Bocas del Toro

Bocas is one of Panama's top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you enjoy beautiful beaches with scarcely a person in sight and rainforests so fine Lonely Planet Guide calls them "a biologists fantasy". Bocas del Toro is an archipelago with classic Caribbean aqua blue water, palm lined beaches set against nature-dense rainforest and the laid-back fun town of Bocas. Most hotels are located in Bocas town on Colon Island. The town is low key, friendly and has a surprising variety a good restaurants and nightlife spots. Boat tours are taken to the nearby islands for beaching, snorkeling, diving, dolphin observation, rainforest sights and visits to Indian villages. It's certainly a good place for both couples seeking romantic natural surroundings and families who want to have quality fun and nature-education experiences together.

Bocas was historically populated mainly by immigrants from Jamaica making Bocas an English speaking province in a Spanish speaking nation. Even today, most locals speak English. The region is reachable by air with daily flights from Panama City as well as flights from San Jose, Costa Rica. You can also come by car and take a ferry from the mainland. Aeroperlas and Air Panama have several daily flights from Panama City to Bocas. By land you can take a bus or car to Almirante on the mainland and take a launch ('taxi 25') or ferry to Bocas town on the main island, Isla Colon. In Almirante there's a safe place to leave your vehicle for the duration of your stay in Bocas. You won't need a car in Bocas. It's a small town and you get most places by walking. Bocas taxis are inexpensive-they will take you anywhere around town for between one – three dollars. For island excursions you can arrange for a taxi to take you to a beach and come get you at a later hour. If you are going to one of the other islands, water taxis are plentiful and cheap. Bikes are also available for rent. If you are walking around late at night, stay on the main streets.