Is Bocas Del Toro, Panama safe?
Tyson Merrill - Island Property Management S.A.
Bocas Town is a small, lively island town located on Isla Colon, the main island in Bocas del Toro. Although there are problems with petty theft the town does not generally have acts of violence. It is very rare for somebody to be attacked or robbed with weapons but it is common for electronics and bicycles to disappear if you turn your back on them, especially at the local beaches where juveniles will wait patiently in the jungle for groups of people to go into the water and...
Bocas Town is a small, lively island town located on Isla Colon, the main island in Bocas del Toro. Although there are problems with petty theft the town does not generally have acts of violence. It is very rare for somebody to be attacked or robbed with weapons but it is common for electronics and bicycles to disappear if you turn your back on them, especially at the local beaches where juveniles will wait patiently in the jungle for groups of people to go into the water and leave their possessions behind on the beach.
Posted March 14, 2013
Evelyne Meyer - Habla Ya Spanish Schools
Yes, Bocas del Toro is safe - at least not less than any other place in the world. If you take the same security precautions you would take in your home country (not leaving your purse unattended in a bar, or leaving you brand new iphone on a table and go to the bathroom) you have nothing to fear. Just use your common sense, and be aware of your surroundings, that's all. Thefts are the most common crime here in Bocas del Toro, and most thefts happen at the beach when you leave your...
Yes, Bocas del Toro is safe - at least not less than any other place in the world. If you take the same security precautions you would take in your home country (not leaving your purse unattended in a bar, or leaving you brand new iphone on a table and go to the bathroom) you have nothing to fear. Just use your common sense, and be aware of your surroundings, that's all. Thefts are the most common crime here in Bocas del Toro, and most thefts happen at the beach when you leave your stuff unattended while you are swimming in the water, or in bars, when people get drunk and forget about watching their things.
Posted June 11, 2013
JB Seligman - BUENA VISTA REALTY located in BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA
THERE ARE YOUR STANDARD PRECAUTION MEASURES THAT A LOT OF TOURIST FORGET IN BOCAS DEL TORO, BUT EX-PATS SEEM TO CATCH ON QUICKER. THE LONGER YOU ARE HERE THE MORE YOU START TO KNOW THE FEW "BAD GUYS" AND YOU AVOID THEM, JUST AS YOU WOULD BACK HOME. IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO WALK HOME AFTER 2 AM AFTER HITTING THE BARS...TAKE A TAXI!
THERE ARE YOUR STANDARD PRECAUTION MEASURES THAT A LOT OF TOURIST FORGET IN BOCAS DEL TORO, BUT EX-PATS SEEM TO CATCH ON QUICKER. THE LONGER YOU ARE HERE THE MORE YOU START TO KNOW THE FEW "BAD GUYS" AND YOU AVOID THEM, JUST AS YOU WOULD BACK HOME. IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO WALK HOME AFTER 2 AM AFTER HITTING THE BARS...TAKE A TAXI!
Posted July 31, 2013
Allen Rosen - Chiriqui Coastal Real Estate
I live in Chiriqui Province on the other side of Panama, but my wife and I go to Bocas about once a year to holiday. I have never felt unsafe in Bocas, and there is no reason for you to feel unsafe, either. Just follow common sense rules that apply everywhere. Like avoiding rough looking bars at night, and staying away from drugs. If you do that, you are likely to have a relaxing and very pleasant time in Bocas.
I live in Chiriqui Province on the other side of Panama, but my wife and I go to Bocas about once a year to holiday. I have never felt unsafe in Bocas, and there is no reason for you to feel unsafe, either. Just follow common sense rules that apply everywhere. Like avoiding rough looking bars at night, and staying away from drugs. If you do that, you are likely to have a relaxing and very pleasant time in Bocas.
Posted October 4, 2013
Ian Usher - House Sitting Magazine
Is Bocas del Toro, Panama safe? I've lived here for a couple of years, and have found it to be much the same as anywhere else in the world. 
