Top 10 Bocas del Toro, Panama Things to Do

Travel to Bocas del Toro is a dream come true in every way. The lush landscapes, clear blue waters, and wildlife at every turn, thrilled and surprised me. I am very grateful to have experienced a press trip in Bocas del Toro on a private island, Bocas Town, and Caranero Island during my travel to 7 Continents,

While my press trip ended early my decisions due to problems in paradise I experienced on the island, I wouldn't change it for the world. During my month in Panama, I explored Starfish, Red Frog, and Caranero Island Beaches nearby.

It is time to put Bocas del Toro on your bucket list.

Bocas del Toro is far more than its beaches, culture, rainforests, and wildlife. If you didn't know, Bocas del Toro means "Mouths of the Bull". It is a province in Panama with an area of about 4600 kilometers including the mainland and 9 islands. The province includes the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Bahía Almirante (Almirante Bay), Laguna de Chiriquí (Chiriquí Lagoon), and mainland.

Bocas del Toro History

Bocas del Toro was originally discovered by Christopher Colombus in 1502, similar to my prior travel destinations like Colombia. The largest and more important island in the group is Colon Island founded in 1826 which is the Southern point of the city of Bocas del Toro.

Indicators of prosperity in the islands include five consulates, three newspapers, a bottling company, and the biggest producer of bananas. The bananas you know and love, Chiquita Brands, were established in Bocas del Toro amidst fierce competition within the banana industry. As I traveled via boat leaving Bocas del Toro towards Costa Rica, I saw their plant.

All around Bocas, you see efforts being made to preserve the charm of its wide streets and wooden houses, vivid memories of the British architectural influence on the islands.

No matter whether you experience private islands like Loma Partida, wander through Bocas Town (Colon Island), swim on the beaches of Starfish and Red Frog Beach, or explore Caranero Island, Bocas del Toro will fill you with paradise from the inside out.

Although it is a photographer's and Instagrammer's dream with its lush landscapes, breathtaking beaches, and colorful colonial homes, when you wander a few streets from the tourist areas, you will experience real Panamanians that live here year-round. While professionals, entrepreneurs, and the tourist industry earn more, the average Panamanian makes USD 800 per month.

Whether you will spend one day in Bocas del Toro, or a month like I did, you will love it.

It's not easy to narrow down Bocas del Toro to a Top 10 Things to Do, but here goes!

Credit Sol Bungalows — Bocas del Toro Map

Bocas del Toro, Panama Top 10 Things to Do

Take Boat Rides around the Islands
Enjoy the Sunrises and Sunsets
Walk around Bocas Town
See the Starfish at Starfish Beach
Do a Day Trip to Red Frog Beach
Visit a Private Island
Swim and Snorkel Everywhere
Cowork at Selina Bocas del Toros
Stay on Caranero Island
Enjoy foodie favorites like fresh juices, coconuts, and tacos

Bocas del Toro, Panama

.Bocas del Toro is a popular spot for digital nomads, lifestyle entrepreneurs, surfers and scuba divers. The most popular island for tourism is Isla Colon aka Bocas Town. Life in Bocas Town is easily walkable town with a slow and relaxed pace in the midst of hotels, Caribbean Colonial homes, tour operators, and restaurants.

Language

Spanish. English is spoken everywhere as well.

Climate

Bocas del Toro features a tropical rainforest climate with warm temperatures year-round.

October, January, and March are typically the driest.

Currency

American Dollar (USD)

Banks

There is a national bank about a block away from the main strip in Bocas Town, and two other ATMs in town. While many hotels and restaurants accept cards, some only accept cash so always ask.

Highlights

Discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus
20 years ago, this was a lost Caribbean Paradise
Located on Southern Tip of Isla Colon
Most popular Panama destination for tourists
May fly into Isla Colon aka Bocas Town
Highly Walkable city all around Bocas Town
Home to Chiquita Banana Brand
Boats to nearby islands are as inexpensive as $1 USD (2022)
Bocas del Toro means Mouth of the Bulls
Gained independence in 1903
Panamanian average salaries are $800 USD
Average rent in Bocas is $400 - $1,000 USD for 2 bedrooms

Shot by Julius Fourie, edited by me.

All shots are my own on Canon EOSM100, Sony A330, and/or my iPhone 13 or via Airbnb.

