This guide breaks down the best things to do in Bocas del Toro on the 5 main islands of the archipelago: Isla Colon, Isla Carenero, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Solarte, and Isla San Cristobal.
We have lived in Bocas del Toro since 2015 and have personally done every activity on this list, some several times! We will continue to keep it updated with new activities so save it for reference for your travel to Bocas!
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Stay in an affordable Overwater Bungalow
Jump in on the best things to do in Bocas del Toro while staying in our top-rated overwater bungalows. We’ll guide you into the best possible experiences, and when the day is done, you’ll be staying in the best overwater bungalows in Panama! Check out our bungalows here.
Weather and Things To do in Bocas del Toro
Some of the best things to do in Bocas del Toro include boat tours to exotic islands, hiking through the rainforest, scuba diving sunken boats, surfing world-class waves, cultural tours and nightlife. The islands best cater to adventure seekers and those looking for unique experiences (and who aren’t afraid to work a little harder to find them.)
Being that Bocas del Toro is a tropical rainforest, the weather plays a huge role in what you are going to do each day.
Local Tip: We always check the weather the day before and book tours for our guests for the following day. Some activities should be booked in advance like scuba diving, but for most activities, booking the day before is fine. Check out our Monthly Weather Guide to see the best times to visit Bocas.
Jump to an Island: Isla Colon | Isla Carenero | Isla Bastimentos | Isla Solarte | Isla San Cristobal
How to get to Bocas del Toro
The islands of Bocas del Toro are fairly easy to reach, although there aren’t direct flights from major airports around the world. You will first need to make your way to Panama City, Panama, or San Jose, Costa Rica, and then you can use the options below to get to Bocas del Toro.
The best and most common ways to get to Bocas del Toro are:
- Fly to Bocas del Toro from Panama City with Air Panama on one of their daily, 50-minute flights.
- Take the night bus or a private shuttle from Panama City to Bocas del Toro.
- Take the bus or private shuttle over from Costa Rica to Almirante, then take the 30-minute water shuttle to Bocas town on Isla Colon.
Check out our How to Get to Bocas del Toro Guide for more information!
Try these captains for boat tours:
Local Tip: Many of the boat tours sold on the streets of Bocas Town by tour hawkers are low-quality tours that are only out to make money. If you just want a cheap tour to go see Isla Zapatilla or Starfish Beach, then these tours succeed in being cheap. If you want a guide that will stop and explain about the environment and animals, and overall be friendly and customer service minded, then try these Captains below:
- Junito: +507-6774-7337
- Eddie: +507-6907-9636 (also does fishing tours)
- Kawi Voyage: +507-6555-9954
The 33 Best Things To Do in Bocas del Toro
Check out our favorite things to do in Bocas del Toro below. We have grouped these activities by island, starting with our top picks, then to Isla Colón, Isla Carenero, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Solarte, and finally, Isla San Cristobal.
If you want to experience a lot of these tours on your trip to Bocas, we recommend staying somewhere towards the center of the islands, or staying in a few places over your trip to get a feel for each area.
The islands and areas to stay in can offer different experiences, so we recommend doing some research about that while planning your trip. Check out our Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro Guide for a full breakdown of each island and the best places to stay throughout the archipelago!
Check out the 13 Most Bucket List Things To Do in Panama
Best Thing To DO #1: GET WILD AT THE FLOATING BAR
Spending an afternoon at The Floating Bar is one of our TOP PICKS for what to do in all of Bocas del Toro.
We send all of our guests here, and on our days off, we go here. They have good food – tacos, ceviche, and quesadillas, just what you need in between cold beers and shots of tequila.
The water is refreshing and great for a swim or a snorkel on the nearby mangrove reef or shipwreck. There’s always a cool breeze, and the atmosphere is super welcoming and good-vibed. They are open 12-7(PM), so it’s an ideal place to escape the midday heat and catch the sunset!
Get here via a $2 taxi ride from Bocas Town, or straight from your outer island accommodation. Open every day through High Season (December 1 – April 30) and Live Music on Mondays.
Best Thing To DO #2: Yoga in the Rainforest
You’ll be blown away by how beautiful this yoga shala is, perched high up in the trees with an incredible view of the Caribbean sea and jungle below.
Roam Yoga and Wellness is located on Isla Solarte on the side facing Isla Bastimentos, at about a 5-minute boat ride from Bocas Town and $5 per person. They are also the only yoga shala in the islands that is screened in, so you won’t be bothered by mosquitoes while you’re trying to meditate! Grab a healthy smoothie after class in their overwater restaurant and chat with fellow yogis and travelers!
