All inclusive Panama comes down to three areas: Playa Bonita, 35 to 40 minutes from Tocumen airport (Dreams Playa Bonita and The Westin Playa Bonita), the Río Hato and Farallón coast in Coclé about two hours west (Riu Playa Blanca, Grand Decameron, Playa Blanca Beach Resort, Gran Evenia Bijao), and a few private islands in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Grand Decameron is the value pick at about $169 a night for two adults with taxes, Dreams Playa Bonita is the best all-inclusive near Panama City, and the private islands (Isla Palenque, Selva Terra, Islas Secas) are the luxury end.[1]
Panama has only a handful of large all-inclusive resorts, and nearly all of them sit on the Pacific coast. So the main choice in an all-inclusive Panama trip is how far from Panama City you want to be. Playa Bonita is close enough to combine with the canal and Casco Viejo. Río Hato has the big pool-and-buffet complexes. The Gulf of Chiriquí islands are small, expensive and remote.
Prices below come from the resorts' own sites and from Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity as of October 2026. Each one is labeled with its basis, because some are per room, some per person and some include tax. Spanish-language readers can use our guide to hoteles de playa todo incluido en Panamá.
Many results for "Panama resort" are actually in Panama City Beach, Florida, including Shores of Panama Resort. Check the country before you compare prices.
All-inclusive Panama resorts compared: price, transfer time and kids
For the best price per night, look at Río Hato. Near Panama City, the choice is Dreams Playa Bonita. For seclusion and wildlife, look at the Gulf of Chiriquí islands. The table puts every resort side by side. The price column shows the most recent dated figure for each property, and those figures are not all on the same basis.
| Resort | Area | Price seen (2026) | From Tocumen | Children | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Decameron Panamá (formerly Royal Decameron) | Farallón, Río Hato | From $169 a night, 2 adults, taxes included | 1 h 30-2 h | Kids club | Best value |
| Dreams Playa Bonita | Playa Bonita, Veracruz | About $288-425 per room, 2 adults | 33-42 min | Club ages 3-12 | Families who also want the city |
| The Westin Playa Bonita | Playa Bonita, Veracruz | Room from about $206; all-inclusive package costs more | 33-42 min | Welcome | Couples who want room-only or package |
| Riu Playa Blanca | Río Hato | Listed from $92-119 (basis not stated) | About 2 h | Kids club, no cribs | 24-hour food and drinks |
| Playa Blanca Beach Resort | Farallón km 117 | Rooms from $100 | About 2 h | Family resort | Lower budgets, big pool |
| Gran Evenia Bijao | Río Hato | Check booking sites | About 2 h | Family resort | A fourth Río Hato option |
| Isla Palenque | Gulf of Chiriquí | About $980 a day for 2 (media rate) | Flight to David, road, boat | Families welcome | Private island, wildlife |
| Selva Terra | Gulf of Chiriquí | On request | Remote island | Adults only | Couples |
| Islas Secas | Gulf of Chiriquí | On request | Remote island | Villas sleep 2-8 | Groups, divers, anglers |
Prices as shown on resort sites, Expedia and Orbitz in October 2026. The basis differs by row. Transfer times are by car from Tocumen International Airport.
Playa Bonita and Río Hato are both Pacific beaches with a large tide range. At low tide the water can pull far back from the sand. If swimming in the sea matters more to you than the pool, plan beach time around high tide.
Dreams Playa Bonita: the all-inclusive closest to Panama City
Dreams Playa Bonita is the full all-inclusive closest to Panama City, and Hyatt sells it as a resort for the whole family.[2] It is the former InterContinental Playa Bonita, now run by Hyatt Inclusive Collection, on the beach at Playa Bonita in Veracruz.
The plan is Hyatt's Unlimited-Luxury, which covers gourmet dining and entertainment.[3] A package seller for 2026 lists breakfast, lunch and dinner, unlimited snacks and drinks, eight restaurants and four bars.[4] Other listings count seven restaurants plus two pool bars, five bars and lounges and a nightclub. They also list four outdoor pools, a spa and a 24-hour gym. Some motorized watersports cost extra.
Prices and the per-room trap
Dreams prices its rooms per room, not per person. That is why a widely repeated figure of around $380 per person per night is misleading. Expedia quotes for two adults for one night were around $303 in mid-September 2026, $288 in mid-November 2026 and $425 in mid-February 2027. Package prices with flights from Ecuador start from about $915 per person in a triple room for November 2026 departures.[4]
Kids and getting there
The Explorer's Club takes children aged 3 to 12.[5] Children in that age band have been charged a supplement of around $67 a night, paid at check-in, so confirm it before you book. Tocumen airport to Playa Bonita takes about 33 to 42 minutes by car.[6][7] Shared shuttles to the resort are listed at about $45 to $60.[8]
Being close to the city is the main reason to pick Dreams. Most visitors pair a few resort nights with time in town. Our guide to where to stay in Panama City covers the city half, and the 3-day Panama City itinerary shows what fits around the canal and Casco Viejo.