Travel to Bocas del Toro, Panama

Travel to Bocas del Toro may be an adventure. Depending on where you are traveling from you may be able to travel directly to Isla Colon via Air Panama. When I traveled to Bocas, I took a flight from Cartagena, Colombia to Panama City. From Panama City, I took a second flight to fly to Isla Colon with Air Panama.

If you are traveling from the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, you may want to take the Caribe Shuttle for about USD 40 which includes the shuttle to the border, guidance with customs, shuttle to the boat, and a boat ride to/from Bocas. I took Caribe Shuttle when I left Bocas to go to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. I loved it! You may book Caribe shuttle online and in town near the boat docks.

Where I Stayed in Panama

Airbnb in Panama City

When I arrived in Panama City, I stayed at an adorable Airbnb for one night about 20 minutes from the airport. From the moment I booked, Cami and her husband took incredible care of me going above and beyond.

Airbnb

Private Room on Loma Partida, Private island near Bocas del Toros

My stay at Bocas del Toro started like in a movie at Loma Partida, a private island. I arrived pinching myself on the private island of Loma Partida.

Imagine arriving at this destination on a private island with less than 40 families living on it?

Living in a room in this house for 3 weeks is an absolute dream. Every day, I listened in awe and wonder to the sounds of water lapping right outside my door.

So much of what I am living right now is part of my 2022 Vision written down for the year and my life.

Press Trip to Bocas del Toro

To give you some background on how I found the private island of Loma Partida, the press trip involves one of the travel tools to create what you love.

The press trip to Panama using digital marketing to travel the world is a year in the making.

A year before, while traveling in Costa Rica, I connected with the owners aligning beautifully. After my travels to Colombia, I arrived in February of 2022 n anticipation of an incredible island, alignment, community, and adding value to the brand engagement. Before arriving, I outlined a project plan with digital and influencer marketing to increase awareness and profits of the travel brand.

The island is breathtakingly beautiful immersed in lush landscapes, wonderful wildlife, and the limitless edge of forever views. Like life, surprises lurked around the corner. I ended up spending three interesting weeks on the private island vs. the original 4 weeks planned by my own choice.

While I wanted to spend the month on the private island, the personal circumstances of the owners of the island impacted the peace, productivity, and prosperity of myself and others.

I prayed before, during, and after leaving.

While I enjoyed the island, animals - Duran, Beans, and Coco, peaceful and joyful interactions with the team, and adding value with a business plan, digital marketing, content creation, and influencer marketing, the personal circumstances on the island changed impacted me and everyone around us dramatically.

Unfortunately, the circumstances continued to escalate. On my last day on the island, I went up on a hike to the Edge of Forever in the morning. When I returned, within 2 hours, escalation and eruptions of a personal nature on the property answered my prayers and quickly prompted me to leave that day to ensure peace and prosperity would continue in my environment.

For a few days, I ended up staying in a private room in Bocas Town. Then, I moved to a beautiful Airbnb on Caranero Island for the last few days.

Loma Partida Live on the Edge of Forever

Caranero Island

I ended up discovering Caranero Island, less than 5 minutes away by boat from Bocas Town, when I started searching for an Airbnb to stay in on the water. I fell in love with its peace, serenity, and off-the-beaten path island feeling.

It was a perfect way to spend my last few days in Panama walking around the island, enjoying the wild beaches, and enjoying the sunsets on. my huge wrap around porch on the water.

Airbnb

Top 10 Bocas del Toro, Panama Things to Do

Undoubtedly, Bocas del Toro offers much more than what I share in my Top 10 Bocas del Toro Things to Do. Although I experienced a lot during my month in Bocas, I barely scratched the surface. It is a travel destination I would return to in the future without any hesitation.

No matter how much time you have to visit Bocas del Toro, make the most of it. Whether you spend a day, a week, or months in Bocas del Toro, always make any travels your own!

In putting together the Top 10 Bocas del Tor Things to Do, I considered how I would experience travels knowing what I know now to make it easier and more enjoyable for you.

My Bocas del Toro Top 10 Things to Do includes:

Take Boat Rides around the Islands
Enjoy the Sunrises and Sunsets
Walk around Bocas Town
See the Starfish at Starfish Beach
Do a Day Trip to Red Frog Beach
Visit a Private Island
Swim and Snorkel Everywhere
Cowork at Selina Bocas del Toros
Stay on Caranero Island
Enjoy foodie favorites like fresh juices, coconuts, and tacos

Wild Beach in Bocas del Toro near Starfish Beach

1 Take Boat Rides around Bocas del Toro Islands

The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea to the northwest of Panama. The archipelago separates Almirante Bay and Chirique Lagoon from the open sea. Loma Partida is on the edge of Chiriqui Lagoon.

