As good as it sounds
Guest: Tom & Claudia(Miami, Florida)
Date of Stay: 10/11/10 Review Submitted: 11/08/10
Fantastic! Very comfortable apartment with a huge bathroom and very spacious master bedroom, great location and unbelievable views.  All facilities -  kitchen,bathroom with hot water,fridge makes ice in minutes (ice for the rum&coke) and satellite TV. Sleep like a baby with the ocean breeze going through your windows. The island is very charming & a very safe place. The hosts Jeannette & Thijs couldn't be more accommodating. An excellent vacation for either couples or family. Isla Taboga try it you will love it here.

Wonderful, relaxing
Guest: Mary(Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/01/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10
If you're looking for laid back relaxation, Tres Terrazas fits the bill perfectly. The house is extremely clean and very comfortable. Privacy is abundant, but the owners are still very close by if you need anything. When we were there, Jeannette was out of the country, but Thijs took great care of us. He even got us a driver in Panama City for the day, so we could go sight seeing and souvenir hunting without having to worry about finding taxis. The views from the terrace are beautiful and the island is lovely and laid back. All in all, it was a fantastic value for our money and really great experience.

A Secret Hideaway
Guest: Nick & Addi (NYC & London)
Date of Stay: 06/28/10
We arrived on a flight from NYC to the bustle of Panama City, and the contrast of the old and new cities - they themselves making eyes widen and smiles spread across our faces. Things stepped up as we made our way to the Balboa yacht club for the fast boat to Taboga - the friendly local cab driver had been a real gem - waiting 30 minutes while I made the dash to a local supermarket (essential as there is NOTHING on the island), finding me a working ATM, and ferrying us to our destination - all for $30 which was fine by me and turns out to be about double the going rate! Who was I to argue! A wave and a whistle to what appeared to be an old friend, our cabbie called over a leather skinned man of about 50 who, he promised, would look after our bags for a few dollars tip. We made our way across a small patch of dirt track towards a semi-squat-like hut where our friend pointed he would stow our bags and as we got round the corner the lush green trees and emerald green bay took our breath away. Waiting for the boat was made more pleasant by a few local "panama" beers and the amusement of watching fresh mango's drop from the trees for "in-the-know" locals to pick up and devour. The 20 minute boat trip was a true experience as the boat kept filling and filling with passengers heading to Taboga. Mostly locals, and a mix of Panamanians and ex-pats. All so very friendly! The 12 miles zoomed by in a blur of chatter, sea spray, and glimpses of a tropical manhattan over your shoulder, and cute local puppies nuzzling our leg. The luggage made it safely, and our man had earned his few bucks, as did the helpful folk at the other end warrant their few bucks tip as they helped us off. There we met Jeannette from Tres Terrazas who was a bundle of welcoming smiles. We made our way in her cute little mini-jeep (the roads are barely 5ft wide) up the steep little hill to the villa. One word, breath taking! OK that's two words. Amazing. All exceeded expectations. The view, the balcony with bbq & hammock, the huge kitchen, gas hob, fridge freezer, the lounge, the sofa (bed), the ceiling fans in every room, the huge bathroom with toilet, sink, mirrors and a shower "you can have a party in", and a sweet bedroom with cable TV(as if you need it), air conditioning in here, blinds on the bug-screened windows, and a decent double bed. Don't even think about staying anywhere else. but one last word. Taboga is QUIET, so don't expect anything else but tranquility. Perfect!

Owner response: It is always great to get another perspective from first timers traveling to Panama and Taboga! In regards to securing a taxi in Panama: we are always available to refer our guests to a trusted taxi driver with good rates. Whether you need a driver waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel, standing by while you shop the local malls, or to site see, we can provide such with a bit of notice. Also, we wish to clarify that both beds at Tres Terrazas are queen size.

Tres Terrazas is Top Notch on Taboga!
Guest: RSD(Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10
What's not to like? Tres Terrazas is scrupulously clean, supremely comfortable, and the views are breathtaking. Taboga itself is a piece of paradise and Tres Terrazas gives you easy access to all of it. Jeannette and Thijs are the perfect hosts—striking just the right balance between ready helpfulness and privacy. We had a lovely, restful stay. Rita Austin, TX

A Pearl on the "isle of flowers"
Guest: Marlene and AJ(Simsbury, CT USA)
Date of Stay: 02/12/10
Jeannette and Thijs, owners of Tres Terrazas, know how to provide comfortable accommodations with personal attention to guests needs. Jeannette navigated us through our reservation, transportation concerns during Carnival holiday, what to bring, met us at the ferry, gave us dining recommendations and assisted our departure. Thijs took us fishing and told us the best place to stock up on Balboa's. What a team! Our accommodations were island chic. Adequate privacy for two couples. Nice touches of fresh flowers, and thirsty bath towels, comfy beds. Air conditioning and a TV, if you really need it. The kitchen comes equipped with everything one needs to make a gourmet meal (bring everything with you, the local store has minimal) to eat on the balcony with a killer view overlooking the harbour out to Panama City, way off in the distance. We snorkeled in the warm water near the adjacent island, hiked up the mountain at the end of town, looked for sea glass, toured the church and the cemetery, ate the vendor food and danced with the Carnival revelers. Waking to the cock crowing, no cars, no hurry, no worry. Flowers everywhere. Colorful houses with friendly people, only two roads running through the town, 80% of the island is undeveloped or inaccessible. One of those places you will never forget. Thank you, Marlene and AJ

Guest: Giselle and Nick Robertson
Date of Stay: 03/08/10
We had a wonderful stay at Tres Terrazas for 5 days at the end of February 2010. The accomodations are the best on the island. Since we were from Maine and not acclimated to the heat and humidity we appreciated the air conditioning at night. I spent most of my time on the beach and in the warm water. My husband spent his day fishing. We had internet as well as cable TV which was important for our daughter who is 13. Our treat was fishing with Thijis in the Panga, although we didn't catch any fish. If you are looking for a laid back vacation, this is it.

Guest: Mandy Spiller & John Tomillon (Deltaville, VA)
Date of Stay: 01/05/10
The private apt. was very comfortable with plenty of space, large bath and terrace view overlooking water beautiful. We enjoyed eating all of our meals on the terrace while watching the ships as they transited the Panama Canal. The beach was great! Local people very friendly and helpful with our broken Spanish. Loved the little market with fresh bread daily. Panama City is very accessible by ferry & Panama Canal, Miraflores, a must see. Fishing trips with Thijs alot of fun & great conversation - leaping Dorado all the better. Thanks Jeanette & Thijs for arranging English speaking taxi & shopping! Our vacation was very relaxing and we appreciate everything you did to help it be memorable. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2010! Mandy & John

Guest: William13
Date of Stay: 12/14/09
I toured the villa in November and it was nice. A great place away from the city to relax. I would like to stay there if I returned to the island. Jeannette & Thijs are good hosts and know the island well.

Guest: D Cohen (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/07/09
My wife and I had a fantastic, 2 day stay at Tres Terrazas! Everything was just as described... only wish we could have stayed longer. Having such a nice kitchen was a real plus, as we both love to cook. Though we did check out one restaurant in town, which we also enjoyed. Just sitting on the front terrace was a real delight, especially as the sun was going down. Overall, great accommodations, great views, warm water, hot weather, proximity to the capital.... what else can you ask for?

Guest: Bob Rich (Sora, Panama)
Date of Stay: 12/03/09
Connie and I had a first class three day stay at your comfortable, clean and charming place! Thanks for your good cheer and kindness. I will especially remember my rather harrowing hike up the "Trail of the Three Crosses"! Stunningly beautiful, unspoiled, and I got some great pics of several species of poison-dart frogs. We really enjoyed too the townsfolk, the relaxed atmosphere and the wonderful views of the bay and islands.

Guest: TC McVey (Panama)
Date of Stay: 10/21/09
This was the perfect weekend getaway for me. Everything was as advertised. Jeannette picked me up at the dock and acquainted me with Tres Terrazas and Taboga town. Everything is within walking distance, the beach and the kiosko for cold beer. I brought my food and the kitchen was perfectly fine for everything I wanted to cook. All in all and lovely weekend. Thanks!

