About

Discover Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro (aka Bocas Town aka Bocas) is a town in the Caribbean West of Panama. The town has an interesting mix of islanders, expats and backpackers and is the most developed in the region. The town boasts an abundance of restaurants, hotels and bars. Bocas has developed a reputation for being a party town with a number of bars and clubs that sit on the stilts over the water. Bocas Town is on the southern tip of Isla Colón and is part of the Bocas del Toro archipelago of islands.

Explore

What to Experience in Bocas del Toro

Día soleado en una de las playas de Bocas del Toro, Panamá.

Amanecer en Bocas del Toro, Panamá.

Photo taken in bocas del toro, Panama by Gonzalo Vega

photo of brown houses on body of water

Bastimentos Island, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Tropical Research Station

Corona Del Mar, CA

green trees beside body of water under cloudy sky during daytime

green trees on mountain under blue sky during daytime

Bocas del Toro Paradise

man in white tank top wearing brown hat standing near store during daytime

Beaches

Famous Beaches

15 to explore

El Istmito

Big Creek

Bluff Beach

Starfish Beach

Mimitimbi Beach

Finca los Monos

Sloths

Dolphin Bay

9.40417

La Buga Gastro Market. Daily 09:00

Hostel Hansi. Check

9.25627

Isla Carenero

Bastimentos

Isla Cristóbal

Cuisine

Taste of Bocas del Toro...

There are plenty of places to eat lining the main streets of Bocas Town. Just walk around and check some out. Expect to pay about $5–7 for a cheap meal, though of course it is easy to find places where you will pay much more. Food carts can be either fairly expensive or pretty cheap, usually depending on the location and target clientele. Specialties are empanadas or fried chicken and patacones. There quite a few bars in Bocas Town, and all the restaurants serve beer as well. It's not uncommon for backpackers to buy beer at one of the many small grocery stores and drink while walking down the street. This section lists accommodations within Bocas Town. For more (and quieter) options within a short water taxi ride of Bocas Town, see Isla Carenero. There are also places to stay on the slightly-farther Isla Bastimentos, Isla Cristóbal, and Isla Solarte, still accessible by water taxi from Bocas. Within the Bocas del Toro archipelago are a few other islands. Many visitors will split their time in Bocas between these islands. These destinations are a common next stop from Bocas on the Central American backpacking trail:

Weather

Climate

There is a small airport on Isla Colón with several flights from Panama City. FlyTrip and AirPanama operate several flights a day from Albrook Airport (PAC) in Panama City (not the main international airport). It is possible to take your vehicle on the island using a car ferry. The ferry leaves Almirante port every morning at 08:00 Monday to Saturday (no service on Sundays). Cost per car is $15 and there is an extra $1 charge per passenger. The same ferry goes back to the mainland on the same days at 16:00. If you wish to leave your car on the mainland, there is a secure parking available next to where the water taxis leave in Almirante. Cost is $3 per day. The town is on Isla Colón and you'll need to take a boat to access it. Boats departs frequently from Almirante. There is no service anymore from Changuinola. There are three operators, all offering the same service. Standard prices are $6 one-way, $10 round trip (June 2023).

Plan Your Trip

Essential Information

Getting There

Multiple Options

There is a small airport on Isla Colón with several flights from Panama City. FlyTrip and AirPanama operate several flights a day from Albrook Airport (PAC) in Panama City (not the main international airport). It is possible to take your vehicle on the island using a car ferry. The ferry leaves Almirante port every morning at 08:00 Monday to Saturday (no service on Sundays). Cost per car is $15 and there is an extra $1 charge per passenger. The same ferry goes back to the mainland on the same days at 16:00. If you wish to leave your car on the mainland, there is a secure parking available next to where the water taxis leave in Almirante. Cost is $3 per day. The town is on Isla Colón and you'll need to take a boat to access it. Boats departs frequently from Almirante. There is no service anymore from Changuinola. There are three operators, all offering the same service. Standard prices are $6 one-way, $10 round trip (June 2023)....

Travel Tips

Getting Around & Staying

Getting Around

Bocas town is small enough to walk all over. If you need a ride, cabs are plentiful and usually only cost 60 cents or so to get around town. Not necessary for getting around the town itself, but water taxis are the main means of transport to other islands or farther-flung beaches. Fares are always charged per person, not per group, and start at $1 (from the Bocas Town waterfront to Aqua Lounge on nearby Carenero Island). Agree on the price beforehand. You can also pay before getting in if you want to make sure to get your change. Bicycle rentals run approximately $2/hr or $10/day. There is a guy opposite the market downtown renting cruisers for $6/day, you will pay more for a mountain bike or one with electric pedal assist from the bigger hostels. The roads are flat and in good repair inside town. Cycling to Playa Bluff will require crossing some sandy areas, but nothing too challenging.

Where to Stay

This section lists accommodations within Bocas Town. For more (and quieter) options within a short water taxi ride of Bocas Town, see Isla Carenero. There are also places to stay on the slightly-farther Isla Bastimentos, Isla Cristóbal, and Isla Solarte, still accessible by water taxi from Bocas. Within the Bocas del Toro archipelago are a few other islands. Many visitors will split their time in Bocas between these islands. These destinations are a common next stop from Bocas on the Central American backpacking trail:

Money & Budget

There are plenty of places to eat lining the main streets of Bocas Town. Just walk around and check some out. Expect to pay about $5–7 for a cheap meal, though of course it is easy to find places where you will pay much more. Food carts can be either fairly expensive or pretty cheap, usually depending on the location and target clientele. Specialties are empanadas or fried chicken and patacones. There quite a few bars in Bocas Town, and all the restaurants serve beer as well. It's not uncommon for backpackers to buy beer at one of the many small grocery stores and drink while walking down the street. This section lists accommodations within Bocas Town. For more (and quieter) options within a short water taxi ride of Bocas Town, see Isla Carenero.

Stay Safe