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Island guide

Ten reasons people stay in Bocas

The places and creatures that turn a two-week holiday into a lease. Every photo here was taken in the archipelago.

Bottlenose dolphin diving tail-up in Dolphin Bay
No. 01

Dolphin Bay

Between Isla Cristóbal and the mainland

A sheltered bay where bottlenose dolphins live year-round. Most boat tours slow down here in the morning, when the water is flat.

Aerial view of a palm-covered cay with turquoise reef
No. 02

Cayo Zapatillas

Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park

Two uninhabited cays inside the marine park, ringed by white sand and reef. Bring cash for the park fee and your own shade.

Beach bar looking out over calm Starfish Beach
No. 03

Starfish Beach

Isla Colón, past Boca del Drago

Calm, shallow water with orange cushion stars on the sand. Look, take photos, and leave them in the water.

Spotted Oophaga pumilio poison dart frog on wood
No. 04

Red frogs of Bastimentos

Isla Bastimentos

Strawberry poison dart frogs come in a different color on almost every island. On Bastimentos you can find spotted ones.

Coral garden with sponges and a snorkeler at the surface
No. 05

Reefs and mangroves

All over the archipelago

Brain coral, sponges and seagrass sit a few meters under the surface. The mangrove roots are a nursery for half the fish you will see.

Boat gliding down a calm jungle river channel
No. 06

San San Pond Sak

Mainland, near Changuinola

A protected wetland with slow black-water channels. Go early and quiet for a chance at manatees.

Three-toed sloth hanging upside down from a branch
No. 07

Sloths in the canopy

Wherever there are cecropia trees

Three-toed sloths love cecropia trees. Look for a round brown shape that does not move for an hour.

Howler monkey with a baby on its back eating leaves
No. 08

Howler mornings

Forest edges on every island

You will hear them before dawn. Mantled howlers move through the forest in small troops, babies riding on their backs.

Kinkajou on a branch lit by a flashlight
No. 09

The jungle after dark

Guided night walks

Kinkajous, owl butterflies, whip spiders and sleeping frogs. Go with a guide and a red light.

Open cacao pod next to pieces of dark chocolate
No. 10

Cacao farms

Dolphin Bay and the mainland

Bocas has grown cacao for generations. Several farms run tastings where you go from pod to bar in an afternoon.

Bocas basics

Currency
U.S. dollar. Panama mints its own balboa coins at the same value.
Getting here
About an hour by plane from Panama City, or the bus to Almirante plus a water taxi.
Getting around
Water taxis between islands, bikes and taxis on Isla Colón.
Drier spells
Usually February to March and September to October. Rain is possible any day.
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