Discover Paradise In Bocas Del Toro
The Bocas del Toro Islands is an archipelago located off the Caribbean coast of Panama, close to the border with Costa Rica. There are a total of 240 islands ranging from tiny mangrove islets up to Bastimentos Island which exceeds 100,000 acres in size.
Isla Colón
Isla Colón is the main island where the Town of Bocas del Toro is located. Bocas Town has an airport that receives flights from Panama City and San Jose, Costa Rica. Bocas is also where the mainland ferry and water taxis dock.
The Islands are well known for their pristine waters, secluded islands, and abundant primary rainforest. They are an absolute paradise of white sand beaches, banana plantations, lush rainforests, coral reefs, turquoise seas, exotic marine life, and mangrove coves. Isla Colón is the only island with electricity, municipal water, roads, and phone service.
No wonder why it is Panama’s top tourist destination in the Caribbean!
What to do?
Zapatilla Cays
Located two miles off the beach at Popa Paradise Beach Resort are two deserted islands each about a mile long and ringed with crystal clear sandy waters. They are part of the world-famous Bastimentos Marine Preserve.
Imagine a day of being Robinson Crusoe, wandering the shores beach combing for exotic shells, hardly a soul insight, relaxing in the shade of thousands of palm trees, and snorkeling in water so clear that visibility is fifty feet! Pitch your lounger in the shade and open your icebox and relax.
Bastimentos Island
Located one mile from our hotel is Basimentos Island, the largest of the Bocas Islands.
It is like all the others (except Colon which has one road) in that it has no roads and is sparsely populated with rainforest down to almost all the shores. The shores of Bastimentos Island feature several miles of sandy beaches perfect for a picnic or sunset stroll.
Kayaking
Kayaks are available for a nominal rent. We carry single and double-seater ocean kayaks. There are literally miles upon miles of calm waters to explore right from our beach, featuring crystal clear waters, (averaging 82 degrees year round!) with abundant coral sandy beaches, mangroves, and tiny islands, all in waters that are mostly up to fifteen feet deep.
Take an ice box with snacks and refreshments and lose yourself in the beauty of it all!
SNORKELING
It is an understatement to say the snorkeling here is spectacular. Like a giant aquarium, exotic clouds of tiny colorful reef fish up to abundant large pelagic fish patrol the slightly deeper water (15 feet plus). Do not be surprised to see a turtle cruising by or a playful dolphin skipping by or a big Amberjack cruising through.