Things to do in Bocas Del Toro
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Isla Bastimentos
Although it's a mere 10min 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 distinctive Creole language of Bocas del Toro Province that combines Afro-Antillean English, Spanish and Ngöbe-Buglé. The island …
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Wizard Beach
The most beautiful beach on Isla Bastimentos is Wizard Beach (also known as Playa Primera). Awash in powder-yellow sand and backed by thick vine-strewn jungle, Wizard Beach is connected to Old Bank via a wilderness path. The mere 30min walk can turn into an all-day trek through the muck if it's been raining heavy.
Assuming the weather is cooperating, you can continue walking along the coast to Playa Segunda (Second Beach) and Red Frog Beach. Like Wizard, both beaches are stunning and virtually abandoned, though this will change as development on the island continues. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can access Red Frog Beach by water taxi via a small marina on the so…
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Changuinola Canal
The boat ride from Changuinola to Bocas del Toro travels through the old canal formerly used by the banana plantations - it's a scenic trip that's well worth taking. The canal was abandoned years ago, and until the mid-1990s it was a bird watcher's dream. Today however, much of the jungle on both sides of the waterway has been cleared for cattle pasture, though there is still wildlife in the area.
In 1903, a 15km (9mi) canal connecting the Río Changuinola and Bahía de Almirante was dug parallel to the Caribbean shoreline, running within several hundred meters of it for most of its length. The work was begun six years earlier by the Snyder Brothers Banana Company to facili…
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Boca del Drago
Boca del Drago is one of the best beaches on the island. Though the surf can be rough at times, it is probably the happy medium in terms of its prettiness and the calmness of the water. Just offshore from the beach is a patchy coral-and-sand sea bottom that offers good snorkeling when the sea is calm and the water clear.
Boca del Drago isn't nearly as nice as Red Frog Beach or Playa Larga on Isla Bastimentos, where there's a good chance of encountering sea turtles if you camp out or make a night hike from one of the island's hotels. However, the surf at those beaches makes swimming unsafe.
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Isla Carenero
In recent years, the small, sparsely populated island of Isla Carenero has become popular with business folk hoping to lure tourists off Isla Colón and into their own establishments. The island takes its name from 'careening', which in nautical talk means to lean a ship on one side for cleaning or repairing.
It was in Careening Cay in October 1502 that ships under the command of Christopher Columbus were careened and cleaned while the admiral recovered from a bellyache.
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Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos
Established in 1988, this was Panama's first marine park. Protecting various areas of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago including parts of Isla Bastimentos and the Cayos Zapatillas, the marine park is an important nature reserve for countless species of Caribbean wildlife.
Get current park information from the IPAT or ANAM offices in Bocas del Toro town. To camp out anywhere in the park, you are required to first obtain a permit from ANAM.
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Mondo Taitú Bar
You're guaranteed a good time at the Mondo Taitú Bar. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the party-loving owners entertain their guests with a variety of themed events, though the creative cocktail list and hookahs make Mondo a good choice any night. If you're feeling brave, order a tequila suicide - a snort of salt, a squeeze of lime in the eye and a shot of bad tequila (at least it's free!).
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Barco Hundido
Most nights in Bocas end at the Barco Hundido, an open-air thatched-roof bar that's affectionately known as the 'Wreck Deck' - the name comes from the sunken banana boat that rests in the clear Caribbean waters in the front. A short boardwalk extends from the bar to an island seating-area that's perfect for stargazing.
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La Gruta
If sun, sand and surf aren't your persuasion, then consider a trip to La Gruta (The Cavern) where you can wade through waist-high water while trying not to disturb the thousands of sleeping bats overhead. The entrance to the cave is marked by a statue of the Virgin Mary.
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El Pecado
This well-established upstairs restaurant near the park is one of Bocas' best-known institutions. El Pecado specializes in unique Thai-Panamanian combinations of fresh, local produce, such as fillet of fish smothered in coconut-milk-based curry, and spicy chicken satays.
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La Iguana
A great place to kick off your crazy Bocas night is this popular surfer bar that serves up cocktails. This is a great spot for a frothy piña colada, though you can't go wrong with an ice-cold Balboa lager. There's 2-for-1 cocktails from 18:30-19:30.
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Alberto's Pizzeria
Nothing fills the gut like a big and cheesy pepperoni pizza, especially if you've been on the road for a while and in need of comfort food. Stop by this Italian-run spot and long-time resident chef Alberto will make sure you're well taken care of.
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El Ultimo Refugio
This rustic, mellow place on the edge of the sea specializes in seafood dishes such as calamari, red snapper and tiger prawns. It's in a quiet location on the southern edge of town, which makes it a great spot for a romantic dinner.
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Bocas Butterfly Garden
A great afternoon trip from Bocas town, this adorable butterfly farm houses species from every corner of Panama. Water taxis can whisk you away from Bocas town to the entrance to the farm on nearby Isla Carenero for around US$1.00.
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Panaderia Europeo
Sample the island's best baked goods at this tasty bakery, though be warned that the huge, fluffy cinnamon rolls are highly addictive. Wash it all down with a cup of gourmet brew and you've got yourself a fine start to the day.
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Tropix Surfshop
If you're seeking beach gear to look the part with the dudes cutting sick on the gnarly breaks, custom-made surfboards and a few used boards, as well as a large selection of bikinis and other island apparel, can be found here.
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Posada Los Delfines
The cheapest breakfast on the island is yours to be had at this hotel restaurant, which is a popular spot for locals in the know. Order your eggs any way you want and don't be afraid to get a second helping of rice and beans.
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Blowfish Sushi Bar
If you want a wild night out, the Blowfish Sushi Bar offers the rather unlikely combination of raw fish, girls dancing on bartops and a fireman's pole. Now, why didn't anyone think of that before?
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Bar El Encanto
If you're looking for a little local flair, Bar El Encanto is all the rage among the island's youth. Most nights are heavy on the reggaeton, and there is the occasional live performance.
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Pacahama
Pacahama features art made by most of Panama's indigenous peoples, along with a decent range of Guatemalan textiles, Nicaraguan hammocks and Emberá baskets.
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Market Stalls
If you're looking for authentic goods, you'll find a large selection of molas and a range of other handicrafts for sale by local Kunas at stands near the park.
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