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Booking with us is easy and safe. We accept: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners, JCB & PayPal.
Like to have fun but not really a late night person? No problem! For an AMAZING day time party, try out Bocas’ famous Filthy Friday – a super fun-filled island bar crawl!
The majority of the breaks are coral reefs and beach breaks. The most accessible spots are on Isla Colon, Isla Carenero, and Isla Bastimentos. For the experienced and adventurous surfers, boat charters can be a great way to travel a few hours to breaks that will offer you the surf trip of a lifetime. Many of these secret spots offer excellent waves with just you and your friends in the line up.
Bocas Del Toro is also part of the protected La Amistad International Reserve that it shares with Costa Rica which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park protects the marine rich coral reefs between Bastimentos, Coral Cay and the Zapatilla Cays which are home to sloths, monkeys, the poisonous red dart frog and 4 species of sea turtles that call the beaches and mangroves of these island home and contribute to the rich biodiversity found both above and below the sea. More importantly, these parks are home to some of the best dive sites!
Whether you are looking to get your feet wet with a Discover Scuba course in Bocas Del Toro, or you are an advanced diver looking for a challenge, Bocas Del Toro Scuba Diving offers something for everyone. Better yet, Bocas Del Toro is one of the cheapest diving destinations in the world. So don’t just think about getting certified to dive in Panama, just do it!
There are about 15 regularly visited dive sites in Bocas Del Toro that are typically within 5 to 20 minutes boat ride from Isla Colon. With dive sites named Coral Cay, Coral Gardens, Hospital Point, Punta Caracol (seashell point), and Punta Manglar (mangrove point), you already know the diving in Bocas Del Toro has to be pretty special.
If you’re ready to get started planning your diving adventure in Bocas, here are the best dive operations in town for you to check out.
Flying Pirates has 1400 acres of private property available exclusively for Flying Pirates customers. Experience beautiful snorkeling locations, breathtaking private beaches, lush tropical rainforest and more!
They have created multiple ATV trails using nothing but a machete and a chainsaw to give customers access to La Piscina, Blue Lagoon, Christian’s Beach, Rock Beach, Bat Caves; plus you’ll go deep in the jungle where you will encounter monkeys, sloths, and other incredible wildlife. These exclusive swimming locations and wildlife encounters are rarely seen by tourists!
They only use the best machines and they are maintained daily at their full service shop by qualified mechanics. The quads are Honda TRX250 semi automatic and they seat a maximum of two people on each. All quads come equipped with a solid metal ‘lockbox’ to keep all your belongings safe and secure while you’re swimming in the beautiful blue oceans or lagoons.
Choose from half day, full day, multiple days and guided tours.
The half day rental option gives you enough time to see Playa Bluff and beyond, however, the full day option allows you to really stop and see everything without rushing and watching the clock – you are on vacation after all! The multiple day option is an excellent way to get around the island during your entire stay. Don’t wait around for taxis – have the freedom to go where you want to, when you want to, and experience the exhilaration of the wind blowing in your hair and beautiful nature surrounding you!
Rental Requirements
Valid drivers license and passport
Contact:
Website: http://flyingpiratesbocas.com/
Phone: 6689 – 5050
Email: FlyingPirates@yahoo.com
The Experience of A Lifetime
Clip-in and ascend up the stairway to the first platform. Stop, look and listen!
Feel the rush of adrenaline and freedom of soaring through the air. Pass by trees that have been growing here for centuries; birds, monkeys and other exotic animals may curiously watch and welcome you to their treetop homes.
See why the Bastimentos Sky Zipline Canopy Tour Is the most popular tour in all the Bocas Archipelago:
Made for fishermen by fishermen—our 32 foot boat was designed and built in Costa Rica and is fully-equipped for your comfort during a day of exciting sport fishing. Whether you’re an experienced fisherman or it’s your first time, you’ll enjoy off-shore fishing, in-shore fishing or fly fishing on some of Bocas Del Toros fastest luxury boats.
A True Grit Sportfishing Charter and Tour includes:
A day out with Panama Horseback is a genuine jungle adventure!
Panama Horseback Adventures operate from their island ranch on Isla San Cristobal in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Dave Hopper and his team will take you trekking through beautiful island countryside, surrounded by jungle and stunning vistas. Dave has extensive equine knowledge and experience and can organize horseback rides on the island for up to 10 people.
