This Quick Travel Guide to Bocas del Toro, Panama, is written based on our first-hand experience of living and working in Bocas del Toro full-time since 2015.

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago located on the Caribbean coast of Panama known for its stunning natural beauty, biodiversity, and laid-back Caribbean vibe. The region is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Panama and is a popular destination for surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

The islands of Bocas del Toro are also known for their abundant wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, and toucans, and offer plenty of opportunities for island hopping and exploring different parts of the archipelago by boat.

The islands have a range of accommodation options, from budget hostels to overwater bungalows and luxury resorts, making it a destination that can fit any budget or travel style.

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Quick Facts about Bocas del Toro

• Currency: USD or Panamanian Balboa
• Languages: Spanish, English, Guari Guari, Näbere
• Population: Est. 16,000
• Economy: Est. 95% Tourism-related, with construction and subsistence farming and fishing also being popular.
• Capital City: Bocas Town, Isla Colón
• Popular Attractions: Starfish Beach, Red Frog Beach, Bluff Beach, The Bastimentos National Marine Park
• Primary Islands for Tourism: Isla Colón, Isla Carenero, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Solarte, Isla San Cristobal

Where is Bocas del Toro Located?

Bocas del Toro is located in the Northwest corner of Panama on the Caribbean Sea, sharing its western border with Costa Rica.

The Bocas del Toro Province comprises large areas of the mainland with banana plantations and cloud forests, and an island archipelago set amongst turquoise Caribbean waters.

Tourism in Bocas del Toro is centered around Bocas Town on Isla Colón, the capital city and main island of the archipelago. 

Don’t Miss: 10 Day Panama Itinerary with Bocas del Toro and Panama City

Map of Bocas del Toro

How to get to Bocas del Toro:

The best (and easiest) way to get to Bocas del Toro is by flying from Panama City with Air Panama on one of their multiple daily flights. The flights cost between $80 and $140 plus taxes, and should only be booked directly through AirPanama.com. 

You can also get to Bocas del Toro by bus or shuttle from Panama City and any other part of Panama. Many travelers also come to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica through the Sixaloa border crossing. You can also fly to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica, although this flight seems to open and close with a new business every year. Our favorite way is to fly from Panama City!

flying to Bocas del Toro from Panama City:

• Step 1: Book your international flights into Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
• Step 2: Book your domestic flights with Air Panama from Panama City’s Albrook Airport (PAC) to Bocas del Toro (BOC)

Insider Tips:

• You need to leave 2.5-3 hours in between your international flight arrival and the domestic flight to Bocas. This time will account for long lines at immigration and potential traffic in Panama City. 
• The PTY (international airport) and PAC (domestic airport) are about a 30-minute taxi ride from each other. 

Panama City Layover: Read – 5 Best Hotels and Things To Do in Panama City

Bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro

Buses from Panama City to Bocas del Toro depart from the Albrook Bus Station about every 30 minutes. Tickets normally do not need to be purchased in advance unless you are traveling over busy holiday times. 

The night bus is the most recommended way to do this, as you can sleep almost the whole way. You will arrive to Bocas Town on Isla Colón around 7AM after taking the 30-minute water shuttle from Almirante.

Insider Tip for Panama City: Using Uber in Panama City is cheaper than the airport taxis, but can potentially slow you down.

Read our full guide on how to get to 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!

About the Islands

The Bocas del Toro Archipelago comprises 9 main islands and hundreds of smaller islets and cays. Tourism in Bocas del Toro is centered around Isla Colón, Isla Carenero, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Solarte, and to a lesser extent, Isla San Cristóbal. 

The capital city of Bocas del Toro, called Bocas Town (located on Isla Colón), is the center of all business and tourism-related activities. This is where the airport, bank/ ATM, and hospital are located.

Some popular places to visit for Travelers are:

• Starfish Beach
• Red Frog Beach
• The Bastimentos National Marine Park (and Cayo Zapatilla)
• Bocas Town
• Nividia Bat Cave
• Hospital Point
• Bluff Beach

Don’t make these mistakes! Learn the “7 Things You Should Not Do in Bocas del Toro”

Getting Around the Islands

The main form of transportation in Bocas del Toro is the water taxi, and this is what sets the islands apart from most other destinations in the Caribbean. While Isla Colón does have roads and cars and relies on the land taxi system, on the rest of the islands you will either be navigating on foot or on the water.

