Al Natural Resort

This was our 3rd visit at Al Natural and it was our longest so far, 11 days. Al Natural is one of the best places we know to completely unwind and de-stress from your busy life. No WiFi (unless you’re prepared to take a nice walk down the beach to another place) and no phone coverage (at least not on our phones). The only thing you’ll hear for most of the day are the birds and the sea. But there’s plenty to do if you feel like being active. Besides swimming and paddling, there’s a number of excursions on offer. The food was absolutely fabulous with fresh fish most days. Vincent takes up the challenge of preparing a different dish for every day of your stay. For our long stay, that was quite a feat and highly appreciated. Michel and Vincent are great hosts, and they’ll make sure that you’ll want to come back as we did. We also like the other guests that come to Al Natural. Lots of relaxed vibes, friendliness, and no attitudes. We didn’t see any Night Monkeys this time around, unfortunately. But we did spot plenty of other wildlife. Lots of beautiful birds, nurse sharks, rays, barracudas (very tasty, by the way).

This place is one of the few places that is so untouched, pure and completely tranquil. The hotel is fantastically embedded in nature - that's where humanity has adapted to Mother Earth - and not the other way around. A characteristic that, as I said, is only very rarely found and we were very enthusiastic about it. You can also see that in the fauna: Countless animals that came to visit us there, such as many different species of monkeys, sloths, butterflies, owls and very special birds. But the underwater world was also incredibly impressive because the surrounding reef is so healthy and there are colorful fish, turtles, reef sharks, rays, starfish and much more. Even me, as not the biggest snorkel fan, had the time of my life right in front of the door. The hotel provides free kayaks so there's so much to explore and self-guided excursions like paddling through the mangroves to the nearby community. Everything is so cordial, attentive and designed with a lot of attention to detail that nothing is left to be desired. Above all, Ismael contributed to this, who sweetened our holiday from the first second. He really read our every wish from our lips and made the impossible possible. He loves what he does and he definitely lets the guests feel it. He even got fresh coconuts from the palm trees every day to pamper us as much as possible ;-) The food and catering is also stunning. My partner and I travel the world, we also love luxury accommodation and good food, but this was truly sensational! We have rarely eaten so well! In one week not one dish was repeated! Daily fresh fish, delicious salads, homemade bread and sophisticated food combinations have inspired us every day. Vincent and his excellent kitchen team conjured up culinary moments of pleasure for us and the amazing Mamacitas and cooks of the house, Mariella & Jari, simply spoiled us every day with so much passion and love. We also got to meet the owner and host Michelle. He is such a wonderful soul and his vision of the resort not only made his dream come true but also ours and we are so grateful for him for what he created there. What we liked best was that there is not internet everywhere, because that way we could switch off in a completely different way and very intensively. If you absolutely need Wifi, you will find it in one of their houses, a 10-minute walk from the main house, where we eat. (It is better to use the numerous possibilities that the hotel offers for excursions and activities on the island and around.) This is also the house where meals are taken together. Such a beautiful, familiar and unique concept, which we love and has given us wonderful friendships. We not only recommend this resort from the heart, We also will be back very soon because it's just so real, individual and special. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for this experience and the perfect stay with you! Jasmin & Linus

Everything during our stay was perfect. Staff was wonderful, meals were amazing, and the views were incredible. Perfect place to relax and recharge. Excursions were great and convenient, and the snorkeling was epic!

Disconnect from wifi and stay here! Absolutely a joy if you have any love for nature. The food is exquisite btw, so you won’t be hungry for a minute.Relaxing but also invigorating! A big YES!

