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Exploring our beautiful planet

Bocas del Toro

April 7, 2019  —  Panama
Almirante - Panama
The ferry.

Bocas del Toro is a province located in the extreme northwest of the country. It's also an archipelago of magnificent islands with beautiful beaches and a lush jungle.

To get there, a ferry connects the mainland to Isla Colón. The departure is from the port of Almirante, a town without any great interest, from where are shipped great quantity of bananas, one of the main wealth of the region.

Almirante - Panama
A water taxi vs. a container ship.

Most of the visitors travel to the archipelago using water taxis capable of carrying 10-15 people. Notice the size of the container ship loaded with dozens of containers from the Chiquita company.

Almirante - Panama
Chiquita's Banana.
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Isla Colón

Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas seen from the ferry.
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

The island of Colón is the gateway to the archipelago with the only settlement deserving the name of town; it is also named Bocas del Toro or simply Bocas.

The town is disorderly cluster of old houses, bars, restaurants, and numerous tourism agencies.

Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Near town, the beaches aren't very appealing.
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
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Isla Colón - Boca del Drago

Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

The bay of Boca del Drago is home to a beach with the same name as well as the Starfish Beach. These two beaches are lined with jungle and mangrove where lots of animals can be observed. I had the chance to see a sloth and howler monkeys.

Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
A ray, only a few metres from the shore. The water is very clear in the bay.
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
The Starfish Beach is aptly named. Some specimens can be seen just by walking along the shore.
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Boca del Drago - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Howler monkeys.
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Isla Colón - La Gruta

La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

This cave, in the middle of the island and the jungle, protects a small colony of bats. A small stream springs from the depths of the cave, and it's possible to explore the first few metres.

It was a nice place to hunt frogs and other critters.

La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Strawberry Poison Frog - Oophaga pumilio.
La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
La Gruta - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
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Isla Colón - Landscapes

Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
It's victim is a frog.
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Playa Bluff - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
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Isla Caranero

The tiny island of Caranero is located in front of the town of Bocas. The island is not the most attractive, but the views it offers on Bocas are fantastic. On the other side of the islands, there are some nice beaches.

Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
The town of Bocas.
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
The town of Bocas.
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
The town of Bocas.
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

Small hotel with a superb view of the town.

Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

The island is home to a small village where the people are very poor. Without wanting to criticize or judge the people, I wonder why, when people are poor, it's a synonym of uncleanliness and trash....

Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Carenero - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
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Isla Bastimentos

Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

The island of Bastimentos is a superb place, scarcely populated, with jungle teeming with animals, and the famous beaches of Red Frog, Wizard, and more.

Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Red Frog Beach - Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

The Red Frog Beach is named for the tiny tree frog with hues of red and orange, once abundant on the island. Nowadays, it's more rarely encountered, but with some effort, it can still be found.

Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Strawberry Poison Frog - Oophaga pumilio.
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Isla Bastimentos - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
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Going back to the mainland

Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama

After a nice week on the islands of the archipelago, it's time to return to the mainland.

Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama
Bocas Town - Isla Colón - Bocas del Toro Archipelago - Panama