A family story,
with a taste of Bocas.
Before becoming your place in the Caribbean, Doña Mara was the beginning of a family story. A story rooted in the kitchen and the sea, which we continue to build with every visit.
It all began with Doña Mara
In 1997, Doña Mara opened a hotel and restaurant on Carenero Island. Her traditional Bocas cooking, with its personal touch, brought together a place to stay and the flavours of the island.
Here, alongside his mother, Joseph Archbold began to cook. The hotel keeps the name of the woman who started this story, and the connection to food that has been part of the family from the beginning.
Travel, learn
and come home.
After studying and working in the United States and France, Joseph returned to Panama’s Caribbean to share the flavours of Bocas del Toro. His cooking connects Afro-Caribbean traditions with technique and respect for local ingredients.
That journey is reflected in Receta Michilá, Octo and Octo Smokehouse. Even the name Octo has family roots: octopus, a dish Joseph and his mother loved to cook.
Discover our dining experiences ↗Small gestures.
Lasting meaning.
We want a stay at Doña Mara to bring our guests closer to the flavours and people of this place. We are preparing thoughtful welcome touches featuring local products, such as coffee and chocolate.
It is part of what we are building: hospitality that pays attention to each person, with simple gestures that let guests feel the care behind their visit.