Isla Carenero is Bocas del Toro’s smallest main island – just under 1 square kilometer – but it has the most to offer for tourists compared to its size. There are beautiful beaches and world-class waves, lively coral reefs, lush rainforest, palm trees, turquoise waters, and awesome places to both stay and eat.

Plus, it’s all accessible by a short walk or $1-$2 water taxi ride. If you’re looking to experience an authentic Caribbean island and jump right in on Bocas del Toro’s culture, then Isla Carenero is the perfect fit!

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Isla Carenero Map

Read our other island guides: Isla Colon | Isla Solarte | Isla Bastimentos

How to get to Isla Carenero

Getting to Isla Carenero is an easy $1-$2 water taxi ride from Bocas Town on Isla Colon. You’ll need to get to Bocas del Toro first, of course, which we have outlined in another guide, here. But in short, the best way to get to Bocas del Toro is:

• Fly to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, Panama
• Transfer to Albrook International Airport in Panama City and fly with Air Panama from PAC to BOC
• Once you land on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro (BOC), you can take a land taxi from the airport to the Carenero water taxi dock.
• From there, Isla Carenero is just a $1-$2 water taxi ride away! And just like that, boom! You’ve found yourself on Isla Carenero with a cold drink, feet in the sand, watching the sun go down!

Things to do on Isla Carenero

Visitors to Isla Carenero will find an abundance of fun and exciting things to do on the island. We frequent the island for surfing, eating, and going to the beach for a quick afternoon escape. If you chose to stay on the island, you will also find its central location to be very convenient for visiting other islands or jumping over to Bocas Town for shopping.

Some of the best things to do on Isla Carenero are:

Surfing

Isla Carenero is home to some of Bocas del Toro’s best and most popular surf spots. A big bonus of the island is that there are also waves for all skill levels – from a first-time beginner all the way up to advanced/ professional, and you can walk to them.

The best months to surf on Isla Carenero are:

• High Season: December-April
• Low Season: Mid June – Mid August

The surf spots on Isla Carenero are:

• Black Rock – Beginner
• Old Mans – Beginner – Intermediate
• Carenero Point – Beginner – Advanced

Local Tip: Make sure you know where to paddle in and out of the waves, ask a local exactly where. The sea urchins and fire coral will thank you!

Check out our more detailed surf spot guide for Bocas del Toro.

Electronic Sim Card for Travel in Panama: Airalo is the world’s leading E-Sim brand and they offer a 30-day, 3GB plan for $18 that covers all of Panama. We use Airalo whenever we travel abroad!

Snorkeling

There are some good reefs for snorkeling around Isla Carenero as well, which you can also walk to, or use a kayak or paddleboard to reach.

If there are no waves, then you can try snorkeling at Black Rock or Carenero Point. The northern tip of the island is also a good place to snorkel, where there is an abundance of fish and more reef structures.

Local Tip: The biggest danger to snorkelers in Bocas del Toro is boat traffic. We always recommend that our guests snorkel next to a paddleboard or kayak so that they are more visible to passing boats. Boats will travel all over the archipelago, even through areas you don’t expect, so never go snorkeling without something that marks your location.

Hiking

Isla Carenero is a good island for a shorter and easier hike. You can hike around the island in about 1-2 hours, and there are multiple nice viewpoints to see, as well as some seriously beautiful and raw rainforest. 

The best viewpoint is a rocky outcrop located in the middle of the East side of the island, next to the black rock and old man’s surf spots. 

You’ll also get to see how the local Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean people live as they populate the south side of the island. If you want, you can even join in on their daily afternoon soccer games which go on in front of the local supermarket, just across from Bocas Town.

Contact Ariel from The Bocas Guru for a walking tour of the island.

Local Tip: Remember to only bring what you need while hiking in Bocas del Toro, and leave unnecessary valuables at home.

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving is not popular directly around Isla Carenero, although many of the dive spots are just a few minutes from the island.

