Bocas del Toro Panama : Pristine tropical rainforests slope towards the Talamanca and Central mountains. The province is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Veraguas province to the east, Chiriqui province to the south and Costa Rica to the west. Offshore lay wait to a wonderland of coral reefs teeming with marine life surrounded by an Archipelago of mangroves and white sandy beach Islands and some surf. Here is a surf video from bocas del toro. .

The 1,684 square mile/ 4,632 square kilometer province is made up of primarily four main towns Chiriqui Grande, Changuinola, Almirante on the mainland and Bocas del Toro Town the province Capitol. Bocas province population of 90,000 represents a more diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities than anywhere in the country outside of Panama City. The islands have long been home to four indigenous tribes the Ngobe, Bugle, Bri-Bri and Naso. Due to Bocas rich history of Spaniards, pirates, banana plantations and now burgeoning expatriate community the ethnic mix also includes banana and canal worker descendents from Africa, Columbia, Jamaica, and the French Antilles, and an International Expatriate population that was tallied in 2003 to include 50 Nations.

One is more likely to hear English spoken here than in any other Panamanian province, however predominantly Spanish is spoken and some Guaymi and Teribe from local Indians lending to a unique Bocas slang. This unique melting pot of food, music and cultures creates a laid back Jimmy Buffet, Paradise.

Previously only know by some Panamanian tourists, adventuresome surfers and a trickling of a few brave backpackers, Bocas has become the hottest new tourist spot in panama. Where have 12 countries filmed their Survivor series including France, Spain, Italy and Russia? The answer is the exotic Bocas del Toro Archipelago. During the last few years bocas has seen an explosion of new settlers from Europe and the US, establishing a new infrastructure of quaint hotels diverse restaurants and exotic resorts. The Investment opportunities have been amazing and will continue to draw both Entrepreneurs and those desiring a near perfect retirement option for years to come. CLICK HERE FOR BOCAS NEWEST PROJECT

It is an outdoor lover’s paradise with diving, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding and white water rafting. This region, considered the most geographically diverse in the Caribbean, is also a nature lover’s dream come true. Bocas del Toro Panama is one of the few places in the world that can boast of being the home to a fully functional research facility owned and operated by the Smithsonian Institution. that Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas del Toro Panama Eco-tourism is coming of age in Bocas, and why not, with unspoiled coral reefs, a magnificent rain forests and miles of unspoiled beaches within close proximity. If nature is your thing, you will find quality jungle tours, river tours, island tours, bird watching and turtle watching expeditions.

The charm of Bocas del Toro Panama is found not only in the people and the aquatic paradise but also in the laid back life style it affords. The all wood structures many weathered by age bring you into a world both Jimmy Buffet and Humphrey Bogart would fell right at home in. Bocas offers a true flash back in time when life was simpler with fewer stresses and no problems man. If you’re looking to do nothing or be very adventuresome you have found your perfect spot. Bocas is one of Panama’s top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you enjoy beautiful beaches with scarcely a soul in sight and rainforests so fine Lonely Planet Guide calls them “a biologists fantasy”.

I checked into Hotel Bahia, which is really quite a funny little place. Above all the history that surrounds it, as the converted headquarters of The United Fruit Company, it has these loveable little quirks. For beginners, everything in my room is opposite: you push the light switch down to turn on the lights, you turn the cold water nozzle in the shower for warm water, and the you pull the toilet handle upwards to flush—to such an extent that it’s almost practical joke-ish.

The owner Tito was a grateful host and like a proud general showing off his war scars, Tito gave me the full, and I mean full, hotel history. The hotel slowly transformed from a deserted government address to a fully-functioning tourism hotspot over the course of the past 30 years and today, Tito is deservedly proud to tell you how it all went down.

