Our trip to Panama City and Bocas Del Toro was a wild time! It was the first time I'd gone on an international trip with my husband, and Floridian family.
Below is my account of our fabulous vacay! Unlike other blog posts, I am going to let the images do most of the talking here, but I can't help but describe some of the highlights as well as a few heart felt thoughts about the island.
What I brought
(sans pineapple)
Mavic | Go Pro | Sony A7sII | Joby | Phone case | Bag | Rain Jacket | Audio Recorder | 400 mm | 25 mm |
DJI Mavic Pro - Fits in a carry on, Reliable Beautiful video.
Go Pro Hero 6 - Most used camera on the trip.. Waterproof! Bocas Del Toro is tropical and the only way to get around is by boat. Trust me, you'll want some sort of waterproof media to capture your beautiful experiences.
Sony A 7sII - Mirrorless, compact, incredible low light capability.
Zeiss Sony FE 25mm - Best for wide angle for scenery and landscape shots.
Sony FE G master 100-400 mm - I brought this to shoot surf photography.
Joby Tripod - This is a compact powerhouse of a tripod. From a portability standpoint, Joby wins hands down.
Optrix phone case. A must have accessory. You'll love having this every time you enter and exist a water taxi!
LuckRoute Dry Bag - Purchased inexpensively from Amazon and works perfectly.
Resolve rain jacket - It rains hard in Panama.
Zoom H6 Audio Recorder - I brought this to record tropical birds and wave sounds. This obviously isn't a requirement for everyone, but for those shooting video I would highly recommend this audio recorder to add a professional touch to your projects.
Panama City, Panama
Casco Viejo, Panama
Both families flew into Panama City from different parts of the US. For the Floridians, the flight was about three and a half hours. For us lucky Californians, twelve hours.
Once everyone settled into Panama City, our first tour stop was Old Town, or Casco Viego, Panama. Jose, our tour guide, took us to see the narrow streets, ancient verandas, and many of the stunning Catholic churches. Old town reminded me of pockets of Europe. Our visit also coincided with city's celebration of Panama's Independence from Spain. Many of the buildings we're patriotically decorated, possibly for the for the festivities, although I did get the sense of great National pride among Panamanians in general.
The Beauty of Bocas Del Toro, Panama
From Panama City, we took a quick flight out of Albrook Airport and landed in Bocas early in the evening. Getting the whole crew and two surfboards down to the boat docks to catch a water taxi was quite a hustle! All aboard we zoomed over to our Island Home located on Isle Carenero, Casa Acuario.
Casa Acuario , Bocas Del Toro
We rented 3 suites for Thanksgiving week at this aqua blue bed and breakfast. The rooms we're ample and beautifully decorated. One amenity we used often was the outdoor kitchen! With such a big crew, there were definitely nights we wanted to cook for ourselves. The location is perfect for access to both Bocas Town and Bastimentos island.
We spent many afternoons following our boat outings lounging in hammocks, snorkeling, and paddling around the hotel in sea kayaks. Some of the best snorkeling we did was right off our own dock! The kids came across sting rays, parrot fish, jellies, and even a tiny barracuda on their explorations.
"Pray For Surf"
"Bocas essentials"
About all we needed each day was our swimsuits, go pro and a snorkel!
"Blanquita"
This sweet pup belongs to the care taker of Casa Acuario, Edgar. She was such a lover! I wholeheartedly believe she adopted our family for the duration of our stay. Each morning she would great us at the door to our room, then accompany us down the beach path to check the surf. Just writing this stirs up emotions of missing her! If we could have brought her home with us, we would have.
Starfish Island, Bocas Del Toro
Day Trip 1: Sloth Island
Mother and Baby - Escudo de Veragua, Bocas Del Toro Panama
According to the kids, the main reason for coming to Bocas is the sloths! Our first boat adventure out was to "Sloth Island" where we encountered a few of these fantastic creatures spending their afternoon in the tree canopy. Pigmy Three Toed Sloths are critically endangered as this island is the only place in the world where they are found.
Day Trip 2: Bastimentos Village
Not all of our day trips we're picturesque examples of tropical beauty. On one outing we visited a family acquaintance from many years ago. They live in poverty by US standards, but warm and welcoming none the less. During this trip we purchased their home made Johnny cakes. The were delicious! While exploring the property I also ran into this fellow. Most likely the family's livestock.