Insider Tip: Be sure to get some water taxi or land taxi numbers from your accommodation. Everyone in Bocas del Toro uses WhatsApp and you can text/ call any of the taxi drivers for free over WiFi. This is what we use with our guests!

If you are staying on Isla Colon, there is also the option to rent an ATV, Motor Scooter, E-Bike or even a car. Here is a list of businesses that rent vehicles in Bocas Town:

• Rental Cars – Bocas del Toro Rent-a-Car
• E- Bikes – Bocas E-Bikes
• ATV Rentals, E-Bikes, Motor Scooters – Flying Pirates
• Golf Cart Rental – Bocas Carts

Insider Tip: make sure you budget for the water taxis and land taxis. Ask your accommodation about them and how much they cost. They charge per person and can get quite expensive depending on how far you are going, like $15 flat rate to Bluff Beach, or $8 per person to Red Frog Beach.

What Does Bocas del Toro Mean?

“Bocas del Toro” is Spanish for “Mouths of the Bull”. The name is said to have originated from the shape of the bay and islands that resemble a bull’s head and horns. Another theory suggests that the name comes from one of the indigenous chiefs during the time when Christopher Columbus first arrived in the islands, although no one theory has been officially declared correct.

Insider Tip: Locals just refer to the islands as, “Bocas,” and specifically the main town, Bocas Town, is just called “Bocas.”

History of Bocas del Toro

The indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé people were the original inhabitants of the area that is now Bocas del Toro, and they lived there for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans.

Christopher Columbus arrived in Bocas del Toro in 1502 and during the 17th century, the area became a popular safe harbor for traders, pirates, and privateers. The calm, protected bays, abundant food supplies from the islands and fish and turtle from the seas, as well as the shallow water beaches which were ideal for careening their ships, made the archipelago a perfect place to stop and resupply before further voyages.  

Bocas Town was founded in 1826 and grew to become Panama’s third most important city, after Panama City and Davíd. Bocas Town’s growth peaked in the early 1920s with The United Fruit Company (modern-day Chiquita Brands International) dominating the islands with their banana plantations. (Source: Grand Bahia)

The boom went bust when The Panama Disease, a type of fungus that attacked and killed the bananas, destroyed the plantations on the islands. The United Fruit Company moved its plantations to the mainland of the province, and the islands remained a quiet place for the local Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous peoples to survive on subsistence farming and fishing. 

Modern-day Bocas became a popular tourist destination in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, tourism accounts for 95% of the local economy. 

Weather in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro has a tropical rainforest climate. This means that it is hot, humid, and wet – year-round.

The air and water temperatures hover around 80 degrees all year, and although you can expect rain every month of the year, some months have more rain than others. Bocas del Toro is in the rainforest, with lush jungles covering almost every inch of the islands. You simply don’t have a rainforest like this without an abundance of rain!

But don’t let that deter you…

The Best Time to Visit Bocas del Toro

The best time to visit Bocas del Toro is January through March, which are statistically the driest months of the year. We personally love February and March for the sunny weather and good surfing!

Insider Tip: The locally favorite month of the year is October, mostly for the good weather and lack of tourists. When you live in Bocas del Toro full-time, you appreciate it when the streets, ocean, and beaches aren’t busy with visitors!

High and Low Season

The high season for tourism in Bocas del Toro is December to April, with Christmas through Easter being the peak time. The high season months are the best months to visit the islands and you can expect the climate to be dryer. It is not uncommon during these months to see weeks without rain, and so much sun that you will want a cloudy day just to give your skin a break!

May through October is considered “Low Season,” and the wetter half of the year, but is still popular with tourists. These “Low Season” months can feature cheaper accommodations, and there are a lot fewer tourists around the islands. While the weather can be pretty rainy during this time of year, it can also be very dry and sunny, delivering beautiful weather and barely anyone around to enjoy it!  

Read our article on when to visit Bocas del Toro for a month by month guide!

Best Things to Do in Bocas del Toro

The best things to do in Bocas del Toro vary from water sports like surfing and scuba diving to rainforest hiking, exploring bat caves, beach lounging, partying, or even riding ATV’s through the jungle. Got an activity bucket list? Bocas del Toro offers several bucket list-worthy activities.

Insider Tip: Generally speaking, the islands are better suited for an adventure-style vacation, than just a trip to lounge on the beach and drink piña coladas. Because of the unpredictable weather, you should be prepared to do some activities that don’t require full sun to still have an amazing day.