The major town is Bocas del Toro, known as Bocas Town, on Isla Colon. The surrounding islands are accessible by public water taxis and private boats.

You will want to take breathtaking boat rides all around Bocas del Toros.

During my time in Bocas del Toro, I took public water taxis including:

Bocas Town to Loma Partida $8 USD one way

Bocas Town to Red Frog Beach $5 USD one way

Bocas Town to Caranero Island $1 USD one way

*prices are in Spring of 2022 and subject to change

From left to right, Bocas Town, Loma Partida views, and Caranero Island beach.

2 Enjoy Sunrises and Sunsets in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro has some of the most surreal sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen in the world.

In this case, pictures speak louder than words.

3 Walk Around Bocas Town

Whether you stay in Bocas Town or not, you will definitely want to explore walking around town visiting the cafes on the water, colorful colonial homes, and other attractions in town. This is where you will go to get groceries, cash from the bank, and fly or boat into/out of to your next destination.

4 See Starfish in Real-Life at Starfish Beach

One my highlights in all my travels around the world included visiting Starfish beach, and seeing over 15 starfish within 10 minutes of arriving! Talk about childlike wonder!

It is easy to take a shuttle from the park in Bocas Town for about $5 USD one way around 9 or 10 am. Within about half an hour, you will arrive at the main drop off point for the shuttle at Bocas del Drago Beach, which is beautiful as well. I went with a fellow co-worker at the brand project in Loma Partida, Julius Fourie, a videographer from South Africa!

The walk to Starfish Beach is incredible taking you through a marsh and a wild beach.

5 Take a Day Trip to the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

It is obvious that Bocas del Toro offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Red Frog Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen as well. The team at Loma Partida and I went to Red Frog Beach for a day trip. It is easy to visit from Bocas Town from the Public Dock 34 in the center of town.

6 Visit a Private Island in Bocas del Toro

There are incredible islands all throughout Bocas del Toro. Make it a must to do during your travel to Bocas del Toro. I enjoyed visiting Loma Partida, the island I spent 3 weeks on.

You may find Day Passes to visit resorts on private islands, as well as boat tours to visit private islands in Bocas del Toro including Zapatillos and Pajaro Island.

7 Swim and Snorkel Everywhere in Bocas del Toro

With the tropical weather and warm water along with underwater world in Bocas year-round, swimming and snorkeling is a must everywhere in Bocas del Toro. I loved jumping off the pier and snorkeling in Loma Partida, and swimming at Red Frog, Starfish, and Caranero Island Beaches.

8 Co-working at Selina in Bocas del Toro

If you are a digital nomad like I am right now, you are often spending over 50-75% of. your time at destinations working online. As a result, you likely love to switch up how you work online like I do.

During my walks in Bocas Town, I found Selina to be my favorite co-working spot with a pier to jump into the water, awesome food, and great Wi-Fi!

9 Stay on Caranero Island

If you love quieter places to stay when you travel, you will love Caranero Island. It is small, quiet, colorful, and has beautiful beaches. What more could we ask for?

You can take a boat for about $1USD from Bocas Town to visit Caranero for the day, or stay here during your travel to Bocas del Toro.

10 Foodie Favorites in Bocas del Toro

I loved eating at home over 80% of the time while I visited Bocas del Toro. At the same time, I loved visiting some of my foodie favorites like having coconuts and eating at Palmar Beach Lodge on Red Frog Beach, Cafe del Mar, Coco and Selinas in Bocas Town

From left to right: Coconut, meal at Loma Partida, Herbalife Nutrition

From left to right: Tacos at Selina, Smoothie at Cafe del Mar, Rainbow Sandwich at Cafe near park in Bocas Town

Top 10 Things to Do: Bocas del Toro, Panama

Bocas del Toro abounds with breathtaking beauty at every turn.

Whether you want to experience walking Bocas Town, take a boat ride, visit Red Frog Beach, see Starfish in real-life, or any of my other Top 10 Things to Do in Bocas del Toro, you will love it.

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