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

Panama · Bocas del Toro

By boat around the archipelago

The usual stops on day tours from Bocas Town. Ask whether the price includes the marine park fee (B/.10 for foreigners).

7 places

  1. 1

    WildlifeOpen

    Dolphin Bay

    By the hamlet of Bocatorito (Tierra Oscura), south of Bocas Town; a standard stop on island tours.10.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Sheltered bay (Bocatorito lagoon) where bottlenose dolphins are seen, especially in the morning. MiAmbiente lists it as a cetacean-watching site on the Caribbean side.

    Source: Ballenas y delfines son esenciales en la conservación marina y el turismo sostenible en Panamá – MiAmbiente · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Full-day island tours: US$25–45 per person (PanamaSpot, July 2026).
    Booking
    Visited on a tour or private boat from Bocas Town.

    Tip: Watching is governed by the code of conduct in Resolution DM-0144-2022 (distances, time limits and boat behavior). PanamaSpot (July 2026) states that swimming with dolphins is not allowed. Do not touch them.

    Nearby: Green Acres Chocolate Farm (6.6 km) · Hospital Point (Isla Solarte) (10.9 km) · Bocas Town (Isla Colón) (10.9 km)

    Sources: Ballenas y delfines son esenciales en la conservación marina y el turismo sostenible en Panamá – MiAmbiente · Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Guide 2026 – Panama Spot

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  2. 2

    WaterOpen

    Coral Cay

    About 20 minutes by boat from Isla Bastimentos.15 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Beginner snorkel and dive site, up to 18 m deep, with caves, tunnels, sponges and reef fish. A common stop on island tours.

    Source: Bocas del Toro top scuba diving and snorkeling sites – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Snorkel tours: US$20–35; full-day tour: US$25–45 (PanamaSpot, July 2026). On-site charges: not confirmed.

    Tip: Do not touch or stand on coral; many tours stop here for lunch.

    Nearby: Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (4.4 km) · Nivida Bat Cave (7 km) · Green Acres Chocolate Farm (10.1 km)

    Sources: Bocas del Toro top scuba diving and snorkeling sites – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Guide 2026 – Panama Spot

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  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Hospital Point (Isla Solarte)

    Northern tip of Isla Solarte, close to Bocas Town.2.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Coral wall at the northern tip of Isla Solarte dropping 12–15 m, with a maximum depth of 14 m. Used for snorkeling and diving, including night dives.

    Source: Bocas del Toro top scuba diving and snorkeling sites – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Two-tank dive: US$60–90; snorkel tour: US$20–35 (PanamaSpot, July 2026).
    Booking
    With a dive center or tour operator in Bocas Town. PanamaSpot (July 2026) also lists access by water taxi to Isla Solarte, about 10 minutes from Bocas Town (about US$5–8 per person); shared taxis only go to Solarte occasionally.

    Nearby: Old Bank (Bastimentos town) (2 km) · Isla Carenero (2.2 km) · Bocas Town (Isla Colón) (2.6 km)

    Sources: Bocas del Toro top scuba diving and snorkeling sites – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Guide 2026 – Panama Spot

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  4. 4

    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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  5. 5

    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

  6. 6

    WildlifeOpen

    Bird Island (Swan Cay)

    Open sea north of Isla Colón, off Boca del Drago.14.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Rocky islet off Boca del Drago where seabirds such as boobies, frigatebirds and pelicans nest. Boats circle it to watch the birds, and there is snorkeling nearby.

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

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    Visit Panamá (2025) describes boat trips from Boca del Drago. Confirm the departure point with the operator.

    Tip: In strong wind and rough seas the trip is not always possible (Tours Bocas del Toro, local operator, November 2020). Watch from the boat: whether landing is formally prohibited is not confirmed by an official source.

    Nearby: Boca del Drago (5.5 km) · Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella) (6.1 km) · Bluff Beach (8.4 km)

    Sources: Playas imperdibles en Bocas del Toro – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Isla Colón – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Isla Pájaros – Tours Bocas del Toro · Isla Pajaros – Bird Island – My Guide Panama

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  7. 7

    CultureOpen

    Old Bank (Bastimentos town)

    Western tip of Isla Bastimentos, about 10 minutes by boat from Bocas Town.3.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Afro-Antillean village of colorful wooden houses on Isla Bastimentos. People here speak Guari-Guari, a mix of English, Spanish and Patois with Ngäbere features.

    Source: Afro community – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Water taxi from Bocas Town: about US$2–3 (PanamaSpot, July 2026).

    Tip: Try local food: pan bon, coconut rice, rondón (Visit Panamá). The trail to Wizard Beach starts here.

    Nearby: Wizard Beach (Playa Primera) (1.3 km) · Hospital Point (Isla Solarte) (2 km) · Isla Carenero (3.1 km)

    Sources: Afro community – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro itinerary – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Bocas del Toro Island Hopping Guide 2026 – Panama Spot

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