Check out our Activity Guides: 33 Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro, 7 Best Things To Do in Bocas del Toro Panama

Some of the best things to do in Bocas del Toro are:

Surfing

Bocas del Toro is Panama’s premier surfing destination and one of the best surfing destinations in Latin America. What really sets the islands apart is the number of good waves within a short boat ride from the center of the islands (there are about 10).

There are also waves for all skill levels and people who want to learn to surf. When the biggest swells of the year hit the islands in December and January, professional surfers from all over the world will fly here to get in on the action!

For Surf Lessons: Mono Loco Surf School, Bocas del Toro Surfing (Group Trips and Private Guiding), La Buga, and EDM

Insider Tip: The best surf season is from December through April with a mini season between June and August!

Read our surfing guide.

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving is the second most popular water activity in Bocas del Toro. The archipelago is known to be one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, and the underwater life here is stunning. Sea turtles, dolphins, seahorses and reef sharks are the most prized sights!

For Scuba Diving: Panama Dive School, Bocas Dive Center, La Buga Dive and Surf

Insider Tip: The months of September and October are the best months to visit for scuba diving!

Read our Scuba Diving in Bocas del Toro Guide

Snorkeling

Boca del Toro is known to have 95% of the Caribbean’s soft coral species, and the islands are lined with beautiful and shallow reefs to snorkel. When the seas are really calm you can venture out on a boat trip and see some amazing underwater caves and structures.

Snorkeling is included on many tours, and places like Isla Solarte feature calm waters and shallow reefs all along the perimeter that are easily accessed by kayak or paddleboard.

For Snorkeling Tours: These can be booked in Bocas Town, or your accommodation should have a good guide that they recommend.

Insider Tip: Be aware of currents, waves, and boats where you go snorkeling and always use a swim buoy to mark your position if you go out on your own. Boats travel all over the waters of the archipelago!

Sport Fishing

If fishing is your thing, then you can try your luck with one of the many local or expat-run fishing charters. Popular target fish are Tarpon, Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, or Snapper. The accessibility of deep-sea fishing depends on the open ocean swell, but you can always fish inside the islands. 

Hiring a local guide and going hand-line fishing in a dugout canoe is also sure to be an exciting and memorable experience!

For Sport Fishing in Bocas del Toro: Capitan Marcel, Nachyo Mama’s, BDT Sportfishing, and for a local experience – call Byron or Eddie – +507-6907-9636

Insider Tip: The best time to get offshore for Tuna and Mahi is May – June!

Exploring the Rainforest by Hiking, Horseback Riding, or ATV

If you want to see sloths, howler monkeys, strawberry poison dart frogs, and tropical birds like toucans and parrots, then you will want to head into the rainforest on a guided hike or horseback riding tour.

Sometimes sloths and monkeys will just appear out of the blue in more populated areas, but mainly they can be found deeper in the jungle and away from people.

Popular Rainforest Tours: Horseback Riding at Bluff Beach, Flying Pirates ATV Rentals, Titi’s Bastimentos & Polo Beach Tour (Whatsapp: +507-6788-1331)

Insider Tip: Two of the most unique rainforest-based tours with a high probability of wildlife sightings are Titi’s Polo Beach Hike and Rutilio’s Bat Cave Tour. Read more about them in this guide. (These are two of the main tours we recommend to our guests).

Best Beaches in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro has more beaches to visit than you can fit into a 2-week vacation. The ones we definitely recommend visiting are:

• Isla Zapatilla
• Red Frog Beach
• Bluff Beach
• Polo Beach
• Wizard Beach
• Starfish Beach

Getting to most of these beaches means hiring a water taxi, land taxi, or going on a hike. Red Frog Beach and Bluff Beach all have places where you can stay and restaurants to eat at. Isla Zapatilla, Polo Beach, and Wizard Beach, have no places to stay or to eat at (besides Polo’s house), unless you want to go camping out here which is definitely possible.

Starfish Beach is a slim stretch of sand with calm, protected waters and local restaurant shacks lining the beach. It’s most popular due to the starfish that come to the shallow waters to feed (and have their pictures taken for Instagram).

Learn about the 12 Best Beaches in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro Nightlife

The nightlife in Bocas del Toro is a huge draw for visitors around the world. Because the local lifestyle revolves around the ocean, so does the party scene. Popular nightlife/ day party options are:

• Filthy Friday (Island Hopping)
• The Floating Bar
• Aqua Lounge

Some of the nightclub spots are:

• Selina Hostal
• Barco Hundidio
• La Iguana

While there is a party to find any night of the week, the weekends are definitely the wildest. The craziest parties of the year occur around the holidays, like from Christmas to New Years (the whole week), Carnival, and Easter. November has various national and local holidays and is a popular time to visit to witness parades and cultural festivals.

