Bocas Del Toro is an archipelago of islands off the northern Caribbean coast of Panama, close to the border of Costa Rica. While the island is most well known for being a backpacker party hot spot, there’s much more to it.
There are so many amazing things to do while backpacking Bocas Del Toro. It’s an incredible place to see marine life and indulge in water sports like snorkeling, diving, and surfing.
Bocas Del Toro was the first place I visited while backpacking Panama. After spending a week on the island, it only made me want to discover more. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Bocas Del Toro, this post has you covered.
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The Best Things to do in Bocas Del Toro
Drago and Starfish Beach
Drago Beach is a beautiful stretch of beach on Isla Colon. To get there from Bocas town, you can hire a taxi, take a water taxi, or grab a shuttle bus, which takes about 45 minutes.
You can also rent and ride a bike from Bocas, but it’s about 18km. There are also fun speed boat tours that take you there, along with some other beaches.
From Drago, you can take a $1 water taxi ride to Starfish Beach or walk 20 minutes.
Starfish Beach is not a deceiving name! The beach is full of giant, colorful starfish. Grab your snorkel and spend the day relaxing on the beach and swimming with starfish. The beach is remote, so bringing snacks and water with you is a good idea.
Sloth Island
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. An island full of cute, sleepy, smiling sloths hanging around the protected mangroves.
The island is off Isla Colon, and boat tours run from Bocas Town daily. Of course, they don’t guarantee you will see a sloth, but I hadn’t met anyone on the island who didn’t see them. After all, where are the sloths going to go?
Note that you won’t be walking on the island; you will just admire the sloths from the boat. Many tour operators combine Sloth Island with a day trip to Zapatilla Island for an all-day adventure.
Rent an ATV and explore the Jungle
If you want to explore Isla Colon outside of Bocas Town, you will need an ATV to see most of it. The road ends at a certain point out of town, becoming a lush jungle only accessible by ATV.
We found fantastic swimming spots, old ruins, and beautiful beaches on the ATV trails! It was so much fun driving through the jungle.
If you rent an ATV, you should rent it from Flying Pirates, as they own and maintain the trails. We didn’t know this and rented from another ATV company in town and ended up being locked out of one of the trail sections.
We were able to access it by paying a fee to the guy who owns Flying Pirates, but just save yourself the hassle and go through them from the beginning. He owns a bar near where the trails start, and it’s a great place to hang out – with floating beds over the water.
Go Snorkelling and Diving (day & night!)
Snorkeling and diving tours run daily from Bocas Town and will bring you to Bastimentos National Marine Park, where you can snorkel in the clear Caribbean waters.
Some marine life you may see are angelfish, parrotfish, groupers, butterflyfish, and moray eels. There are also combined snorkel and dolphin spotting tours.
One of the most incredible snorkeling experiences in Bocas Del Toro is to go snorkeling at night to see the glow of bioluminescence plankton. Aside from Los Arcos Marine Park in Mexico, this is one of the few places in this region to have this experience.
The light is created through a biological process by living organisms. All you need to know is that you will swim through a pitch-dark ocean lit by thousands of sparkly little sea creatures. The more you move, the more they glow. It’s magical. I wish I could show you photos, but my camera can’t pick it up. It’s just something you have to see.
Mangrove Boat Ride & Caving
A fun way to spend the afternoon in Bocas Del Toro is to ride a boat through the mangroves. You may see wildlife from the boat, such as sloths, birds, and red frogs.
Our tour was a last-minute decision, and I wasn’t prepared for the second part. After the boat ride, we got off and walked through a muddy path to a cave. As you can see, I had barely finished my beer and was not in hiking gear! At least he gave me a headlamp.
We went inside the cave, which was pretty dark and spooky, but at the end, there was a ledge you could jump off into the cave water. Luckily, I was wearing my swimsuit under my clothes. The jump is a very refreshing way to beat the humidity of Bocas Del Toro!
Relax at Isla Zapatilla
Located in Panama’s Bastimentos Island National Marine Park, Zapatilla Islands look straight out of a postcard. As they are only accessible by boat, the best way to visit is to book a day tour from Bocas Town.
It takes about 30 minutes to reach the islands. The ride is scenic, and dolphins are frequently seen along the way. Once on the island, you have free time to soak up this tropical paradise.