- Class Schedule: Vinyasa on Tuesdays at 9:30AM and Yin Yoga at 5:00PM on Thursdays.
- Classes cost $5 and are 75 minutes each.
- Yoga at Roam is located 5 minutes and $5 by water taxi from Bocas Town. Contact them for help getting there if you need it!
Contact Them for More Info or Check them out on Instagram or their website!
Best Thing To Do #3: Stay in an Overwater Bungalow
Spoiler alert, we own Sol Bungalows, and you’re on the solbungalowsbocas.com website :). But that doesn’t change the fact that we are the top-rated affordable overwater bungalow in Panama! And who doesn’t want to stay in an overwater bungalow? It’s on everyone’s bucket list these days, isn’t it?
Well, Bocas del Toro is a hot spot for affordable overwater bungalows in the Caribbean, and if you’re coming to Bocas, then we definitely recommend taking advantage of this experience while you are here!
Check out all the best overwater bungalows in Bocas del Toro.
Best Things to Do in Bocas del Toro: on Isla Colón
Isla Colón is the main island of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and where most of the restaurants, shops, nightlife, hotels and hostels are located as well as the airport, bank, and hospital.
Everything you might need during your time in Bocas can be found here. However, Isla Colón is a lot more than just Bocas Town and many of the best things to do here are located farther out in the nature of Isla Colón.
Read our Isla Colón Panama Travel Guide
4: Get Dirty with Flying Pirates ATV Rentals and Jungle Trail
Renting a quad from Flying Pirates and exploring their jungle trails out past Bluff Beach is one of the most exciting and extreme things you can do in Bocas.
The jungle trails take you through the raw tropical rainforest, coral rock-covered beaches, deep mud, and past some incredible views. Howler Monkeys are often seen in the trees and the occasional sloth can be found. You will also pass by two of the most unique swimming holes in Bocas! The terrain out there is as beautiful and stunning as it is rugged and challenging so be prepared to test your limits!
They also rent E-Bikes and Motor Scooters if you just want to explore the roads around Isla Colón!
(Call for trail and price updates) Flying Pirates ATV Rentals cost $110 for half-day and $140 for a full day. Check out their website for more information
5: Explore Isla Colón by Bike, E-Bike, or Motor Scooter
The best way to explore Bocas Town and the rest of Isla Colon is how the locals do… by bicycle!
Bocas Town is full of bike rental shops where you can get a nice set of wheels for around $2 an hour. You can ride the bikes all the way to Bluff Beach in about 1 hour or to Starfish Beach in 2 hours. There are plenty of beautiful viewpoints along the way so taking it slow and stopping occasionally is recommended!
If you want to get around faster and easier, try renting an E-Bike or Motor Scooter. These can be readily found in Bocas Town!
We recommend Ixa’s Bike Rentals for reliable bikes at a good price! Bocas E Bikes and Flying Pirates also rent E-Bikes.
Check out our 10 Day Panama Itinerary for your next Vacation
6: Explore the Waters of Bocas del Toro on a Catamaran or Sailboat
Panama Sailing and Jager Knights offer all sorts of sailing experiences including catamaran tours based out of Bocas Town on Isla Colon.
They’ve got Catamarans for day cruises, sunset cruises, panga boats for tours and surf guiding, and even sailing lessons! With experienced, high-quality equipment, and great ratings, these are the two companies you don’t want to miss for all your sailing needs!
For more info: check out the Panama Sailing and Jager Knights Websites
Learn about the 13 Most Bucket List Things To Do in Panama
7: Go on a 3 Day Escudo de Veraguas Catamaran Trip
Visit the magical island of Escudo de Veraguas, made famous in the opening scene Planet Earth II when a pygmy sloth is seen swimming through the most beautiful turquoise water imaginable. You can visit this island, about an 8 hour sail from the center of Bocas del Toro, all from the comfort of a catamaran or sailboat. This is the best way to see Escudo de Veraguas and have enough time to explore all of its unbelievable secrets.
Check out Surf N Sail Panama or Panama Sailing to arrange this adventure!
8: Explore the Jungle and Coastline past Bluff Beach by Horseback
Another (more natural) way to explore the jungles out past Bluff Beach is by horseback!
