Bocas del Toro: Wildlife and Dream Beaches

Bocas del Toro was our second stop on our Roadtrip in Panama — an absolute must-see! With beaches, wildlife, and Caribbean culture, it’s everything you could want.

Why Visit Bocas del Toro?

Located on Panama’s Caribbean coast, the Bocas del Toro archipelago is a true tropical paradise. With white-sand beaches, lush forests, a laid-back vibe, and amazing wildlife, it’s the perfect place to relax or dive into adventure.

How to Get to Bocas del Toro

By plane from Panama City: $160 round trip (daily flights, ~1hr)
By bus + boat:
- From Panama City: 10h bus to Almirante, then boat to Isla Colón
- From Boquete (via Hello Travel): €30–35 (book in advance, WhatsApp: +507 6378-1097)
Local options: Minibuses and water taxis — cheaper but longer (via David)

Tip: The view from the plane is amazing — sit on the left side for the best scenery!

Bocas Del Toro est la deuxième étape de notre . C’est un immanquable au Panama, plages animaux, cultures des caraïbes tout est réuni pour adorer

Our Itinerary in Bocas del Toro

Day 1: Arrival in Isla Colón

Flew from Panama City. Uber to Albrook airport: $8 / 15 min. Then, we explored Bocas Town — Simon Bolívar Park and lunch from a local vendor ($5)

Transport to Bird Island: Buses leave every 30 min to El Drago ($2.5), then shuttle to hotels (~$5). Roads can be muddy.

Stay: Bird Island Hotel – around $100/night, and worth every penny!

Friendly staff Our favorite stay of the trip — highly recommend!
Sloth & toucan spotting
Beautiful garden, jungle yoga deck, ocean views
Free amenities: hammocks, sunscreen, water, mosquito repellent
Delicious breakfast included

On a adoré et on recommande vivement c’est notre coup de coeur !

Day 2: Playa Estrella

Hiked ~1h20 from Bird Island to Playa Estrella
Spotted starfish and sloths (ask the souvenir vendor — he’s good at finding them!)
Lunch at Restaurante Ana (free chairs if you eat there — big portions, average taste)
Avoid weekends and arrive before 9:30am to beat the crowd

Day 3: Playa Bluff

Left Bird Island at 10am to head to Bocas Town (collective transport). the next stay was Vista El Mar — good value

Afternoon: Playa Bluff ($3.5 collectivo)

Beautiful but dangerous waves
Beach bars available
Walked back in the muddy coastal path
Spotted a sloth up close and toucans from a distance
Surf at Paunch is great
Taxi back: $6

Dinner at Ultimo Refugio — tasty but pricey

Day 4: Bastimentos Island

We loved Bastimientos!

Water taxi to Bastimentos ($5 from Cooperativa Costeño)
Much more authentic and wild than Isla Colón
Hike to Wizard Beach (~25 min) — stunning but watch out for strong currents
Local police advised us not to leave belongings unattended

Stay:

El Jaguar Hostel ($29/night) — basic, tiny room with shared bathroom
Better alternative: Hotel Caribbean View — better value, no kitchen, but same terrace view

Don’t miss:

$1.50 banana bread at the shop near the soccer field and 2nd supermarket
Best restaurants: Guari Guary and Lysset place

Day 5: Hike to Polo Beach via Red Frog

Red Frog Beach hike — some say it’s unsafe due to occasional robberies, but we had no issues
Very muddy — follow Maps.me along the coast
We saw sloths and loads of red frogs!
Red Frog Beach: usually $5 entry — no one asked us, so we entered quietly
Continued to Polo Beach — absolutely stunning, some snorkeling possible
Saw a sloth with its baby along the way
Return: taxi boat from Red Frog Resort port ($8, no issues)

Place to see a lot of red frogs:

Polo beach

Day 6: Cayo Zapatilla Tour

Organized boat tour: typically $30 + $10 park entry. We negotiated to $25.
Delayed due to rain, rescheduled the next morning

Tour Itinerary:

Hotel pickup 10:20am
Dolphin Bay
Snorkeling at Coral Cay
Cayo Zapatilla (2h stop)
Lunch stop (~1h)
Isla Hollywood (starfish viewing from boat)
Back by ~4pm

Pros: Beautiful spots

Cons: Very touristy, rushed

Better alternative: Rent a private boat (~$220 from Bambuda Lodge). Make your own schedule, skip lunch stop, and enjoy more time snorkeling or on Cayo Zapatilla.

Contact for our tour: Amadeo +507 6818-6478

Day 7: Isla Solarte & Hospital Point

Morning trip to Bambuda Lodge (Isla Solarte)
Beautiful setting but less intimate than Bird Island
Daily guided hike at 11am to Hospital Point — muddy trail, red frog sightings
Nice beach but murky water during our visit, snorkeling was underwhelming

Departure: