and so we have now replaced it with more block then wood. With a large patio/balcony out front to relax with hammocks, chairs and tables. The central bedroom has 2 double beds in and each bed has a small cabinet and drawers beside it. Running entirely of solar, but with a generator for emergencies the cabin has both a standing fan and wall fan dedicated to each bed. Mosquito nets are available also and water bottle is beside each bed. Down 3 steps through a doorway takes you into the next room where to the left there is basic kitchen and small freezer that works as a fridge, and a large window hatch that enables you to pass food and drink to the patio outside. In the center a small table and another bunk bed against the wall. To the right a door leading into the bathroom and shower. There is no water heater but a hot water shower can be had upon request in the outdoor shower if it's a sunny day.
The space
If you require comforts like A/c and hot water, supermarkets and restaurants and western convenience this is not the place for you. The Cabin is located atop a hill, 50ft above and 100ft away from the main house on our property Casa Tortuga (Turtle House) The 2 hectares of our land around the cabin is full with fruit trees and plants, birds and butterflies. The Cabin sits facing SW and with the islands central mountain peak in the distance and undisturbed land in-between, at night the sky is filled with stars and in the day birds and butterflies. With a sea view behind the cabin it is just a 5 minute walk from the small fishing village, and even less to the sea. The Cabin was once wood but nature ate that and so we have now replaced it with more block then wood. With a large patio/balcony out front to relax with hammocks, chairs and tables. The central bedroom has 2 double beds in and each bed has a small cabinet and drawers beside it. Running entirely of solar, but with a generator for emergencies the cabin has both a standing fan and wall fan dedicated to each bed. Mosquito nets are available also and water bottle is beside each bed. Down 3 steps through a doorway takes you into the next room where to the left there is basic kitchen and small freezer that works as a fridge, and a large window hatch that enables you to pass food and drink to the patio outside. In the center a small table and another bunk bed against the wall. To the right a door leading into the bathroom and shower. There is no water heater but a hot water shower can be had upon request in the outdoor shower if it's a sunny day.
The kitchen
The Kitchen is Vegetarian.and is quite basic but effective. There is a sink in the corner with shelves for storage underneath and above. A small chest freezer works as a fridge as it automatically turns off at night or when the sun is away and the batteries get too low. A blender that can be used in the daytime and a gas stove with 6 ring burner. All the kitchen pots and pans and cutlery were bought new and dedicated to the cabin so have been kept totally free of any contamination of meat products. There is also another set available for Vegans free of ever being used with animal products. We are hoping to build an Adobe style pizza wood oven outside in the near future but for now have a barbeque area close by fire pit for slow cooking things like beans and pulses etc We do not have other electric toys as we run on solar power (but do have a generator for emergencies or special occasions). The water comes from the island well and is pumped up from 150ft below the islands bedrock to the village tank and then every other day is sent ( as long as the village solar pump gets enough sun) up our hill into the tanks that combined hold 2500 gallons of water and then gravity fed to the kitchen. The water is clean as it's basically mineral water but in the kitchen there is still a water filter on one tap for the extra peace of mind of our guests.
Other things to note
You will need to pay for boat to reach the island. The price will vary depending on how many people, boats coming and going anyway that day and time of day. Toy A private boat with up to 6 people costs $70 The price can be shared if others are crossing also.
Safety Features
Ensuring your safety first
First aid kit
Lock on bedroom door
Mask/face covering worn by host in common areas
Compliance with VV’s COVID-19 Cleaning Protocol
48-hour period between two bookings
Cancellations
Clear expectations if plans change
Moderate
Cancel up to 5 days before your trip and get a full refund minus service fees back.
House Rules
Shared expectations for the stay
Companion animals allowed
Smoking allowed
Long-term stays allowed
Vegetarian cooking / food storage allowed
Clean as you go :) Respect the environment

