If you’re visiting Panama, chances are you’ve heard of Bocas del Toro. Located off the northern tip of the country, this Caribbean gem is a must-visit for backpackers and travellers alike. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a visit.
How to get from Panama City to Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro is the name given to the archipelago of islands but it is also the name of the town on one of the largest islands: Isla Colón. This is a great place to base yourself if you’re planning on staying a few days.
Travel from Panama City:
- You will first need to travel from Panama City to Almirante where you catch a boat to Bocas.
- Get to the bus terminal the morning of the day you want to travel to make sure you get a ticket- take your passport with you.
- I didn’t do this… and ended up going via David and changing onto a different bus to arrive in Almirante. This worked out at about $23 in total.
- The buses straight to Almirante leave at 6, 7 and 8 pm and should cost between $25-$30.
- Taxis from the Almirante terminal to the port cost $1 per person.
- The boat takes about 30 minutes and costs $6 one way or $10 return (you can return anytime within a month).
Hostels in Bocas del Toro
I recommend Cliffs Hostel. It had great aircon, was sociable without being a party hostel, had a good kitchen, free breakfast (pancakes) and it was in a great location, only a 10-minute walk to the port where the boat takes you.
Some friends stayed in Hostel Cataleya which they highly recommended and also has a very good kitchen.
The infamous Selina Hostel chain has of course settled in Bocas del Toro too, a great setting with water access and even if you don’t stay here, a great place for getting water taxis to other islands or even just a drink on the deck.
Tip: I found Panama quite expensive after travelling South America so to keep costs down we cooked a lot. Bocas del Toro has so many supermarkets and vegetable stores so it was very easy to find good ingredients.
Bocas del Toro Town
Bocal del Toro town is a good size with lots of restaurants, bars and cafes. There are also many clubs and parties to attend.
On Fridays, they have the Filthy Friday event- a bar crawl that goes to some of the nearby islands and bars in the Bocas del Toro town. I was not there on a Friday but many people head to Bocas for their party scene.
Best Things to do in Bocas del Toro:
Relax, sunbathe and swim at Bambuda Hostel
The waterfront decking is amazing. There is a bar too if you fancy a beer or cocktail and it is free to enter so it makes for a nice easy day or afternoon out.
Take a trip to Starfish Beach.
Buses leave from Simon Bolivar Park every hour for Starfish Beach. The ride takes about 30 minutes and will drop you a 20-minute walk from your actual destination, just follow the coast around until you get there.
I would recommend taking some goggles/a snorkel to enjoy the starfish fully but I didn’t take any and could still see them clearly through the water! I was told many different versions of the return bus timetable; a local told me the last bus left at 5.30 pm from where we got dropped off… it arrived a lot later than this. And take bug spray!!!! I got bitten a lot and the flies were really annoying.
Spend a day on Red Frog Island.
I got a water taxi from Selina Hostel which cost me $5 per person ($10 return) to take us to the island. The walk over the Red Frog Beach is 10-15 minutes but there are plenty of other beaches you can visit too which are just as nice and definitely more quiet.
The water here is like glass it’s so clear so bring a snorkel! There are a few bars, the Red Frog Selina Hostel is great for food and drinks too. This was my favourite day out during my time in Bocas del Toro.
Go partying.
In all fairness, my drinking evening consisted of entering a very quiet Rush (local club) for a free shot and then leaving for another bar two minutes later. But that said, there were lots of bars and many travellers taxi across the water to Acqua Beach Bar for evening drinks, this is also a stop on the Filthy Fridays event.
There are so many more trips and activities to do like hiring a bike and cycling Isla Colón, scuba diving and other islands to visit which all depend on budget and how long you choose to spend there.
How many days to spend in Bocas del Toro
I spent 3 nights in Bocas del Toro which was a perfect amount of time for me. I could fully relax whilst still having time to explore the area, take some trips and go out in the evening!
Tips: Insect and mosquito repellent is a MUST for Bocas as you are in such close proximity to water so go prepared! Also, take cash out in Panama City to avoid the rubbish exchange rate and high fees at the local bank.
Honorary mention:
Although I mostly cooked for dinner and lunch, I did go for dinner at Cafe del Mar on one occasion and it was amazing! They have an all-day breakfast menu, smoothies, coffee and a dinner/lunch menu with burritos, curries, burgers and seafood. Not too expensive either so it’s well worth a visit!!
Once again, we want to say a massive thanks to Jess our guest author! Stay tuned as we have plenty more to come! You could even read Jess’ piece on how she arrived in Panama HERE.
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