We anticipate this to be one of the top ziplines in Central America. More visitors will have a reason to visit Bocas del Toro.

The best new outdoor adventure in Panama! This island canopy tour in Bocas del Toro comprises 7 ziplines, a Tarzan swing, suspended sky bridge, ropes course, and vertical rappel. This Canopy Tour is located adjacent to a national marine park above Panama’s top rated beaches and set within a lush rainforest. From elevated platforms participants can peer out to views of the surrounding Caribbean ocean and the verdant rainforest habitat below.

Witness the sights, sounds, and rare beauty of this pristine Caribbean Island while flying through the rainforest. Bastimentos Sky zipline takes advantage of the hilly island terrain where several peaks and ridges allow for incredible zipline descents through native rainforest. This Bocas del Toro zipline incorporates a total of seven ziplines with the longest being an absolutely thrilling 300-meter ride over a lush rainforest valley.

7 Ziplines

Tarzan Swing

Sky Bridge

Ropes Course

Vertical Rappel

Up to 1000 foot long zips

Speeds up to 42 mph

250ft high

Guided ecotour and interpretive journey

Stunning views of the ocean and native habitats

Created by one of the top Zipline Designers and operated by a team of experts, guests will find this adventure exhilarating, educational and safe. It is our goal to ensure that a Canopy Tour on Bastimentos Sky will be among the highlights of your trip to Bocas del Toro Panama.

I learned today the the zip line will have a superman styled ride — as in head first!! Should be incredible soaring through the rainforest like that! The zip line in Bocas del Toro is scheduled to open August 2010. The price will be around $50–$60 for a 2.5 hour tour spanning 5-6 zip rides, a ropes course, tarzan swing, and rappel.

The zip line in Bocas del Toro is on Isla Bastimentos and is located in some very dense rainforest. The jungle paths to get to the zip line training area are beautiful.

Anyway, can’t wait to ride!

Nightlife
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.
On the water is the Buena Vista Deli & Bar, known for good times and good food. For a younger crowd, start with Mondo Taitu, to meet an international mix of young travelers and surfers, and an equally diverse menu of specialty island cocktails (think mojito with a twist), served by the young, hip and friendly bartenders. Also fun is the newer La Iguana, right on the water. Don’t forget to visit the famous Barco Hundido, also known as the “wreck-deck,” which is a good place to get your dance on. Like anywhere, it is advisable to practice discretion and stay on the lighted main streets at night.

Souvenir Shopping
Souvenir shops can be found on Bocas’ main street and hippies from all over the world can be found lining the main street with their crafts and beautiful jewelry. Also, on the opposite end of the main street, just before the end, is a display of molas attended by the Kuna Indians.
Panama is famous for its molas, colorful reverse applique cloth designs. This humble stand has one the best selection of molas in the world. You have the added satisfaction of purchasing directly from the Indians and knowing your dollar will go a long way to helping these worthy people

Restaurants
Bocas restaurants are easy on the budget and have a surprising variety of offerings. For seafood try El Pecado and El Refugio for dishes that will satisfy the sophisticated palate but are reasonably priced.

Across the street from El Pecado, La Laguna Hotel offers mostly Italian dishes including a yummy pizza, and has street side seating making it the best place in town for people watching. Bahia Hotel has a good Italian restaurant with some of the best pizza in town.

For excellent ‘gringo’ food, we highly try Buena Vista. Kum Ja is the only Chinese restaurant and the food is inexpensive and good. Another popular and good restaurant is Om for East Indian food. If you are just looking to take out a beach-picnic lunch, stop by at the Super Gourmet Deli for epicurean sandwiches.

During dining the day on the islands outside of Bocas: For seafood in incomparable surroundings, take a water taxi to restaurant Coral Cay, perched on stilts over the sea. Your lobster will be picked live from a sea cage and you will enjoy gorgeous sea views all around as you wait for your dish to be prepared. This is a Bocas must-do. Most tours will take you there as part of their route.

http://www.panamainfo.com/en/destinations/bocas-del-toro

Getting to the cave is fun. You travel up a small creek, navigating around half submerged fallen trees, and pointing out animals along the way. You get a little exercise navigating through the narrow water way. The creek is lined with mangrove trees filled with sloths that feed on the leaves.  If you are quiet and lucky you might see even see a crock.