The Westin Playa Bonita: a beach resort with an optional all-inclusive package
The Westin Playa Bonita is a Marriott beach resort in Veracruz with a spa, three pools and six restaurants.[9] It is a regular hotel first. All-inclusive is a package you add, not the default. That is why Westin pages and package listings show different prices.
Marriott lists a "Book a Package" offer for stays from October 8 to December 31, 2026. Its site doesn't spell out what the package covers.[10] Room rates on Expedia and Orbitz in October 2026 ran from about $206 a night up to $281 for a late-October stay.[11][12] Star ratings also vary: Expedia gives it five stars, while Google's hotel panel shows four.[13]
Before you pay for the all-inclusive version, ask whether it covers alcohol, the à-la-carte restaurants and any minimum stay. Couples who plan to eat in the city a few nights may do better on a room-only rate.
Riu Playa Blanca: 24-hour all-inclusive in Río Hato
Riu Playa Blanca is a five-star beachfront hotel with 24-hour all-inclusive service, and RIU describes it as ideal for families.[14] It sits directly on the sand in the Playa Blanca area of Río Hato.[15] Dining runs from the buffet to Asian and Italian restaurants under the same 24-hour plan.[16]
RIU's own site listed headline room prices of $92 for a standard triple, $106 for a double with side sea view, $116 for a double with sea view and $119 for a sea-view suite.[14] The page doesn't say whether those are per person or per room, or which dates they apply to, so check the basis at checkout. Check-in is at 3:00 pm and check-out at noon.[14]
Booking sites set the minimum check-in age at 18. That is an adult check-in rule, not an adults-only policy.[17] Hotels.com lists a kids' club but no cribs. That matters if you travel with a baby.[18] The kids' club, RiuLand, is usually quoted for ages 4 to 12. Reviews of the food and of crowds around the pools are mixed, which is common at large resorts that are busy around the clock.
Driving from Tocumen takes about two hours. Shared shuttles to the hotel are listed at around three and a half hours with stops, from about £90.[19]
Grand Decameron Panamá (formerly Royal Decameron): the biggest and cheapest
The resort many people still call Royal Decameron is open. Its official name is now Grand Decameron Panamá, A Trademark All Inclusive, at Farallón in Río Hato, about 90 minutes from Panama City.[20] Some tour operators still use the old "Royal Decameron Golf, Beach Resort & Villas" name, so both turn up in searches.[21] Panama's tourism authority lists it under its current name in the Coclé hotel registry.[22]
What you get
It is the largest complex on this coast. It has 13 bars, six pools for adults and children, a three-lane slide, seven à-la-carte restaurants plus two buffets, an outdoor cinema, a kids' club, a gym and an excursions desk.[20] A tour operator selling it in 2026 lists unlimited snacks, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a nightclub, tennis, beach volleyball and nightly shows.[21] Older listings mention an 18-hole golf course, but Decameron's own site doesn't list golf, so confirm it if golf is the reason you're going.
Prices
Expedia showed one night for two adults on November 10, 2026 from $169, taxes included.[1] Travelocity lists 2026 rates from $169 with taxes and charges, including food and drinks in the restaurants.[23] Decameron's own "Viaja a Panamá" promotion ran from $77 per person per night, with a Plus version from $95, for purchases made October 23 to 31, 2026.[20] Agoda put the recent average at about €144 a night.[24]
At $169 for two with tax, it is the cheapest dated all-inclusive rate on this page. The trade-offs are size and the two-hour drive from the airport.
Playa Blanca Beach Resort, and how it differs from Riu Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca Beach Resort and Riu Playa Blanca are two different hotels on the same stretch of Coclé coast. "Playa Blanca" is the name of the beach, and several properties use it. Booking.com lists this one as "Playa Blanca Beach Resort - All Inclusive" in Farallón, Río Hato.[25] Its own site calls it Playa Blanca Hotel & Resort, and a promotional sheet gives the address as Farallón km 117.[26]
The resort's main feature is its saltwater pool, which it calls the largest in Central America and the Caribbean. There is also a pool with slides near the garden-view rooms, plus kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and flyboarding.[27] Rooms start from $100 on the official site.[28] One package seller rates it three stars, and Booking.com guests give it 7.3 from 1,538 reviews.[29][25]
It is a simpler, cheaper family resort than the Riu next door. Our Spanish-language comparison of todo incluido en Playa Blanca sets it against Decameron and Riu in more detail.
