Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro: Pros & Cons of Each Island

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It might seem like choosing where to stay in Bocas del Toro is as simple as booking your preferred hotel or hostel, but it’s not! 

Bocas del Toro is often discussed as one singular destination, but in reality, it’s a collection of nine major islands and hundreds of cayes and islets. 

Choosing which island to base yourself on can seriously impact your experience here. Each island has a unique personality, with different activities, landscapes and amenities, to suit different kinds of travellers. 

The easy option is staying in Bocas Town, the most populous area on the main island, Isla Colón. But after visiting, we actually think this is the worst place for most travellers to stay, and we regret our decision to spend a few nights here. 

Some extra research and consideration of which island best suits your travel style will go a long way, and make sure you experience the best of Bocas for your taste! 

In this post, I’ll compare the five islands that are most popular for tourism (Colón, Carenero, Bastiementos, Solarte and San Cristobal), running through the pros and cons of staying on each, as well as suggesting some of the best accommodations for all budgets on each island.

About Bocas del Toro

Before you dive into this post on where to stay in Bocas del Toro, I would encourage you to read my Bocas del Toro Travel Guide first.

It’s designed to give you an overview of the archipelago, a brief rundown of each of the main islands and information on getting there and getting around.

Without having some context on the destination, it’s difficult to understand the implications of choosing one island over the other. 

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Islands of Bocas del Toro

There are nine islands and hundreds of islets and cayes, but five stand out as being the most popular with visitors, with sufficient tourist infrastructure, attractions, amenities etc.

Best places to stay in Bocas del Toro (quick answer)

Before I deep dive into the pros and cons of each island (and the major neighbourhoods on said islands), I thought I’d give you my quick two cents on the best place to stay in Bocas del Toro.

I think the best way to experience Bocas del Toro is to stay on multiple islands, or at least multiple neighbourhoods. 

If you’ve got 4 or more nights to spend in Bocas, divide your time across a few different islands. 

I think you want to plan for:

• 📍 A base/hub location: that is convenient for going out and exploring the archipelago, with easy access to Bocas Town or water taxis

• 😌 A relax/secluded location: that could be more remote and focuses solely on enjoying the water and jungle, and doesn’t have to be convenient 

In my opinion, some destinations can serve both purposes, depending on your preferences, noise tolerance and desire for amenities and convenience. But others are purely one or the other. This is how I would categorise all the options: 

📍 BASE/HUB LOCATIONS (convenient, accessible, amenities, attractions, tours)

• Bocas Town, Isla Colón (only if you like partying, don’t mind noise)
• Saigon Bay, Isla Colón
• Big Creek/Paunch, Isla Colón (if you rent an e-bike, ATV or motorbike)
• Old Bank, Isla Bastimentos
• Isla Carenero
• Isla Solarte (northwestern end only)

😌 RELAX/SECLUDED LOCATIONS (quiet, natural, tropical, beautiful, beaches)

• Bluff Beach, Isla Colón
• Boca del Drago, Isla Colón
• Isla Carenero
• Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos
• Isla Solarte
• Isla San Cristobal 

We stayed in Old Bank on Isla Bastimentos and then in Bocas Town on Isla Colón, but we were not entirely happy with our choices and I wish we had more helpful advice beforehand. 

We were really happy with our time in Basti, but Bocas Town was NOT for us, and honestly, we hated staying there.

With hindsight, I would have much preferred Isla Carenero, Saigon Bay or Boca del Drago for our second stay. 

If we had a bit more time, a third stay at Isla Solarte or Isla San Cristobal, where we chose a really nice accommodation to hide away and relax for a few days would have been a great way to finish our time on the islands. There are some stunning overwater bungalows and I have my eye on Sol Bungalows (Isla Solarte) or CocoVivo (Isla San Cristobal) for our next visit! 

Isla Colón

The main island with the biggest town and most development

Isla Colón is a huge island and is the most populated and developed in all of Bocas del Toro. 

It’s home to Bocas Town, the commercial and tourist centre, and is also where the main water taxi route runs from the mainland and the region’s airport is located. 

You will most likely start and end your time in Bocas del Toro in Isla Colón, and if you’re after convenience and amenities, this is the best place to stay. 

It’s so big that there are multiple different settlements around the island, and each offers a completely contrasting experience to stay in. 

I’ve broken down the main areas to stay around Isla Colón: Bocas Town, Saigon Bay, Big Creek & Paunch Beach, Bluff Beach and Boca del Drago. 

