Isla Bastimentos

Introducing Isla Bastimentos

Although it’s a mere 10-minute boat ride from the town of Bocas del Toro, Isla Bastimentos is a different world. The northern coast of the island is home to palm-fringed wilderness beaches that serve as nesting grounds for sea turtles, while most of the southern coast consists of mangrove islands and coral reefs that fall within the boundaries of the Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos.

The main settlement on Bastimentos is the historic West Indian town of Old Bank, which has its origins in the banana industry. Here, you’ll hear Gali-Gali, the distinct Creole language of Bocas del Toro Province that combines Afro-Antillean English, Spanish and Ngöbe-Buglé. The island is also home to the Ngöbe-Buglé village of Quebrada Sal, which is separated from Old Bank by a huge swath of jungle.

While there were concerns recently over the Red Frog Beach resort development project and the impact it would have on the island's pristine environment, new owners assure us that the project has been relaunched with a greener focus, concentrating on natural amenities rather than traditional resort amenities. This project will also involve extending the Parque Marino.

Last updated: Jan 27, 2010