La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm

What La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm does

La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm is a private boutique eco-lodge operating on a 55-acre rainforest reserve on Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Founded in 2003 by Maggie Ann and Enrique Escudero and currently owned by Aaron and Sebastian (who took over in 2019), the business operates seven open-air bungalows with approximately 14 beds, reached exclusively by boat from Bocas Town. The property is 100% solar-powered, off-grid, and integrates a working cacao and permaculture farm where ingredients for the lodge's farm-to-table dining are grown and processed on-site from pod to finished chocolate.

The company's revenue is generated through an all-inclusive pricing model that bundles accommodation, three daily meals, cacao and permaculture farm tours, and boat transfers, with supplementary revenue from day-visitor tours ($40 + tax), optional activities (bioluminescence tours, night hikes, yoga, massage), retail add-ons, and a retreat hosting model where external instructors lead group retreats at the property. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a Cloudbeds booking engine on the company website, supplemented by social media, blog content, TripAdvisor, and WhatsApp inquiries. Customer segments span eco-conscious luxury travelers, wellness retreat seekers, food and agriculture enthusiasts, families with children 8+, and retreat organizers.

La Loma employs 14+ named staff across cooking, cleaning, farm management, nature guiding, captaincy, and maintenance functions, with tenures ranging from 2.5 to 22 years, and operates year-round with no seasonal closure. The company has established partnerships with the Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous community of Bahia Honda for cacao operations and tour guiding, alongside external community organizations Education is Power and Give and Surf. Its competitive positioning rests on a combination of unique geographic access (Bahia Honda bay bioluminescence, National Marine Park proximity), authenticity through indigenous community integration, handcrafted sustainable architecture, and editorial features in Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, and Travel and Leisure.

Name

La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm

Legal name

La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm

Website

https://thejunglelodge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm is a private boutique eco-lodge on a 55-acre rainforest reserve in Bocas del Toro, Panama, offering all-inclusive accommodation, farm-to-table dining, and cacao farm tours to eco-conscious luxury travelers and wellness retreat groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Lodge Hospitality

NAICS

All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Rainforest & Jungle Lodges (THAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rainforest & Jungle Lodges (THAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Eco-lodge hospitality
• Boutique jungle resort
• Cacao farm tours
• Wellness retreat services
• All-inclusive accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. All-Inclusive Accommodation: All-inclusive stays bundled with three daily meals, natural juices, coffee/teas/cacao, round-trip private boat transfers, kayaks, binoculars, cacao and permaculture farm tour, and hiking trail access. Additional revenue from alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, and optional activities.
2. Day Visitor Tours: Cacao and permaculture farm tours open to day visitors at $40 USD + 7% tax per person, including lunch. Advance booking required 24 hours prior.
3. Optional Activities and Experiences: Add-on activities including bioluminescence tours ($25), night hikes ($15), private yoga classes ($40 for 1 person, $30/person for 2, $15/person for 3+), and massages (60 min $85, 90 min $120).
4. Retreat Hosting: Host-your-own retreat packages where external instructors lead group retreats. La Loma provides venue, meals, accommodations, and activities. Example: Yoga + Boardgame Retreat at $450 starting price.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

La Loma Jungle Lodge operates a luxury all-inclusive eco-lodge on a 55-acre rainforest reserve on Isla Bastimentos, Panama, accessible only by boat. The offering centers on seven open-air bungalow accommodations, three daily farm-to-table meals, guided cacao and permaculture farm tours, and curated adventure and wellness activities including bioluminescence boat tours, yoga, and massage services. The lodge is fully off-grid, powered by solar energy with rainwater harvesting and Starlink internet.