05/11/09 My husband and I recently visited Tres Terrazas to celebrate our anniversary. We really had a wonderful time and the accommodations are accurately described in the other comments. The view was gorgeous and we both fell asleep on the hammocks! The owners, Jeannette and Thijs are very gracious hosts and I highly recommend you take the boat tour around the islands with Thijs, whether you fish or not. The town is small and the streets are hilly and barely enough for an ATV, which make it all the more quaint and allowed us to get in our exercise. Be sure to bring food with you from the mainland because the one little grocery store doesn’t have much to offer. We purchased sandwich makings, cereal and snacks prior to the boat ride over. We did purchase some cold drinks on the mainland which helped keep everything cool for the boat ride over. We mostly purchased milk, sodas, beer, and bottled waters on the island. The restaurants are few and opened only some of the time. It's great to sit outside on the terrace and eat. The restaurant at Hotel Vereda has the best view and atmosphere but is the most expensive with hit or miss food and service - just have a drink there. Hotel Aquario was good food at good prices with friendly service. Please keep in mind that most folks don’t speak English but appreciate your attempts of broken Spanish. This isn’t your typical touristy place - mostly locals from Panama spending the day on a Saturday or Sunday. We hiked to the Spanish cross which was had breathtaking views. Start out early in the morning (notice the cemetery on the water side on your way there) as there’s not shade coverage and it gets very hot. The beach was great. They will set you up with lounge chairs, umbrella, and bamboo mat for $11 and will deliver you drinks (beer $1!) and even food! If you look around the perimeter of the beach, don’t be surprised to find litter. Just try to overlook it - hopefully conservationism will catch on one day. I recommend bringing a white noise maker with you or you’ll be awakened either by birds or workers. We had no trouble at all since we had one with us. The bed was very comfortable. It was way more space than we needed but it was nice. A couple of minor things to be prepared for -there’s not hot water in the bathroom sink and washcloths were not provided - but that was very minor. They provided both bath and beach towels, as well as snorkeling equipment. The shower was great, and everything else was comfy, too. Overall, Taboga is a unique little culture which offers you to great place to relax and get away from too many tourists. I can’t think of a better place to stay on the island than Tres Terrazas. Hopefully we’ll get to visit again soon!
Beverly , Atlanta, Georgia

02/03/09 WOW! What an awesome place. Very clean and beautifully decorated. Bed was comfortable and loved the hammocks on the front porch. My favorite way to fall asleep! My first time in a 3rd world country, don't speak Spanish really liked knowing the owners were next door. They were super nice and very helpful. Great place! I wish they owned other places in different parts of the world I would book for sure.
Michelle J. , Arvada, CO

12/27/08 I must say Tres Terrazas is beautiful, modern, and spotlessly clean. The suite was dust and bug free with a large bathroom, full kitchen, cable TV,and the bed was very comfortable. Jeannette and Thijs(the owners) are very friendly and helpful and they made me feel so comfortable that I will never forget it! Jeanette will also meet you at the dock and pick you up with her golf mobile when the ferry comes in from the Amador Causeway (Panama City) and will take you back to the ferry when you depart. My suite was right at ocean view and I had a large balcony with a barbeque pit as well as a hammock overlooking the water. Everything about Tres Terrazas exceeded my expectations! The place is well situated perched atop a bluff with 180 degrees views of the water. The view from my suite at sundown was priceless! Hosts, Jeanette and Thijs are so incredibly friendly, fun and hospital taking care of whatever you need. It's a rarity to find a place and hosts like this and it deserves to be noted. I plan to go back some day, whether for couples weekend or with a group of friends. I must say that I have been to a lot of house rentals around the world but from the minute I walked into Tres Terrazas, I actually felt like I was "home"! I will never forget the experience that Jeannette and Thijs showed me at Tres Terrazas and you must remember it's like your own private island, and you can make it what you want. Also Thijs can take you out fishing on his great boat to catch mahi mahi or whatever is good to eat for the day and where else can you get that! God bless them both and it was an experience I will never forget!!!!!
Ray Thompson , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