I ate breakfast at Shelly’s BBQ, where the atmosphere couldn’t be any further its western sounding namesake. It sits off the main drag in Bocas and the only reason I stumbled upon it was because I was lost. Crammed into a ping pong table-sized space sat four wobbly tables accompanied by several rotting wooden stools. The menu was etched in Spanish chicken scratch on the wall and asked no more than $2 for an item. Stacks of soon-to-be recycled beer bottles rested in the corner and sand covered the floor. I ordered the first thing on the menu, suspiciously called “sandwich”. What arrived was great: a toasty brown flour tortilla over-stuffed with a beef and a bright and crunchy cucumber salsa. The breakfast of champions

I’m keenly becoming accustomed to this stuff. Places where you help yourself to beers at the bar. Places where it’s ok to wander in shirt-less. And places where the only attitude is the mutt (photo) or rooster searching hungrily for scraps. Places where no one looks at you funny for sitting alone or walking in with sandy or muddy feet. I’ve grown to really love it—the stiff bouncer and tightly-wound maitre’d, now becoming distant, almost alien things to me. Dress codes and table manners, contentedly just a thing of my past.

For lunch I decided to go in search of the famed “sushi sandwich”: a meal that, according to all my co-workers, I “had to have” while in Bocas. I asked a young delivery boy in the lobby of my hotel where to find an Asian-fusion restaurant called Limongrass—and he directed me enthusiastically. I walked down the main street and loved what I saw—this hilarious blend of Caribbean, hippie and Latin cultures. Crunchy people with dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, squinty-eyed tourists with fanny packs, and hard-at-work locals with giant sacks of yucca root on their backs—totally microcosmic. Following the instructions, I opened the door to the restaurant only to hear a sharp and seemingly aggressive voice from the back squeal out “We’re closed.” “How could you be closed on a Thursday afternoon?” I asked the faceless voice. “We just are! Alright?” Limongrass was closed on Thursdays. And their employees were obnoxious. How odd. I began to debate my next move, as the same delivery fellow from my hotel lobby passed by on his rusty beach cruiser. “It’s closed on Thursdays” I told him. “How could they be closed on Thursdays?” “They just are!” I witted back.

Suddenly, the young delivery boy was my only hope. Limongrass was my only recommendation in Bocas and I wanted a memorable meal! In desperation, I asked him where he ate lunch, figuring that had to be the next best thing. If I wasn’t going to have my sushi sandwich I was going to find some real Panamanian food. I didn’t want the timbales and napoleons, the au jus’ or the pom frite’s. I had this sudden, almost possessed, urge for down-home Panama food. I wanted the real stuff and granted, Bocas wasn’t the best place to find it…but dammit I’d try. The delivery boy, Silvio, told me where he ate lunch—a rustic little buffet on the main drag. I offered to buy him lunch and he obliged. He said he had to go to the bank and he’d meet me out front in 10 minutes. Eating like the locals—Oh right!

I waited innocently at the bar, clearly not belonged. I tried to look busy, scanning through my cell phone directory and drawing empty martian scribbles in my notebook. I asked for a beer with ice, trying to blend in, since that’s what everyone else was drinking. Then in due time, I ordered a second, then a third. I began to think Silvio had abandoned me—told the gullible gringo to wait at some small restaurant while he biked off as fast and as far away from me as possible. But finally, who comes rolling up on his four-speed, but the all-knowing Silvio. It was time for lunch. We ordered whole fish and ate the succulent, smoky flesh with our fingers, sipping on chichas of watermelon and tangerine juice. The habanero sauce on the table was named Devils Inferno: mind-bogglingly hot. Lunch for the two of us cost about $4 though I would gladly have paid more. A boat sit out on the dock so i snapped a pic.

After an ill-deserved yet well-needed 2 hour rest, I was somehow hungry again. Bocas has an impressive gauntlet of ethnic restaurants, gourmet cafes, and local joints. You’ve got this crunchy demographic: backpackers who’d be happy eating bananas and water all day—and then you have the fancier people who wouldn’t accept an overcooked bead of risotto. After asking a few people where they recommend I eat, I wandered into a pier directly across the street from my hotel. It was, what looked like, an old run-down fishery or docking station with war scars and that familiar peeling Caribbean-turquoise paint. I had a seat at the bar and started chatting with the bartender—Cathy, a short, rather squatty girl—who recommended I order the Pargo filets since they had just been loaded off the boat. Her recommendation was great—two nice sized fish filets that, in a seriously delicious way, tasted like the ocean. While you’re dining on the water’s edge its hard to complain about anything. Slow service suddenly becomes distracted by amazing sunsets. Mediocre food is oddly considered acceptable. And high prices are somehow justified. The Reef is the poster child for this phenomenon and I was loving it.