Just returned from our Panama March Break vacation including 3 fantastic nights at Al Natural. There are too many highlights to list, but I’ll try! -Setting - spectacular. Beautiful calm beach, rainforest backdrop, warm clear water for swimming, sounds of nature all around. We played in the ocean daily and it was warmer than a swimming pool. Just perfect. -Hospitality - host Michel is really engaged with guests, ensuring you have a great experience. He joined us for lunch when we arrived and helped us plan our snorkelling excursions, boat trip to Dolphin Bay and hike to see slots in the indigenous village. Our teen boys loved chatting with him too. Bartender / Michel’s right-hand-man Ismail was lovely, and nothing was too much trouble. -Meals - every meal was fantastic and chef Vincent is amazing! From 5-spice snapper on banana leaf to green curry chicken to quesadillas, it was all fantastic. We loved the long table and getting know other guests over meals. -Guests - Al Natural seems to draw very down to earth clientele, with a sustainability mindset and without precious expectations. We really enjoyed chatting with other guests. Many from Europe, Canada, US. -Room - We stayed in a room in the villa. It was comfortable but ‘just ok’. The beds were good quality and we had what we needed but it was certainly nothing fancy. Showers were quick and sometimes cool. Lost power a few times. It’s good to go in with the expectation that the room is where you’ll get a good night’s sleep and then wake up and get back out in to the natural beauty of Isla Bastimentos. I’ve seen a few comments about the 8 minute walk from the villa to get to the main resort for meals. We found the walk to be no problem and a nice lead-up and wind-down from the meal, with a chance to see a bit more of the property. Overall - this is not the Ritz, it’s a unique, special, place in a magical natural setting. We’re so glad we found Al Natural and hope to return!

Had an incredible time at Al Natural Resort! They have lots of activities (snorkeling, scuba, tours of nearby attractions) or plenty to do right on the island. The bungalows are open-air and beautiful. We did not have any issues with bugs, but there was a mosquito net provided. Food was absolutely amazing and loved the family-style serving to chat with other guests. Michel (owner) had dinner with us some nights and it was great to get to know him. The staff was all very nice and accommodating to make sure we had the best time.

This review is long overdue. We were at Al Natural in March 2022. We have dived into work immediately upon our return from Panama and only now managed to find the time to sit down, gather our thoughts, and write a few lines about the terrific experience at the resort. Just to term Al Natural as a paradise is to fall into every cliché about every Caribbean destination and say almost nothing. Yes, Al Natural is surrounded by a calm and warm sea with palm trees falling into the water and is backed by a tranquil small jungle. The views are magnificent from everywhere you look. You see fish and pelicans hunting for the fish. You are awoken by gentle rays of the sun and are lulled into sleep by the sounds of the waves. We stayed in the last cabana towards the tip of the island, a truly secluded spot no one in sight. The cabana’s terrace is an overhang above the sea. It is so easy to go to swim the first thing in the morning. The area is protected by reefs so big waves never reach the shore. Even our daughter who turned eight during the trip felt safe enough to go into the water on her own. There are plenty of walks that one can take around the island and meet almost nobody on those walks. What makes Al Natural special, however, are the people—from the proprietor and the chef to the people who clean the cabanas and operate the motor boats. They kept Al Natural exactly what the name says—natural—from the close-to-indigenous architecture of the cabanas to the absence of phone and internet connections. In this age of impenetrable 24-7 bombardment by the internet, news, and social media the absence of connections provides a much-needed relaxation for one’s brain. Everything is easy at Al Natural. There is truly no stress. Al Natural is not a fancy place. If you prefer a five-star hotel environment and be surrounded by fancy glamor people, this is not your place. This is the place for one to be one with nature. Al Natural champions the renewable approach to tourism. The electricity is derived from solar panels, plastic bottles and other forms of plastic are banned but one is free to fill water bottles with purified drinking water at the dining area (a short walk from the cabanas) at any time of the day. Food is another great topic. Vincent, the chef, has never repeated a meal during our one-week stay there and provided excellent and inventive items with a substantial variety. Meal times are flexible except for dinner when one is encouraged to socialize with the other guests. Trips and excursions are east to set up. The trips to the Up the Hill Chocolate Farm and the Zapatillas are highly recommended. The main reason, however, why we loved Al Natural is their attention to our daughter. It is not easy to travel with an eight-year old. You must be constantly on alert. The good people at Al Natural have made it very easy though. One evening, Michel, the proprietor, called in a trio of tiny pigmy monkeys for our daughter to feed and have fun wit