I visited Bocas del Toro during a fast backpacking trip through Central America with a friend, so I only had a limited amount of time to explore the area. Still, I got to experience Bocas Town, Isla Colón, the beaches, and some of the islands around Bocas del Toro. If you’re planning a trip here, this guide covers the things I think are actually useful to know before you go, from how to get to Bocas del Toro and where to stay to the best things to do, how many days you need, when to visit, and what to expect once you’re there. Bocas del Toro Guide: Overview Bocas del…

Bocas del Toro was one of the stops on my three-week backpacking trip through Central America, where I was traveling on a tight budget and moving through eight countries in a short amount of time. I didn’t have weeks to explore the islands, so I had to be selective about what I spent my time and money on. If you’re looking for things to do in Bocas del Toro, this guide focuses on the experiences I actually had and what I thought was worth doing. I’ll also tell you what I would prioritize if you’re backpacking on a budget or only have a short time in Bocas. Best things to…

I visited Bocas del Toro as part of a fast backpacking trip through Central America, so I didn’t have the luxury of spending a full week exploring every island. I also don’t travel like someone who arrives at a destination after a relaxing vacation and immediately wants to book a full day of activities. After constantly moving from one place to the next, I usually want to get settled, walk around, figure out where I am and actually see the place before jumping into excursions. That’s exactly how I approached Bocas del Toro. I started by exploring Bocas Town and Isla Colón before getting into the bigger activities and trips…

I’ll keep this one simple because where to stay in Bocas del Toro really comes down to two things: your budget and what kind of trip you want. I stayed in Bocas Town during my visit, and for a short backpacking trip like mine, the location worked really well. But if you have more time or want a different experience, there are a few other areas worth considering. Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro: Quick Answer If you’re wondering where to stay in Bocas del Toro, here’s how I’d break it down: For a short backpacking trip, I would personally stay in Bocas Town again. It’s convenient, you can…

When I joined a friend for a last-minute three-week trip through Central America, we somehow ended up visiting all eight countries from Panama to Mexico. Bocas del Toro was one of our stops in Panama, and we only had a short amount of time there. I stayed in Bocas del Toro for around 1–2 days, which was enough for me to get a feel for the town, explore some of the beaches and see a little bit of the islands. If you’re wondering how many days in Bocas del Toro you actually need, I think 2 full days is a good starting point for most people. You can see some…

I visited Bocas del Toro during a last-minute three-week trip through Central America with a friend, where we traveled overland through all eight countries in the region. We were moving quickly, traveling on a backpacker budget, and definitely weren’t planning our trip around the weather. I had a good time in Bocas del Toro, but I wasn’t there long enough to experience the different seasons myself. So for this guide, I’m combining my experience with the actual climate patterns in Bocas del Toro to help you figure out when to go. In this guide, I’ll cover the best time to visit Bocas del Toro, what the weather is like throughout…

I ended up in Bocas del Toro as part of a completely last-minute three-week trip through Central America with a friend. We traveled through all eight countries, mostly by chicken buses, without much planning and on a very tight backpacker budget. We got to Bocas del Toro by taking a night bus from Panama City to Almirante, walking to the boat port while some very persistent strangers followed us, and then taking a tiny wooden boat across to the islands. I hate boats, so that part of the journey was definitely not my favorite. Once we arrived, we stayed in a cheap private room near the boat station, rented a…