I was tired from a day’s…cough cough…hard work and research, so I hit the hay sack. Laying in bed, I ran through the three good meals I had under my belt. I was looking forward to the culinary cosmos I would uncover in the days to come. I passed out watching the movie Legally Blonde—really a funny movie. I’d never seen it before but it was pretty darn funny. Ah. Man. Pretty funny.

Matt Landau is a self-proclaimed “international man of mystery”. For short, friends just call him “Mystery”. You can read all of his bizare international adventures at http://www.thepanamareport.com.

The rainy season in Bocas takes place from December through January and then again June through August, however this season rarely produces enough rain to ruin a vacation. The dry season runs from February through May and during this period it is not uncommon to miss the raindrops all together. However, since we are in the tropics, short storms can come and go at any time. The great part about this tropical positioning though, is that we enjoy warm temperatures and light ocean breezes all year round.

Sometimes small storms can swing through but they usually do not last very long. More often, are the stretches of bright sunlight and clean skies. The most common wind direction in Bocas del Toro, Panama is North and there are several popular spots for surfing.

For the most part, Bocas enjoys calm sea conditions. Because Bocas del Toro is an archipelago, many of the islands protect it from rough weather and high seas. These outlying islands also make for a picture perfect horizon line.

Most people say that the best time to visit Bocas del Toro is in the Fall and Spring when there is the least rain and the clearest waters. But in reality, almost year-round you can find a sunny beach to enjoy. Bocas’ terrific climate is perfect for snorkeling and boating trips as well as all other water-related activities. For the less adventurous members of your family, this may simply translate into relaxing afternoons at the beach.

My wife, three kids (13, 9, and 7), and I stayed at La Coralina and were completely amazed by everything. The location is absolutely stunning. La Coralina is located outside of the hustle and bustle of Bocas Town on the Caribbean side of Isla Colon. The water was crystal clear and best of all there was not a bunch of drunken tourist stumbling about.

The hotel itself is beautiful and decorated in a way that not only helped us to relax, but made us feel at home. The owner/operator Stacy was fantastic. She had great suggestions for things to do. She knows the island and the locals and is a great resource for people who do not know what is available in Bocas. She is also the cook and the food was excellent I have not had food that good at some very nice restaurants (and the cost was very reasonable).

Stacy suggested a boat driver that could give us a tour of the area, which we took her up on. The driver, who moved with his family from Belgium, catered to our wishes to see the flora and fauna of the area. We had dolphins swimming under our boat, saw thousands of poison dart frogs, sloths, and other interesting animals, snorkeled with an enormous eagle ray, and all that for much cheaper than all the hustlers in Bocas Town will charge you.

Our kids had a great time staying at La Coralina. My 13 year old son (almost 14) told me it was the best time he had in his life and said he felt like he had just lived a life that he has only seen in commercials. Stacy helped them to feel comfortable there. She has plenty of board games, books, and a pool table IF!!! you find yourself with a need for something to do besides enjoying some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the world.

If you are looking for a place to relax and feel like family in a beautiful natural setting this is the place. Not only will we return, but we have told all of our friends and family that this is the place to stay.

“The best place in Bocas del Toro!!!”

have been on many great trips in my life, but Hotel La Coralina in Bocas del Toro…..TOPS all of them. It sits up on the mountain side and you have breathtaking views of the carribean. Stacey, the host, is the best host you could ever ask for. The food, the accomodations, the staff, all were so friendly and nice. They even have horses you can take for a ride on the beach!!! Bikes for rent too. The rooms, including the bathrooms were amazing. This place is a gem that you must discover for yourself. You will not be dissappointed.

Hidden within the trees lining the breathtaking bay next to Bluff Beach on Bocas main island Isla Colon, the Lodge provides a quiet refuge for nature lovers, beach combers, divers and surfers - it is just steps away from a reputed surf spot. There are two reputed spots on Isla Colon, Bluff Beach and The Bump. Apart from surf, bird watching, swimming in cristal clear waters, snorkelling or just lazing around are some of the favourite occupations at the Lodge.