If you apply a few common sense rules, it is as safe as pretty-much anywhere else.
Bocas del Toro is a tourist destination, and as such, tourists can be a bit of a target for opportunists. Don't do anything that you wouldn't do at home. For example, don't leave your mobile phone or wallet on a...
Is Bocas del Toro, Panama safe? I've lived here for a couple of years, and have found it to be much the same as anywhere else in the world.
If you apply a few common sense rules, it is as safe as pretty-much anywhere else.
Bocas del Toro is a tourist destination, and as such, tourists can be a bit of a target for opportunists. Don't do anything that you wouldn't do at home. For example, don't leave your mobile phone or wallet on a table in a nightclub while you go and dance. Don't leave your stuff unattended on the beach when you go for a swim. Don't stagger home blind-drunk at 4 AM.
Apply a few basic common sense rules, as you would anywhere else, and you'll have a great time here.
Posted October 5, 2013
Nelson Vega
I have been reading today in some blogs some not so positive posts about Bocas del Toro's safety. However, the few posts that I found on the internet I believe do not reflect the reality since in my opinion people will be moved to post something about a destination if their experience was bad, and not post at all if it was good.
I know many people who have been to Bocas del Toro before and I have never heard of a bad experience, not from word of mouth.
... I have been reading today in some blogs some not so positive posts about Bocas del Toro's safety. However, the few posts that I found on the internet I believe do not reflect the reality since in my opinion people will be moved to post something about a destination if their experience was bad, and not post at all if it was good.
I know many people who have been to Bocas del Toro before and I have never heard of a bad experience, not from word of mouth.
As in any place in the world, I think that it is just important to take precautionary measures to stay as safe as possible while visiting Bocas, or any other place in the world for that matter. For the most part I'm sure Bocas del Toro is in general a safe place and hope it remains so, as a beautiful tourist destination of Panama.
Posted January 10, 2014
Anne-Michelle Wand - United Country Bocas del Toro
Bocas Del Toro is relatively safe. There is very few large crimes here. There may be some incidents, but incidents happen in every town.
The crimes that happen frequently here in Bocas are crimes of petty theft. If you leave your bike out at night, it would probably be gone by morning. Theft happens a lot during holidays when people from outside of town come, thieves scout out the people, and you can get pick pocketed or you could get something stolen...
Bocas Del Toro is relatively safe. There is very few large crimes here. There may be some incidents, but incidents happen in every town.
The crimes that happen frequently here in Bocas are crimes of petty theft. If you leave your bike out at night, it would probably be gone by morning. Theft happens a lot during holidays when people from outside of town come, thieves scout out the people, and you can get pick pocketed or you could get something stolen if you leave something. If you put your cell phone on the table and leave for the bathroom, it could be gone when you come back.
We hear about an occasional robbery, or an occasional shooting, or an occasional killing. There is very little violent crime here in Bocas. For the most part, I walk and bike almost anywhere, but I do not stay past 10 PM because there is a drug community here, like there is in most towns. They come out late at night, so the streets become more dangerous. Plenty of kids stay out dancing.
Generally, I feel personally safe, but I never leave my doors unlocked. In the fifteen years that we have been here in Bocas, I have never been attacked, but we were robbed once, and that was because we left a window open.
Posted November 12, 2014
Lissy Lezcano - Lissy Lezcano Attorney & Mediator
Local and residents in Bocas del Toro are working out a new campaigns to clean the Island and police officers are watching out for the tourism in Bocas.
My boyfriend has a property for sale in Bocas.
Small incidents happen like in any other place but since Panama is a small country, there is a lot of noise when something occurs. Take care.
Local and residents in Bocas del Toro are working out a new campaigns to clean the Island and police officers are watching out for the tourism in Bocas.
My boyfriend has a property for sale in Bocas.
Small incidents happen like in any other place but since Panama is a small country, there is a lot of noise when something occurs. Take care.
Posted March 26, 2018