Lost and Found Hostel

Valle de las Minas, Chiriquí, Panama

 

DIRECTIONS

We are NOT in Boquete! We are off the beaten track but easy to find. We are on Highway 10 between Bocas del Toro and David, which means that if you plan on traveling between Bocas, Boquete, Panama City, Santa Catalina, or David, you we are located right along your route! Stop by to break up your long bus ride and make some incredible memories along the way. If you arrive after dark (7 pm) make sure you have a flashlight! Remember the last bus from David to our hostel (Bocas/Changuinola bus) is at 6 pm!


Important Notice

If you are traveling via local bus, please be aware that if you are coming from Bocas del Toro, the bus should cost around $7.25, and if you are coming from David, the bus should cost around $3.50.

Where to park your car…

If you are traveling by car, follow the blue and white signs up and to the right of the hill to The Lost and Found Hostel designated parking spots ($3.50/day).


Now that you are here…

It is a 15 minute uphill hike, starting from the street. Come in daylight or bring a flashlight if you plan on arriving at night.


Specific directions from locations around panama and central america

David To The Lost and Found - 1.5 hours ($3.50 - $4.00)

From David you have two options:

OPTION 1

At the main terminal in David find the bus that goes to Changuinola. This is the bus that goes to Bocas del Toro, but let the driver know you want to go to The Lost and Found (they know where we are). It will be approximately one hour on the bus until you reach our stop. After you pass the police checkpoint in a town called Valle de la Mina, it will only be one more minute before you reach our stop. You will see our sign on the left hand side of the road, and the bus will drop you on the right. You will see a trail going up the hill. Follow our signs until you reach the begining of the trail. From there it will be a 15 minute hike, approximately, before you reach the hostel. If the buses going to Bocas del Toro are very full, no problem, there is another option...

OPTION 2

At the same terminal, there is another bus that goes to the town of Gualaca. For two dollars, the driver will take you to the pretty town of Gualaca. Let them know you are going to The Lost and Found and they will drop you near the end of their run at a little Chinese supermarket (El Chino) where you will catch a smaller bus that is going to “Hornito”. This will also cost $2. Again, tell them you are going to The Lost and Found - they know us.

Bocas del Toro to The Lost and Found - 3.5 hours ($8)

Option 1

In Almirante, take the bus heading to David. You can tell the bus driver that you are going to The Lost and Found (they know where we are). The bus ride takes about 3 hours. You will see our sign on the right, and the bus will drop you in front of the sign. On the left side of the road, you will see a trail going up the hill. Follow our signs until you reach the begining of the trail. From there it will be a 15 minute hike, approximately, before you reach the hostel.

Option 2

Even easier… book a shuttle with the Hello Travel Panama shuttle service. Make sure you book in advance. Click HERE to book your shuttle.

Boquete to the Lost and Found - 2.5 hours ($5.25)

Option 1

Take a public bus from Boquete to David. The bus departs from the main park in town and it will cost around $1.75. From David you can follow the instructions in our sections on travel from David to The Lost and Found above. It's easy and cheap!

Option 2

Even easier… book a shuttle with the Hello Travel Panama shuttle service. Make sure you book in advance. Click HERE to book your shuttle.

Santa Catalina to the Lost and Found - 6 hours (around $15)

From Santa Catalina you will need to start early to ensure you make the last bus to The Lost and Found from David. The last bus from David is around 6 pm.
You will need to take the early bus from Santa Catalina to Sona (1.5 hours), and from Sona you will catch a bus going to Santiago (45 minutes). In Santiago you will need to catch a bus going to to David (3 hours). Scroll up on this page for directions from David to The Lost and Found. If you have a reservation and miss the last bus from David, please let us know ASAP.

Panama City to the Lost and Found - 7 hours ($15-$18)

From the Albrook bus terminal in Panama City, simply take one of the hourly buses to David. Many of our guests opt to take the night buses because they are usually faster. If you decide to do the same, we recommend taking the midnight bus, which means that you would arrive in David at around 5:30 am - 6 am. And bring a jacket! The night bus can be very cold!

Costa Rica to the Lost and Found - 9 hours ($26)

To reach The Lost and Found coming from San Jose you must first reach David, Panama. If you are coming from the Caribbean side of Costa Rica follow the directions in the Bocas del Toro to The Lost and Found section. If you are coming from the Pacific side, in San Jose, simply take any bus going to David, Panama. If you are looking to find a bus company to take you to David, Tica and Tracopa run daily.

FAQs

What is staying at the Lost and Found like?

Our hostel is social with a youthful backpacker vibe. We have games and activities such as life-sized Jenga and a treasure hunt through the jungle that spark intermingling. We discourage families with children under 16 from booking with us. Being within the jungle presents dangers and the festive atmosphere may be too much for children.