At this Eco Lodge, energy is generated by the sun and wind, water collected by a rain catchment system and grey water used to water the gardens. Accommodation consists of 6 rooms in the Casa Azul, one-bedroom apartment at beach level in Casa Verde and 2 beachside private Cottages. All rooms have balconies with hammock and chairs, bathrooms with hot water, priavte/shared kitchen, mosquito nets and ceiling fans.

Accommodation Rates

Low Season (Mar > Jun + Sep > Nov)
Single: 15 USD (Rooms) + 20 USD (Cottages)
Double: 20 USD (Rooms) + 30 USD (Cottages)
Triple: 30 USD (Rooms) + 45 USD (Cottages)
Cuadruple: 40 USD (Rooms) + 60 (Cottages)

High Season (Jul > Aug + Dec > Feb + Carnival, Easter and Spring Break)
Single: 20 USD (Rooms) + 45 USD (Cottages)
Double: 30 USD (Rooms) + 60 USD (Cottages)
Triple: 45 USD (Rooms) + 75 USD (Cottages)
Cuadruple: 60 USD (Rooms) + 100 USD (Cottages)

All rates are per day, per person
All rates subject to a 10% tax

Nestling in a coconut grove, the Surf Lodge offers seven beautiful rooms with various layouts catering for every specific need. Each room is spacious and equipped with air conditioning, comfortable bed and private tiled bathrooms with hot water. The house is surrounded by a wooded deck with large French windows opening up onto the lush rain forest and peering through coconut trees to the Caribbean sea. The hotel has all modern amenities such as Direct TV and internet/fax connections.

Bed & Breakfast Rates
Single: 55 USD
Dolbe: 60 USD
Triple: 65 USD
Rates are per room, per night
All rates subject to a 10% tax

We recommend 2 weeks to make the most of your trip

LAGUNA
LA VERANDA
AL NATURAL
EL LIMBO
PUNTA CARACOL
SOLARTE DEL CARIBE
BOCAS DEL TORO
LOS DELFINES
CORAL CAY
TIERRA VERDE
DOÑA MARA
ANGELA
LULA’S BED & BREAKFAST
ESTRELLA DE BOCAS
COCOMO-ON-THE-SEA
CASA ACUARIO
BUCCANEER RESORT
ODESEN
HIPOCAMPO
CALALUNA
SUITE HOTEL COSTES
TROPICAL SUITES
CARIBBEAN VIEW
VISTA MAR
LA RUMBA
OLAS DE LA MADRUGADA
CASA SELVA DEL MAR
BLUE MARLIN RESORT
THE LODGE AT SWAN’S CAY
CAREENING CAY RESORT
HACIENDA DEL TORO
TRANQUILO BAY
LA LOMA JUNGLE LODGE
PLAYA MANGO RESORT
HOTEL MACCA BITE
DOLPHIN BAY HIDEAWAY
NATURAL LODGE
BOCAS BACKPACKERS
GARDEN OF EDEN
KOKO RESORT
PLAYA TORTUGA
LA CORALINA
CASA CAYUCO
ECLYPSE DE MAR
SWAN’S CAY

The province of Bocas del Toro hosts two national parks, one of which is a world heritage site and two protected cloud forests. The trans-boundary protected area consists of 1.4 million contiguous acres, extending from the continental divide to the Caribbean Sea, covering all five altitudinal zones know to the tropics. One park, Bastimentos National Marine Park, covers a large portion of the archipelago and is home to a variety of ecosystems which thrive at or around sea level. The other park, Palo Seco Nature Reserve, is on the mainland and reaches through the cloud forests up to and beyond the continental divide.

Tranquilo Bay, the best Bocas del Toro hotel, is your home base to explore the islands and highlands of Western Panama. Our guests unpack, settle in and experience our unique tropical location. Tranquilo Bay provides you with six deluxe air-conditioned cabanas, beautiful views, eco-adventure activities, personal attention and fine cuisine.