Bluff Beach Retreat does horseback riding tours run by local guides that take you along some of the same trails as Flying Pirates but in a more relaxed and environmentally friendly way!
Tours leave at 10:00AM and 1:00PM and cost $55 per person. Check out their website for more information!
9: Spend the day at Bluff Beach
Bluff Beach is most famous for the incredibly powerful waves that break here which draw in surfers from around the world.
The waves are so powerful and break so close to the shore that it is extremely dangerous to swim or even try to put your feet in here. When the surf is really small you can swim or if the waves are big you can watch the surfers! There are many accommodations at Bluff Beach and a few really good restaurants to have lunch at.
How to get to Bluff Beach: Busses leave every 30 minutes from the central park in Bocas Town and cost $3 each way. You can also bike to Bluff which takes about an hour, or you can hire a private taxi that costs around $15.
10: Explore Boca del Drago and Starfish Beach
Boca del Drago is the area of Isla Colón that is home to Bocas del Toro’s famous Starfish Beach.
There is a small local community in this area and most live off of the tourism that Starfish Beach has created. The coastline here is beautiful and you will have to walk along it to get to Starfish Beach from where the busses will drop you off.
Starfish Beach is a very popular beach for tourists and local people alike. It is a slender strip of beach with bathtub-calm water that is great for swimming.
Palm trees and beach shacks line the shoreline where locals set up small bars and restaurants to serve the people that visit each day. There are lines of beach chairs, souvenir stands, beach volleyball, and even an inflatable hotdog to ride on.
Our Advice: Starfish Beach is the most touristy beach in Bocas del Toro and is seriously over-hyped by travel bloggers on the internet. We recommend trying to avoid going on weekends or holidays when it is the busiest. Read our Bocas del Toro Beach Guide to learn about some of the other much better beaches to visit.
How to get to Starfish Beach: Busses leave from the central park in Bocas Town. Look for the buses that say Starfish Beach on them! Cost is around $3 each way and the ride is 30 minutes. If you are a bigger group you can hire a private boat to drive you out to Starfish Beach!
11: Learn Spanish with Habla Ya Spanish Schools
Habla Ya Spanish Schools is the #1 way to learn Spanish in Panama. They have a long history of teaching spanish in Bocas del Toro and have recently moved to teach solely online in order to be more sustainable.
Contact Habla Ya: Whatsapp: +507-6617-3021, or Email: [email protected]. You can also check out their website, here.
12: See Bird Island, a Tropical Bird Sanctuary
Bird Island looks like something the creators of Jurassic Park would have thought up, but instead of Dinosaurs, you have hundreds of rare tropical birds everywhere!
The small rock island is located in the open ocean just a few minutes off of the Boca del Drago side of Isla Colón. You are not supposed to step foot on the island as it is a protected rare bird habitat. The main attraction is driving around the island and viewing the tropical birds that nest here. Bird Island is the only place in Panama where the Red-Billed Tropic Bird is known to nest!
How to Get to Bird Island: Bird Island is included as a stop on many of the boat tours. You can either book a tour to Bird Island from Bocas Town or hire a private taxi or guide to take you there! The Bird Island Tours often include stops at Starfish Beach and maybe La Piscina if the ocean is calm enough.
13: Challenge yourself at the Escape Room
New as of December 2022, the Enigma Bocas escape room is a fresh activity in Bocas Town that anyone can enjoy. They feature two different escape rooms each with their own theme. The Bocas Bust Room puts you in Bocas del Toro in 1983 as FBI agents tasked with stopping a major shipment of cocaine from leaving the islands. In The Lost Lab Room, you are transported to the year 2054, where it is your job to find a lost secret to stopping climate change.
Get ready for a challenging and fun activity, really different from everything else on offer in the islands! Great for rainy days or just to try something new.
The Escape Room is located in Bocas Town, next to Selina Hostel.
Best Things to do in Bocas Town: Restaurants, Shopping, and Nightlife
Bocas Town is famous for its wild, island-style nightlife where anything goes. There are island-hopping pub crawls, floating bars, aqua lounges, and nightclubs that stay open till 4 AM.
Live music is happening somewhere every day and we even have the most advanced music venue in all of Panama. Partygoers will find everything they want – and more – in Bocas!
Bocas Town is also full of some really good restaurants, artisanal shops, trendy boutiques, and plenty of local characters. You can easily spend a few hours exploring the town and checking out the shops and restaurants.