10/11/08 Wow, what a beautiful celebration for my husband's (Jim) 60th! We were met by our wonderful hosts Jeannette and Thijs at the ferry, and they were very accommodating the entire week both allowing us privacy when we desired it and lots of information about the island which we soaked up. The house is spacious and beautiful. Jim caught 7 fish out the first day while I slept in the hammock. We needed this island time. The beach was fun, and we took a long hike up to Tres Cruces and saw the view from the highest point on the island. The people are friendly all over the island and our hosts were delightful. What a memory we will carry with us forever!
Jim & Eileen, Sacramento, CA

09/15/08 I would recommend this place to anyone. Jeannette and Thijs were very kind, accommodating hosts. The island was soooo beautiful. The view from the balcony was amazing and it was very relaxing to snooze in the hammocks. The house itself was very nice and well decorated and had everything we needed to cook and stay there for two nights. Great place! Wonderful island.
Candice, Los Angeles

08/10/08 My family and I visited Taboga in August, 2008 and stayed at Tres Terrazas while we were there as well as went on a fishing trip with Thijs. The accommodations were way better than expected. The house was in great shape and one of the cleanest places I have seen in Panama. Everything you need for a short term or long term stay is there for you and you can’t beat the view nor can you beat the hospitality of Jeannette and Thijs, they are the best. Just like long time friends you haven’t seen in a while. You couldn’t meet any nicer people. They have found what they love and have chosen to share it with anyone that would like to visit and they treat you just like family. If you are going to Isla Taboga there is no other choice and believe me you will not want to leave!!
Don’t forget to go fishing with Thijs. You will have a great time!
Chad Buchanan, Dallas, Texas
903-814-5039

07/14/08 What a wonderful vacation! Jeannette and Thijs have provided everything that we needed for our 5 day stay. In addition to the house being beautifully decorated, it is spacious and comfortable. Jeannette picked us up at the ferry and whisked us away up the hill introducing us to locals the whole way and giving us a tour. I only wish that there had been time to go to fishing with Thijs. You will enjoy your stay.
April, North Carolina, USA

07/14/08 Well, where to begin? I live in Panama but my sweetheart lives in Florida. We meet monthly for a week somewhere in the world to spend time together, so it is important to us that the accommodations be nice. Although there have been times we were disappointed, that was decidedly not the case here. The house was spacious, clean and well equipped. There was nothing we needed that was not already there. We had big plans for numerous activities but once we saw the hammocks and view from the terrazza we were hooked. We spent the bulk of our time swinging in the hammocks, reading, watching the harbor and snoozing - which turned out to be exactly what we needed! Thijs and Jeannette were gracious hosts who were available for any needs we had, yet were unobtrusive at all times. The perfect hosts! I encourage anyone who enjoys clean accommodations in a quaint setting to spend some time here.
Ron Tourville, Panama City, Panama
507-6763-8884

07/01/08 Jeannette and Thijs were wonderful hosts, giving us a warm southern hospitality welcome that is yet unmatched by any other place my fiancée and I have stayed so far. Our weeklong stay of peace, tranquility and wonderful views was just what my fiancée and I needed to get away from our hectic worlds. Staying with Jeannette and Thijs was like staying with long-time friends who know your needs, and know when you need time alone. They truly went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed, and then some, making our stay peaceful and relaxing. This gave us time to take in the beauty of nature the island of Taboga has to offer.
Ruben Leal, Chandler, Arizona

05/06/08 Our favorite time in Panama was spent on the island of Taboga. The house was perfect. The view from the front porch is exquisite! I think my favorite pastime was lying in the hammock gazing at the ocean view!
Cindy McCarren, Newville, Pa.
717-776-5301

05/01/08 Jeannette and Thijs were great hosts to me and my husband as we stayed in their home. It's a very clean and peaceful house with all the privacy we needed. We enjoyed the beach and scenery of this small island. The people are nice and whatever you want is walking distance. If you enjoy fishing and eating fresh fish, make arrangements with Thijs and he'll charter you out on his 24 foot panga. Jeannette provided fresh herbs from her garden for us and we grilled our fish on our balcony. What a perfect weekend retreat for us and we look forward to returning!
Amy, Panama
6-747-8742