What is bocas del toro like

The main town is on Isla Colon and that is where they run a lot of the popular Bocas Del Toro tours from. Basically, every shop is a travel agent. Read More: 37 Things to do in Panama that are actually cool.

We took a tourist shuttle from Boquete to Bocas which should have taken an hour less than it did — we stopped for an HOUR long coffee break on a 3. Who does that? The shuttles are packed full and luggage goes on top.

It poured rain the whole way for us. Luckily we had hard-shell bags but those with backpacks had put them in trash bags before going they still got wet.

Alternatively, you can hire a driver. We decided not to use them from Boquete to Bocas Del Toro to save money. There is where your transportation will take you. That means, the shuttle can only take you to the port where you will catch a boat to Isla Colon and from there you will go to the island you are staying on.

Make sure you include the boat cost in the cost of the shuttle you book. The airport and main town is Isla Colon. Here is a map. There are water taxis between islands but this can add up. There are offices for the hotels off-island. So, when you arrive to Isla Colon, you need to look on a map to find the office of your hotel and go there. They will then put you on a taxi to your hotel. On the map above I added to these hotels, too, so you can see where they are. Keep in mind, almost all of the nice hotels are on islands other than Isla Colon since that is the backpacker place.

Bocas del Toro is a natural sanctuary whose raw beauty is hard to describe. Island hopping is a must in Bocas del Toro. Cruise by the shores of Isla Bastimentos, where the warm waves meet the mangroves or out in the ocean heading towards the dreamy beaches of Isla Zapatilla.

The island is home to a large community descending from Jamaicans and West Caribbean people who came to work in Bocas and never left. The village, located in the jungle, is reachable by boat through a canal that cuts through the mangrove forest. Isla Bastimentos is home to many natural wonders , including Nivida, a massive bat cave with a subterranean lake reachable by canoe across the jungle.

The actual visit of the bat cave requires some courage. After gliding through the mangroves for half an hour, you will need to step into the water up to your waist and walk with a headlamp in between the narrow entrance of the cavern, with swarms of bats and vampires flying over your head. Once inside, you will be staggered by this hidden gem and by the crystalline waters of the lake. Bocas del Toro is becoming an increasingly popular destination among selective surfers.

Largely undiscovered, it leaves lots of space for surfers to explore a wide array of waves, from reef breaks to beach breaks and more. So not only do you have the pace of island life; it is a Caribbean island, in one of the most chilled out countries in the world.

What you have planned for the day largely depends on the weather. The erratic nature of the skies forces you to go with the flow. Bocas del Toro is often referred to as the Venice of the Caribbean. The coasts are either lush jungle and tropical beaches or lined with overwater businesses and homes.

Only the main island has roads and cars. The rest of the island communities rely on the Panga — the mainstay local style fiberglass boat — or the traditional dugout canoe called a Cayuco. Island Hopping in Bocas del Toro is an every-day occurrence both for tourists and locals. Buying groceries, going to work, or visiting friends often requires traversing the channels between the islands.

The water-taxis run all day and all night and there is nothing quite like coming home from dinner in Bocas Town and seeing deep space above you and bioluminescent water below you.

The boats are, of course, also used for exploring the many beaches, islets, reefs, and waves around the archipelago. This is the side of Bocas del Toro you need to seek out while you are here! Did you know that Bocas del Toro is said to have more surf-able waves in a 2 mile stretch of coastline than anywhere else in the world?

We have point breaks, reef breaks, beach breaks, massive big wave slabs, and tons of fun little waves in between. Many are accessible by land but the preferred method of rocking up to the spot is by boat.

There are spots that are perfect for beginners or those just learning and we have a huge variety of Surf Schools to choose from. You can find high-quality board rentals in town, private surf guides, and private surf photographers.

Learn more about Bocas del Toro Surf here. Bocas del Toro is world famous for surfing, but the Dive scene is almost bigger! There are more diving related businesses in Bocas than surfing ones.

There are a huge variety of dive spots with reefs, ledges, walls, caves, sunken ships and more to be explored. When the sea is calm and the waves are flat — go diving, and when the waves are big — go surfing! Overwater Bungalows are on everyones travel bucket list and Bocas del Toro has some of the cheapest Overwater Bungalow accommodations in the Caribbean.

Bocas is becoming known as a top choice to stay in a luxury overwater bungalow for way cheaper than you would pay in the rest of the world. Choosing the overwater bungalow option will immerse you in the island style of life here. Once you have had enough of the sea and sun, you can experience living in the rainforest!

Bocas has a wide variety of accommodations tucked into the jungle. You can find luxury jungle accommodations and also more rustic, open air style ones that will fit most budgets. Bocas is not as cheap as some backpackers would like; but it is still a very cheap option for those looking for luxury but not at an alarming price tag. Bocas del Toro is a safe vacation destination. Crime is low and the most common crime is petty theft.

We have very little violent crime and many residents believe they are safer in Bocas than they would be in a city in the United States. Bocas del Toro is malaria free and zika free, but we do have some cases of Dengue Fever each year. Things to Do in Bocas Del Toro. Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park Isla Bastimentos is one of the largest islands in Panama, and provides a laid back alternative to Panama Panama is a cosmopolitan, dynamic city, where the modern and the traditional come together to create Chiriqui Get ready to enjoy each day of an awakening with the trilling of fascinating birds, the opportunity Cocle Thanks to its proximity to Panama City, diverse scenery, and abundance of things to do from hiking Colon The beauty of its landscapes, its exuberant beaches, its historical routes full of fortresses, Los Santos In this province you will be able to wake up with the sun touching your window and you will enjoy