The best nightlife and day party options in Bocas del Toro:
- Filthy Friday – Famous Island Hopping Party Crawl
- The Floating Bar – Fish Tacos, Swimming, Live Music and Sunsets
- La Iguana – Island style night “clubs” with DJ’s and packed dance floors
- Selina Hostel – Very popular among the young traveller crowd
- Aqua Lounge – lots of DJ’s and theme parties
The Best Restaurants for Dinner in Bocas Town:
- Tacos la Neta Caribe – Really good, authentic Mexican tacos – located in Selina hostel
- El Ultimo Refugio – International Cuisine in an overwater open-air setting
- Merén Pool Club – Overwater Swimming Pool in Bocas Town with creative Caribbean fusion cuisine
- BocArt – Fusion Cuisine + Best Sushi in Bocas, all with a creative and artistic flair
- Falafel Bocas – Falafel joint with very good middle eastern food
- JJ’s at the Bocas Blended Bus
- Octo – Caribbean Grill serving some of the best and most unique seafood in Bocas
- La Italiana (or) Renny Pizza– Our favorite Pizza places in Bocas Town!
The Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro on Isla Carenero
Isla Carenero is just a quick 1-2 minute water taxi ride away from Isla Colón.
The South end of Carenero Island is full of tourist accommodations, resident ex-pats, a local community and a few really good restaurants. The interior of the island is dense jungle and the exterior is dotted with small protected beaches. Carenero Island is famous for the surf spot Carenero Point and is also home to a few other breaks that are great for learning to surf.
Read the Isla Carenero Travel Guide
14: Relax At Bibi’s Beach and Bibi’s Restaurant
Bibi’s Restaurant is an iconic Bocas del Toro landmark located on the East side of Isla Carenero.
They serve local-style food in a relaxed atmosphere at their overwater restaurant which has amazing views. Bibi’s is known for its Ceviche and is a great place to spend an afternoon swimming, enjoying live music, and throwing back a few happy hour cocktails during the sunset.
There is a small beach nearby that is popular with locals and tourists and is the closest beach to the center of Bocas. The water in front is generally calm and shallow and is great for swimming. Bring your bug spray as the local sand flies are active in this area!
How to Get to Bibi’s Beach: Take a water Taxi to Bibi’s Dock for $2 from Bocas Town. Check out Bibi’s facebook page here!
15: Have Lunch (or Dinner) on the Beach at Receta Michilá
Receta Michilá serves tapas-style dishes packing huge flavor with local ingredients.
They also have great drinks that can be taken right on the beach under a palm thatch umbrella with a beautiful Caribbean view. We love it for lunch and an afternoon in the sun close to home – but their dinner atmosphere is also excellent.
16: HikE the East Side of Isla Carenero
Hiking up the east side of Isla Carenero will bring you along a beautiful coastline. There are also multiple viewpoints where you can watch the surfers at Carenero Point.
This hike only takes about 30 minutes and is a good, quick activity to mix up a day spent on Carenero Island. Carenero Beach (pictured) is also one of the best beaches that is just a short boat ride from Bocas Town.
17: Best Thing To DO: Go Surfing at Carenero Point and Black Rock
Two of the most popular surf spots in Bocas are located along Isla Carenero’s coastline: Carenero Point and Black Rock.
Carenero Point is a long left-hand point break. Black Rock is an A-frame reef break that is a great spot for beginners to learn how to surf. Check out our Bocas del Toro Surfing Guide for more information on these spots!
17: Have Lunch at Leaf Eaters Cafe
Leaf Eaters Cafe is an overwater cafe serving some of the best vegan and vegetarian food in Bocas.
They have a great location and view of Bocas Town across the narrow channel in between the islands. They also have really good fish tacos!
Check out the Leaf Eaters Website here!
18: Spend the Afternoon at Aqua Lounge
Aqua Lounge is an overwater hostel and bar with DJ’s every day, cocktails, swimming, and great sunsets to be found. It is another one of the great escapes from the Bocas Town heat and crowds. Don’t miss their Sunday day party: Domingo Paradiso!
Check out our Guide to the best hostels in Bocas del Toro.
The Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro on Isla Bastimentos
Isla Bastimentos is the largest island of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. It is most known as the home of the Afro-Caribbean town of Old Bank.
The island is located about 10 minutes away from Bocas Town by boat and has the second-largest population of the Archipelago. Isla Bastimentos is covered in thick rainforests and some of the best beaches and adventures to be found in Bocas!
