2022 Bocas del Toro Beach Guide: The Best Beaches, Ranked
SRC:https://solbungalowsbocas.com/bocas-del-toro-beach-guide/ Nice Beach Bungalow
One of the main reasons why people come to the islands of Bocas del Toro is to visit our amazing beaches!
But did you know?
The most promoted, talked about, and visited beaches in Bocas del Toro are not necessarily the best ones.
There are actually over 20 beaches in Bocas del Toro within a 1-hour boat ride from Bocas Town, but you’ve probably only heard of 2 or 3 of them. Well, our guide covers over 12 of them, and we rank them based on our own, extensive experience of chilling on them.
Enjoy!
In a rush? Check out our Quick Guide to Bocas del Toro, here.
#1: Polo Beach, Isla Bastimentos
It’s no surprise that we are big fans of Polo Beach on Isla Bastimentos. If you’ve read through our blog you will see it pop up at the top of our lists for best things to do, reasons to visit, ect.
The bottom line is that if you visit Bocas del Toro and the weather and sea conditions are right, you should go to Polo Beach for a day. If you can’t make it out by boat, then you can hike the 30-45 minutes from Red Frog Beach. If you want a full day hike that includes stops at Red Frog and Polo Beach, call Titi. It is worth it!
What to do at Polo Beach:
Snorkel, walk the beach, view monkeys and sloths in the surrounding jungle, hang out with and eat lunch at Polo’s.
#2: The Zapatilla Islands, Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park
The Zapatilla Islands are the most popular day-trip destination in Bocas del Toro – and for good reason. The Zapatillas consists of two perfect, palm tree-lined islets taken right out of your old desktop screensaver. They are located within the Bastimentos National Marine Park which means they enjoy a higher level of protection than the surrounding areas. This means more abundant sea life and great snorkeling when the sea is calm.
We have heard of reports recently that Isla Zapatilla 1 is closed and nobody seems to know exactly why. But thankfully, there are two islands, and Zapatilla 2 is just as beautiful, with a newly built trail through the interior of the island.
Pro Tip: Go to the Zapatillas early and you will have the islands to yourselves. If you plan on hanging out there all day, set up your camp on the left side of the island, as the majority of the tour boats all go to the right side. If you’ve had enough of Isla Zapatilla and want to escape the crowds when they show up, hop over to the next beach on our list!
What to do in the Zapatilla Islands:
Snorkel, walk around the island (about 1 hour), walk the trail through the island.
#3: Old Point (Punta Vieja), Isla Bastimentos
Old Point is one of the most stunning beaches in the archipelago and enjoys year-round calmness no matter the sea conditions. It gets overlooked as a day trip destination because it is located so close to the Zapatillas, and the Zapatillas are where the tours go!
What’s that mean?
It means the beach here is EmPtY! Like seriously – where is everyone???
Want to be a real pro?
Go to Zaptilla in the early morning to enjoy it empty as well. When the tour boats show up around midday – escape to Old Point (it’s just a few minutes boat ride away!)
What to do in Old Point (Punta Vieja)
Walk the beach, look for seashells, enjoy the white sand and calm water.
Don’t Miss our Ultimate Guide!
Learn everything you need to know about Bocas del Toro, Panama, with our ultimate travel guide. It’s essential reading for anyone thinking about visiting the islands!
#4: Bluff Beach, Isla Colon
Bluff Beach on Isla Colón is another stunning and beautiful strip of coastline in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. It’s one of the big turtle nesting beaches, it’s a hotspot for howler monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds, and although there is increasing development in this area, it still feels raw and untouched. The downside, and why it ranks at #4 on our list, is because the waves here are so powerful that it is not safe for swimming during many months of the year. (The surfer’s sure do love it though!)
What to do in Bluff Beach:
Explore the area on horseback, watch the surfers (or surf), have lunch at one of the hotel restaurants, swim if there are no waves. (Read our Bocas del Toro Surf Guide)
#5: Wizard Beach, Isla Bastimentos
Wizard Beach is another one of those places you show up to and feel like you have entered into another dimension.
There’s no development along its shores, it’s remote, and oftentimes the only other people around are a few surfers from the local Afro-Caribbean town of Old Bank.
Getting here is difficult and old rumors abound, but after living in Old Bank for three years and visiting Wizard often to surf, camp, swim, or walk the dogs, I can say that things have changed.
I still wouldn’t hike here with a backpack full of expensive camera gear and leave it on the beach while I surf though… (or anywhere, for that matter). (Read our full guide on Bocas del Toro Safety)
Things to do in Wizard Beach:
Surf, swim if the waves are small, hike the beach.
#6: Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos
Red Frog Beach is awesome. We have grown to love it even more now that we have a young daughter who can play in the sand while we sit and enjoy a cold beer from one of the local beach bars.
There’s some waves for body surfing, beach volleyball, and a sense of community amongst the ex-pats that frequent the beach for their weekend escape.
Kids from the nearby indigenous community of Bahia Roja cruise around selling coconut oil, empanadas, and coconut bread.