It’s an ideal spot for snorkeling, with beautiful coral reefs right off the beach. Otherwise, you can just relax on the gorgeous white-sand beaches or head inland to explore the jungle.
Whale Watching & Dolphin Tours
Bocas Del Toro is one of Panama’s best places to go whale watching. The waters are teeming with marine wildlife, so much that Bocas is called the Galapagos of the Caribbean! The best time to see whales is from July to October when the humpback whales migrate to the area.
Bottlenose dolphins can be spotted year-round in Bocas Del Toro. Laguna Bocatorito, known as Dolphin Bay, is the best place to see them. It’s a 20-minute boat ride from Isla Colon.
You may also see dolphins from the boat while on other day tours. On our way to Zapitilla Island, we spotted dolphins jumping in the water.
Red Frog Beach
Another beach worth checking out in Bocas Del Toro is Red Frog Beach on Isla Basimentos. It has a gorgeous beach to relax on where you can swim in the warm Caribbean water.
It’s also home to the red frog nature reserve, where you can spot the poison dart frogs. They are tiny, so look out!
Party
This town is a backpacker’s favorite for a reason. Bocas del Toro notoriously ranks as one of Central America’s top 5 party destinations, along with Nicaragua’s Sunday Funday.
Some popular bars here are Aqua Lounge, Selina, and La Iguana Surf Bar. Look out for ladies’ nights, where you can drink for free!
Bocas is famous for Filthy Fridays, an island-hopping party every Friday. You will go across three beautiful tropical islands alongside piles of other backpackers. Prepare for a heavy day of drinking. The party starts at 11:30 am and goes until 9:00 pm.
Check out the floating bar if you want something a bit more low-key but still want to drink. It’s just a 5-minute water taxi from Bocas Town, where you can enjoy cocktails while floating in the middle of the Caribbean. It also has delicious food!
Take a surf lesson
Bocas Del Toro is a great place to learn to surf, especially for beginners, because of the friendly surf breaks. If you’re staying at Selina Red Frog, they offer surf packages.
In an introductory surf lesson, you’ll start on the beach and cover the basics of safety and paddling techniques. Once you’ve tried practicing the movement a few times on the beach, you’ll head out to the water to catch a wave!
I loved learning to surf in Boca and continued surfing around Puerto Vallarta after my experience here. The best season for surfing in Bocas is from November to February.
Visit the Plastic Bottle Village
Fed up with the plastic bottle waste he saw on the island, Robert Bezeau decided to do something about it.
The result is a plastic bottle village, which is exactly what it sounds like: a village containing full-sized structures comprising millions of bottles. Guests can visit and even stay in the village.
How to Get to Bocas Del Toro
Bocas Del Toro is an archipelago on the northern Caribbean coast of Panama, easily accessible from other parts of Panama or Costa Rica.
Panama City to Bocas Del Toro
The easiest way to get to Bocas Del Toro from Panama City is to fly. Air Panama has a few flights daily from Panama City to Bocas town.
You can also take a bus from Panama City to Bocas, but it’s a 10-12-hour bus journey. If you travel via bus, break the ride up by spending a few days in Boquete.
Boquete to Bocas Del Toro
If you come from Boquete, direct tourist shuttles go to Bocas Del Toro. You can also DIY by getting a bus from Boquete to the town of David, which leaves every half-hour or so.
You can get a bus from David to Almirantel, just a few minutes walk to the ferry terminal to Bocas Del Toro. The bus takes about 3.5 hours.
Costa Rica to Bocas Del Toro
The first time I visited Bocas Del Toro, I was only coming for a week, but I flew into San Jose, Costa Rica, instead of Panama City, because the flight was so much cheaper.
Although it’s a different country, getting from San Jose to Bocas Del Toro is not that complicated. The easiest way is to fly via Nature Air, but you can also book a bus transfer online or DIY.
From San Jose, grab a bus at the main terminal to Sixaola, the border town in Costa Rica. Tell them you are going to Panama when you buy your ticket. You will likely have to transfer buses in Limon. If you are in Puerto Viejo, Sixaola is just an hour away.
From there, you cross the border from Costa Rica to Panama, which is one of the easiest border experiences I’ve had in Central America. Once in Panama, you’ll need to catch a mini-bus to Almirante, about an hour away.