What do I need to bring?

We encourage our guests to bring a jacket, bug spray (during raining season), cash, and hiking boots.

Jacket: Simply put, the cloud forest gets cold. We offer fleece ponchos, however, a jacket will keep you significantly warmer.

Bug spray: Majority of days, the weather is beautiful with a gentle breeze keeping pesky bugs at bay. During the rainy season, bugs tend to make their presence known. If traveling at this time, be sure to bring bug spray!

Hiking boots: Our guests have the option of participating in our treasure hunt, scavenger hunt, or hiking on our trails. We recommend you bring your hiking boots when taking on the jungle terrain.

Cash: At the current time, we are only accepting cash. The nearest ATM is in the town of Gualaca, 20 minutes away by bus or car.

Do you accept credit cards?

At the current time, we are only accepting cash. The nearest ATM is in the town of Gualaca, 20 minutes away by bus or car. If you are traveling from Bocas del Toro, Boquete, or David, we recommend getting taking cash out before starting your journey to the Lost and Found. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

What do we do for food?

We serve homemade breakfast and lunch from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and family dinner at 6:00 pm every night. We offer plenty of snacks and drinks from our reception desk. We also offer a very simple kitchen for staff and guests. Very limited space. Feel free to bring some supplies/food that does not require refridgeration. It can get crowded during meal times waiting to use the facilities. We suggest that you sign up for social 6pm family style table dinners when all our guests eat together.

How hard is hike up?

Most guests arrive out of breath, both from the stunning views and the 20 minute up hill hike wearing their backpacking gear. If you are in fairly good shape, though, you should have no trouble. Trust us, it's worth the hike.

Do you have WiFi?

Yes. We have high speed fiber optic WiFi that is usually very reliable. However, occasionally, we will get a storm that can slow down WiFi speed or even cut out the power completely. This is a rare occurrence, but we apologize if it causes you any inconvenience during your stay.

Can I Change or Cancel My Reservation?

Please enter your booking reference number and last name to cancel your reservation. If you would like to change your reservation, send us an email at lflodge@gmail.com.

Where can I park my car?

We are a hike in only hostel. We did not cut any trees to make a parking lot. Support the neighbors by parking your car up the hill by following the little blue parking signs. It costs $3.50 per car per night. Do not park on the road near the restaurant! Only at the designated Lost and Found Hostel blue signed parking spaces.!

What is The Lost and Found novel?

Guests that read this novel before they arrive have an entirely different experience at The Lost and Found. Much of what you see here at the hostel, the esoteric artwork, the treasure hunts, it is all indirectly connected to the book. It is as if there are hidden Easter Eggs all over the hostel and jungle for those who have read the book. You become part of the story, solving riddles and digging deeper. It plays with the unwilling suspension of disbelief. People do not know what is real. Some controversial concepts intermixed with horror ensure that this book is not for everyone. I wouldn’t let my mother read this book. It is available for .99 ¢ HERE.

Is The Lost & Found and its surrounding areas prone to malaria?

The malaria mosquito does not breed at our altitude, a relief. The much more common, and potentially fatal, Dengue mosquito lurks in urban areas including Panama City. Thanks to our remote location in the jungle, The Lost & Found does not have to fear these common, dangerous mosquitoes. Be prepared though because bugs are here and you will want to protect yourself.

Do you have hot showers?

We sure do! They are only a short walk from our dorms and cabins. All of the bathrooms and showers are shared. We do not offer ensuite bathrooms.

Do you have laundry service?

Sometimes. In the jungle we often have water shortages and it is a priority to wash all the sheets and towels we have. If we have no water problems we will wash and dry your laundry for $8. Our guests cannot request to separate a wash and dry, we offer both services or none at all.

Does The Lost and Found accept volunteers?

Yes, we occasionally have volunteer positions, depending on whether we have enough local staff. Our general philosophy is to provide as much opportunities to local community as possible, but sometimes we just can’t find enough help. We only accept volunteer through our application process. Send us an email prior to arrival if you would like to know more.

Can I camp at The Lost and Found?

No. The Lost and Found was built on a slope and there are not many places to pitch a tent. As well, the weather can change quickly, especially the winds. Hammocks are not allowed either.

Do you allow children or pets?

We do not allow children or pets. We are a hostel for adults and are not prepared to accommodate fo children. We have a rescued kinkajou with a keen nose temperamental to the smell of other animals. In the past, the smell of pet dogs have interfered with the daily migration patterns of the wild white faced monkeys that pass through our orange grove.

CONTACT US

To reserve a bed, click here.
If you have any questions that we did not answer below, please feel free contact us via email or the form below.
We answer emails everyday but sometimes our staff is busy with daily operations, please allow up to 24 hours for a response.