19: Explore the Authentic Caribbean Town of Old Bank
Everyone who comes to Bocas should plan a few hours to visit the community of Old Bank on Isla Bastimentos.
Old Bank is said to have one of the last remaining authentic Arfo-Caribbean populations in the world that has stayed together and held onto their culture. The local people speak a dialect called Guari-Guari and many speak English. The town is a traditional Caribbean town with colonial-style houses painted in bright colors. People here enjoy life in a way not seen anywhere else!
How to get to Old Bank: Water Taxis from Bocas Town run $3 in the day and $5 in the night.
20: Best Thing To DO: Visit Up in the Hill Organic Cacao Farm
Up in the Hill is a popular Isla Bastimentos landmark and one of the best off-the-beaten-path tours in Bocas.
They are located on the highest point of the island about 15 minutes up the trail that leads out of Old Bank from the main park. Their specialty is their cacao and permaculture farm tour.
They used to have a cafe that was open to the public – but now it is tours only. It is very highly rated, very delicious, and you will not only see wildlife like strawberry poison dart frogs, but you’ll also learn a lot about permaculture, cacao, and living off of the rainforest.
Check out Up in the Hill Here!
21: Hike to Wizard Beach
Wizard Beach is one of our favorite beaches in Bocas del Toro and it’s now more accessible than ever before with a newly completed gravel trail leading from Old Bank straight to the beach.
Wizard is one of the few beaches in the Archipelago with 0 development along the entire coast. Once you emerge from the jungle onto the beach you will only see the rainforest, sand, and blue sea stretching out to either side of you. The waves here can be big with very strong currents so please respect the ocean here!
How to get to Wizard Beach: The start of the Wizard Beach trail is located on the East side of Old Bank town just a few houses past the basketball court and soccer field. You can also walk to Wizard Beach from Up in the Hill after you stop there for a snack!
22: Have a Local Lunch over the water at Alvin & Kecha’s
After you visit Up in the Hill and then hike down to Wizard beach for the day, you can stop back in Old Bank at Alvin’s & Ketcha’s overwater restaurant for lunch. They serve up some of the best Caribbean food in Bocas with an Afro-Caribbean style!
How to get there: Alvin and Ketcha’s restaurant is located over the water a few houses to the west of the main park in Bastimentos.
23: Best Thing To Do in Bocas del Toro: Titi’s Polo Beach Hiking Tour
Titi is a Bastimentos local who owns a small farm on the way towards Wizard Beach. He is a professional guide and a pioneer of one of the best hiking experiences in Bocas!
The tour starts out in the Afro-Caribbean town of Old Bank where you will make your way up to Titi’s farm to see how he lives and to taste some of the fruits that he grows.
Next, you will begin a 3-hour hike through the heart of Isla Bastimentos, along Red Frog Beach, past Turtle Beach, and finally arriving at Polo Beach. Once you arrive at Polo Beach you can swim, snorkel, or sip on rum coconuts while Polo cooks you a fresh fish lunch!
Contact Titi for the tour: +507-6788-1331 – Prices vary by group size
24: Visit Red Frog Beach for Fish Tacos and Beach Volleyball
Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos is one of the most popular beaches in Bocas.
Red Frog has more development due to a booming tourist scene here, although it is still largely untouched. The beach features a few accommodations and restaurant options serving good food and drinks. They have beach cabanas to rent, beach volleyball, and other activities like slack-lining. The walk to the beach takes about 10 minutes through a nicely groomed trail where you can spot Sloths, Monkeys, and Cayman Alligators. Red Frog Beach is the best day trip option to have a traditional vacation beach day.
How to Get to Red Frog Beach: You get to Red Frog Beach by taking a water taxi to the Palmar Dock on Isla Bastimentos. From there you pay the entrance fee ($5 per person) and walk to the beach. Water Taxis from Bocas Town to the Palmar dock cost between $5 and $8.
25: Visit Polo Beach for a Unique Bastimentos Experience
Polo Beach on Isla Bastimentos is our favorite beach in the Archipelago. It is also home to one of the most unique characters you will meet on your trip. Polo is a 75+ year-old man originally from the town of Old Bank. Legend has it that he ran away from home when he was 14 years old due to heartbreak and ended up living on the beach that is now named after him.
Today he survives in a small shack and loves cooking up fresh fish and lobster for the tourists that manage to find him. The beach itself is stunning and the barrier reef that lines it is a great place for snorkeling and diving. Monkeys and Sloths are often found in the trees nearby!
