It is our sincere hope that all of our guests feel like family when they are on vacation at Tranquilo Bay. We try to give each of our guests the individual attention they deserve while they are staying with us. Each person’s experience is unique.

Jim & Renée Kimball and Jay Viola have been close friends for many years. We all wanted to do something off the beaten path. Working in Houston, Texas for over 10 years gave us time to research different parts of the world and fall in love with Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Jim and Jay came to Panama in 1999 and 2000 respectively to build the eco lodge. They have overseen the physical development of the resort every step of the way. Renée supported the cause from Houston working on the soft side of the resort's development.

Jim brought Renée and son Tres to Bocas full time in September 2004. The Kimball’s daughter Boty was born in Panama in 2006. The Kimballs live on site at Tranquilo Bay. Jim and Renée both work on the lodge’s operations.

Jay’s family, including son Scott, joined Jay and the rest of the crew in Bocas in September 2006. Jay and his wife had a second son, Patrick here in Panama in 2008. Jay and his boys live on site at Tranquilo Bay.

We have a variety of staff members to meet your needs at Tranquilo Bay. The staff to guest ratio varies between 1:1 and 1:3 depending upon the season. Our full-time naturalist guides provide you with lots of information about all of the nature and wildlife found within Bocas del Toro. We also have our resident dogs, Chola and Max, who do what they can to improve your stay with us.

The video about us was produced by students in UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism, specifically Paris Alston, Tegan Johnston, and Anne Marie Hagerty. They captured what we feel about Tranquilo Bay and Bocas del Toro in such a manner that we wanted to share it with you.