Before entering the cave remember to use caution walking through the water and feel the bottom before you put your foot down hard. It is a very slow walk ahead.

The ceiling of the entrance of the cave is lined with several different species of bats. The floor subsequently is lined with bat droppings which is a a slippery situation.  Try not to spend too much time directly underneath the bats as they keep producing “droppings”.  However, bats are great creatures and not dangerous.

When walking through the water the water temperature is moderate and is a welcome refreshing change to the humidity inside cave.  In some parts the water comes up to your neck (It helps if you have a nice back walking in front of you).  At the end of the cave, not really the end but the end of the accessible part, is a deep pool.  Fresh water is constantly entering on one side and exiting on the other side of the pool.  You can take a nice swim there and cool off.

After exiting the cave you return to the cayuco and slowly paddle back down the creek.  You usually leave Bocas at 10:00 am in the morning and arrive back at 4:00 pm.

http://www.bocasmarinetours.com/bastcave.html

Check back for updates and an official opening date for the zip line.

Over 50 types of indigenous plant and tree species have been planted at the Marina Village on Bastimentos. These plants include edible items such as passion fruit, star fruit, coffee, and amazon tree grape. There are also a number of plants that give off pleasant aromas that visitors will enjoy (these scents also help repel bugs). Heliconia & hibiscus should bring many birds and frogs to the area.

Our unique tropical climate is conducive to the growth of thousands of different types of tree and plant species.  We want to share a slice of the rainforest with you by bringing this amazing array of biodiversity right to your doorstep.  That’s why we’ve decided to initiate a landscaping program that is organic, eco-friendly, and uses the native species that thrive in this area. The Nursery is in an idyllic location, set on hillside overlooking the rainforest just a short walk from the marina.

Several different species can be found here, including: starfruit, pepper plant, curry plant, cilantro plant, mango, pineapple, banana or plantain, hibiscus, cinnamon, etc. A complete list is as follows:

A Panamanian traveler shares his experience of hiking Volcano Baru in a day.

“When my oldest childhood friend and I decided to go to Panama, we knew that we had to hike its tallest mountain. Being from Colorado, where 14,000 foot peaks seem to be everywhere, we felt pretty confident that we could conquer Panama’s highest mountain, which stands at just over 11,000 feet. However, as we set out in the dark on our trek up the volcano that early morning, we did not fully anticipate the difficulty of actually reaching the top and coming back down in one day.

During our venture up Baru, we decided to avoid hauling our camping gear up the side of the mountain and to do the whole thing in one day. The trailhead to the top of Baru is almost a full day’s hike in itself from Boquete, so the day before the hike, we arranged for a taxi to pick us up in the center of town at 4 am. We agreed to his slightly inflated rate of US$4 each for the ride to the trailhead. An early start is necessary to avoid afternoon rain, and we were hoping to beat the clouds to the top and get a peak of the view, famous for allowing hikers to see both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. Unfortunately, when we reached the summit just after 9 am, the top of the volcano was already shrouded in clouds. We couldn’t see 5 feet in front of us, so needless to say both oceans were totally out of sight. I hear the view, if you are lucky enough to catch it, is amazing though.

We will call this next stage of the hike, “Thank god Julie brought her headlamp.” The taxi dropped us off at the trailhead to the volcano in the pitch black, with no one and nothing other than jungle and its animal residents around us. It was terrifying. Lindsey and I spent the first 2 km of the hike paranoid at every noise coming from the darkness and trying to remember why we thought hiking up this volcano was a good idea. For the next two hours, we hiked through the dark, never really getting used to the sounds of the jungle waking up around us. We survived the darkness and finally daylight arrived and we continued the 15km, 5 hour hike to the summit.

The hike to the summit is steep and difficult, but definitely doable for in-shape individuals. We hiked at a fairly moderate pace and made it to the top in about 5 hours. The hike down actually took just as long, as the trail is full of loose rock and pumice and is slow-going. Be prepared for sore joints if you do the hike in one day.”