This is a great group or family day out and only a short boat ride from Bocas Town. The transportation from Bocas is included in the price.
Dave has recently added a NEW distance tour for expert riders that goes from the front side of San Cristobal through to Dolphin Bay. This will be an adventurous day which is already proving to be a popular jungle riding experience.
There are discounts on all treks of 10 or more riders! English and Spanish speaking tours also available. Telephone +507 6905 9659
They offer lessons, board rentals where you can choose where to go, or a great range of activities whether you want a relaxing day, some exercise on the water, or a bit of adventure.
Contact them directly to make reservations and for their current rates:
(507) 6206-7290 or email info@xtreme507.com
https://www.xtreme507.com/
Stand Up Paddle Lessons/Rentals
Stand up paddle surfing and stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is an offshoot of surfing that originated in Hawaii. Unlike traditional surfing where the rider sits until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders stand on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. This sport include flat water paddling for outdoor recreation, fitness, or sightseeing, racing on lakes, large rivers and canals, surfing on ocean waves, paddling in river rapids (whitewater SUP), Paddle board yoga and even fishing.
Find the tour site that’s perfect for you!
WINDSUP® is a Mistral registered brand
Using your SUP board as a Pilates mat, you will experience a session of leg strengthening, upper body toning, and core exercises that alternate with bursts of quick paddling.
Simple exercises performed in a studio take on a whole new challenge with the movement of the SUP board in water.
Bluff Beach is certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Archipelago and is known for its vast stretches of pristine golden sand and its powerful surf. Bluff Beach is about a 20 minute drive from Bocas Town and you’ll rarely find it crowded with tourists.
The season for nesting runs from March through to the end of September, and hatching from May until November.
Visit the Sea Turtle Nesting Booth located on the northwest corner of the park in Bocas Town to sign up for a tour of the Bluff Beach Municipal Reserve. See approximately 250 leatherback turtle nests, 100 hawksbill nests and 1-5 green turtle nests. The guided tours are given at night and start at Playa Bluff Beach.
We started the farm in 2002. Before, it was mainly cow pastures with a small cacao and coconut plantation.
We are an eco-friendly farm and hold great respect for the environment. Our energy is provided through solar panels and we have a rain catchment system here at our shop and home, as well as the guest cabins.
Fresh spring water is our back up in the dry season.
We recycle plastic, aluminum, cardboard and glass. All of our compost is turned into organic waste.
A very high percentage of the wood we use in the construction of our shop and cabins comes from our own reforestation project. We have local woods such as Laurel, Nispero and Cedar growing in large quantity here on our farm.
Take a Tour of Our Organic Farm!
Learn about Permaculture, Tropical Trees, Plants & Flowers, Sustainable Life, Chocolate Process, Frogs, Birds, & Nature!
The adventure begins with the boat ride from town, which brings you down through beautiful Dolphin Bay. You may even be lucky enough to spot some of the resident dolphins on the way. When approaching Green Acres, you will observe from a distance, the lush botanical gardens surrounding the home. Before you “hit the trail”, your Chocolate Farm tour will begin with a brief history of the property and the farm. You will then make your way along an easy to moderate, well worn path through the rainforest. The tour guide will spend time pointing out indigenous trees and medicinal plants and explain how many traditional Indian uses are still in practice even to this day. You will see the extensive plantation of cacao trees and get to open a pod straight from the tree as you learn more about cacao and the farming methods. The highlight is the visit to the “chocolate factory”. Here you will see the cacao at various stages of its production, as it ferments and dries prior to its transformation into 100% organic chocolate, nibs and other sumptuous products. No sugar is added and no cocoa butter is removed. You will also learn lots of interesting facts about chocolate and its health benefits! The journey ends back at the house where you will have the opportunity to chat and ask questions while taking a cool drink and try samples of the homemade chocolate products. All of the products are available for purchase.
Please note: Reservations are required. Please be on time! Tours begin promptly.
In the Oreba Chocolate tour, local guides who are cacao farmers in the community describe and show the entire process of organic shade-grown cacao, explaining every step of the way including growing, harvesting, fermenting, drying and ultimately roasting and making chocolate.
The tour, which is completely run and managed by the indigenous Ngabe farmers in the community, takes travelers through an adventurous hike that weaves in and out of jungle and cacao trees, and because the tour takes place within the protected shade grown farms of the locals, there are always many animals to see along the way. Being able to spot poison dart frogs, sloths, and toucans is not uncommon.