However, Panama Dive School is located on the island, so if you want to scuba dive during your time in Bocas, it may be a good idea to stay on Isla Carenero so you can walk to one of the best dive shops in the islands!

Kayaking or Paddleboarding

The west side of the island features mostly calm waters that are protected from the open ocean swell. This can be a good area to explore by kayak or paddleboard, and if the waves are small, you can even go all around the island (the waves have to be very small though). 

The wind is generally lightest in the morning, which is the best for kayaking and paddleboarding. 

Check out Doña Mara Beach Hotel or Aqua Lounge for kayak and paddleboard rentals!

Local Tip: Take your time and observe the areas you want to paddle to next. Sometimes an area (like a shallow reef) can look calm and inviting, only to have a wave breaking on it several minutes later.

Partying

If you like to party, then Isla Carenero is a good island to stay on. Not only is Isla Carenero home to Aqua Lounge, which boasts some of the best electronic music parties in Bocas, but you’re also just a $1-$2 water taxi ride from the nightlife of Bocas Town. 

Local Tip: One of the biggest complaints about staying on Isla Carenero is the loud music which can go on till late at night. However, most accommodations will provide earplugs and noise-canceling machines, which help alot!

Sundays

Sundays are the best days on Isla Carenero, as all of the popular restaurants here have events, like island-style BBQs and live music. Because of the island’s small size, you can easily walk back and forth between the venues and “bar hop” until late at night. Bibi’s and Receta Michila offer the best local food in Bocas! In between meals, you can stop by the Carenero Beach for the best swimming on the island.

Local Tip: Don’t forget your bug spray, as the chitras (or sand flies) can be muy loco. Anything high in DEET will do the trick!

Learn about all the things to do in Bocas del Toro, here

Where to Stay on Isla Carenero

There are a handful of good places to stay on the island with most in the “affordable” range and not very “luxurious”.” If you are looking for Caribbean culture, an authentic island lifestyle, and amazing hosts – at a good price – then this is where to look!

The Best Places to Stay on Isla Carenero Are:

Some other cool places to stay on Isla Carenero are:

• Hotel Tierra Verde
• Riva B&B

Read our “Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro Guide“

Where to Eat on Isla Carenero

Our favorite thing about Isla Carenero, besides the surf, is the food! This small island is home to some of the best flavors in Bocas. In fact, several of our top recommendations on where to eat in all of Bocas del Toro are right here!

The Best Places to Eat on Isla Carenero Are:

• Receta Michila
• Bibi’s on the Beach
• Leaf Eaters
• Coquitos Beach

Safety on Isla Carenero

Isla Carenero is a safe island and a safe place to stay, visit, or adventure on. But, as with all places in Bocas del Toro, you still need to be a “smart” traveler. 

Here are some tips to stay safe on Isla Carenero:

• Do not leave your valuables unattended on the beach
• Watch out for boat traffic while swimming/ snorkeling
• Don’t wander around the island late at night
• Lock up your accommodation when you leave and at night
• Don’t drink too much

Read about Safety in Bocas del Toro, here

Isla Carenero Insider Tips

We’ve lived in Bocas since 2015 and have spent a good amount of time exploring, eating, beaching, and surfing on Isla Carenero. Here are some tips based on what we have learned:

• If you want to walk to the surf, ask a local where to paddle out from
• Carenero Beach, in front of the massive hardwood house, is the best beach area (about a 10 minute walk north from Bibi’s)
• Bibi’s, Receta Michila, and Leaf Eaters are 3 of the best restaurants in Bocas
• Don’t leave your stuff unattended on the beach, and only bring what you need – leave your valuables at home
• Watch out for boats when you snorkel – bring something that marks your position, like a dive buoy or life jacket
• Aqua Lounge is awesome, especially for sunset
• Load up on bug spray

Watch Isla Carenero from the Drone:

Check out the rest of our Travel Guides for Bocas del Toro below!

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