Also on this coast: Gran Evenia Bijao
Gran Evenia Bijao is a beachfront all-inclusive in Río Hato with several outdoor pools, a spa, tennis courts and daily activity programs, and it rates well with families. It publishes little in the way of dated rates, so compare it on a booking site for your exact dates against the Riu and Decameron prices above.
Private-island all-inclusives: the luxury beach resorts in Panama
Panama's luxury beach resorts are small private-island properties, mostly in the Gulf of Chiriquí, far from the Pacific resort strip. None of them is a big pool-and-buffet resort, and most quote rates on request.
Isla Palenque
About $980/day for 28 casitas400 acresA 400-acre private island with seven secluded beaches and primary forest, part of the Cayuga Collection.[30] Business Insider's writer paid about $980 a day for two on a media rate, covering boat transfers, meals, non-alcoholic drinks and daily activities such as yoga and snorkeling.[31]
Best for families and wildlife on a private islandIslas Secas
On request1-4 bedroom villasNear CoibaVillas and casitas across a 14-island archipelago, from a one-bedroom casita for two up to Casa Cavada for eight with its own infinity pool.[32] Activities include diving, whale watching from shore, surfing and catch-and-release fishing on Hannibal Bank and Montuosa Island.
Best for groups, divers and anglersSelva Terra
On requestAdults only200 ha rainforestA private island set in 200 hectares of protected rainforest, with gourmet dining and premium drinks in the package.[33] It is adults-only except during holiday weeks and private buyouts.
Best for couples who want seclusionPopa Paradise Beach Resort
Bocas del ToroAdults onlyBoutiqueAn adults-only boutique resort in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, the one Caribbean-side all-inclusive that comes up regularly. Expect a small, quiet island place, not a pool-and-buffet resort.
Best for couples on the Caribbean sideGetting to the Gulf of Chiriquí usually means a flight to David, a drive to Boca Chica and then a boat. Confirm the tide, luggage limits and the last boat of the day before you book flights.[34] The same guide warns that the isolation and the all-inclusive format limit food choice. If you need constant connectivity, plan a shorter stay.[34]
Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is close to Islas Secas.[32] Our guide to diving Coiba National Park covers trips there. If you want rainforest more than beach, our comparison of Panama's eco and jungle lodges covers the inland options. On the Caribbean side, Nayara Bocas del Toro sells adults-only overwater villas on stilts.[35] Check whether meals are included at Nayara, and see which Bocas island suits you in our guide to where to stay in Bocas del Toro.
What all-inclusive covers in Panama, and the 10% lodging tax
All-inclusive in Panama always covers meals. Alcohol, kids' clubs, watersports, transfers and tax vary by resort, so check each one before you compare prices.
- Meals and snacks
- Included at every resort on this page. Riu serves food 24 hours.[14] Dreams and Decameron add unlimited snacks between meals.[4]
- Alcohol
- Included at Dreams, Riu and Decameron. Business Insider's Isla Palenque rate listed only non-alcoholic drinks.[31] At the Westin it depends on the package.
- Kids' clubs
- Free at Dreams (ages 3 to 12), though a per-child nightly supplement has been charged at check-in.[5] Riu and Decameron also run kids' clubs.
- Watersports and spa
- Non-motorized gear is usually free. Motorized watersports and spa treatments are typically charged at Dreams.
- Airport transfers
- Not included in room-only bookings. Isla Palenque's rate in the Business Insider stay included boat transfers.[31]
- Tax (ITBMS)
- Lodging of every type carries 10% ITBMS. The general rate is 7%.[36]
Alcoholic drinks also fall in the 10% band.[37] Panama's rule forcing businesses to show consumer prices with tax included was pushed back to July 1, 2027 by Law 531 of 2026.[38] So a headline "from" price may still exclude tax. Expedia's Decameron quote included taxes. RIU's and the Playa Blanca resort's own "from" figures don't say.
Getting to the resorts from Tocumen airport
Playa Bonita is about 40 minutes from the airport, Río Hato about two hours, and the Gulf of Chiriquí needs a domestic flight plus a boat.