The highlight of the tour has to be the chocolate demonstration where local Ngabe women in traditional dress teach each visitor how to make chocolate the way they have been doing it for centuries. This all takes place under a traditional thatched roof rancho tucked away in the mountainous cacao farm which makes the chocolate-making demonstration even more special. The tour concludes with a traditional Ngabe meal consisting of some of the most delicious vegetables, local roots and chicken around.
There will be plenty of chocolate and cacao products to buy at the end of the tour and the products are much cheaper here than in any store. 100% of proceeds go the community and portions of the proceeds go directly towards education and health care for the community, so after you have indulged yourself with delicious chocolate, you can feel good about supporting the local indigenous community as well. There is no doubt that for tourists and locals who are in Panama seeking something different, informative, adventurous, and delicious, the Oreba Chocolate Tour should be at the top of your list.
The tour is located in Bocas del Toro and is just 15 minutes from the boat dock in Almirante.
Please book ahead in Bocas Town at Hostel Heike or Casa Verde or by calling 6649-1457 for Spanish and 6411-5670 for English. Depending on bookings, tours run twice daily starting at 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. from the Bocas Marine Tours boat dock in Almirante. The tour runs about 3-4 hours.
Transportation is included to and from Almirante (on the mainland, a 15 minute boat ride from Bocas Town) and 15 minutes away from the Oreba Chocolate Tour in Rio Oeste Arriba.
Oreba Chocolate products can be bought at Super Gourmet in Casco Viejo and Bocas Island.
Toutie the White-headed capuchin – Monkey Island Tour
During this educational wildlife tour you will get to interact with some of our resident monkeys and learn lots about each of the species we look after. All while you take in the beautiful scenery of a unique and remote mangrove island…a true monkey paradise!
Don’t miss the chance to experience a unique and unforgettable tour during your visit to Bocas del Toro, Panama.
All the money we collect from tour entrance fees goes 100% into covering the monkeys’ costs (food, enclosure maintenance, visits to the vet, and check-ups).
During your visit to the island, you can enjoy other activities such as: snorkeling and swimming around the island, playing volleyball in the water, and relaxing in one of our many hammocks or lounging areas.
Lunch is available upon request, as well as cocktails, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages.
To schedule a tour with us, please contact us via phone or e-mail. You can reach us via e-mail at: monkeyislandtour@gmail.com or by phone at +507-6668-2027
Finca Los Monos is a 10 minute drive from our property, just before the Smithsonian Institute, on the IDAAN hilltop. The farm spanning the island from coast to coast has stunning views, both eastward toward the archipelago of Bocas del Toro and westward toward the mountainous mainland, with the turquoise Caribbean in between.
Come visit and bathe in the beauty and sensory delights of Finca Los Monos to share the wonder of tropical nature. Bring your camera and binoculars for an unforgettable tour.
Tours last about 2 hours. Refreshments provided
Sturdy footwear recommended
For more information or to book a tour:
+507 757 9461 or +507 6729 9943
Email – gillinghamdl@yahoo.com
Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Robert came to Bocas several years ago and has had his hand in many projects throughout this time. Robert spearheaded the Bocas recycling program in 2012, where he and some volunteers, and a few part time workers, made a positive change in the cleanliness of the islands beaches and town. In a short amount of time, it was staggering to see the amount of recycled materials being removed from the garbage, and saved from being burned or buried in the only one landfill. He estimates “that he had over 1 million bottles that was accumulated, during the period of one and half year he collected the bottles”. The recycling program was a breath of fresh air for the islands residents and many tourists visiting annually.
Message from Robert:
People have changed. The world has changed. If we got to a point where we need to drink water in plastic bottles, we surely have changed! Humans have now reached an increasing volume of 7.3 billion people on the planet. If each one of us drink only one bottle a day, we are looking at 2.6 trillion bottles a year. Where are they? Where do they go?
Why are developed countries of the world, working so hard to recycle a small percentage of the volume of plastic bottles being discarded, when the developing countries which are greater in volume, have not yet realized what is happening to the planet, with the immense plastic problem we face.
Unless developed countries organize, unite, and educate the developing countries, and give them an incentive to pick-up and reuse the plastic bottles already discarded, we all loose!
I want the world to realize that we can reuse plastic bottles in many other applications such as:
Highlights:
See Bocas del Toro from a different angle
Explore and swim through an underground cave
Lots of wildlife
Ride in an indigenous Cayuco boat carved from a tree trunk
Perfect activity on a rainy day!