Please explore our site. Bocas del Toro, Panama and Tranquilo Bay have a lot to offer you. We look forward to having you and your group spend some time with us in paradise.

“Just sensational”

I chose Tranquilo Bay as our final desination in Panama partly because of the rave reviews on TripAdvisor. And every compliment paid to Jim, Jay, Renee and Stephanie on these pages is well deserved.

The whole place is exquisite. The cabanas are beautiful and incredibly comfortable. The location is stunning. The food is incredible. The hospitality is second to none.

We’ve stayed in a great many places throughout Africa and Latin America to satisfly our cravings for wildlife and this is one of the very few that I shall definitely return to. There is a terrible cliche that is often used in reviews of this sort that runs along the lines of “We arrived as guests, but parted as friends”. However, nothing could be truer of the wonderful people that built and run Tranquilo Bay.

There’s a huge range of activities on offer - and you can pick and choose as you please. I’ll give a brief account of what we got up to:

DAY 1: We were met at lunchtime in Bocas by Jay and were taken across the sea in the pouring rain to the resort. A sumptious lunch was followed by a little rest and then Jay took us sea kayaking through the mangroves. The rain stopped. Incredible silence - apart from the clicking of the barnacles and other molluscs, exposed on the roots of the plants. Then we snorkelled along a reef for an hour or so before paddling back to the dock.

DAY 2: Jim took us for a short boat trip and then we sea kayaked along a river through the jungle. Local Indians were paddling their wooden boats down the river as we went up it, admiring the caimans, crabs, birds, sloths and frogs. Stopping at a farm, we hiked to a cave full of bats and wonderful stalactites and stalagmites. We were able to walk about 300 metres into the cave, exploring the untouched splendour of the place with torches. After returning to the lodge, we had lunch and then hiked through the jungle looking out for birds and poison dart frogs, whilst learning about the huge variety of lush plant life that abounds in the area.

DAY 3: Jay took us in the boat to an Indian village on a neighbouring island. We hiked to the top of a hill with one of the locals and an American Peace Corps worker, learning all about banana growing and the uses of the many other plants we met along the way. We then toured the village, had sandwiches on the boat and then made stops at two islands for some incredible snorkeling.

DAY 4: Jay dropped us off at a beach on another island and we sea kayaked slowly back to Tranquilo Bay - watching all variety of birdlife (including an osprey with a fish), stopping for a beer at a little bar on one island, snorkelling at various points Jay had told us about, and getting onto a old fishing platform to eat our packed lunches. The late afternoon was spent birdwatching whilst sitting on the veranda of our cabana.

DAY 5: With Jim and Jay, we took the boat to the mainland and spent a wonderful day kayaking down a river, with incredible birdlife all around us (and a sloth that happened to be dangling on the end of a vine over the river at head height!). We arrived back in the late afternoon, just in time for some snorkeling with Stephanie who took us swimming to a reef near the Tranquilo Bay dock.

DAY 6: We visited a chocolate farm and a stunning garden on our way back to Bocas, for our early afternoon flight back to reality!

I could have easily have stayed longer here … pretty much forever.

“Had a great time”

We were looking for a nice place to stay in Bocas with our two young kids while on our way back to the US from Cartagena, Colombia. We initially contacted Casa Cayuco, which was closed and recommended Tranquilo Bay. We’re glad they did.

The resort was hand-built by the owners over a 5 year period and shows tremendous pride in workmanship and standards. They’ve created a really nice place here in truly the middle of nowhere. The 100 acre property is stunning jungle and some open fields, with flocks of wild tropical birds, monkeys and sloths. The waterfront is mangroves leading into coral reef, with a very nice swim and boat dock.

Tranquilo Bay is expensive by Bocas standards but if you’re looking for quality of service and comfort the money is well spent. There’s really nothing else like it in the area. Each of the 6 cabins has AC, great beds, good bathrooms and a nice deck with hammock.

Jay, Jim, Renee and Stephanie are really caring hosts and work extremely hard for their guests. They were also wonderful with our kids, who are the same age as their kids and had a great time all playing together.

The Panamanian staff, who also live on the premises, are very kind and hard working, too.