Bocas Town

Bocas Town is the busiest settlement in all of Bocas del Toro. It’s the capital of the province and the typical tourist town. 

The plus side of this is that the town has everything you need. You don’t need to pre-plan or think about any logistics, you can simply arrive and have every amenity at your fingertips. 

If you want to be in the heart of the action and try all the best restaurants and cafes, party and make the most of the nightlife, shop and join tours to island hop, snorkel, dive etc. this is the most central base to branch out from. 

You can also make use of land transport (taxis, colectivos, bikes, ATVs) to explore the further reaches of Isla Colón, but still return to the amenities of the town each night. 

BUT, of course, there’s a but… Bocas Town is the furthest thing I can imagine from an ‘island paradise’.

It’s busy, noisy, commercial, touristy, tacky, did I mention noisy? Sleeping here is honestly a nightmare (pun intended!) and if you don’t plan on partaking in the raucous nightlife, you’ll be frustrated and tired. 

Although you can see the water, and many accommodations are overwater on docks, there aren’t any places to safely swim due to the heavy boat traffic, and the water is not that clean in such a busy and populated area. It’s hardly the tropical scenes with palm trees swaying over the water etc. etc. 

ACTIVITIES IN BOCAS TOWN

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? No, not in town

• 🤿 Snorkelling? No, not in town

• 🫧 Scuba diving? Most dive shops are located in Bocas Town so you will be at the most convenient departure point for diving and near schools if you’re taking PADI courses

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Relatively quick and easy access via land to surf spots on Isla Colón (Bluff, Paunch etc.) as well as on Isla Carenero via a short water taxi

TRANSPORT IN BOCAS TOWN

• 🚤 Water taxis: Bocas Town is the central point for water taxis so you are within easy reach of anywhere around the archipelago, but you won’t necessarily use them to get around the island

• 🚕 Taxis: there are land taxis around Bocas Town to take you to more distant attractions on Isla Colón

• 🚐 Colectivos: Bocas Town is the departure point for the only two colectivo routes, to Boca del Drago and Bluff Beach. If you’re on a budget but want to explore more of the island, this is the best way 

• 🛵 ATV or motorbike: it’s possible to rent ATVs or motorbikes, although you don’t need/wouldn’t want to ride them around the town itself

• 🚲 Bicycle: bicycle and e-bike rentals are possible in Bocas Town, and great if you want to stay on the fringes of town to avoid some of the noise but still have easy access to restaurants, amenities etc. 

• 👣 Walking: this is the primary way to get around within Bocas Town, which is great for those on a budget. If you stay in a central accommodation, you can walk everywhere around town

PROS ✅

• Every amenity is at your fingertips – banks, ATMs, supermarkets, tour companies, water taxi docks, land transport – with no need to pre-plan or work out logistics

• Fantastic range of restaurants, cafes and bars 

• Pumping nightlife if you want to party, with many fun over water bars and the start of the Filthy Friday island-hopping bar crawl

CONS ❌

• Very noisy and hard to sleep at night, with constant loud music and parties/clubs every night of the week

• No beaches and the waterfront area is very busy with boat traffic so nowhere to swim

• Gritty, dirty, busy, overpopulated, touristy and not particularly ‘charming’. It’s not the tropical, island experience most people would be imagining 

Saigon Bay

I wish someone had told me to look into Saigon Bay when we were figuring out where to stay in Bocas del Toro. 

It’s a really good best-of-both-worlds option, being within a reasonable walk (25 minutes) or an easy bike ride (10 minutes) into town, but far enough not to be in the hustle and bustle. 

You don’t have to plan to be ‘remote’, as you can still easily access everything Bocas Town has to offer, with just a little more effort. There are also a handful of restaurants in the area to choose from. 

The main road out of town runs along a narrow isthmus of land with Saigon Bay on the western side. The views of the mountains on the mainland are excellent and sunsets are spectacular here. 

The water here is calm, inside a sheltered bay great for kayaking or paddleboarding. The water isn’t crystal clear, it’s more mangroves and sea grass, but you can still swim and snorkel here, with most accommodations having docks to jump off into the water. 

The area has quite a large local population so it’s not always totally quiet, but it’s much much better than being in town near the nightclubs. 

