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Non-Reciprocal exchange 17 nights Jan 2026

Louise Verified

10 exchanges95 nights14 feedback

Thankyou so much for sharing your home with us. This was one of our most memorable exchanges so far. Everything was perfect. We were lucky enough to stay at Janet and John's main home and both the off grid cabin and beach cabina. From the beginning of our communication Janet was forthright in offering good information about Panama and the properties that really helped plan the trip. Their main home in Sante Fe is stunning, with the most beatiful views across the jungle and perfectly decorated. With everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We felt so at home there. Even though Janet was traveling she kept in touch and helped us organize visits to El Salto and Calovebora their remote off grid retreats. It was a unique adventure that we felt most tourists don't get to see and a little off the beaten track which we love. Our beginner spanish helped and we got by with translate apps, but spanish would be a big help when visiting. Would certainly recomend it and love to visit again, and hope we get to meet in person. These guys are welcome in our homes anytime.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 28 nights Jul 2025

Amanda Verified

10 exchanges127 nights20 feedback

Our stay at Janet’s was special because it gave us the chance to stay somewhere very different from home - with beautiful mountain views and toucan spottings but with conveniences we’re used to (dishwasher, washing machine, WiFi). Victorio, Janet’s caretaker and Janet herself, were very very attentive so we knew we had someone we could call on if necessary. We really enjoyed hiking to waterfalls, the nearby swimming holes and Calovebora’s gentle waves.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 27 nights May 2025

Francesca Verified

6 exchanges50 nights8 feedback

We had the most wonderful time at Janet and John’s homes. The main Santa Fe home is just beautiful, big, with lots of areas to spread out and relax in. It was perfect for a family of 5. We all had our own space. The kitchen was super well stocked. We also were fortunate that Janet and John allowed us to use their 2 other homes- in the waterfalls and at the beach. Our kids loved them all. It’s not an overly touristed area but a very authentic small town location in Panama. We relaxed, cooked, met the locals, swam in several waterfalls nearby, took a tubing trip, ate some delicious food at some surprisingly great restaurants and had a genuinely amazing time. Janet proved to be the most extraordinary host, making sure we were well taken care of even though she was all the way in Michigan. Thank you so much Janet and John for sharing such a lovely and very special place in Panama. Can’t wait to meet you in California this summer.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 6 nights Aug 2024

Elma Verified

11 exchanges77 nights14 feedback

We stayed in Janet and John's beautifull house in Sant Fe and had a wonderfull time. We haven't had the change to meet them in person, but met quite some people of their community. We had a welcome dinner made for us by a friend, the housekeeper Victorio and his son Victor helped us with our plans and we stayed in their hut while a family cooked for us. It was a wonderfull experience and we got to meet so many wonderful people. The national park of Sante Fe is beautifull. We did a night jungle tour, hiked and swimmed in a waterfal and it all felt amazing.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 9 nights Jul 2024

Katrijn Verified

6 exchanges72 nights11 feedback

Thank you Janet, for the great experience. We really loved the amazing nature, beautiful home and neverending hospitality. Thank you for everything!

Non-Reciprocal exchange 7 nights Feb 2024

Amy Verified

9 exchanges65 nights10 feedback

This is one of the best exchanges we have ever done (in over 100+)--if you get the opportunity, definitely go! Janet and John are so welcoming and a wealth of information--I am so glad we changed our original plans to visit Santa Fe for a such an incredible week...from the welcome dinner, to staying at their very cool cabin in the mountain village of el Salto, lots of gorgeous waterfall hikes to secret swimming holes. Santa Fe is a hidden gem (and not super touristy). We also just loved hanging out at their casita and picking oranges to make delicious fresh squeezed orange juice. The hikes and views are spectacular. Also I loved that I got to speak Spanish with the local families who guided and cooked their local specialty sancocho for us. We spent a day going with Janet and John to see another cottage they are building in Calovebora on the Caribbean coast (and hope to return to stay there at some point!). Janet also was a wealth of info for the rest of trip (Casco Viejo in Panama City, La Enea, Santa Catalina and Coiba Island, and Valle de Anton). I can't recommend this exchange enough-5 stars!