A taxi from Tocumen to Playa Bonita is estimated at about $12 to $16.[8] Private transfers to Playa Bonita start from about $79 in that direction. The return to the airport is cheaper, from about $35.[39] That Playa Bonita transfer listing doesn't serve Playa Blanca, Farallón or Bijao, so book the Río Hato leg separately.[39]
The Río Hato resorts are about 89 miles from the airport by road, just under two hours by car.[19] There is no direct bus from the airport. Shared shuttles to Playa Blanca are listed at around three hours.[19] If you plan to rent a car for the drive and day trips, our guide to whether Panama is safe for tourists covers road and transport risks.
Adults-only all-inclusive resorts in Panama
Panama's adults-only all-inclusives are all small island resorts. None of the big Pacific resorts near Panama City or in Río Hato is adults-only.
- Selva Terra (Gulf of Chiriquí) is the clearest adults-only option. It is closed to children except during holiday weeks and private buyouts, which need at least 15 guests.[33]
- Popa Paradise Beach Resort (Bocas del Toro) is adults-only and boutique-sized, on the Caribbean side.
- Nayara Bocas del Toro markets adults-only overwater villas. Confirm what the rate covers.
Two points cause confusion. Riu's 18-year minimum is for the person checking in, not a ban on children.[40] And Hyatt's Spanish booking page carries an "adults-only packages" line that doesn't clearly refer to Dreams Playa Bonita, which runs a kids' club and is sold as a family resort.[41] Couples who want a big resort without many children usually go for the Westin room-only rate, or travel outside school holidays.
Best Panama all-inclusive resorts for families
Dreams Playa Bonita and Grand Decameron are the strongest family picks: Dreams because it is close to the airport, Decameron because of its pools and price.
- Grand Decameron has six pools for adults and children, a three-lane slide, a kids' club and an outdoor cinema.[20] At about $169 for two adults, it leaves room in the budget for extra beds.
- Dreams Playa Bonita runs the Explorer's Club for ages 3 to 12, and the airport is under an hour away, which helps with tired kids.[5] Budget for the nightly child supplement.
- Riu Playa Blanca has 24-hour food and a kids' club, but no cribs, so it is better for children past the baby stage.[18]
- Playa Blanca Beach Resort is the cheaper option, with a pool with slides and the giant saltwater pool.[27]
- Isla Palenque says Travel & Leisure named it one of the best all-inclusive resorts for families, though the page gives no year.[30] Selva Terra accepts children of any age only when a group of 15 or more books the whole island.[33]
When to go: dry season, green season and the whale months
December to April is the dry season and the peak for beach holidays.[42] May to November brings fewer crowds and lower prices, with rain showers.[43] Rates at Dreams Playa Bonita show the gap: Expedia quotes for two adults were around $288 for a mid-November 2026 night and $425 for mid-February 2027.
For the island resorts, the green season is the best time for wildlife. Isla Palenque says activity around the island picks up from May to November.[30] Panama's environment ministry says humpback whales reach the Gulf of Chiriquí between July and October to give birth and raise calves.[44] A second, northern population shows up from December to April.[45] Islas Secas, Coiba and the Pearl Islands are among the official viewing areas.[46]
Boats must stay at least 250 meters from whales, go no faster than 4 knots and watch for no more than 30 minutes, or 15 with a mother and calf.[47] A captain who chases or blocks whales is breaking the rules.
For rainfall by region and month, see our guide to the best time to visit Panama.
Where to book these hotels
Each link opens that hotel's own page on Booking.com, where you can check prices and availability for your dates.
Before you go
Is Dreams Playa Bonita all-inclusive, and is it adults-only?
Yes, it is fully all-inclusive, and no, it is not adults-only. It runs Hyatt's Unlimited-Luxury plan with meals, snacks and drinks included, and its Explorer's Club takes children aged 3 to 12. Children in that age band have been charged a nightly supplement at check-in.
What is the best all-inclusive resort in Panama?
It depends on what you want. Dreams Playa Bonita is the best all-inclusive near Panama City, Grand Decameron is the best value in Río Hato, and Isla Palenque is the top private-island option at about $980 a day for two. Couples who want adults-only usually go for Selva Terra in the Gulf of Chiriquí.
What is the cheapest all-inclusive in Panama?
Grand Decameron Panamá in Río Hato had the lowest dated rate: from $169 a night for two adults, taxes included, in November 2026. Riu Playa Blanca and Playa Blanca Beach Resort show lower headline figures on their own sites, but those don't say whether they are per person or include tax.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in Panama City, Panama?
Not in the city itself. The closest are Dreams Playa Bonita and The Westin Playa Bonita in Veracruz, about 33 to 42 minutes from Tocumen airport. Dreams is all-inclusive by default, while the Westin sells all-inclusive as an optional package. The bigger resorts are about two hours west in Río Hato.
Is Royal Decameron Panama still open?