ACTIVITIES IN SAIGON BAY

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes, but not crystal clear

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes, but not an incredible reef

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, you would need to travel to Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? You’re closer to the Isla Colón surf spots than you are in town, but no surfing in Saigon Bay itself

TRANSPORT IN SAIGON BAY

• 🚤 Water taxis: accommodations can call water taxis to collect you, but it’s not a common public route

• 🚕 Taxis: accommodations can call taxis to shuttle you to/from town

• 🚐 Colectivos: Saigon Bay is on the colectivo route to both Bluff Beach and Boca del Drago, so you can flag them as they pass

• 🛵 ATV or motorbike: it’s possible to rent ATVs or motorbikes, which can make the trip to town very quick, but it’s not really necessary unless you want to explore the island further 

• 🚲 Bicycle: a bike or e-bike is the perfect mode of transport for a stay in Saigon Bay, making trips to town quick and easy, without feeling like a hassle at all

• 👣 Walking: it’s a 15 – 25 minute walk from Saigon Bay into town. Not far, but you probably wouldn’t want to do it multiple times everyday 

PROS ✅

• Much more quiet and peaceful than in town

• A beautiful calm bay with amazing mountain views, sunsets, kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming 

• Bocas Town is still very accessible and you can easily go into town every day if you want to try the restaurants, take tours etc. 

CONS ❌

• It’s not completely immune to noise, as it’s a local neighbourhood and still on the fringe of the developed town 

• The bay is more of a mangrove area, it doesn’t have bright blue or crystal-clear waters

Big Creek & Paunch Beach

Located between 10 – 20 minutes’ drive from Bocas Town, the Big Creek/Paunch Beach area is one of the up-and-coming areas to stay in Bocas del Toro. 

There are a handful of great accommodations spread around a jungly area and along the coastline, with enough restaurants to keep you well-fed if you don’t want to go into town every day. 

This is one of the best places for surfers to stay in Bocas del Toro, as you’ve got a few breaks within walking distance, and you’re also not too far (15 – 20 minutes) from Bluff Beach. 

For the majority of the year, the beaches are not safe to swim though, which might be a con if you’re not a surfer. Most accommodations have pools to cater for this, but for me, it’s not the same as floating around in the calm, warm ocean. 

That’s the reason why we chose not to stay in this area, although beautiful, relatively peaceful and quite jungly, it’s a wild, open ocean, not the typical bath-like Caribbean I love. 

You can use taxis to get to and from town, but the prices add up quickly. It’s up to $10 each way to get to Paunch Beach which is even more expensive than some of the water taxi routes. I think to make the most of your stay here and not feel isolated, you would want to rent an e-bike, motorbike or ATV, which is a cost to factor in to your Panama budget. 

ACTIVITIES IN BIG CREEK & PAUNCH

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? No, it’s too rough

• 🤿 Snorkelling? No, as above

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, you would need to travel to Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Yes, this is a fantastic spot for surfers to stay with easy access to a few breaks

TRANSPORT IN BIG CREEK & PAUNCH

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxis generally don’t travel to this area due to the swell

• 🚕 Taxis: you can use taxis to get to and from town, but it’s up to $10 each way

• 🚐 Colectivos: the colectivo to Bluff Beach passes by here, so you could wave them down to get to town

• 🛵 ATV or motorbike: I think renting a vehicle would be the best option if you wanted to stay here, so you have independence to go to town or Bluff Beach

• 🚲 Bicycle: a bike or e-bike could offer the same freedom

• 👣 Walking: there are enough restaurants and accommodations in this area that you can walk to something from your hotel, but even Big Creek to Paunch Beach is 3 km + (1.8 mi +), so walking can’t be your only method of transport

PROS ✅

• Much more quiet and peaceful than in town, with a wild, jungly vibe

• Excellent choice for surfers, with easy walking access to Paunch Reef and other nearby breaks

• Close enough to go to and from town, but probably wouldn’t want to do it every single day (unless you rented a vehicle)

CONS ❌

• Ocean is rough and not usually swimmable, which isn’t great for non-surfers

• To enjoy the best of the area and maintain independence, you’d probably want to rent an e-bike, motorbike or ATV 

Bluff Beach

Even further north from Big Creek and Paunch Beach, a 30-minute drive from Bocas Town, Bluff Beach is a rough and wild beach on the east coast of Isla Colón. The road ends here, and it’s still quite an undeveloped area. 

There are a few fancy resorts and accommodations along the beach, each with restaurants, but it is quite isolated. You would probably eat most of your meals at your accommodation, which can be pricey. 

