Where are the best beaches in and around Bocas Del Toro, Panama?
ellie wharton
There are two "best" beaches on Isla Colon, another one on the island of Bastimentos and then there is Zapatilla island.
The main one on Isla Colon is everybody's favorite beach, Starfish Beach at Bocas del Drago. It is not a wide beach, but the sand is nice, the water is warm, clean and clear and you can see loads of starfish. The area has a real funky atmosphere with food being cooked and served right on the beach, party music, people pulling up in their boats, drinks being...
There are two "best" beaches on Isla Colon, another one on the island of Bastimentos and then there is Zapatilla island.
The main one on Isla Colon is everybody's favorite beach, Starfish Beach at Bocas del Drago. It is not a wide beach, but the sand is nice, the water is warm, clean and clear and you can see loads of starfish. The area has a real funky atmosphere with food being cooked and served right on the beach, party music, people pulling up in their boats, drinks being poured and everyone is having a grand old time.
The second beach is on the opposite side of the island and it is call Bluff beach. This is an awesome beach that looks like a massive sand dune. The water is fabulous, but can be treacherous and you can easily lose your life there if you are not careful. The road is one that leaves a lot to the imagination but makes for a great day adventure. During the rainy season it can be washed out, so plan your travel. Unlike Bocas del Drago, there is no commerce on Bluff Beach, so BYO everything, including shade. During a very special season, the indigenous people who lovingly care for young turtles help the hatchlings make it from the beach to the water. You can make arrangements to be there during the dead of night to watch this marvelous activity.
On the island of Bastimentos there is the famous Red Frog Beach. It is a nice, wide beach with massive waves. There is a restaurant there and it is very scenic. To go there you will need to catch a water taxi from Bocas Town. Once you get off on Bastimentos you will walk over to the opposite side of the island (about a 20 minute walk) and be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful beach
Last, but not least, is Zapitilla. This is an island where one of the Survivor series was filmed. To get there you will take a tour boat (panga) for about 45 minutes through the archipelago until you get to the tropical island. The ride is thrilling, the water is spectacular and you will enjoy snorkeling, beach combing and sunning.
Posted April 1, 2013
Spokesperson - The Westin Panama
Some of the best beaches in Panama are in Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro consists of 9 main islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Some of the best beaches are Playa Primavera, Playa Segunda, Red Frog Beach and Boca del Dragon. 
Some of the best beaches in Panama are in Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro consists of 9 main islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Some of the best beaches are Playa Primavera, Playa Segunda, Red Frog Beach and Boca del Dragon.
Posted May 9, 2013
kevin obrien - BarefootPanama
Bocas has some amazing beaches. A few are on the main island. The most famous is on Bastimentos (Red Frog Beach) plus islands like Zapatilla that are a little harder to get to but are so very worth the effort.
Bocas has some amazing beaches. A few are on the main island. The most famous is on Bastimentos (Red Frog Beach) plus islands like Zapatilla that are a little harder to get to but are so very worth the effort.
Posted June 10, 2013
JB Seligman - BUENA VISTA REALTY located in BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA
There are three best beaches in Bocas del Toro. I will group these together.
The first would be on Isla Colon, which is Bluff Beach. Bluff Beach is extremely popular and absolutely beautiful. Half of it is for surfers, because it has the right conditions for surfing. The other half is more for viewing. It’s a crashing kind of beach. When the waves come and crash, most people cannot go out to swim. It’s not really swimmable, but it’s a beautiful,...
The first would be on Isla Colon, which is Bluff Beach. Bluff Beach is extremely popular and absolutely beautiful. Half of it is for surfers, because it has the right conditions for surfing. The other half is more for viewing. It’s a crashing kind of beach. When the waves come and crash, most people cannot go out to swim. It’s not really swimmable, but it’s a beautiful,...
There are three best beaches in Bocas del Toro. I will group these together.
The first would be on Isla Colon, which is Bluff Beach. Bluff Beach is extremely popular and absolutely beautiful. Half of it is for surfers, because it has the right conditions for surfing. The other half is more for viewing. It’s a crashing kind of beach. When the waves come and crash, most people cannot go out to swim. It’s not really swimmable, but it’s a beautiful, white sandy beach.
The other one is on the same island, more on the northwest side-- Boca del Drago. It has white sandy beaches and a starfish beach right next to that. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. Boca del Drogo has a hostel and a very unique restaurant with a white sandy beach floor and thatched roof type of atmosphere. From there, you can walk about 20 minutes down the beach and see an area with food stands and beer stations. Lots of tourist boats pull up there. It’s a great walking kind of beach.
The other would be on Bastimentos, which is Red Frog Beach. It is very, very popular. Included with Red Frog Beach are Wizard Beach and Polo’s Beach. These are interconnected. Polo’s Beach is owned by a guy named Polo, who has lived there for 45 to 50 years. Your boatman really has to know what he is doing if you are going to Polo’s Beach because you have to go through the reefs. The reef has lobsters and octopus. These actually sustained Polo all through the years.
Wizard Beach is a white sandy beach with less people. You can get there either by boat if the weather’s good or you can walk all the way across. It’s not as full as the other beaches.
The other beaches would be on the Zapatillas, which are two islands on the National Park. They charge US $5 per person to get on the beach. You can walk around the island and be like Robinson Crusoe. There are two beaches in Zapatillas which are at the mouth of the big bay that comes in. There we have some of the most incredible coral reefs surrounding the island of Bocas del Toro. They shot a lot of “Survivor” episodes on these two islands.
The first would be on Isla Colon, which is Bluff Beach. Bluff Beach is extremely popular and absolutely beautiful. Half of it is for surfers, because it has the right conditions for surfing. The other half is more for viewing. It’s a crashing kind of beach. When the waves come and crash, most people cannot go out to swim. It’s not really swimmable, but it’s a beautiful, white sandy beach.
The other one is on the same island, more on the northwest side-- Boca del Drago. It has white sandy beaches and a starfish beach right next to that. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. Boca del Drogo has a hostel and a very unique restaurant with a white sandy beach floor and thatched roof type of atmosphere. From there, you can walk about 20 minutes down the beach and see an area with food stands and beer stations. Lots of tourist boats pull up there. It’s a great walking kind of beach.
The other would be on Bastimentos, which is Red Frog Beach. It is very, very popular. Included with Red Frog Beach are Wizard Beach and Polo’s Beach. These are interconnected. Polo’s Beach is owned by a guy named Polo, who has lived there for 45 to 50 years. Your boatman really has to know what he is doing if you are going to Polo’s Beach because you have to go through the reefs. The reef has lobsters and octopus. These actually sustained Polo all through the years.
Wizard Beach is a white sandy beach with less people. You can get there either by boat if the weather’s good or you can walk all the way across. It’s not as full as the other beaches.
The other beaches would be on the Zapatillas, which are two islands on the National Park. They charge US $5 per person to get on the beach. You can walk around the island and be like Robinson Crusoe. There are two beaches in Zapatillas which are at the mouth of the big bay that comes in. There we have some of the most incredible coral reefs surrounding the island of Bocas del Toro. They shot a lot of “Survivor” episodes on these two islands.
(A casita with a view of Boca del Drago beach, Panama, pictured.)
Posted April 17, 2015