Isla Solarte (also known as Nancy’s Cay) is one of Bocas del Toro’s most untouched and natural islands. It has a landmass of 3.1 square miles and a population of about 200-300 people, primarily made up of indigenous Ngäbe people and a small scattering of ex-pats. A town near the western tip of the island is the most densely populated area, where about 30 homes, a school, a church, and a sports field can be found. 

Most notable on Isla Solarte is the area known as Hospital Point, which was once a sprawling hospital complex built by the United Fruit Company in the early 1900s. The area today has been reclaimed by the rainforest and little physical evidence of the hospital’s existence can be found. 

Isla Solarte was also featured in Sir David Attenborough’s documentary series called Life in Color, where scientist Yusan Yang is filmed studying the poison dart frogs that call the islands home. 

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

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Isla Solarte Map

How to Get to Isla Solarte

To get to Isla Solarte, you’ll first need to find your way to Bocas del Toro, which we have written a detailed guide about, here. 

But basically:

1. Fly to PTY (Panama Tocumen International Airport) in Panama City, Panama.
2. Transfer to PAC and fly with Air Panama to BOC (Bocas del Toro)
3. Once you land, grab a land taxi from the airport and tell them to bring you to a water taxi station.
4. Once you’re at the water taxi station, tell them to bring you to Isla Solarte! 
5. You’ve arrived! Now settle in to your overwater bungalow while I prepare you a fruity (and rummy) welcome drink 🙂

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

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Things to do on Isla Solarte

Isla Solarte is covered in lush rainforest and surrounded by mangroves and coral reefs. Activities like hiking, bird watching, snorkeling and scuba diving are most popular here. Since there are no roads or larger developed areas, Isla Solarte remains one of the most natural of the 4 main Bocas islands. 

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

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Bocas del Toro can be found in the calm and shallow waters around Isla Solarte. In fact, Isla Solarte is home to the most frequented dive spots in all of Bocas del Toro. 

There’s two sunken boats, deep water walls covered in coral and sea life, as well as shallow-water coral gardens that are perfect for snorkelers. 

Hospital Point, the most popular landmark on Solarte, is located at the northwest tip of the island. This historically significant area is known as one of the best snorkeling spots in Bocas and is frequently included as a stop on the day tours sold in Bocas Town. 

Local Tip: The biggest danger in the waters of Bocas del Toro are… boats! Please do not go snorkeling without something larger that marks your position, like a kayak or paddle board, or float of some kind.

Hiking

Hiking is another popular activity on Solarte, with Hospital Point being the primary destination. Arguably the best hike on the island starts out at Bambuda Hostel and follows their trail which connects to the public trails all the way to Hospital Point.

Isla Solarte was once the location of a large, 140+ lot eco-community project but the project failed when one of the owners ran off with the money. However, the trails that were built for this project that lead to all of the different properties still remain, so you can follow them all around the island. 

Local Tip: We recommend asking at your accommodation on Isla Solarte about hiring a local guide to take you around the island. It is easy to get lost on the unmarked trails and the locals will also be able to show you animals and things you might not otherwise notice.

Kayaking or Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding and kayaking are great activities around Isla Solarte. The waters around the island are generally calm and are also protected from the open ocean swell, although high winds can create a lot of wind chop.

The east half of the island is mostly rimmed with mangroves and reefs, while the west side of the island has some sandy and rocky coastal areas. Mornings are usually the best time to kayak or paddleboard around the island as this is when the winds are calmest.

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

Where to Stay on Isla Solarte

Solarte Island is also home to several of Bocas del Toro’s best tourism accommodations with both the top-rated hostel in Panama and the top-rated overwater bungalows in Panama. The west-facing side of the island is known to have some of the best views in Bocas del Toro, as it faces both the sunset and the Talamanca Mountains of mainland Panama, including Volcan Barú, the highest point of Panama.

The Best Places to Stay on Isla Solarte Are:

Read our “Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro Guide,” here

Where to Eat on Isla Solarte

Solarte Island doesn’t have many places to eat, and that’s because there’s generally not much going on on the island. Most accommodations here will have their own restaurants to serve to their guests or be equipped with kitchens, as there are no other restaurants that are within walking distance. 

There are two restaurants open to the public though, and they are both over-the-water destination spots where you can grab lunch and spend an afternoon swimming and snorkeling:

• Blue Coconut

Local Tip: Always check if these places are open before visiting as it can be an expensive taxi ride just to find out they are closed.

Safety on Isla Solarte

Due to Solarte’s small size and low population, it is generally one of the safest islands to be on. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t practice normal safety precautions while staying on or visiting the island.

Here are some safety tips for Isla Solarte:

• 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
• Use a guide if possible when you go hiking on the island so you don’t get lost on unmarked trails.

Read about Safety in Bocas del Toro, here (Or for Panama in general, here)

Insider Tips

We’ve lived in Bocas since 2015 and on Isla Solarte since 2019. Here are some tips based on what we have learned:

• Like most areas in Bocas, the sand flies (or “Chitras”), can be found here, so bring your bug spray
• The west-facing side of the island has the good sunset and mountain views, but the east side has better breeze
• Don’t leave your things unattended on the beaches at hospital point
• Hike around the island with a guide if possible, getting lost is a real possibility
• Watch out for boats when you snorkel – bring something that marks your position, like a dive buoy or life jacket
• Watch where you step while hiking through the interior rainforest of the island, as the island’s orange poison dart frogs are abundant. 

Check out more Bocas del Toro Travel Guides: