Tourist information at Bocas del Toro

Transportation – Ways to Get to Bocas

From Panama – Panama City:

By Flight:

There are several flights per day in the morning from Panama City from an airport called Albrook, which is a half-hour drive from the larger Tocumen Airport (PTY). Currently, only one company operates this route. Flights can be booked exclusively through their website at ibe.airpanama.com.

Flight cost: $100-150 per way.

By Bus:

A bus from the central station in Panama City at Albrook Mall. A 10-hour journey to the nearest port town to us, Almirante, and from there a 30-minute boat ride to our island.

Travel cost: $40.

From Costa Rica – Puerto Viejo:

By Bus:

A bus from the central station to the Panama border, a 2-hour journey, crossing the border on foot, and then another shuttle to the port town Almirante. The final transfer by boat, a 30-minute ride to our island.

Travel cost: $25.

From Costa Rica – San Jose:

By Bus:

A bus from the central station to the Panama border, a 5-hour journey, crossing the border on foot, and then another shuttle to the port town Almirante. The final transfer by boat, a 30-minute ride to our island.

Travel cost: $35.

From Panama – Playa Venao:

By Flight:

From Pedasí – a town near Playa Venao, there’s a flight to Panama City to ALBROOK airport, and from there, another flight to Bocas.

Flight cost: About $250 per person per way.

By Bus:

Public transportation is a bit complicated – a combination of 4 shuttles and buses. The easiest and most common option is a private shuttle. There are several companies through which you can book the journey.

Travel cost: $60-80.

Beaches and Islands

Starfish Beach

Located on the calm side of the island, a quiet area without waves, called Bocas del Drago, a beautiful beach with starfish. Beach chairs and snorkels are available for rent.

How to get there:

– A bus leaving every half hour from the park in the center of the island at $5 per way. Then take a boat for $1 to the beach itself or a 10-15 minute walk along the beach to the picturesque area.

– Arriving by boat directly to the beach costs $60-80 round trip.

– A private taxi costs $15-20 per person, the same route as the bus.

Cayos Zapatilla

The closest island to the main island with beaches and small hotels. Two main beaches called Bibis, Black Rock. Additionally, there are several surfing spots depending on the waves.

How to get there:

– A boat from any random taxi station costs $2-3. The journey time is 3 minutes.

Bastimentos Island

Another island a 15-minute boat ride from Bocas. A bit about the island: An African tribe from Jamaica came to Panama about a hundred years ago to build the Panama Canal and settled on the island.

Tourism:

– Wizard Beach, a quarter-hour walk from the boat anchor.

– Tour of an organic farm – up in the hill, book online in advance on the website. The tour includes tastings of various fruits unique to the tropical region at $25 per person for the tour. Travel costs are separate. $7 each way by boat.

Red Frog Beach

Red Frog Beach – a beautiful beach with small red frogs, occasionally you can also see monkeys.

Hotels:

– Selina

– Resort villas for rent

– There are additional hotels that can be seen on Booking/Airbnb.

How to get there:

– 15 minutes by boat

– $7 per way by boat

– An additional entrance fee to the beach is $5

Note: Emphasize to the boat driver Red Frog.

Bird Island

A small island located near Starfish Beach, an island that is a stunningly beautiful giant rock, birds of all kinds roam over it during the bird migration season, you can see rare birds.

The island has no beach; it is a high rock with a small shallow water area where you can go down and swim.

How to get there:

– A boat from Starfish Beach, about a 10-minute sailing, costs $10 per person.

Bluff Beach

A beautiful beach full of waves, a surfing beach for advanced surfers. Located on the main island of Bocas.

How to get there:

– A taxi costs $5 per person per way.

– Renting bicycles and riding along the beaches until you reach Bluff Beach.

– The cost of regular bicycles for a day is about $5-8 / electric bicycles $20-30 per day.

Getting Here — Flights from Panama City

The practical way to reach Bocas is by air. After landing at Tocumen International Airport (PTY), take a short domestic flight from Albrook Airport (PAC) in Panama City to Bocas del Toro (BOC) — about a 45-minute flight, with several departures a day.

Two carriers operate the route: Fly Trip (recommended) and Air Panama. It is worth spending a day in Panama City on the way — the Canal, Casco Viejo and the kosher restaurants are all worth a visit.

Kosher on the Way — Panama City

If you stop over in Panama City, you will find several kosher restaurants, including Adama, Aria and Lula (Casco Viejo). Stock up before the last leg to Bocas.

Shabbat Box & Meal Delivery

Staying at a hotel away from the Chabad House? We can arrange a Shabbat Box and kosher meal delivery by boat to many of the islands and hotels, so you can enjoy Shabbat and kosher food wherever you are. Please contact us in advance to arrange it.

Combine Your Trip — Bocas & Boquete

A popular route pairs Bocas del Toro with the cool mountain town of Boquete — roughly a 3-hour shuttle ride — flying home afterwards from David Airport (DAV). A great way to see both the Caribbean and the highlands of Panama in one journey.

Shabbat in Bocas

There is no Eruv in Bocas