You can thank Christopher Columbus for this jewel.  According to his log, Christopher Columbus in 1502,  discovered a chain of nine islands that make up the archipelago Bocas. Under the Panamanian flag, Bocas del Toro is the capital of Colon. Columbus, while searching for passage to the Pacific stopped and made his rounds on the islands.  He found them to be deserted and particularly barren for his purposes and never sought claim to them.

The area is now its own province with individual government structure and thriving population of more than ten thousand wonderful islanders.

Water Sports

Waves roll in year round, and Bocas is well known for its surfing. Swimming is one of the most popular water sports in the area and you can enjoy any of the five public beaches in the city. All of them are beautiful with white sands and warm water.

The Bocas del Toro area for Panama fishing trips is known for its small tides (2-3ft), tropical colorful reefs, golden sand beaches and semi-enclosed costal rivers mouths flowing into its crystal clear Atlantic Ocean making a connection to the open sea. These are only a few interesting things for any fishing guide or traveler.

The archipelago is know for sail, yellowfin tuna and red snapper fishing during the months of March/April. The fishing ground depth is usually 60 to 200 ft deep and at only 1 or 2 miles offshore the Colon Island. Water depth reaches 2000ft at 3 miles and 5000 ft at 9 miles offshore in some areas of the sport fishing zone of Bocas del Toro.  Catch and release is practiced and recommended.

Diving and Snorkeling

The best places for diving are Coral Key, Dark Wood Reef, Hospital Point and Punta Juan Buoy. For snorkeling, the Garden near Cayo Nancy, and Punta Juan buoy are excellent. Hotel Bocas del Toro can arrange for a diving tour operator or you can hire a water taxi and go on your own.

When diving in Bocas you will be able to see some of the best preserved hard and soft coral in the world. You will also have the opportunity to see sting rays, lobsters, many species of crabs and a countless variety of tropical reef fish.

Cultural Diversity

There is no known native culture in this city.  The largest part of the population seems to be people from the nearby islands as well as though from as far away as China who have made this area a home and thriving business.  Many of the newest immigrants are from Germany and the United States.

Night Life

Bocas is a low-key and friendly town where it is easy to meet with fellow travelers and the local people. In some places of town, every night it’s a party.

How To get There

Travel to Bocas del Toro, on Colon Island, is reachable by air with daily flights from Panama City as well as flights from San Jose, Costa Rica. You can also come by bus and take a ferry from the mainland. Aeroperlas and Air Panama have several daily flights from Panama City to Bocas. Round trip tickets from Panama City can be booked by Hotel Bocas del Toro.

By land you can take a bus or car to Almirante on the mainland and take boat taxi or ferry to Bocas town on the main island, Isla Colon. In Almirante there’s a safe place to leave your vehicle for the duration of your stay in Bocas. You won’t need a car in Bocas. The drive between David and Almirante is mountainous and very scenic.

Activities

Bar and restaurant hopping is one of the favorite past times for the tourists that visit this area.  There are more than enough of these establishments to keep you busy for days.   Finding one right on the beach, makes this activity even more appealing.

As Bocas grows as a tourist destination, ecotours are being developed in the area as well.  A highlight is the Bocos del Toro cave with four species of bats and some of the best bird watching can be found in Bocas del Toro.

So what are you waiting for?  Start planning your Bocas del Toro vacation today.