Bocas del Toro, Panama, Travel Guide

Imagine a tropical paradise close to home. Perhaps Costa Rica or Jamaica, with its clear rivers and dense rainforests, comes to mind. Panama? But Panama?

“Bocas del Toro isn’t your average Caribbean escape,” says Ariel Barrionuevo of La Coralina Island House, located on the archipelago’s main island of Isla Colón. It’s a place where Afro-Caribbean beats mix with Indigenous wisdom and luxury is low-key. The natural beauty isn’t what makes it special, but the feeling that you get upon arrival: you’ve found something real, raw and evolving.

Bocas del Toro is a relatively remote island that feels a world away from the other Caribbean islands. Eco-minded travelers looking to unplug are attracted to this destination. There are more luxury hotels like Nayara Bocas del Toro which has a collection of overwater Balinese villas. This could mean that Bocas del Toro will become less of a secret.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Nayara Bocas del Toro

You don’t have to fly to the Maldives if you want an overwater villa. Nayara Bocas del Toro? This sustainability-minded property emerges from the jungle to reveal a collection of 16 luxurious overwater bungalows, each featuring a private plunge pool and outdoor deck complete with a fire pit. If you decide to leave, why would you want to?Each villa comes with its own captain and boat for excursions, such as snorkeling and island-hopping. We named the property one of our top 10 destinations. most beautiful places in the Caribbean.

La Coralina House

Nestled between rainforest and gentle ocean waves on a secluded corner of Isla Colón, La Coralina Island House The luxury boutique hotel oozes tranquility. Balinese influence is evident in the spa, wellness center, and yoga deck of this property, as well as its 23 suites and 8 villas. All have private terraces that offer breathtaking views of the island or ocean. The property’s restaurant, lounge and bar offers Caribbean-inspired cuisines in an open-air setting. All are located near the infinity swimming pool which appears to blend into the ocean.

Urraca Island Eco Resort

The archipelago is tucked away in untouched corners. Urraca Island Eco Resort The island is one of the best places in the region to live out your own private island fantasies. affordable private island resorts. Only six overwater bungalows can be bought individually, or all together for a complete private island. Urraca is just a short distance from bioluminescent bays and hidden coral reefs to explore—if you can peel yourself away from your room, that is.

Sweet Bocas

A private, family-run estate spread across 15 acres, Sweet Bocas Only one group is allowed to stay at the time, for a truly secluded getaway. The property has up to 13 bedrooms. Seven of them are located in an overwater villa with all the amenities, while the other two are distributed between a large guest house and private suites. A freshwater lake is also available, as are sports courts, a pool, an outdoor cinema and a gym. The all-inclusive package includes farm-to-table, chef-prepared cuisine as well as access to the 30-foot yacht.

What to Do in Best Things to See

Explore Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park.

First marine park of the country Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park is one of Panama’s most important ecotourism destinations and the so-called “Galápagos Islands of the Caribbean.” The Isla Bassimentos Marine National Park has a rich fauna, according to Kourtney Lohn, founder of Ríe RetreatsA creative travel club, hosts group travel experiences throughout Latin America. The park is home to a variety of marine species, including nurse sharks. rays, sea turtles, lobsters and sea urchins. They hide on the reefs that contain 95 percent all coral species in the Caribbean.

Try surfing.

Bocas del Toro, in the Caribbean, is one of the top spots for surfing. Surprised? The locals certainly aren’t. They’re catching up to the incredible swells on the islands. Rent gear at local shops and book beginner-friendly classes. Mono Loco Surf SchoolIt can also arrange for lessons to be held at some of the most popular surfing beaches in the region, including Paunch Reef Beach and Bluff Beach. The best time to travel is between December and February for the biggest swells.

Dive wrecks.

The archipelago of Bocas del Toro is home to dozens of dive spots, including some mysterious wrecks. Even snorkelers with little experience will be able to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. La Buga Leads dives to destinations such as The Old Wreck or Isla Solte’s Pandora Wreck which has also massive coral formations nearby.

Swim in bioluminescent aqua.

Tucked along the shores in some of the bays near Isla Colón and Isla Bastimentos, plankton blooms generate a blue bioluminescent effect in the water that mirrors stars in the night sky. Kawa Voyage Offers comprehensive excursions for paddling and swimming through the glowing water. It is important to note that the effect will be most noticeable on nights where there is no or little moon. Plan your trip accordingly so you can experience the midnight magic in Bocas del Toro.

Visit a cacao farm.

Bocas del Toro is not only known for its beautiful beaches, but also the rugged, rich interior of its many islands. Visit a cacao plantation to learn more about the small-batch production of chocolate and to make chocolate bars. Though several ecotourism operations in the area run similar experiences, local Ngäbe Indigenous guides offer the most meaningful window into this age-old practice, while also supporting local stewardship and sustainability of island resources.

