Bocas del Toro, Panama

Many tourists traveling to the South Caribbean tend to include a trip over the Costa Rican/Panamanian border to Bocas del Toro, an Archipelago of islands just south of the border on the northwest coast of Panama. Bocas del Toro is the capital of the Panamanian province Bocas del Toro and its main island is Isla Colon.

The islands have a real Caribbean feel and are a haven for boat owners. The archipelago is protected from the swells of the Caribbean, which has led the islands to thrive with the majority of bars, restaurants and other businesses extending docks out into the calm waters, giving Bocas del Toro a unique atmosphere - as boats are the main transportation of the area.

Taxi boats waiting at the national park entrance to Red frog beach. The boat taxis charge $5 one way from Isla Colon to Red Frog beach and you have to pay $2 to enter the national park

The boat taxis vary in price so be sure to ask the price before you jump into one. You will be amazed at how skilled the taxi boats captains are, especially when navigating into small areas in between boats to get you close enough to the dock that you can jump on or off.

The local currency is the balboa, which is tied to the US dollar. They do not have balboa bills, only coins, so the US dollar is also legal currency. Make sure that you have dollars before you get to Panama, as they do not have a currency exchange at the border, and colones will not be accepted once you are in Panama.

Some say the best part about Bocas is getting to Bocas del Toro as you cross an old bridge over the Sixaola River towards the Lancha at Finca 60 where you take a boat taxi through San Pond Sak Lagoon. This is by far the most scenic route to get to Isla Colon. The taxi boat from Finca 60 takes just under an hour and costs $7 per person. Bocas is also accessible by air from San Jose, Costa Rica and from Panama City with daily flights from both destinations.

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