How to Conquer Baru: Hiker Tips
• If you do this 30km hike in one day, make sure you leave early and strap a headlamp on your head. You won’t be able to see the trail without one
• Bring warm clothes. The top of Baru is chilly. In the dry season it often frosts at the summit and it has snowed in the past
• The day before your trip arrange for a taxi to take you to the trailhead. For your way back into town you can either pre-arrange a taxi or wait for one on the side of the road. They do pass by with   semi-frequency and you can hail one down. You may end up riding in the back of a truck, but it will only cost you US$1-$2
• Bring plenty of water and snacks to sustain you during the 10-hour hike
• Prepare to be both mentally and physically challenged. This is a tough hike for a person at almost any fitness level, so be prepared hurt
• Don’t be surprised when you can’t walk the next day. I couldn’t.

http://www.panamatravelguide.org/hiking-volcan-baru.html

“On rainy day in Bocas del Toro, my travel companion Lindsey and I played cards in our hostel (Mondu Taitu) and brainstormed activities that could be equally fun in sun as in the rain. After talking to David, one of the friendly American owners of Mondu Taitu, we decided a bike ride through the island to Playa del Drago on the opposite side was just the thing to do. David told us the bike ride was just as fun, if not more, in the rain and the drizzle would keep us from getting too hot. The journey was 15 km each way and hilly, but we were up for the challenge.

We found bikes to rent in town for US$5 each, though I can’t say these bikes were in top condition. Because of the humidity, ocean air and general lack of upkeep, most bike rental places have rather rusty and ill-working bikes. The brakes worked (mostly at least) and the tires were inflated though, so Linds and I set out on our journey.

The ride took longer than expected, as one of our chains seemed to fall off every 5 minutes, but the ride through the center of the island was amazing. The middle of the island was mostly dense jungle dotted with a few homes with chickens in the front yard. Panamanians in rubber boots walked the road returning from work. The road was paved, but littered with potholes and mounds of dirt, so the going wasn’t always the easiest, but the trip was definitely fun and

Playa del Drago, on the opposite side of the island was quiet and calm, a stark contrast to the busy and touristy city of Bocas. There was a small restaurant here where you could have a snack and a bay with a small scenic beach. There was some coral in the bay and fish to look at with a snorkel as well. We returned that night to the hostel covered in mud and soaking wet, but happy with our biking adventure that rainy afternoon.”

http://www.panamatravelguide.org/biking-in-bocas-del-toro.html

On Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro province, STRI built a center for a comprehensive program in research and education, focused on both marine and terrestrial environments.

Bocas del Toro is a complex region of islands, mainland bays, rivers and forested mountain slopes on the Caribbean side of the Panamanian isthmus. The very high diversity of marine and terrestrial ecosystems makes Bocas an ideal area to study natural environments. However, Bocas is also a socio-politically complex setting—a site with fisheries, growing tourism, agriculture and a significant population of endangered sea turtles and manatees. In short, Bocas comprises a model region for working on the important issue of sustainable multiple use.

Additionally, Bocas del Toro offers an ideal setting for conducting paleoecological studies to answer important questions about the history of the Isthmus of Panama. The rocks and fossils around Bocas hold the key to understanding when and where the Isthmus began rising, and when and where it closed, separating the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Pinpointing the time sequence of this division, which triggered the formation of the Gulf Stream, among other major natural events, has huge ramifications across varying fields of scientific inquiry as diverse as evolutionary biology and climatology.

Visiting the Bocas del Toro Research Station

Our priority is research, but we are always looking for better ways to communicate research results to a non-scientific audience, and to help increase awareness of the natural world. Our Education Program offers guided visits to school students, university students, international tourists and the general public. We emphasize the importance of conserving the unique ecosystems and the marvelous opportunity that they provide to scientists who wish to understand the environment we share.

The tour around the Bocas Research Station start visiting the bilingual exhibition “Our Reefs: Caribbean Connections”. This traveling exhibition was developed to promote awareness and creative problem,-solving in communities most directly affected by the changing status of Caribbean reefs. Then guides will give general information about research activities and a walk tour for the station new facilities.

Visiting Hours:

General public: Thursdays and Fridays from 3:00 to 5:00 PM .

School groups: Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM or 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

Reservations in advance are required.

Free admission.