Best Restaurants

Receta Michilá

Isla Carenero is a small island located at the rear of Isla Carenero. Receta Michilá A Bocas del Toro foodie gem that was so loved it made the World’s 50 Best Discovery list This year. “A rising culinary star that elevates Panamanian heritage, Receta Michilá focuses on indigenous ingredients like smoked river fish, plantain gratins, and chocolate desserts made from local cacao beans,” raves Barrionuevo. Its Caribbean-style decor and spacious, breezy dining room on the waterfront keep it casual and laid-back.

Octo

The menu at Octo Barrionuevo, the owner of this food-truck-style kitchen in Bocas Town, says that they serve local fish as ceviches, grilled fillets, and carpaccios with sauces made in-house. Despite its casual atmosphere, Octo encapsulates “modern island cuisine with just the right edge,” making it a must-visit eatery whether you’re staying on Isla Colón or just passing through.

Bibi’s on the beach

Isla Carenero is known for its classic Caribbean cuisine, including conch fritters (conch fritters), ceviche and fresh fish. Bibi’s on the BeachEven the locals return every weekend to enjoy the overwater dining. Bibi’s offers a variety of water sports gear like paddleboards and kayaks.

The Floating Bar

Take a water taxi to Boca Town, and then head past Bocas Marina. The Floating BarIt’s just too cool not to go. The dual-level bar and restaurant is spacious with large decks that include hammocks and lounge chairs. There’s also plenty of room to sunbathe, snorkel and swim while you wait.

Blue Coconut

This quiet corner is untouched by the rest of Isla Solarte. The Blue Coconut A tranquil restaurant with hammocks draped over the clear waters is located in this area. The weekly Seafood Sundays and Sunday Barbecues are very popular. But a seafood-heavy menu is available all week. The Blue Coconut is a popular stop on the Filthy Friday Bar Crawl, which attracts backpackers and other visitors to the island’s most boisterous clubs and bars.

The Best Places to Visit

Isla Colón

The journey to Bocas del Toro starts and ends on Isla Colón, the largest island in the archipelago and home to Bocas Town, the region’s main commercial heart. The vibrant Bocas Town has a concentration of bars, shops, and restaurants. But the more remote parts of the island have forests, beaches, boutique resorts, and luxury overwater bungalows.

Isla Carenero

Isla Carenero is so close to Isla Colón that you can swim to it, making it almost an extension of busy Bocas Town. Cafés, bars, and eateries with spacious decks line much of the island, though beaches on its far side feel relatively untouched, drawing surfers and swimmers alike.

Isla Bastimentos

Isla Bastimentos, a large and untouched island in Bocas del Toro is partially enclosed by the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park. The island is The island is known for its best beaches, including Red Frog Beach (named after the strawberry-hued frogs that inhabit the island) and Playa Larga – a nesting area for endangered sea turtles. Some of Panama’s last remaining indigenous communities live on the island.

Islas Zapatillas

The pair of uninhabited Islas Zapatillas are so beautiful that they’re said to be where the slippers— zapatillas—God touched Earth. These islands, which are hidden within the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park and have a sandy beach rim, are popular day trip destinations for snorkelers looking to see colorful coral reefs.

The Best Time to Visit

Barrionuevo explains that despite its Caribbean location, Bocas does not have a fixed “wet” or “dry” season. The weather can be unpredictable, but it is always magical. However, the skies are usually clearer between January and April. Bocas del Toro lies outside the Atlantic Hurricane Belt that threatens nearby Islands.

As many people flee the colder climates of home, the high season lasts roughly from December to April. Bocas Town, though the islands do not feel overcrowded, is more crowded and prices at island resorts go up around holidays, such as Christmas or Semana Santa. Barrionuevo says “May, September, and June offer lower rates at hotels and less crowds. This is perfect for budget-conscious travelers.”

How to get there

It may seem like a big adventure to get to Bocas del Toro, but the journey is actually much easier than many travelers think. Backpackers often make the journey overland to the small town of Almirante before catching a ferry to Bocas del Toro, but most travelers will want to save hours on the road and fly into Captain José Ezequiel Hall International Airport (BOC) on Isla Colón. The Albrook Airport (PAC) in Panama City is the only airport that flies into this tiny airstrip.

Copa Airlines is a popular choice for many travelers. Panama Stopover Program Make their Bocas del Toro trip a reality. No additional airfare is required for passengers who transit through Panama City, the Hub of the Americas.

Stopover or not, most travelers will opt to spend at least one night in Panama City after their international flight to get their bearings and explore the city’s historic Casco Viejo before catching the less-frequent flights to Isla Colón. Stay at Hotel La Compañía in the heart of the old town or its recently debuted sibling property in El Valle de Antón, Hotel La Compañía del Valle.

How to Get Around

If you are staying in Bocas Town, it is easy to explore on foot. But to see the rest of the island and its best attractions, you will need to get out on the water. Lohn claims that “taking water taxis everywhere” is the best way to explore Bocas del Toro. There are water taxis available all over the place. They are affordable and usually cost a few dollars depending on how many people are in the taxi and where they are going. Be sure to agree on the fare prior to boarding and be prepared to pay in cash or Panamanian balboas.