Reviews of Eco Venao Lodge, Playa Venao

If you prefer a peaceful surf vacation away from the house and bustle of the town center, this is definitely the spot. We loved Eco Venao, and even had some waves out front when the rest of the beach was too crowded. We switched our reservation kind of last minute from the main break to Eco Venao and so happy we did. Thanks for everything :-)

The place is huge and very spread out, with many areas to relax. They have a very nice beach bar and yoga studio across the highway, along with a nice stretch of beach. In addition there is a breakfast nook and coffee studio. They have a hiking trail which leads to a waterfall and you can hear howler monkeys in the trees. The staff are very pleasant.

To get to the center you either have to walk along the highway or the beach, as there are no actual roads. There is also no lighting or public transportation, so going out or coming back after dark is not recommended. The beds in the dorms are not the most comfortable and make noise whenever you move.

Lovely bungalow and beautiful beach. From my understanding, this place is one of the only remaining locally owned establishments (everything is being bought out or developed by foreigners). It was nice being able to support the locals!

I had to do some work and it was difficult because the internet kept going out or it was too slow. Not good for those that need high speed internet. The bar owner who is 3rd party also seemed a little cocky.

Awesome jungle location, lots of monkeys.

A bit muddy during the rainy season.

Best beach ever, huge, no rocks, wonderful waves,no undertow. So much fun, felt like a kid again, and we are in our mid seventies! Staff could not have been better, - the manager Estoben, staff Manual, Eli, Aaron, Juliette etc, all exceptional. The restaurant and bar was very cool based around a big old style fishing boat. The food was very good. Very romantic setting at night under the multiple strings of lights made it like a movie setting. Lots of places to lounge in the shade or under trees in their large wooden chaise lounges. Saw howler monkeys in the trees. There are plenty of trails, one leading to a waterfall.

Nothing

Perfectly tucked away from the crowds and party vibes but close enough to dip in if you choose to! Not for the faint hearted with cats jumping on your bed in the middle of the night Great spot for surfing and waking up to jungle noises

The quietness, the view, the comfort.

The only thing that I didn’t like was the illumination, there should be more light in the trail from the entrance to the Panama Hub, and inside of the Panama Hub as well.

Breakfast was delicious and fresh. A sandwich with locally made bread.

The map for hiking trails was a little confusing

Just excellent! Nothing else to say. The place is fantastic, the food is great, the waves and beaches are outstanding.

Was too short.

Everything! The cabins were the best space we had and being so close to the water felt amazing. 100% recommend. Everyone was super friendly, it was all clean and easy to fall in love with the beach.

Seems like a bit of a walk to the shops but we really appreciated being a bit far for the busy hotels and centre area as it was noisy. Eco Venao has all you need though!

The staff were amazing. Particularly Manuel at reception who went above and beyond to make my stay amazing. He connected me with other guests there and organised my travel to and from an amazing day out to see iguana island and the whales.

I love the waterfall and that it is really peaceful. Really a great experience.

Maybe it would be cool if it had more ilumination at night

The hidden gem of Playa Venao. Secluded and quiet, while only a 15 min walk along the beach to the main part of town. The staff are amazing. Shout out to Manu, Male, and Esteban! I came for 5 nights and stayed 5 weeks! If you are interested in surfing, check out Surf Dojo. Carmelo and the guys are the best teachers and chillest dudes in town. Also it's the best value for long-term surf rentals and classes in Venao!

Nothing, the place has everything you need for a perfect stay!