How to get to Polo Beach: To get to Polo Beach you can either hike or take a water taxi. Hiking from Red Frog Beach takes about 45 minutes on a nicely made trail. Water taxis will bring you here but only when the sea is calm. Prices for the water taxi will vary depending on group size, it is about a 25-minute boat ride.
26: Best Thing To Do in Bocas del Toro: Take a Boat Trip to the Zapatilla Islands
The Zapatilla Islands are the #1 Tour in the Archipelago – and for good reason. They are two small, slipper-shaped isles located off of the far corner of Isla Bastimentos inside the Bastimentos National Marine Park.
They are lined with white sand and turquoise water and their interiors are dominated by high-reaching palm trees. The only development on the Zapatilla Islands is a few structures for the park guards and the sea turtle conservancy volunteers who help study and protect the sea turtles that nest here.
The Zapatillas can get crowded with day tours but it is easy to find a corner of the island with no one around. We recommend skipping the jam-packed boats that leave from Bocas Town and booking a private driver instead. For around $35 a person you can find a local to take you out to the islands where you can have more freedom to do what you want. For a good tour guide, try Adrian: +507-6776-0026
27: Best Thing To Do in Bocas del Toro: Explore the Nivida Bat Cave with a Local Legend
Exploring the Nivida Bat Cave with Rutilio Milton is one of the best things to do in Bocas del Toro.
The cave is located deep in the jungle of Isla Bastimentos in an area inhabited by the Ngobe Indigenous people. Legend has it that the cave was known about for many years but none of the locals dared to enter the cave out of fear for what was inside it.
20+ years ago a team of Dutch conservationists first stepped foot into the cave to explore its inner chambers. Rutilio was the first local person to brave the cave and has been leading eco-tours there ever since.
Rutilio’s tour departs from the community restaurant in Bahia Honda and meanders slowly down a creek that cuts deeper into the island. After a relaxing 30-minute journey through the mangrove and jungle, spotting sloths, cayman alligators, and tropical birds, you will arrive at the dock of a small indigenous village.
From here you will hike another 10 minutes deeper into the jungle to the mouth of the cave. The cave is full of bats and has a freshwater stream running through it. To reach the end of the cave you will need to swim, climb, and feel your way through three challenging stages. At one point you can even jump off a small cliff into a freshwater pool…
Contact Rutilio at +507-6726-0968 or visit his website to set up a tour! The tour costs $45 and includes pickup in or near Bocas Town. A local lunch in the community can be added for $5 per person!
La Tierra del Encanto Hiking Trails in Bahia Honda
Explore 3 new hiking trails developed in Bahia Honda by La Tierra del Encanto, where you can see the islands’ best waterfall or hike all the way to the little visited Long Beach, a turtle nesting ground and protected area.
The trails are professionally constructed and can be done with or without a guide. Some highlights include swimming holes, a rope bridge, and the islands’ best-known waterfall. This area of rainforest is seldom explored by tourists or locals alike, so you are sure to see an abundance of wildlife including monkeys, sloths, red frogs, tropical birds, and caiman alligators!
Trails are open from 7AM to 6PM and can be done with our without a guide. $10 per adult or $5 per child, and a guide is $20 per hour. Contact them here: Whatsapp: +507-6589-6036 or check out their website: LaTierradelEncanto.com
Best Things To Do on Isla Solarte
Isla Solarte is the least populated of the Bocas Islands. It is primarily covered in thick rainforest with gigantic old trees, tropical birds, and calm waters all around it.
There is a maze of jungle trails throughout the island and hiking to Hospital Point is a popular activity. Isla Solarte has a central location in the Archipelago and is easily accessible from all of the other islands.
How to get to Isla Solarte: Isla Solarte is located about 3-5 minutes away from Bocas Town and can be easily reached by water taxi for between $3 and $5.
Read our Isla Solarte Travel Guide
28: Best Thing To Do in Bocas del Toro: Scuba Diving Shipwrecks off Isla Solarte
The most popular and frequented dive spots in all of Bocas del Toro are located on the point of Isla Solarte just a 5 minute ride form Bocas Town. There are two shipwrecks, a deep water wall and several reefs that are visited daily by the dive shops from Bocas Town.
The best seasons to go Scuba Diving in Bocas are during the dry season from January to March and then September and October.