Non-Simultaneous exchange 19 nights Aug 2023

Carey and Peter Verified

66 exchanges802 nights97 feedback

Janet & John's stunning, spacious & comfortable home is surrounded by trees with great views across the valleys to the mountains beyond. It is very well equipped with everything you need and is a unique design with a third storey bird watching area plus a large master bedroom connected by a bridge. The friendly and kind Victorio is on hand to sort out any problems and Janet is only a message away. She is incredibly helpful, arranging things from afar and very generous organizing a welcome meal on arrival. The local coffee & eggs provided was also a real treat. We thoroughly enjoyed our walks along dirt roads & tracks, swimming in rivers and meeting an extremely welcoming community of locals & ex-pats. We were delighted to see and hear approximately 50 different bird varieties including 3 species of toucans. Janet & John, a thousand thanks for a pretty amazing exchange! See you in NZ.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 10 nights Apr 2023

Lizette & Arnold Verified

24 exchanges263 nights31 feedback

We just returned from a fabulous trip to Panama and an even more fantastic stay at Janet and John's incredible place in Santa Fe. Although we are experienced travelers, we did not know much about Panama and even less about Santa Fe. After visiting friends in Panama City, we travelled to Santa Fe where we found a lovely home surrounded by flowers and trees. Everything was prepared for our arrival. The house is very private and there is a wonderful caring and interesting community. Vittorio, the guard, always available for questions and help, his son to drive us around, Claire who filled our fridge with tasty food, fresh greens and eggs, the hotel of Cindy where we could use internet, Esther and Egberto in El Salto, who showed us the waterfall and served one of the best soups of Panama. And there was Christian, a very knowledgeable bird guide of Santa Fe National Park. And, from a distance, Janet made sure all was organized to perfection! Janet & John's place is a gem, very tastefully decorated and furnished. The eye for detail and their love for the environment speak volumes. We enjoyed every minute and spent hours on the terrace watching birds. In one day birding with Christian we already saw close to 60 species. And on a Sunday morning we were woken up by a stunning Lineated Woodpecker. We were lucky to have 3 weeks in Panama and our trip included other beautiful places like Isla de Coiba, Cerro Hoya, El Valle de Anton and the Metropolitan Park in Panama City, but the stay in Santa Fe formed the best introduction to Panama we could have imagined. We really fell in love with Panama. We used a globe for this stay, but we sincerely hope Janet and John will visit The Netherlands/Amsterdam one day so we can return some of their hospitality. It was an unforgettable visit.

Non-Simultaneous exchange 14 nights Sep 2022

Darci Verified

9 exchanges192 nights14 feedback

Janet's home was fantastic in every way! It is an incredibly beautiful home with so many gorgeous details everywhere. It is very comfortable, and the views from the deck are incredible. It was a pleasure to get up every morning and watch the changing fog, and the birds, from the hammocks on the deck. We even saw toucans in the yard! We felt to lucky to be able to exchange in Santa Fe, as it is a fantastic community with beautiful scenery and so much for an outdoor-loving person to do. Everything was so close and so available to explore. We loved going to the swimming holes in the Santa Fe area, not only for the swimming, but bird watching and people watching too! And the waterfalls were great, especially at the El Salto cabin. Janet was always available to offer advice and assistance, really helping make us feel welcome and nothing was too much for Janet to assist with! We really appreciated it, and her Panama friends and colleagues were also so very helpful and helped us figure out the intricacies of life in Panama. It was a truly unique area, a fantastic place to explore and a relaxing and unforgettable holiday. We feel so lucky that we were able to exchange with Janet and look forward to her stay at ours.

Non-Simultaneous exchange 16 nights Aug 2022

Aja (and Family) Verified

6 exchanges80 nights7 feedback

We had a fabulous time at this gorgeous home and in this warm, welcoming community. Janet was an amazing host; warm, friendly, attentive and so very, very thoughtful. The house and gardens are beautifully designed and maintained - we couldn't believe our luck when we arrived. The kids loved the hammocks. We loved the handmade furniture. We all loved the thunder and lightning shows out over the mountains every evening. If you're feeling adventurous, but love your home comforts, this is a dream come true. Thank you so much Janet and John. We cant wait to have you at ours!