Yes. It now trades as Grand Decameron Panamá, A Trademark All Inclusive. It sits at Farallón in Río Hato, about 90 minutes from Panama City, and some tour operators still use the Royal Decameron name.
Is Playa Blanca Resort the same as Riu Playa Blanca?
No, they are separate hotels on the same Coclé coast. Riu Playa Blanca is a five-star 24-hour all-inclusive run by RIU. Playa Blanca Beach Resort (also called Playa Blanca Hotel & Resort) is a simpler family resort at Farallón km 117 known for its giant saltwater pool.
Which Panama all-inclusive resorts are adults-only?
Selva Terra in the Gulf of Chiriquí and Popa Paradise Beach Resort in Bocas del Toro. Selva Terra takes children only during holiday weeks and private buyouts of 15 or more guests. None of the large Pacific resorts near Panama City or in Río Hato is adults-only.
Are taxes included in Panama resort prices?
Not always. Hotel stays carry 10% ITBMS, and the rule forcing tax-inclusive price displays doesn't start until July 1, 2027. Check whether a quote says taxes included before you compare it with another.
When is the best time for an all-inclusive beach holiday in Panama?
December to April is the dry season and the peak, while May to November is cheaper and quieter with showers. If you are staying on a Gulf of Chiriquí island, July to October is humpback whale season. Our guide to the best time to visit Panama breaks it down by region.
Is it safe for Americans to stay at a Panama resort?
The Pacific beach resorts are mainstream international brands that cater to foreign visitors, and most stays are uneventful. The main practical risks are on the roads to Río Hato and on the Pacific tides, which pull far back at low tide. Our guide to whether Panama is safe covers the country area by area.
Sources
Prices, schedules and rules change. The small numbers in the text point to these sources.
- 1Expedia - Grand Decameron Panama hotel ratesexpedia.com
- 2
- 3
- 4Solcaribe - Dreams Playa Bonita 2026 package listingsolcaribe.com.ec
- 5Hyatt - Dreams Playa Bonita FAQhyatt.com
- 6Rome2Rio - Tocumen to Playa Bonita routerome2rio.com
- 7Distanciasentre - Tocumen to Playa Bonita travel timedistanciasentre.com
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17Travelocity - Riu Playa Blanca hotel listingtravelocity.com
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21Solcaribe - Royal Decameron package listing (tour operator)solcaribe.com.ec
- 22
- 23Travelocity - Grand Decameron Panama hotel pagetravelocity.com
- 24
- 25
- 26Playa Blanca Beach Resort - Promotional PDF from Bogotáimg1.wsimg.com
- 27Playa Blanca Hotel & Resort - Official siteplayablancaresort.com
- 28Playa Blanca Hotel & Resort - Spanish official siteplayablancaresort.com
- 29Solcaribe - Hotel Playa Blanca Beach Resort package listingsolcaribe.com.ec
- 30Isla Palenque - Official resort site (Cayuga Collection)islapalenque.com
- 31Business Insider - Isla Palenque and Thatch Caye stay reviewbusinessinsider.com
- 32Islas Secas - Official resort siteislassecas.com
- 33Selva Terra Resort - Adults-only all-inclusive and buyout policyselvaterraresort.com
- 34Altavelle Club - Isla Palenque travel guidealtavelleclub.com
- 35Pleasant Holidays - Panama all-inclusive package listingspleasantholidays.com
- 36
- 37TaxDo - Panama ITBMS guide 2026taxdo.com
- 38
- 39
- 40Expedia - Riu Playa Blanca hotel listingexpedia.com
- 41Hyatt Inclusive Collection - resorts and packages listinghyattinclusivecollection.com
- 42Air Canada Vacations - Panama destination guidevacations.aircanada.com
- 43Travel by Bob - Panama resort guidetravelbybob.com
- 44
- 45MiAmbiente - Northern humpback whale population noticemiambiente.gob.pa
- 46MiAmbiente - Humpback whale viewing areas notices (2021-2022)miambiente.gob.pa
- 47Prensa Latina - Responsible whale-watching rules, July 2026prensa-latina.cu
Image credits
- Playa de Kobbe La MochilaMir Rodriguez · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Coronado Beach (4223441009)Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose from Montreal, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Coronado Beach (4223437403)Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose from Montreal, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ranchos a la orilla de la playa La MochilaMir Rodriguez · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wyspa Contadora, Archipelag Wysp Perłowych, PanamaKatarzyna Sierocińska · FAL
- TabogaBeachAyaita · CC BY 3.0
- Panamá-PlayaInzay20 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Isla en Guna YalaAyaita · CC BY 3.0
