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Located on the Caribbean Sea, 300 miles northwest off Panama City, the Bocas del Toro archipelago is a snorkeling and diving haven featuring coral reefs, large extensions of mangroves, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters. This layback archipelago is also noted for its Georgian architecture, sea turtles, gingerbread, and excellent seafood. A good option for divers and people looking for a different vacation. Average stay is 2 to 3 nights. |
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| ESSENCE OF THE AREA |
| Bocas del Toro's town is on Isla Colon at the southeast tip of the island connected to the rest of Isla Colon by a causeway. All the hotels, restaurants and nightlife are in Boca's town. A terribly relaxing place, funky, with a romantic charm, time stands still here. It is just incredible, beautiful. The most commonly visited islands in the archipelago are east of Isla Colon. There are no real beaches in Boca's town, you need a boat to get to all the most accessible pristine beaches such as Boca del Drago, Isla Bastimentos, Playa Polo to name a few, as other beach areas near town require a 25 minutes drive or an hour hike. |
| GETTING THERE |
FROM DAVID:
By Air:
Operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Duration: 1 hour approximately. Maximum 25 lbs allowed.
FROM PANAMA CITY
By Air:
Operates Daily from the Domestic Airport. Duration: 1 hour approximately. Maximum 25 lbs allowed.
FROM SAN JOSE - COSTA RICA
By Air:
Operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes approximately. Maximum 25 lbs allowed.
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| RECOMMENDED STAY |
| 3 to 4 nights, will allow you the time to explore the archipelago. |
| EATING AND DRINKING |
The islands have an extense offer to provide meals to the visitors.
Breakfasts are available at different restaurants and coffee shops (Anicflor, El Lorito, Laguna, Las Delicias, La Ballena, Bahia Paradiso).
In the lunch and dinner times restaurants and coffee shops are open for serving their customers: Anicflor, Alexanders, Parrillada Kuna, El Lorito, Las Delicias, Heike, Loop, Kun Ja, La Ballena, Lako's Place, Le Pirate, Red Snapper, Bahia Paradiso, Ocean Quinn, The Reef, and Buena Vista.
Parrotfish (in Mangrove Inn Resort) is open for lunch and dinner only on saturdays, sundays and holidays. Sandwiches are served in the lunch time, every day.
Related to their specialties, italian cuisine is served in Bahia Paradiso, Alexander, Laguna, La Ballena and Le Pirate.
Seafood is an important ingredient of almost all restaurant's menu.
Sandwiches and natural juices are specialties of Loop.
Regional cuisine is represented in El Lorito, Las Delicias, El Paso del Marisco and Lako's place.
Chinesse cuisine can be tasted in Kun Ja.
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| RECOMMENDED SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES |
Bocas del Toro Town:
Bocas del Toro is a town with a strong personality. Walking along the main street (3rd.) or any of the adjacents ones, is like going back to the past. A past that, some times was splendid, and at other times was decadent... sad. The architecture of the old houses, with their old caribbean style, is part of the identity of Bocas.
The dock in front of the Bahia Hotel used to be the main dock of the company, and many of the old houses were the homes of its workers and employees.
The fine old Spanish building with inner patios, facing the Bolivar Park, houses the regional Government. It is now being restored. Its beautiful feature is the clock that tolls each 15 minutes, attempting to keep bocatorians on time. Walk in the streets and pay special attention to the fine work in wood, the balconies and other details.
Bastimentos National Marine Park:
The Isla Bastimentos Nacional Marine Park, situated in the Bocas del Toro province, occupies more than 13,000 hectares of land and sea. Although the beauty of Zapatillas Keys attracts most of the tourists who arrive to the region, the Park has other attractions which can please the most avid naturalist. The Marine Park comprises the central sector of the Bastimentos Island, both Zapatillas Keys and the waters surrounding them, and the mangroves zone at the south of Bastimentos island.
Swan Key :
When Christopher Columbus arrived in Panama from Costa Rica, the first place he visited was Boca del Drago, entering what is now known as Admiral Bay (or Caribaro by the indians) via the channel that separates the main land from Colon Island. Today, this region of the archipelago is an attraction for tourists. There, you find beautiful beaches at the tip of the island and shady trails to walk. Coral formations beyond the beaches attract the snorkeller. Just a few minutes by boat, toward the open sea is Swan Key, a bird sanctuary that attracts the beautiful and unique tropic bird, with their snow white color, long tail and orange beak, the funny looking boobies, the graceful frigates, those thieves of the sea, and the clever pelicans. Seagulls too make the island their place of stay .
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| MUST SEE |
| Boca del Drago, Bird's Island and Carenero Island, all great for a day at the beach; Dolphin Observation and Red Frog Beach, dolphins and red frogs; Hospital Point; Coral Cay; Zapatillas Cay. |
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Latin America, Mexico, Caribbean and Europe 