Insider Tip: We recommend doing some partying while you visit the islands, but not too much. You don’t want to miss all of the natural beauty because you are too hungover!

Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro

Choosing where to stay in Bocas del Toro is almost as challenging as choosing what to do with so little time! 

There are many top-rated accommodations, from overwater bungalows to treehouses, floating homes, jungle lodges, hostels, and boutique resorts – there really is something for everyone. 

What we don’t have (and that we are happy not to) are big hotel and resort chains. Our archipelago is a unique and developing destination with a melting pot of cultures, and the accommodation options reflect that. If you are looking for a resort-style of vacation, then Bocas might not be for you.

Some of the best areas to stay in are:

• Isla Colón: Big Creek, Paunch, Bluff Beach, Bocas Town, and Saigon Bay
• Isla Bastimentos: Old Bank, Red Frog Beach, Bahia Honda, and Punta Vieja
• Isla Solarte: The North Side (closer to Bocas Town)
• Isla Carenero
• Isla San Cristobal: Dolphin Bay

Some Best Places to Stay in Bocas del Toro:

Sol Bungalows, Overwater B&B, ISla Solarte

Sol Bungalows, located on Isla Solarte just 5 minutes away from Bocas Town, is one of the top-rated accommodations in all of Bocas del Toro. Sol Bungalows features just 2 overwater bungalows and boasts an intimate, private, and authentic Bocas del Toro experience. If staying in an overwater bungalow is on your bucket list, then Sol Bungalows could be the perfect fit!

BOOK SOL BUNGALOWS

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Tropical Suites, Overwater Hotel, Bocas Town

Tropical Suites is an overwater hotel in the heart of Bocas Town featuring spacious rooms with kitchens, great views, and all the amenities and services you are accustomed to. They have a new overwater swimming pool and restaurant/ bar which has made them one of the best places to stay in Bocas Town by a wide margin.

Book Tropical Suites

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Casa Acuario, Overwater B&B, Isla Carenero

Casa Acuario is located just across from Bocas Town on Isla Carenero and features both Sunset and Sunrise views. They also boast some of the best hosts in the game, and are very well-connected to just about everything due to their location. The rooms are big, all with this ^ view, and include an organic, locally sourced breakfast with espresso to start your days.

BOOK CASA ACUARIO

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Nayara Bocas del Toro – Luxury Overwater Bungalow Resort – Near Isla San Cristobal

Nayara Bocas del Toro (previously known as Bocas Bali) is an overwater bungalow luxury resort, all-inclusive, and has all the luxury amenities you need like a plunge pool, glass floor, 24/7 room service and around a $2,000 per night price tag. They feature 18 overwater bungalows and also several tree houses which are equally as stunning. Nayara Bocas del Toro is Panama’s answer to the Maladives or Tahiti!

BOOK NAYARA BOCAS DEL TORO

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La Coralina Island House – Luxury Resort – Paunch Area Isla Colon

La Coralina Island House is a Balinese-style luxury resort, featuring 10 beach house-style rooms, a spa, and a massive swimming pool. It is located right on one of Bocas del Toro’s premier surfing spots, called Paunch, and about a 10-minute drive outside Bocas Town. If you ever wanted to visit Bali but are turned off by the 30-hour flights, now you can try La Coralina Island House!

Book La Coralina

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PirateArts Experience Resort, Luxury Apartments, Isla Carenero (25% OFF!)

PirateArts Experience offers luxury apartment rentals set in a stunning tropical island resort. Located on the quiet side of Isla Carenero, they are just a 2-minute water taxi ride to Bocas Town (BONUS: Get 10% Off the high season rate when you mention The Bocas del Toro Blog/ This article when making a direct booking!)

Book PirateArts Experience

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Roam Yoga and Wellness Lodge, Isla Solarte

Roam Yoga and Wellness is a rainforest lodge at the edge of the Caribbean Sea on the quiet and less touristic island of Solarte. They feature an overwater restaurant, snorkeling right around the property, weekly yoga classes, and have a breakfast and dinner option on site. Their lodge consists of several apartments with kitchens, and they are also a top choice for yoga retreats in Panama.

