Over the recent Holiday season, I was lucky enough to stay at Hotel Tierra Verde, a small boutique hotel on the leeward side of the island, just a 2-minute boat ride from the Downtown Bocas area. I was there for 5 days and honestly, it was a true adventure, from diving in some of the clearest water in the world to surfing a true deep set of waves on the windward side. The difference between these 2 environments is about a 10-minute walk, cutting through beaches you only see in the movies. If you need that American stimuli for an hr or so there is a great bar in town for a few beers, but you should concentrate on just relaxing in the water hammocks. To sum it up, Hotel Tierra Verde is one of the great true getaways in Panama, to be clear, this is for the adventure and relaxing desired traveler, it is quiet and secluded and it is true island life! Cookie and Ivan are the two brothers that own the place and speak great English for those concerned and are more than helpful in planning your trip with guides, getting water taxis, dinners etc. All in all, it's a place in the world you must enjoy!