Bluff Beach is one of the best surf breaks in Bocas, so if your primary motivation is surfing, this is a fantastic place to stay. If it’s not, then you could feel isolated here. 

If you’re staying at Bluff Beach in addition to staying somewhere else, and this is the relaxing, downtime portion of your trip, then it can be a good option.

So long as you’re okay with not swimming, you can enjoy long walks on the beach, hanging by the pool at your accommodation and some trails through the jungle with plenty of wildlife to spot. 

Alternatively, if you’re willing to rent an ATV, motorbike or e-bike and don’t mind a bit of travel time, you can use Bluff Beach as a base to go to and from Bocas Town, but personally, I wouldn’t want to do it every day, or at least not for every meal. 

Taxis are available but it would be at least $30 round trip. You could make use of the colectivo that runs from town to Bluff Beach, and being at the end of the route, you’d probably be able to get a better idea of timetables vs trying to flag one down along the road. 

ACTIVITIES AT BLUFF BEACH

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? No, it’s too rough

• 🤿 Snorkelling? No, as above

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, you would need to travel to Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Yes, this is a fantastic spot for surfers to stay with easy access to a few breaks

TRANSPORT AT BLUFF BEACH

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxis generally don’t travel to this area due to the swell

• 🚕 Taxis: you can use taxis to get to and from town, but it’s up to $15 each way

• 🚐 Colectivos: there is a colectivo from Bocas Town to Bluff Beach, which would be an affordable transport option 

• 🛵 ATV or motorbike: I think renting a vehicle would be the best option if you wanted to stay here so you’re not isolated 

• 🚲 Bicycle: an e-bike could offer the same freedom, you’d need to be fit to use a bike!

• 👣 Walking: the only place you can reasonably walk here is along the beach to neighbouring hotels and restaurants 

PROS ✅

• Raw, wild and jungly with a very quiet and natural vibe 

• Bluff Beach is one of the best surf breaks in Bocas, if you’re a surfer this is the perfect place to be 

• The accommodations are very beautiful here, and most are designed with the remote location in mind, catering to amenities that are otherwise unavailable 

CONS ❌

• Ocean is rough and not swimmable, which isn’t great for non-surfers

• It’s quite far from Bocas Town and taxis are expensive, or you’d have to rent a vehicle. Going to and from town each day isn’t really feasible or ideal

• Accommodations and restaurants are quite expensive

Boca del Drago

For us, Boca del Drago was the closest thing to a tropical postcard we found on Isla Colón. The water is calm and clear with a vibrant blue colour, palm trees are swaying on white sandy beaches, with jungles full of sloths and colourful starfish under the surface. 

Bar the day trippers at neighbouring Starfish Beach, Boca del Drago felt peaceful, untouched and undiscovered. The second we stepped off the colectivo, we wished we stayed there! It was the perfect place for a few days of pure relaxation, with little to do besides soaking up the tropical vibes. 

I would not make Boca del Drago your only stay in Bocas del Toro. It’s too remote and far away from town (30+ minutes) and the other islands to use as a base for further explorations, but I think it’s a fantastic compliment to a stay somewhere else. 

Starfish Beach is one of the best attractions in the archipelago, so you’re most likely going to visit this area for at least a day anyway, I figure why not stay a few nights and make this the relaxing portion of your trip?

It’s easy to get here via colectivo or taxi, and once you’re here, the only transport you’ll need is your own two feet.  

ACTIVITIES IN BOCA DEL DRAGO

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes, calm stunning beaches

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, you would need to travel to Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? No, very far away from the surf breaks via water or land transport

TRANSPORT IN BOCA DEL DRAGO

• 🚤 Water taxis: you can get a boat here, but it would most commonly be on a day tour, not a shared water taxi route

• 🚕 Taxis: yes, but lengthy and pricey

• 🚐 Colectivos: there is a colectivo from Bocas Town to Boca del Drago, which would be an affordable transport option for arriving/departing but it’s slow and you wouldn’t want to do it every day

• 🛵 ATV or motorbike: you could rent a vehicle, but you don’t really need it once you’re in town

• 🚲 Bicycle: it’s very far to ride a bike and not necessary once you’re at Boca del Drago

• 👣 Walking: once you’ve arrived in Boca del Drago, you can easily walk around town and to neighbouring beaches 

