Bocas del Toro is a province on Panama’s Caribbean side, near the Costa Rica border. It includes a forested inland area, a lengthy strip of coastline, and the Bocas del Toro archipelago, with Isla Colon and its capital city, Bocas Town, at the helm. English is widely spoken.
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While Bocas del Toro in Panama attracts more travelers every year, its ecosystem remains largely intact due to the admirable efforts of conservationists. In fact, the biodiversity of the Bocas del Toro region is so exquisite, it’s internationally recognized as both a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.
What to Do:
How much time do you have? It would take months to explore all of Bocas del Toro’s 9 major islands, 50 cays (low, coral-based islands), and 200-plus islets.
Beach-lovers and sufers (you’re in for a treat!) will be eager to begin their island-hopping as soon as their plane lands. However, Bocas Town itself has lots to offer, including the province’s best selection of dining, nightlife, and accommodations. It’s an archetypal Caribbean village of pastel rooftops, fresh seafood served in waterfront restaurants on stilts, fishing boats in bold, primary colors, and docks stretching over the patchwork waters. Playa Bluff is the town’s most dazzling beach.
Bastimentos Island is another terrific destination, where happy travelers can find prime diving, snorkeling, and plenty of wildlife viewing. Its most popular strip of sand, Red Frog Beach, is named after the scarlet poison dart frogs that bounce through the underbrush. The Zapatillas Cays are a top pick for pure, unadulterated relaxation. Located within the Bastimentos Island National Marine Park, the immaculate coral reefs and beaches (we’re talking sand like powdered sugar) are a poignant reminder of what many Caribbean islands used to be.
Isla Solarte is becoming a south-after destination for retirees, especially those interested in staking their claim on some untouched Caribbean real estate. Allegedly, the island has never experienced a single hurricane in recorded history. The archipelago’s other islands and cays, like Isla Popa and Isla Cristobal, are far less visited by travelers—but don’t let that stop you!
When to Go:
While Bocas del Toro Province experiences a warm and rather wet climate year-round, the least rainy months to visit are between August and October, and between February and April.
Getting There and Around:
Buses travel to Bocas del Toro Province from Costa Rica in the northwest (the long-standing bridge at the border is an experience it itself), and from David in the south. Water taxis offer swift rides from the Almirante port on the mainland to Bocas Town on Isla Colon, as well as between islands. If time’s an issue, you may choose to travel by plane from Panama City to Bocas Town instead.
Tips and Practicalities:
For about $15 US, you can book a snorkeling tour from Bocas Town through a medley of islets, cays, and other attractions including Isla Pajaros (a forested, mountainous isle populated by migratory birds), Starfish Beach, and Dolphin Bay (the names say it all). However, some of the tour operators are known to harass the dolphins, venturing too close for the gentle mammals’ comfort and even injuring them. Ask around before you choose your guide.
Watch out for turbulent waters of the coast of Bastimentos—rip tides are common.
Fun Fact:
In 1502, Columbus stopped at several Bocas del Toro islands on his fourth and last trip to the New World. Columbus was so taken by the region’s splendor that he named Isla Colon and Isla Cristobal after himself.