BOOK ROAM YOGA AND WELLNESS

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Palmar Beach Lodge, Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos

Palmar Beach Lodge puts you right on the world-famous Red Frog Beach and is a top choice to stay on Isla Bastimentos. Palmar has dorm rooms, tents, or high-end bungalows with AC and kitchenettes to choose from, all set in the rainforest but steps from the beach – it’s the best of both worlds! Their restaurant also serves good food, and their bar (overlooking the beach) is the center of the social scene in this area.

BOOK Palmar Beach Lodge

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Casa Cayuco Eco Adventure Lodge – Punta Vieja, Isla Bastimentos (5% OFF!)

Casa Cayuco Eco Adventure Lodge is the best place to stay in Punta Vieja on Isla Bastimentos. In 2023, they earned Trip Advisor’s prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ award for the ninth year. All meals are included with your stay as well as kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel gear! Get a 5% Discount – enter the code “Solbungalowsblog” when making your reservation!

BOOK CASA CAYUCO

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Casa Botanica – Luxury Villa Near Big Creek, Isla Colon

Casa Botanica is a beautifully designed luxury villa, located about 10 minutes from Bocas Town by car. The Villa features 3 separate structures, with the main house and two cabins. The whole property sleeps 10 people and is perfect for a big family or group of friends. Casa Botanica is set within the Finca Los Monos Botanical Garden where sloths, toucans, monkeys, and poison dart frogs are nearly every day sights. Along with the natural swim pond, it’s also just a few steps from the Caribbean Sea, so this is one of our favorite AirBnb style rentals in Bocas.

Book Casa Botanica

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Bambuda Lodge, #1 Hostel in Panama, Isla Solarte

Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte is the #1 hostel in Panama. They have a swimming pool, a 150ft water slide, kayaks, paddleboards, and rooms for any type of traveler, including dorms, private rooms, and even thatch-covered domes. The vibe at Bambuda has always been right – it’s the perfect mix of party, relaxation, nature, and adventure. Their restaurant is one of the best in Bocas, and their surprisingly good family-style dinners create a welcoming social environment.

BOOK BAMBUDA LODGE

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La Loma Jungle Lodge, Isla Bastimentos

La Loma Jungle Lodge is one of the best rainforest experiences in Panama. Their bungalows put you right in the heart of the rainforest, and their food (locally sourced from their permaculture farm) is award-winning. Their new “Rainforest King Bungalow” (pictured) is the single best room from which to experience the rainforest in all of Bocas!

BOOK LA LOMA

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Check out the full Where to Stay Island and Area Guide

Is Bocas del Toro Safe?

Bocas del Toro is a very safe tourist destination. Crime is low in the islands and the main form of crime is theft. A very common form of theft is bike theft, or having your bag stolen off of a beach if you leave it unattended for a long period of time.

Muggings or person-on-person crime in Bocas is very rare, with almost all thefts happening when the victim is away from their property.

Scams can take place as well, including real estate property scams or losing money with bad tour operators/ taxi drivers. It is recommended to only use reputable and official taxis and tour operators to avoid this. 

Insider Tip: The best tip to avoid theft is to lock up your accommodation at night and when you leave and don’t leave your things unattended on the beach for an extended period of time.

Check out our full Health and Crime safety guide

Is Bocas del Toro Worth Visiting?

When planning your trip to Panama, you might ask yourself if Bocas del Toro is worth visiting. With so many other cool places in Panama to visit, should you really spend the money on the flight to Bocas?

The answer is yes, you should. Of all the most bucket-list-worthy things to do in Panama, Bocas del Toro has the highest concentration that are the easiest to access.

Other places to visit in Panama are Boquete, Santa Catalina, Playa Venao, Isla Coiba, and Casco Viejo in Panama City.

Read about all the reasons Bocas is worth visiting.

Is Bocas del Toro Expensive?

Bocas del Toro is more expensive than many other destinations in Central America, but it’s not crazy expensive. You can still travel here very cheaply if you know how to do it. You can also visit here very expensive and luxurious if that is your thing. There really is something for all budgets!

To save money, we can recommend eating at local restaurants for breakfast or lunch, and cooking for dinner. But remember, we are on islands, so everything is imported and some basic items might seem a little overpriced because of it. 

Another good tip is to just avoid buying the things that only tourists or ex-pats buy, because the local stores have most certainly increased the prices of these items to ridiculous levels (like $20 for a bottle of sunscreen).

Panama Travel Restrictions

Panama has lifted all travel restrictions, and no testing or vaccine is required to enter!

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