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Aerial view of a sandy beach edged by rainforest on Bastimentos.

Panama · Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro beaches

Calm swimming beaches on the west of Isla Colón and strong-wave beaches on the east and on Bastimentos. Check the currents before going in: there are almost never lifeguards.

7 places

  1. 1

    BeachOpen

    Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella)

    Northwest Isla Colón, on foot or by boat from Boca del Drago.11.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Calm, shallow beach on the northwest of Isla Colón, known for orange starfish near the shore. There are restaurants on the beach.

    Source: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Time needed
    1.5 km easy trail from Boca del Drago, about 30 minutes (Visit Panamá, 2023). Another official 2025 guide gives 2 km.

    Tip: Do not touch the starfish or lift them out of the water: they get stressed, contaminated and die (Visit Panamá, 2025). A bus leaves the Bocas Town park for Boca del Drago on even hours from 6:00; the last return leaves at 17:00 (Take Two PTY, 2024). Short boat rides from Boca del Drago also reach the beach.

    Nearby: Boca del Drago (1.2 km) · Bird Island (Swan Cay) (6.1 km) · Bluff Beach (8.8 km)

    Sources: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 12 Trails to Explore in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · The Magic of Bocas del Toro – Take Two PTY

  2. 2

    BeachOpen

    Boca del Drago

    Northwest Isla Colón; starting point of the trail to Starfish Beach.12.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Beach and hamlet at the northwest tip of Isla Colón, 14 km from Bocas Town by road. There is a hotel with a restaurant and kayak and paddleboard rental; boats leave for Isla de los Pájaros and there is a reef for snorkeling.

    Source: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Bus from the Bocas Town park on even hours from 6:00; ride of nearly an hour; last return at 17:00 (Take Two PTY, 2024). Bus fare not confirmed by an official source.

    Nearby: Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella) (1.2 km) · Bird Island (Swan Cay) (5.5 km) · San San Pond Sak Wetland National Park (8.3 km)

    Sources: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Isla Colón – Visit Panamá (ATP) · The Magic of Bocas del Toro – Take Two PTY

  3. 3

    BeachOpen

    Bluff Beach

    East coast of Isla Colón; Visit Panamá gives 9 km (2025) or 10 km (2026) from Bocas Town, and the Sea Turtle Conservancy gives 6 km.6.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Beach over 4 km long on the east coast of Isla Colón, with strong waves for expert surfers and a sandy bottom. Leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles nest here.

    Source: Playa Bluff: Nature and Adventure in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2025 · +3

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Waves and currents are strong and there are usually no lifeguards; many Panamanian beaches have no warning signs (FCDO). Reach it by taxi, bus or bike from town (Visit Panamá).

    Nearby: Turtle nesting watch at Bluff Beach (0 km) · Smithsonian (STRI) Bocas del Toro Research Station (5.3 km) · Bocas Town (Isla Colón) (6.6 km)

    Sources: Playa Bluff: Nature and Adventure in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · The best surf spots in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bluff Beach – Sea Turtle Conservancy · Panama travel advice: Safety and security – FCDO (UK)

  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Red Frog Beach

    North shore of Isla Bastimentos, 10–15 minutes by water taxi from Bocas Town.7.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    $5
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Beach on Isla Bastimentos with bars and restaurants, backed by forest where the red poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) live. Entry is via a private trail.

    Source: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Access via the private trail: about US$5 per person (Visit Panamá, 2023 and 2025). Resort day pass: not confirmed (Visit Panamá quotes about US$75 in 2025; other guides quote lower figures).

    Tip: Frogs are easiest to see in the morning, especially after rain; do not touch them. Rip currents can form and there are no lifeguards (PanamaSpot, September 2026).

    Nearby: Wizard Beach (Playa Primera) (3.3 km) · Old Bank (Bastimentos town) (4.4 km) · Nivida Bat Cave (5.3 km)

    Sources: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 12 Trails to Explore in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Red Frog Beach Bocas del Toro: Complete Visitor Guide – Panama Spot

  5. 5

    BeachOpen

    Wizard Beach (Playa Primera)

    North Isla Bastimentos, via a forest trail from Old Bank.4.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Long beach with no facilities on the north shore of Isla Bastimentos, inside the marine park. It has surfable waves year-round and strong currents.

    Source: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2025 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Time needed
    Trail of about 20 minutes from Old Bank (Visit Panamá, 2025); a 2026 guide gives 30 minutes. Mud makes it slower.

    Tip: Visit Panamá considers it dangerous for swimming because of currents. Wear closed shoes and bring water and food; there are no facilities.

    Nearby: Old Bank (Bastimentos town) (1.3 km) · Hospital Point (Isla Solarte) (3 km) · Red Frog Beach (3.3 km)

    Sources: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · The best surf spots in Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park – Wikipedia · Red Frog Beach Bocas del Toro: Complete Visitor Guide – Panama Spot

  6. 6

    BeachOpen

    Zapatilla Cay 2

    Southeastern edge of the park, about 40 minutes by boat from Isla Colón.24.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    B/.10
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    One of the two uninhabited cays in Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, with a white-sand beach, reef and a ranger station. It is the cay open to visitors.

    Source: MiAmbiente reitera vigencia de medidas legales de conservación del Parque Nacional Isla Bastimentos – MiAmbiente · 2024 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Park fee: foreigners B/.10, Panamanians B/.4 (MiAmbiente, Dec 2024). Full-day island tours: US$25–45 per person (PanamaSpot, July 2026).
    Time needed
    About 40 minutes by boat each way from Isla Colón (Visit Panamá, 2025).

    Tip: Use the designated dock, no alcohol or music, and do not step on corals or nests. Hawksbill turtles nest here: MiAmbiente reported hatchlings on 1 October 2026.

    Nearby: Zapatilla Cay 1 (2.3 km) · Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (11.6 km) · Coral Cay (11.8 km)

    Sources: MiAmbiente reitera vigencia de medidas legales de conservación del Parque Nacional Isla Bastimentos – MiAmbiente · Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Nacen nuevas tortugas carey en Cayo Zapatilla – Telemetro · MiAmbiente impulsa jornada de limpieza en Cayo Zapatilla II – Telemetro · Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Guide 2026 – Panama Spot

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  7. 7

    BeachOpen

    Isla Carenero

    Between Isla Colón and Isla Bastimentos, opposite Bocas Town.0.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Car-free island 5 minutes from Bocas Town, with beaches, waterfront bars and surf breaks: Carenero Point, Black Rock and Old Mans, the last with a sandy bottom for beginners.

    Source: Isla Carenero – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Water taxi: US$1.50–5 depending on the drop-off point (Visit Panamá, 2026).
    Time needed
    8 km end-to-end trail, about 2 hours (Visit Panamá, 2026).

    Tip: Old Mans works best December–April and in July (Visit Panamá). Surf schools and board rental are available.

    Nearby: Bocas Town (Isla Colón) (0.4 km) · Hospital Point (Isla Solarte) (2.2 km) · Smithsonian (STRI) Bocas del Toro Research Station (2.6 km)

    Sources: Isla Carenero – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP)

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