PROS ✅

• A picture of tropical paradise, with beautiful, calm beaches, snorkelling, palm trees 

• Peaceful, remote and quiet with limited development

• Enough restaurants to choose from to keep you well-fed 

CONS ❌

• Far from Bocas Town (30+ minutes), you would not commute to town daily from here

• Only good as an additional, relaxing stay, not your only base

• Not accessible to other neighbouring islands 

Isla Carenero

The tiny island within easy reach of Bocas Town with nice beaches and surf breaks

Caranero might be small, but it is mighty beautiful! It’s a stone’s throw from Bocas Town but feels like a world away. Offering easy access, convenience and amenities, with a good dose of tropical vibes and a much quieter, more laidback atmosphere. 

In the surf season, there are a few popular breaks around the island, but outside of that, it’s a nice place for a swim with calm, shallow natural pools along the south of the island and sandy beaches to lay out your towel, unlike in Bocas Town. The sunset views are excellent too! 

Depending on which part of the island you base yourself in, you can be in the heart of the action in Bocas Town within 1 – 5 minutes on a water taxi, but without the same hectic energy. 

Isla Carenero has some great restaurants if you don’t want to commute over to town for every meal, but you’re just a short boat ride away from any amenity you need. 

We found solitude and peace on the southeast side of the island, but I should warn you that the western shore (closest to Bocas Town) can be just as noisy and party-centric, playing host to one of the most popular backpacker bars in Bocas, Aqua Lounge. Beware! 

ACTIVITIES ON ISLA CARENERO

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Possible but not amazing

• 🫧 Scuba diving? Yes, there is one dive shop based on the island 

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Yes, in the season there are some great breaks off the east coast 

TRANSPORT ON ISLA CARENERO

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxi is the only way to get to Carenero, but you can be in Bocas Town in as little as 1 minute depending on which part of the island you’re coming from. Boats are readily available and always passing by the island

• 👣 Walking: there is a path that circumnavigates the entire island, so you can walk to different restaurants, beaches and surf breaks easily 

PROS ✅

• Carenero is a picturesque island that feels natural and tropical, not commercial and developed like Bocas Town. There are palm trees, sandy beaches and jungle

• It’s much quieter than Bocas Town, especially as you move towards the east/south side of the island

• There is a selection of great restaurants on the island, but if you want more choice and variety Bocas Town is only a few minutes away 

CONS ❌

• Some parts of the island (mainly the western tip closest to Bocas Town) can still be kind of noisy and noise from the clubs in Bocas Town can carry across the bay

Isla Bastimentos

Big, quiet jungle-clad island with a small town and famous beaches

Isla Bastimentos, or ‘Basti’ as it is commonly called, is a green, jungle-clad natural treasure. It’s home to the Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos, Panama’s first marine park, which protects a vast area of the island and surrounding cayes. 

Basti is famous for Red Frog Beach, a beautiful beach where you can spot the island’s resident strawberry poison dart frogs. Red Frog and neighbouring beaches are also very popular surf breaks in the season. 

There are two primary areas to stay on Isla Bastimentos: Old Bank and Red Frog Beach. Although there are other accommodations spread all over the island, with eco-focused lodges nestled into the jungle, accessible by boat only.

One of the best places to stay in Bastimentos is a remote, boat-access lodge called La Loma. If you’re looking for a luxurious, jungle hideaway this is the best property on the island! 

Old Bank

Old Bank is the main town in Bastimentos and is the second biggest settlement in the archipelago after Bocas Town. It’s a 10-minute water taxi ride from Bocas Town, and the price is fixed at $5 during the day.

It’s primarily populated by Afro-Antilleans, the descendants of West Indian immigrants who originally came to the area to work in the banana trade. It had a really different feel to Bocas Town and felt super laidback and very Caribbean. 

The town itself is a little grungy. It’s dirty in parts and overall quite a poor area, but there are a handful of great local restaurants and a few small tiendas. 

It was so much quieter than Bocas Town, but we didn’t feel completely isolated. We were able to go out for meals when we wanted to and grab some basic groceries, but it still felt relaxed and peaceful with lots of jungle and natural surroundings. 

The bay in front of town was calm and perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking. Most of the waterfront accommodations, including where we stayed at El Pelicano, have free rentals and we spent many relaxing mornings paddling around. 

Our accommodation was at the southern end of the bay so we did swim and snorkel around the point. If you’re staying right in the centre of town, the water is a bit dirtier and may not be suitable for swimming. 