The best way to Dive the Shipwrecks in Bocas del Toro is through one of the many dive shops around the islands! We recommend La Buga, Panama Dive School, or Bocas Dive Center.
Check out our Scuba Diving in Bocas del Toro Guide
29: Hiking around the Island
Hiking around Isla Solarte is one of the best activities to do on the island. Every island has a different kind of rainforest and Solarte’s is the most unique that we have experienced.
You really have to watch where you step as the small, orange-colored poison dart frogs are everywhere! Tropical birds hum around in the trees and the trails lead to different beautiful viewpoints.
Hospital Point is generally the destination for hikes on Isla Solarte, where you can swim, snorkel, and hang out on the small and secluded beach!
Call Adrian for a guided hike of Isla Solarte: +507-6776-0026
30: Snorkel and Explore Hospital Point
Hospital Point is located on the western tip of Isla Solarte. It is named after the hospital that was built here by the United Fruit Company in the year 1900 to treat workers who were sickened with yellow fever and malaria. The Hospital was eventually abandoned in 1920. Today the area is best known as being a great spot for snorkeling and scuba diving!
How to get to Hospital Point: Hospital Point is located just a few minutes away from Bocas Town and can be reached by water taxi for $3-$5. You can also hike there from other parts of Isla Solarte along the jungle trails.
31: Visit the Blue Coconut
The Blue Coconut is a popular overwater bar/restaurant built off of a mangrove island just off the coast of Isla Solarte. It’s 10 minutes away from Isla Colon and is the second stop of the famous Filthy Friday Island Pub Crawl.
The Blue Coconut is a great place to come for an afternoon to relax in the sun and swim or snorkel around the mangrove. They serve typical Caribbean food and seafood, frozen drinks, and cold beer.
How To Get to the Blue Coconut: The only way to reach the Blue Coconut is over the water so taking a $5 water taxi from Bocas Town or you can also kayak or paddle board there! Check out the Blue Coconut Here.
32: Kayak or Paddle Board Around the Island
Isla Solarte is one of the best Islands for kayaking and paddleboarding. The waters around the island are generally calm and are mostly protected from the open ocean swell. The water on the south-facing side of the island is known to be some of the clearest in the Archipelago. The abundance of tropical birds and seabirds around the island makes for an exciting and relaxing adventure!
Sol Bungalows provides Kayaks and Paddle Boards for all of our Guests!
Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro On Isla San Cristobal
Isla San Cristobal is most known for the large Indigenous village that is located there as well as the area known as Dolphin Bay. San Cristobal is about a 10-15 minute boat ride from Bocas Town with the area of Dolphin Bay being about 20 minutes away.
San Cristobal is located close to the mainland of Panama and is completely protected from the open ocean swell. There are several Eco Lodges in this area as well as Cacao farms. It is a good island to stay on for nature lovers who don’t mind being away from the rest of Bocas.
How to Get to Isla San Cristobal: To get to San Cristobal you need to hire a water taxi. Prices will vary depending on group size – for 2 people it can cost $10-$15 per person.
33: Visit the San Cristobal Ngobe community and go horseback riding
A local man named Narcisso lives in the San Cristobal Ngobe Village and does horseback riding tours. You will get to visit the large Ngobe Village and see how the local Ngobe population of Bocas del Toro live on the islands. Narcisso is a prominent local figure and a fun guy to hang out with for the day as he guides you through the rainforest.
Contact Narcisso for tours: +507-6915-3147
34: Go Paddle Boarding in Dolphin Bay
The Dolphin Bay Area is one of the most popular destinations for day tours in Bocas. Unfortunately, this breeding ground for the unique bottlenose dolphin species that calls it home is under immense pressure from the 100+ motor boats that pass through here daily during the high season.
Because of this, we have to insist that you only visit this area with a guide who knows the correct dolphin-watching techniques.
Something really cool to do in Dolphin Bay that doesn’t harm the dolphins is to rent some paddle boards in Bocas Town (or from your accomodation) and then take a water taxi to this area to paddle around. You should see some dolphins as you explore the bay and will be doing so in a way that is much better for the dolphin population.
This concludes our Bocas del Toro Activity Guide!
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out Sol Bungalows for the best overwater bungalows in Bocas del Toro!
Want to Learn More About Bocas del Toro?
Check out our Bocas del Toro Travel Guides below! There’s tons of travel guides about Bocas del Toro out there, but most are written by people who only visited the islands for a few days. Our guides are written from years of experience living full time in Bocas!
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