If you’re into nature and outdoor activities this is a great choice. While there’s no beach on the property, the Zapatilla Keys are a 10 minute boat ride away and have the nicest beach in the archipelago. You can swim right off the dock at Tranquilo Bay and there’s really nice reefs right out front. Also, the kayaking right from the resort is nice, too.

I did a nice scuba dive with Jim, one of the owners, but watch out for the quality of rental gear from the dive shops in Bocas Town. We rented our gear from what is supposedly the best shop in town but it was very poorly maintained/borderline dangerous. If Tranquilo Bay is serious about offering diving as a regular part of their activities they should consider securiting their own BCs and regulators and just depend on the town shops for air fills.

I’d gladly go back and left Tranquilo Bay feeling like the owners had become our friends, not just someone operating a business. My 5-year old had such a great time he cried when we had to leave.

Garden of Eden is a perfect resort for sightseeing, getting away and relaxing, honeymooners, weddings, private parties & retreats, Adventures, and everyone who wants to enjoy what the real Panama has to offer. So instead of thinking of a resort room join with your friends, partners, tourist group and rent your own island!

We offer a playful and relaxing lifestyle. Our secluded pool offers the most daring sun bathers privacy.
Hey, it’s the birds and the bees with all the tropical trees (including the Apple Tree!) Be naughty or nice come see for yourself! After a day of kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, fishing, or nature walking, our beautiful breezes blow to keep you fresh and cool. Then enjoy a romantic evening in our private cabanas or party all night in our open air terrace and bar.

We offer adventure on a silver platter. Tours of the area are unlimited and can be designed to fit your personal request.

* View first hand the most amazing wildlife such as dolphins, tropical birds and a wide variety of native animals amidst the most amazing panoramic view.
* Take an adventure tour of our Panamanian ecosystem at the world class Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
* Tour the surrounding island communities or find a isolated island beach and just enjoy a private moment.
* Enjoy an exhilarating day of scuba diving or snorkeling or surfing in our beautiful waters.

The Garden of Eden offers upscale accommodations. Hi speed internet access.
Our cabanas are unique each has it’s own bathroom with hot showers, from fresh filtered rain water and a private porch with a fabulous panoramic view.

Our swimming pool is delightful with Tikki huts available for shade lovers. Hammocks for one of the best naps you ever experience.

We have well equipped boats with one round trip ride to town per day included.

Bare Bottoms Bar is fully stocked with liquors of your choice, wine and local beer. Home cooked meals are cooked to perfection daily with some of the freshest fish and lobster all from the sea around us.

source: http://www.gardenofedenbocaspanama.com

REVIEWS:

“A real treasure”

This was our first time in Bocas. We didn’t know the area and so were unsure of where to stay. We checked places on the web and found the Garden of Eden. We ended up staying there for five out of our eight day stay. We had a very nice room and the surroundings are beautiful. Helena and Bob are wonderful hosts. It was more like visiting old friends than staying in a hotel .They went out of their way to make sure that we had a good time. Helena does all the cooking and she does a very good job. Our meals were delicious. I would definitely recommend this place.

“Unbeatable hospitality”

The trip to Panama was for our honeymoon, and the destination was a surprise to my wife. I did all the planning, and I have to admit that she was nervous not knowing where we where going to end up. Had I picked one of the lower cost places in Bocas town to stay at we wouldn’t have started the marriage out on the right foot. On the contrary, I can tell you that I looked like a genius on solid footing based on my choice.

The Garden of Eden is a great place to stay, and the resort, our hosts, and the Bocas were the highlight of our trip to Panama. The resort overall is very nicely built and groomed. Even with that said the resort continues to be refined. The rooms have great views, covered porches with comfy hammocks, and are larger than they look on the web site. My wife and I had great time kayaking over to Red Frog beach using the resorts free kayaks. The food is top notch, and highly recommended. Don’t miss the aquarium at feeding time.

The best part was Bob and Helena’s attention to detail and hospitality. We truly felt like family during our stay, and I mean that in a good way! I do business all over the US and the world and I notice one formula that always works – great people have great businesses. The Garden of Eden is no exception.

To Bob and Helena: Thanks for everything!