They cram the mini-busses full, so be prepared to wait for enough people to go.
Once you’ve arrived in Almirante, you can catch a water taxi to the main town of Bocas for a couple of dollars. In typical Central American fashion, the boats don’t have a set schedule. We took ours at sunset, and I got the impression it was the last one, so plan to get there before dusk if you want to make it to the island that night. The boat ride takes about half an hour and will bring you to Bocas Town.
Where to Stay while Backpacking Bocas Del Toro
The boat will drop you off in Bocas, where most accommodations are within walking distance. If you are staying on another island, you can get a water taxi or arrange transportation with your hotel in advance.
Where you should stay in Bocas del Toro depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Since the archipelago comprises nine islands, there are several places to stay, all offering different experiences.
The three main islands people stay on are Isla Colon, Isla Solarte, and Isla Bastimentos.
The main town on Isla Colon is Bocas Town, where most people stay. It’s a backpacker’s paradise and party place. The upside is that there are tons of bars and restaurants nearby and tour operators to take you around.
If you want something quieter, Isla Bastimentos is an excellent choice.
Hostels & Hotels in Bocas Town
Budget: Selina is a great budget option if you want to stay in Bocas town and party. It’s right next to the main pier and has an on-site bar, which is one of the main places for nightlife in town, so it’s a great place to meet other backpackers. I love Selina’s and stayed in them all through Costa Rica.
Another great hostel to stay in is Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte. It’s owned by the same guys that run Bambuda Castle in Boquete, one of my favorite hostels in Central America.
It’s a beautiful lodge with a pool and a 150-foot slide into the ocean. It’s only five minutes from Bocas town, and they offer free transportation twice daily.
Mid-range: Casa Coco offers private units with sea views at an affordable price. It’s in a peaceful area in Bocas town and has excellent reviews.
Higher-end: If you’re looking for something more private in Bocas town, Azul Paradise Bocas is a great option. It’s a 4-star hotel on the pier, with the water outside your bedroom door.
Hotels on Isla Bastimentos
If you’re looking for a quieter stay, head to Isla Bastimentos. It’s a more secluded location where you can get more privacy. It’s also where most of the luxurious hotels are.
On the downside, most restaurants are in Bocas Town, so you’ll have to return to eat out.
Budget: Selina has another location on Red Frog Beach on Isla Bastimentos. This Selina has a much chiller vibe while still being a great place to meet other travelers.
Mid-Higher range: Another great option in Bastimentos is Azul Paradise, which has overwater bungalows.
One really unique place to stay is La Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm. This place looks fantastic! It’s an organic chocolate farm dedicated to the sustainability and care of the environment.
Luxury: If you want a luxurious stay, check out Red Frog Beach Island Resort. It has a beautiful private bungalow, an outdoor pool, and a full-service spa.
Best Time to Visit Bocas Del Toro
Bocas Del Toro is a tropical destination with more than 130 inches of rainfall yearly. There is no guarantee of no rain, but the dry season runs from December to early April. This is when you’ll get the clearest skies and the least chance of rain.
The wet season runs from late April to November when there are many overcast days and a high chance of rain. I visited in May, and it was not that bad. It did rain every day, but usually, only in the morning for an hour or so, and then it was sunny for the rest of the day. Whatever time of year you visit, it will be tropical and lovely.
Essential Items for Bocas Del Toro
- Cash is king. Credit cards are not widely accepted here, but American dollars are. Bring extra cash.
- Sun protection – reef-safe sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses!
- Since water taxis are so common, bring motion sickness tablets if you’re prone to seasickness.
- Given the constant humidity, a rain jacket is a good idea.
- Like most of Central America, you can’t drink the water here. To save money and avoid buying plastic bottles, get a LifeStraw, a portable water purifier. These things are magic, and yes, they work.
- Snorkel and Mask for snorkeling in the water.Â
- Dry bag. This will keep all your items safe from any water! This is so useful when taking water taxis between the islands. (And it comes in 18 colors!)
- Beach Towel
Read More about Panama
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Guest Author Bio: Lora is a full-time digital nomad on a quest to visit every country and pet as many dogs as possible. Over the last 15 years, she has traveled solo to 70+ countries and six continents. She currently calls Puerto Vallarta, Mexico home, where she runs the website Take Me To Puerto Vallarta.