We were surprised just the other day when we ran into a troop of capuchin monkeys on the trail to get here. It’s also accessible year-round, and the waves, while sometimes dangerous for swimming, break far out enough that you can still play in the water without problems.
Things to do in Red Frog Beach:
Swim or surf, hang out at the beach bars, beach volleyball, hike the beach.
#7: Boca del Drago Beach, Isla Colon
Boca del Drago Beach basically consists of the whole strip of beach and coastline before you get to Starfish Beach. This area is where the bus stops and the tourists get out to either walk the rest of the way or taxi a $1 water taxi over to Starfish Beach.
There are a few nice areas to relax and swim along this coastline, and aside from passing tourists headed to Starfish Beach, you will most likely be the only people in your area. The more crowded area is right where the bus stops, but keep going and you should be able to find some seclusion!
What to do in Boca del Drago Beach:
Grab something to eat or drink at the beach bars, explore the entire coastline, walk to starfish beach, swim.
#7: Starfish Beach, Isla Colon
Starfish Beach is another one of the top tourist destination beaches in the archipelago… So yeah, there can often be a lot of tourists there!
It’s also a very popular place for the locals, especially on the weekends. This can mean big loud beach parties, or it can mean a cool cultural experience, depending on your mindset!
Things to do in Starfish Beach
Eat/ drink at the local beach restaurants, view the starfish without touching them, rent a jetski or ride the banana boat, swim.
#8: Mimbi Timbi Beach, Isla Colon
Mimbi Timbi on the far side of Isla Colon is one of our top choices for a day trip. In fact, it’s where I had my bachelor party – camping on the beach for a few nights with my spearfishing buddies.
The best part about Mimbi Timbi is what it doesn’t have – development and crowds (or any people at all really). The problem is that we like to do everything by boat, and Mimbi Timbi is only accessible when the sea is super calm, which ain’t very often. So while we love to go to Mimbi Timbi, it only happens a few times at most per year.
What to do at Mimbi Timbi Beach:
Explore the area for some incredible surprises, enjoy the beach, snorkel, swim.
#9: Playitas of Isla Carenero
The playitas (little beaches) of Isla Carenero are perfect for grabbing a beachside lunch, cooling off in the ocean, and enjoying the island views, all at a convenient 2 minutes from Bocas Town.
They serve their purpose of fulfilling your need for a Caribbean vacation experience when you don’t have tons of time to venture somewhere nicer but farther away. We love them for this exact reason, but it should be said that these are not the best beaches in Bocas. So, while they are great for enjoying an afternoon, we recommend heading to one of the other beaches above for a full-day adventure!
Here’s the main playitas of Isla Carenero:
Bibi’s Beach – Named after the nearby Bibi’s on the Beach Restaurant, which serves some of the best local food in town!
Doña Mara Beach – Named after Doña Mara Beach Hotel which has one of the best restaurants in Bocas attached to it: Receta Michelá.
Carenero Beach – Just down from Bibi’s Beach, not named after a restaurant, but is the most beachy of the three playitas.
What to do at these playitas:
Eat/ drink, swim in the shallow and calm water, enjoy life!
#10: La Piscina, Isla Colón
La Piscina was created back-in-the-days before environmental protection. The story goes that the banana company wanted an easier way to access their banana plantations on this side of the island. So, they dynamited their way straight through the reef, of course.
Today, it’s a secret lagoon of sorts – very remote, calm, and beautiful. The ATV trail does pass by here though…
What to do at La Piscina
Swim, snorkel, hike the surrounding jungle, hike to the blue lagoon
#11: Long Beach, Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park
Long Beach on Isla Bastimentos is a sea turtle nesting site and also one of the best surfing beaches in Bocas del Toro. It sits out on a far corner of the island, completely uninhabited aside from a small marine park guard outpost.
While you are allowed to go to the beach here, it is mostly inaccessible due to the surf. You can hike here from different directions, but it is a very far and very rarely done hike.
While Long Beach is beautiful, raw, and a dream for surfers, it’s distant location and lack of accessibility make it one of the least popular beaches in Bocas, especially for tourists.
What to do at Long Beach:
Surf
#12: Hospital Point Beaches, Isla Solarte
Isla Solarte features two small playitas of it’s own, located in the area known as Hospital Point. The main beach is easily accessible and can be hiked to or boated to. There is also a mooring buoy to tie up your watercraft. Like all beaches in Bocas del Toro, this is a good place to not leave your valuables on the beach while you go snorkeling or swimming ;).
The second beach here is harder to get to by land as the trail is very steep, and can be very slippery if it has rained. However, it is much nicer, and if you can get in on a paddle board or kayak, I definitely recommend heading here!
The biggest downside of the Hospital Point beaches are that they are very small, and the tall trees of the island quickly block out the sun for the day. However, like the Carenero beaches, if you only have a few hours and want sand in your toes with nobody else around, this is a good place to come!
What to do at the Hospital Point Beaches
Swim, snorkel, hike around the area.
Thanks for reading!
So that’s it! Now you know all you need to know about the best beaches in Bocas del Toro. As always, we hope this guide helps you to have the best possible Bocas del Toro experience!
What do you think about this guide? Tell us in the comments!