Unlike
the islands of the eastern Caribbean, the islands of Bocas del Toro,
Panama are still largely undeveloped, boasting virgin rainforest
jungles and secluded, unspoiled beaches dotted with coconut
palms. This is why
several
countries have chosen the area as a backdrop for the popular reality
television show “Survivor”. Along with its beauteous nature,
Bocas has
a rich mix of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cultures as well as great
scuba diving and snorkeling in some of the world’s most pristine and
calm waters. There are six main islands and over thirty
smaller ones
that cater mainly to ecotourism.
Isla
Colon, the
largest island of the archipelago where Bocas Town
is located, is the center of activity in the area. Bocas Town is a
waterfront community with many buildings constructed directly over the
Caribbean.
The Playa Mango Resort Hotel is a convenient ten minutes from town by taxi--close enough
to easily enjoy all that Bocas Town has to offer, yet situated on a quiet
bay that’s a world apart. Here you will find the majority of
the
area’s hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, along with tour
providers and souvenir vendors and shops. Isla Colon is the
only
island with roads and therefore taxis and buses. If you’d like a
swifter way to explore the area on your own there are bicycle, scooter
and ATV rentals available.
From
The Playa Mango Hotel, it is a picturesque walk up the eastern side of
Isla Colon. Keep an eye out for an array of colorful flowers,
birds
and butterflies, as well as howler monkeys or a sloth up in the
trees.
Be sure to bring your camera! Within a short walk is Playa
Paunch, which is a
popular surfing wake. Further up the road is Bluff, a
gorgeous golden
sand beach that is also great for surfing but largely unused by
sunbathers, offering seclusion.
Traveling on
the road up the center of the island will take you to
Bocas del Drago. On the way you may visit La Gruta, as it is
called in
Spanish, which is the Cave of the Virgin where an altar can be found,
that is visited by locals on religious holidays. At the end
of the
road, on the northern tip of Isla Colon is Bocas del Drago, which has a
swimming beach and restaurant. There are also a few vendors
selling
locally made crafts such as jewelry, paintings and embroidered
molas.
Off the coast to the northeast is Bird Island. It is another
popular
tour stop where several species of birds can be found. You
are not
permitted to walk on Bird Island as it is protected, but it offers
fantastic photo opportunities from a tour boat. If you walk
around
down the western side of the island you will pass by completely
undeveloped beaches lined with palms. A fifteen-minute walk
will bring
you to popular Starfish Beach. Although the beach is narrow,
in this
area the waters are generally always calm and clear, and many starfish
can be seen on the sandy bottom. Although tourists often like
to pick
up the starfish and pose for photos with them, we hope that as the
water is very clear for several feet that you will choose to enjoy them
in their natural state. Isla San Cristobal is located to the south of
Isla Colon. Off its southeastern coast is Dolphin
Bay. As this area
is home to many dolphins, this is a popular stop for local tour boats.
Isla
Carenero is the smallest inhabited island and located directly east of
Isla Colon. You can circumnavigate the island in just over an
hour easily
on foot. There is a sandy path most of the way, yet it
becomes more
rustic on the northern side as it is completely undeveloped at this
point. Surfers frequent the northern point, as it is the most
easily
accessible surfing break from town. On the southeastern
corner is a
small, indigenous Indian village.
Isla Solarte
is
a smaller island located southeast of Isla
Carenero. The northern section of the island is Hospital
Point, where
the hospital for the United Fruit Company was located in the early
1900’s. Off this point is one of the preferred
reefs for scuba diving
and snorkeling, and is a regularly visited spot by the tour operators.
Found here is a great selection of hard and soft corals and sponges, as
well as an array of brightly colored tropical fish. Isla
Solarte is
also inhabited by indigenous peoples, namely the Ngobe.
Beyond
Solarte
to the east is the second largest island, Isla
Bastimentos. Found along the northwest coast are some of the
most
popular swimming beaches in the area, including Wizard, Long and Polo,
and especially Red Frog. This beach got its name from the
tiny,
indigenous poison dart frogs that inhabit the island. Tour
operators
will drop you off at Magic Bay before you take the short walk along a
nicely constructed path to Red Frog beach. Take care when
swimming, as
these beaches are located on the windward side of the island and the
waters can at times be turbulent. The National Marine Park
occupies a
large portion of Bastimentos, 30,000 acres of the southern half of the
island. You can take a fantastic hike in the rainforest and
experience
untouched jungles teeming with birds, butterflies and flowers, and may
see howler and capuchin monkeys, as well as sloths. On the
southern
end you can find Crawl Key or Cayo Coral. Another regular
stop on
local tours, there is a restaurant here and you can snorkel in shallow,
crystal clear water and discover the amazing marine life and the
colorful coral. The Zapatilla
Keys, two uninhabited smaller islands located north
of Bastimentos are also part of the National Marine Park.
White sand
beaches, aqua blue water and a completely unspoiled terrain make this
one of the most visited spots in Bocas del Toro. This is also
a
regular stop on local tours. The protected area offers some
of the
best snorkeling and scuba diving in the western Caribbean, where you
will see an array of brightly colored tropical fish, as well as sea
urchins, cucumbers and possibly a sting ray or two!
Please
visit
our links
page for helpful information
regarding local
services and tour operators
that
will assist you in
making the most of your stay in Bocas del Toro.