Go to Hello Panama website to book your tour!
Below is a list of the various beaches around Bocas that are primarily known as great places to hang out. Some of these are well know destinations, others are spots that mostly locals know of – but all are a wonder to visit – and a different kind of adventure getting to each one!
Although Bluff Beach is one of the most gorgeous beaches in Panama’s Caribbean, it’s not always swimmer friendly as it is directly exposed to the surf. You really shouldn’t get into the water unless the swell is less than a couple of feet (on certain days in April, May, September and October). Having said this, when the swell is right, tide pools are created which are great for the young ones to paddle in safely, while the grown ups have a good surf or body board session (always keep on eye on the young ones please!). Bluff beach should only be surfed by expert or pro surfers.
Bluff is about a 45 minute bicycle ride from our property, or about an hour walk.
As it will take you about 1.5 – 2 hours to get to Mimbitimbi from here, we recommend to leave early enough so that you can return before sunset (and taxis can only get to the end of Bluff). You could leave in the morning, take your lunch to enjoy at Mimbitimbi and then stop at Bluff for an early dinner or some drinks before you head back.
On your way to Mimbitimbi, you will pass by ” La Piscina” (or swimming pools in English), a stunning protected cove with calm waters, perfect for snorkeling and bathing. Just follow the signs and you will find them.
A hidden treasure, this cove is so secluded tucked away from everything, including the open ocean. A narrow water inlet feeds the Caribbean Sea into a football-field-sized turquoise green pool, surrounded by jungle and filled with colorful coral and starfish. As far as romance goes, it doesn’t get any better.
For the more courageous ones, you won’t believe your eyes once you arrive at Mimitimbi. you will be amazed by how beautiful nature can be when it is unspoiled by human presence. There is really nothing, so bring enough water with you to stay hydrated (or grab a coconut from a palm tree), and snacks!
Also bring your camera to Mimitimbi, because this is definitely a spot where you will want to take pictures to make all your friends jealous!
This entire trip can also be done by renting an ATV.
To get here, you go through the jungle, past farms, and even through a few little towns with school yards overrun with little Panamanian kids playing everywhere. But finally coming out of the jungle onto the northern coast at Boca del Drago is when the ride really becomes fun.
The last few km’s follow a sandy path that hugs the coast line and wraps around the point between Colon & the mainland, & heads back south. After a few minutes of zig zagging through palm trees, and your tires sinking in the sand, you finally arrive at Bocas del Drago Beach – a laid-back, chill beach with nothing but a few restaurants & fishermen hauling their most recent catch up onto the sand to slice & dice in front of your eyes.
It’s named after the starfish that live here. Even without the beautiful starfish that dot the crystal clear water, Starfish Beach is exceptional in that the atmosphere never fails to feel like a party no matter when you arrive. For $2.50, a local bus takes you from the park in Bocas Town to Bocas del Drago where awaiting water taxis drop you off at Starfish Beach. There, DJ booths provide the soundtrack as people snorkel, swim, sunbathe on lounge chairs available for rent, or eat fresh seafood from the local stands.
However, you can just as easily walk down the trail to find a secluded spot and have a beach all to yourself when you want to get away from it all.
This is not the beach to come to for waves (there are none), nor to party (there aren’t many people), but to relax, eat a seafood lunch and feel like you’re off the map. Go for a swim and it’s possible to find starfish that decorate the bottom.
At one end of the beach, Palmar Tent Lodge has an amazing patio with comfy chairs and couches, and often has daytime BBQs, live music, and a tasty lunch menu. Just a short walk away, Punta Lava Bar & Grill also has an established menu, a bar full of tasty island cocktails and even a WiFi hotspot.
While some prefer to shack up in the shade of the jungle foliage for free, for just a few bucks you can rent a lawn chair or a shady cabana for the afternoon. The water doesn’t get too rough for most of the year and is appealing to families with children, as well as bodysurfers and those who just love to splash around.
This popular beach provides ample people watching while still allowing plenty of space for sports, relaxation, and activities. It’s a perfect and charming mix of small-town paradise with all of the amenities of the more populated tourist destinations in Central America.
Go do some cave snorkeling and beach bumming, and then come in to eat lunch with Polo, who loves cooking for new friends.
Booking with us is easy and safe. We accept: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners, JCB & PayPal.
