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The archipelago of Bocas Del Toro in Panama is situated on the northwestern coast of Panama in and around the Bay of Chiriqui. This stretch which is an extremely popular tourist destination can be reached by a 40-minute flight from Panama City, or the more adventurous can come here by buses and water taxis. |
The capital city of this province, Bocas Del Toro, is located on Isla Colon and was an erstwhile important shipping port. It is the seat of governance in the province with the governor's mansion, hospital, schools and church. The 1991 earthquake caused major devastation and destroyed most of the charming old wooden structures.
Within the town, a plain cement walkway veers off the road and down the slope of a hill. Nestled at the bottom of the ravine, near the mouth of a cave and a fresh water spring, is a shrine of Virgin Mary. The area has a shaded grove of trees and is quite cool and peaceful even at midday in the middle of summer. Situated at the entrance to the cave, and placed all around the statue, are dozens of different colored glass candles. As you enter the cave, the light from these candles presents a kaleidoscope of colors. Further into the cave, you can see thousands of small fruit bats sleeping upside down and hanging from the ceiling. There is a quiet serenity to the place that promises a relaxing experience amidst the beauty of its surroundings.
This isolated region exudes a pristine and untouched splendor and the spectacular and unspoiled coral reefs off the coast make it a treat for aquatic sports enthusiasts. You can explore a wide and amazing variety of corals, colourful fish, kelp forests, and shipwrecks in these azure crystal waters. A wide range of options are available, ranging from diving, deep-sea fishing, boating, kayaking, to snorkeling along the long sandy deserted beaches. One popular destination for divers and snorkelers is Hospital Point.
A five minutes' boat ride from Bocas will bring you to this place. The water here is warm and clear and has many different specimens of coral such as brain and elk.
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Nearby is the popular Bastimentos National Park that encompasses a substantial part of Bastimentos Island, Zapatilla Cays, Crawl Cay, and the Red Frog Beach along with the waters and mangroves that surround the island. This area is home to a variety of wildlife including the red poison dart frogs that are in abundance here. |
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The inhabitants of this lovely province mostly belong to native tribes and live in the small isolated villages scattered throughout the islands enjoying a relaxed pace of life. Locals travel between the islands in dugout canoes called pongas can be seen on the waterways and channels, especially in the morning.
There are a number of hotels and restaurants in and around Bocas town. The town also has shops that facilitate a variety of water sports that can be enjoyed in its waters. These include dive shops, deep sea fishing outfit, numerous sailboat and catamaran cruises, mountain bike and moped rentals. Many excursions and tours can be easily arranged from the town also.
The islands are abound in varied life found in the rain forest canopy like troops of howler, white faced and spider monkeys, three and four toed sloths, along with numerous kinds of reptiles, birds, amphibians and sea turtles.
The interiors of Isla Colon can be discovered through mountain biking that can be easily arranged from Bocas town. A dirt road will take you from the town through the heart of the island to its other side. Covered with primary and secondary rain forests, number of pastures, small pueblos of thatched roofed huts in the villages along the road, this trip will introduce to the bonties of this tiny island.