I think Old Bank is a great base because you’re not entirely remote and you can still knock off some of the best things to do in Bocas del Toro from here without backtracking to Bocas Town. 

The trail to Wizard Beach (which continues to Red Frog Beach) starts just behind town, and tours to Cayos Zapatillas can pick you up from Old Bank as it’s on the way. Two major Bocas bucket list items are easily accessible from here. 

ACTIVITIES IN OLD BANK

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes, away from the main town and an easy walk to other beaches

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes, away from the main town

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, will have to go via Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Yes, can walk to Wizard Beach and Red Frog Beach, and easy water taxi to Caranero surf breaks too

TRANSPORT IN OLD BANK

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxi is the only way to get to and from Old Bank, it’s about 10 minutes from Bocas Town. This is a popular route so there are always boats going back and forth

• 👣 Walking: there are pathways all around Old Bank, and the trail to Wizard Beach starts just behind town 

PROS ✅

• Old Bank has enough amenities and restaurants to keep you well fed and happy without needing to travel to Bocas Town, it’s a great base to explore the archipelago from

• You have easy access to Wizard Beach and Red Frog Beach, some of the best beaches (and surf breaks) in Bocas

• Tours will generally pick you up from Old Bank to visit Cayos Zapatillas, so you don’t need to backtrack to Bocas Town

CONS ❌

• Old Bank is a town, with usual town problems like noise, litter etc. 

• It’s not a secluded, natural paradise but it is much more laidback than Bocas Town

Red Frog Beach

Red Frog Beach is located on the eastern side of Isla Bastimentos and is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Bocas del Toro. 

Due to this popularity, a handful of accommodations and restaurants have popped up here, so it’s possible to not just visit the beach for the day, but stay a few nights. 

Access to Red Frog Beach is via water taxi and a short hike. There are two docks, which are both located on the western (calmer) side of the island, from which you’ll need to walk across to the beach on the east. There is a ‘shortcut’ dock that connects with the shortcut trail, which was created and is maintained by a private landowner, so there is a $5 fee to use it. I’m not sure if you have to pay this if you’re staying in one of the accommodations on the beach. Alternatively, you can get dropped off at ‘Red Frog Marina’, and connect with other trails that are free.

It feels very jungly and secluded here and it would be a beautiful place to relax for a few days. But I wouldn’t use Red Frog Beach as a base to explore other parts of Bocas due to its inaccessibility. 

Once you’re here, you’d want to stay and chill out for a few days and enjoy the beach, do yoga, look for strawberry poison dart frogs, relax and hike to the neighbouring beaches Polo or Wizard. 

You will be locked into eating at your accommodation or neighbouring hotels, and the cost can add up pretty quickly. I suppose it would be possible to hike into Old Town for a meal, but you wouldn’t want to do this multiple times. 

ACTIVITIES AT RED FROG BEACH

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes, when the swell is calm

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes, when the swell is calm

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, will have to go via Bocas Town

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? Yes, in surf season Red Frog Beach is a good surf break

TRANSPORT AT RED FROG BEACH

• 🚤Water taxis: to get to Red Frog Beach you will need a combination of water taxi and hiking. It’s $8 to get a water taxi from Bocas Town. The docks are on the western side of the island and you may wait a while to get a boat if you’re trying to leave the area

• 👣Walking: you have to walk at least a short way to reach Red Frog. The water taxi docks are on the western side, and either a ‘shortcut trail’ to reach the beach on the eastern side ($5, private property) or you can get dropped off at Red Frog Marina and walk on free trails

PROS ✅

• Red Frog Beach is one of the best beaches in Bocas and one of the top things to do, so chances are you will visit here at some point

• You can see strawberry poison dart frogs in the jungle around the beach

• Secluded, peaceful and very natural with jungle and unspoilt beaches all around 

CONS ❌

• Very remote and isolated, difficult and expensive to access so you wouldn’t really want to leave once you’d arrived

• Locked into eating at your accomm or a neighbouring hotel, which can be pretty pricey 

• Some times of the year the swell is large and it’s not as calm for swimming

Isla Solarte

Seclusion but convenience, a remote and undeveloped island with a handful of lodges, within easy reach of Bocas Town and neighbouring islands

Isla Solarte is another best-of-both-worlds option in my opinion. 

