We arrived in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Where to start? So many activities to choose from! We spent some time chatting to the friendly locals of Bocas del Toro to see what they would recommend for the best things to do around Bocas del Toro. There were loads of things available to us including, surfing, snorkeling, hiking, biking, kayaking, bird watching, fishing, scuba diving…. the list is endless!

Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro

We went to Isla Bastimentos which has some truly incredible beaches, one of which is Wizard beach. Wizard Beach is a popular beach with the surfing crowd around Bocas del Toro and it is easy to see why. There are great waves, white sands and palm trees galore. You can get to the beach from the town by a 30min hike. However, it had been raining the night before we went so the track got pretty muddy, not so good in flip flops! But it was well worth our muddy hike as the beach was beautiful. The laid back Caribbean vibe of Bocas del Toro is enhanced by the archipelago’s spectacular natural setting. The islands are covered in dense jungles of vine tangles and forest palms that open up to pristine beaches surrounded by mangroves. Another great beach in Bocas del Toro is Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos where sea turtles nest from April to August. Red Frog Beach is named after the tiny red frogs that look cute but they are called strawberry poison dart frogs for a reason… they are highly poisonous so watch out! However, keep a look out for them as they may not be around the island in Bocas del Toro for much longer due to future development plans.

The only way to get around Bocas del Toro is by water taxi. They are really easy to get and you can arrange times to be picked up with any of the local drivers for a few dollars (depending where you are going of course).

Although Bocas del Toro town is quite small, there are numerous restaurants and bars on offer that cater for all tastes and cultures. Here you will find a mean cocktail to while away the afternoon or evening before moving on to heavier party places for further entertainment. Bocas del Toro offers Spanish classes in a relaxed environment to enable you to learn the lingo and converse with the locals, you can even put on a Caribbean accent for the full effect and to blend in like you have lived in Bocas del Toro all your life! You can also locate organizations that organize events and dance classes, some specifically cater for back packers and travelers alike.

We spent a day snorkeling around Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro which was a great spot and definitely worth a visit as it was truly breathtaking. A group of us island hopped and snorkeled in the sunshine and had a great day. The marine life around Bocas del Toro was amazing and really beautiful with a huge variety of fish and corals in the waters.

Isla Colon is the main surfing spot around Bocas del Toro. You can have lessons in the surf school then take your board out to the open waters to test drive your new found skills and improve your technique! Playa Buff is Isla Colon’s most famous surf destination with very strong waves, so be careful as it has a reputation for board breaking!

We stayed in the hostel Bocas Bound in Isla Bastimentos which was a great base for our Bocas del Toro snorkeling escapades. The staff were really helpful and arranged our boat and a local Bocas guide for us. They also gave us loads of tips and advice on where to go around the islands and information on exactly the best places for snorkeling around Bocas del Toro. However, staying at any of the islands around Bocas del Toro allows you to have easy accessibility to boats. Just check that they have good equipment as this can certainly ruin your day (Bocas Bound had good equipment)! Our guide was really flexible and accommodating to our needs and gave us loads of information about the local eco system.

We would strongly recommend Bocas del Toro as there is so much to see and do, or just relax and unwind and take in the beautiful beaches. Everything is right there on offer to you at Bocas del Toro. Sit back and enjoy the Caribbean life and the natural beauty of Bocas del Toro.