Product overview

La Loma Jungle Lodge is a boutique eco-lodge offering all-inclusive accommodations and experiences on Isla Bastimentos, Panama. The portfolio centers on seven distinct open-air bungalow accommodations (ranging from the three-bedroom Cacao Farm House to individual Rainforest and Treetop bungalows), complemented by a working cacao and permaculture farm that anchors immersive educational tours. The experience is enhanced by curated wellness programs (daily yoga, massage therapy, hosted retreats), adventure activities (bioluminescence tours, Zapatilla Islands snorkeling, bat cave exploration, wildlife boat tours), and farm-to-table dining that draws directly from the property's agricultural production. The lodge integrates these offerings through all-inclusive stay packages and pre-designed itineraries (Classic, Wellness, Adventure, Wildlife), positioning itself as a nature-immersive destination rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% off-grid operation powered by solar energy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Studio SaxeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Sustainable-focused architecture firm from Costa Rica that designed the lodge area expansion and new Rainforest Bungalows. Project completed in late 2019-2020.
• Education is PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founded by previous guests, Education is Power has collaborated with La Loma since 2011 to provide scholarships to children in the Bahia Honda and Bahia Roja communities for school costs including transportation, supplies, and fees. The organization has also installed power, internet, and solar panels at local schools.
• Give and SurfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founded by a former La Loma volunteer, Give and Surf has been working in Bocas del Toro since 2011 to support local communities through education and community-based initiatives. The organization focuses on education and community development in the Bahia Honda and Bahia Roja communities where La Loma is located.
• Ngäbe-Buglé Community of Bahía HondacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanama's largest indigenous group has cultivated cacao in the Bocas del Toro archipelago for generations. La Loma employs and collaborates with local Ngäbe-Buglé families in partnership rooted in the shared land. Local guides from the community lead cacao farm tours with deep knowledge of the ecosystem.
• Stephen Brooks (Punta Mona, Ecoversity, Ecovilla, Alegria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted with permaculture design and sourcing of plants for farm expansion. Helped add an entirely new area of the farm with expertise in regenerative agriculture.
• Meivis Ortiz (Mayamei Cacao)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cacao consultant who assisted with improving the existing cacao farm operations and expanding cacao cultivation areas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nayara Tented Camp: Luxury tented/immersive-nature camp near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica. Comparable low-density, nature-immersive lodging at the top end of the region's price band with strong sustainability branding and Conde Nast-tier media recognition.
• Punta Mona Center: Permaculture-focused jungle lodge and education center on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Highly comparable regenerative-agriculture and immersive-nature-stay model; one of the reference points La Loma explicitly cites (Stephen Brooks) for its farm expansion.
• Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica: Peru-based luxury eco-lodge inside a private Amazon reserve, owned by Inkaterra — sustainability pioneer with on-site botanical research, bundled naturalist tours, and premium all-inclusive pricing. Reference archetype for Latin American eco-luxury lodge brands targeting international travelers.
• Treehouse Lodge Panama: Jungle treehouse-style lodge in Panama, positioned as an immersive nature stay with off-grid character. Comparable on Panama location, low-density cabin-style accommodation, and adventure-tour bundling targeting similar eco-traveler segments.
• Palmar Beach Lodge: Adjacent beachfront lodge on Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos — previously owned and operated by the same two owners (Aaron and Sebastian) before they took over La Loma. Effectively a sister property in the same archipelago serving the same Bocas del Toro visitor pool.
• Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge: Eco-adventure lodge on Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama — same destination, overlapping traveler persona (eco-conscious, activity-driven), and similar all-inclusive + tour bundling. Directly comparable on location, customer mix, and price band.
• Lapa Rios Lodge: Luxury rainforest eco-lodge on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica — private reserve, low-density bungalows, sustainability-led operations, indigenous community involvement, premium pricing. Closest analog in the region for eco-luxury positioning and conservation storytelling.
• Secret Bay (Dominica): Caribbean luxury eco-villa resort on Dominica — small-unit, off-grid design, sustainability credentials, and premium nightly rates. Closest fit for the boutique eco-luxury positioning combined with Caribbean-island operational risks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lalomajunglelodge
• Instagraminstagram.com/thejunglelodge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-loma-jungle-lodge-chocolate-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm