Wildlife
and snorkeling

How to use this guide

This guide is for anyone going to Bocas del Toro to watch wildlife and get in the water with a mask. There are three plans. The full-day island tour, US$25 to 45 per person, usually stops at Dolphin Bay and Coral Cay, so a single outing gives you bottlenose dolphins and snorkelling at a beginner site. Hospital Point (Isla Solarte) and Red Frog Beach are close to Bocas Town by water taxi. Bird Island (Swan Cay) and San San Pond Sak Wetland National Park each need a trip of their own.

With two days, give the first to the tour. Dolphin Bay comes in the morning, when most dolphins are seen, and many tours stop for lunch at Coral Cay. On the second day, head out early to Red Frog Beach to look for the red frogs, and keep the afternoon for the coral wall at Hospital Point, which drops 12 to 15 m and is also dived at night. Bird Island, off Boca del Drago, works when the sea is calm: boats circle the islet to watch boobies, frigatebirds and pelicans.

Turtles depend on the date. At Bluff Beach, on the east coast of Isla Colón, nesting runs from March to October and public night walks with ANABOCA guides are announced from April to August; outside that period, visit the beach by day. San San Pond Sak, on the mainland in Changuinola district, holds the largest manatee population recorded in Panama and runs night turtle walks in season. If you are short of time or money, keep to the day tour and Red Frog Beach.

Tips

• Hospital Point is reached by water taxi to Isla Solarte: about 10 minutes from Bocas Town and about US$5 to 8 per person. Shared taxis only go there occasionally.
• At Dolphin Bay swimming with the dolphins is not allowed, and boats follow a code of conduct on distances and time limits. At Coral Cay, do not touch or stand on the coral.
• Red Frog Beach is entered via a private trail that costs about US$5 per person. Rip currents can form and there are no lifeguards.
• Visits to San San Pond Sak are arranged with the community organisation AAMVECONA. Turtle walks run from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and start with a boat ride of about 40 minutes upriver.
• On the Bluff Beach walk, wear dark clothing, use no torches or white lights, and follow the guide without stepping into the turtles' path.