If you choose to stay at the northern end of the island, which is where the majority of the accommodations are, you’re only a 5 – 10 minute water taxi ride from Bocas Town, Carenero and Basti. Giving you easy access to restaurants, amenities, tours and surf spots. 

But, you get to enjoy the serenity and seclusion of the island, which is largely covered in dense jungle with lots of wildlife and virtually no development outside the lodges. There are excellent sunset views back towards the mainland. 

This is the best place in Bocas for snorkelling, and you can hike to Hospital Point in the north of the island and snorkel independently along the deep sea wall. There are a lot of scuba dive sites around here too, but you may have to travel back to Bocas Town to get your gear. 

ACTIVITIES ON ISLA SOLARTE

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes

• 🫧 Scuba diving? Yes, but you may have to go via Bocas Town to fit your gear

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? No, but easy water taxi to Caranero surf breaks

TRANSPORT ON ISLA SOLARTE

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxi is the only way to get to and from Isla Solarte. You’ll be relying on them to go anywhere but it’s only 5 – 10 minutes from Bocas Town 

• 👣 Walking: there are a few jungle trails around the island to explore, but you can’t really walk to any other restaurants etc. 

PROS ✅

• A secluded, natural and unspoilt island with no noise, little development and excellent sunset views 

• Only 5 – 10 minutes away from Bocas Town, Bastimentos and Isla Carenero by water taxi

• Fantastic snorkelling opportunities offshore, primarily at Hospital Point

CONS ❌

• Despite being close to Bocas Town, the island itself has basically no amenities and when you are at your accommodation, you are isolated unless you get a water taxi

• For meals, you will either be locked into eating at your lodge, cooking (if you have self-catering facilities) or getting a water taxi to a neighbouring island

Isla San Cristobal

Remote, secluded and undeveloped island the furthest from Bocas Town with only a handful of accommodation options

Isla San Cristobal is the most remote and least developed of the main islands. It’s at least 30 minutes from Bocas Town by water taxi, and there are only a handful of lodges around the island. 

I think San Cristobal is an excellent place to stay for the relaxing portion of your time in Bocas del Toro, but I don’t think it should be your only stay. 

Once you’ve had a few days doing some activities, seeing the sights and exploring the busier islands, you can escape to San Cristobal for total peace and seclusion! You would want to travel here once, stay put for your entire stay, and then travel back. 

Prices are generally higher here for accommodation, and unless you have self-catering facilities (carry groceries from Bocas Town), you’ll be locked into eating all your meals at your lodge as there are no other restaurants or amenities.

Most of the waters around the island are calm and beautiful for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding. Most lodges include rental gear, so you definitely won’t be bored here! 

ACTIVITIES ON ISLA SAN CRISTOBAL

• 🏊🏼‍♂️ Swimming? Yes

• 🤿 Snorkelling? Yes

• 🫧 Scuba diving? No, will most likely need to go via Bocas Town to gear up 

• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surfing? No, quite far from the surf breaks via water taxi

TRANSPORT ON ISLA SAN CRISTOBAL

• 🚤 Water taxis: water taxi is the only way to get to and from San Cristobal, you’ll be relying on them to go anywhere

• 👣 Walking: most lodges are remote and isolated, and with the exception of a few jungle trails around the island, there is nowhere to walk!

PROS ✅

• Remote, untouched, natural paradise! 

• Calm waters for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding 

• Perfect place for a relaxing and secluded stay around Bocas (best complimented with a busier stay elsewhere)

CONS ❌

• San Cristobal is the most remote island and the furthest from Bocas Town, it is at least 30 minutes and water taxis are pricey

• If you stay here, you should be prepared to be isolated on the island at your lodge. It’s not a good base to branch out from and there are very few amenities on the island

• You will be locked into eating at your accommodation or cooking if you have self-catering facilities (you will need to carry all groceries from Bocas Town)

Where to stay in Bocas del Toro: Final thoughts

My head was spinning when we were planning our time in Bocas del Toro, and unfortunately, we made some bad decisions with our accommodation that really impacted how we felt about the islands. 

Choosing where to stay in Bocas del Toro is complicated and so difficult, especially for your first visit. But I hope this post has helped to give you some context on which island is most suitable for you. 

I would love to hear which you decide on, and what accommodation you’re booking. There are some goodies around Bocas! 

MORE BOCAS DEL TORO POSTS

• Bocas del Toro Travel Guide: Panama’s Paradise Islands
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