Bocas or Coiba Island, Panama?


If you are coming or want to come to Panama, there are many beaches to choose from but overall, I think that Isla Coiba and Bocas del Toro are two that are worth checking out. Equally beautiful with their clear blue waters and laid-back beach cultures, they have some things in common and different.

Bocas del Toro is closer to Costa Rica and is more jungle that hide the indigenous native groups that live deep in them. You can either take a bus ($28) or plane ($100) to get to Bocas and to get to the islands, there are numerous of boats that you can choose from around $3-5 per person, one-way to Colon Island. Once on the main island, you can check out the others that are beautiful as well.

One of my favorite places was Wizard Beach on Bastimentos Island because it was more private and the waves were fun to play in! There is a little hike through the jungle to reach it  but it really is a hidden gem  that does not have many tourists. We took a boat taxi from Colon to Bastimentos for $2 per person, each way and spent the whole day there. I never wanted to leave!!






If you are looking for a beach with calmer waters, Boca del Drago is also really awesome. It is close to Playa de Estrella (Star Beach) but are all located on the opposite side of Colon Island. While we ran into more tourists at this beach, it is a long strip so you can find your own little spot to enough the view and palm trees that look as though they are falling into the water! Plus, we even found star fishes, which is one of the best parts of this beach! You can take the public transportation from the main park on Colon Island for $2 per person each way. It is much cheaper than the boat taxi and plus you get a little tour of the island! :)



Moreover, Bocas del Toro has a Caribbean feel with more Afro-Antillean influence throughout the island. On the other hand, Isla Coiba is managed more by traditional Panamanians and European foreigners who have retired near the beach! They have a little less tourist movement when compared to Bocas del Toro, probably since it is a bit more tricky to get to, though it is such a great place to check out. Most activities that you can do in Bocas, like snorkeling and diving, can be done in Coiba as well. It just depends on location and the time you have available that will help you decide which location is better for you to visit!



Isla Coiba  is more untouched and wild. It is a national park that is monitored closely by the government environment group. The only thing is that you cannot really stay on Coiba as easily as Bocas and enjoy its beauty when the sun rises and sets. If you have seen some of my previous postings about Coiba, it used to be a prison site that is now turned into a tourist attraction.










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