Day Trip 3: Red Frog Beach
Bocas Del Toro waterways
Red Frog Beach, Bocas Del Toro Panama
Quite possibly my favorite island location was Red Frog Beach . Our experience here can be summed up in one phrase: "fun in the sun!" We spent the day body surfing, tight rope walking, and beach lounging. They also have two cute restaurants right next to one another for when you need rejuvenation. Read: Tacos and Pina Coladas.
Day Trip 4: Starfish Beach
Starfish Beach was so relaxing. The long stretch of beach is perfect for a daquiri and Starfish exploring. Sadly the number of Starfish in Bocas are rapidly dwindling due to tourism! Picking up these lovely creatures should be avoided. A few seconds out of the water and they perish. Please take lovely photos of them as they are.
Father and Daughter, Starfish Island
Star Fish Island, Bocas Del Toro Panama
Small acts of kindness can unknowingly change another's life for the better. Our boat guide used to work on a banana plantation where he labored for an unsustainable wage, a mutual friend of our families gave him this boat many years ago, which by his account, completely transformed his life. Now he is able to care for his family and children in a way he would never have believed possible. He's incredibly thankful for the generosity. How amazing is that?
Snorkeling around the archipelago
It seemed every destination we stopped at was surrounded by crystal clear water, teaming with wildlife. The kids (and Chris) had a blast swimming post lunch at this over the water restaurant.
Vegetarian Dining around Bocas Del Toro
After many active days out on the water, meals were an important part of our experience! Being vegetarian in Bocas was tricky at first while Chris and I got the lay of the land, but once we got the hand of it, we found many delicious meals during our stay.
Located on the mainland of Bocas, La Buga is first known for its world renown diving school. They also have a great restaurant, We loved their brunch menu and they we're accommodating to our veggie requests. They make a killer breakfast burrito, sans bacon of course.
It was perfect that Casa Acuario is right next to an amazing vegetarian restaurant! Chet and the crew at Leaf Eaters serve fantastic food. Our go to every afternoon was their veggie tacos and in ice cold Panama. They also have a beautiful gift shop for all shopping needs. I brought home a few of their local made soaps and Chris surprised me with one of their gorgeous beaded bracelets for Christmas.
Other great dining options:
Isla Carenero
Bocas Town
Getting Around
Water Taxi - Bocas Del Toro
Bocas is made up of many islands. The only way to get around is by water taxi! Depending on where you stay, you can either call to be picked up, or, if you're staying on Casa Acuario like we did, just walk out to the end of the day and throw up a hand. Taxis typically cost $1 usd for short trips during the day. $3 usd for night trips. Please make sure to bring exact change as many of the drivers do not have any (that they are willing to part with)
Stormy Weather Days
Not all of our days we're bright and sunny! We experienced a few overcast and stormy days. These days brought the gift of forced relaxation, reflection, and time to just...be. When the rain would stop for a few hours, we took the time to walk Carenero and explore some of the local coffee shops. Blanquita accompanied us, of course.
"Blanquita resting during a downpour"
Island Life: Challenges in Bocas
I have shown you the extremely beautiful parts of Bocas where a family, or solo travelers can experience all that a tropical adventure land has to offer, but it would be disingenuous for me to not also show you its challenges.
Bocas is an ever changing island, diverse in its population and wealth distribution. There are many villagers who live in extreme poverty. The islands are still trying to adapt to the tsunami of tourism and exploding population growth. Proper waste management, water contamination, and environmental pollution are glaring issues you see on during your stay. With enough research you'll uncover unhappy blogger’s posts that describe these issues in more detail.
For me I will say it was truly eye opening. Being a Californian, I've grown accustomed to strict regulations and found many of the examples of the issues above disheartening, some even shocking, I think it’s important to note these problems. The more visitors are aware of this issue, the more important a solution will be for the islands tourism economy. Pack it in, pack it out should be a motto every tourist and local take to heart. If you do visit, please pick up after yourselves. It's the least one can do.
Another saddening problem for these islands is their stray animal population. While there are beautiful exotic animals and sea life, there are also sweet and curious dogs and cats living along the shoreline. They reminded me of Blanquita, just not lucky enough to have found a home. There is no vet or shelter in Bocas, so many of these animals live off the land and by the kindness of strangers. Thankfully there is a group of locals rallying together to provide basic health services for these pups. You can find a link to their go fund me page below:
Bocas Barks - Donate Now
Saying Goodbye
"Bocas Town at sunset"
Our time in Panama seemed to go by so quickly. We've brought home memories of a lifetime and a couple of reminders: To treat nature with care and those without means with kindness. This world's beautiful places are complex and always evolving. The best we can do is to try to leave them a bit better than we found them.
If you're going to Bocas or have been, I would love to hear from you in the comments!
