Isla Colon – Bocas del Toro

“La Isla de Colon”, that serves as the capital of the Bocas del Toro province, despite being “Changinola” the Commercial Center as well as the larger city in “Isla Colon” is where most of the hotels and restaurants are located, as well as tour information centers, tour operators, and so on. Other attractives of “Isla Colon” in Bocas del Toro are Bluff’s Beach, La Gruta, Boca Drago, Zapatilla Island, Coral Cay (Cayo Coral), Dolphins Bay, Star Beach (Playa de Las Estrellas) and Red Frog Island.

The Bastimentos Island

The Bastimentos Island is almost the same size as Colon Island and counts with lodging too. One of its most important attractive is the Red Frog Island, home of the famous little red frogs, and also little frogs from different colors, some of them are poisonous. Another attractive of Bastimentos is the “Cayo Coral” (Coral Cay), one of the best snorkeling or surface scuba diving spots in the world and a submarine habitat with a huge quantity of beautiful hard corals.

Punta Vieja is located in the North-East side of the island, Part of the Marine Park of Bastimentos, and it is an excellent spot for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling. Another attractive beaches of the island is the “Laguna de Agua Dulce”, “Playa Punta Vieja”, “Playa Largo”, “Playa Polo” and “Playa Brujo.

A little islet to the north of the Bastimentos Island called Swans Cay, it’s an excellent spot for marine bird watching and endemic species of the area.

Solarte Island

From a smaller size, is located between Bastimentos and Colon. One of its most important attractive is Hospital Point (Punta Hospital), an excellent spot for Scuba Diving and Coral Watching. Hospital Point counts with a deep cliff and a big wall where you can appreciate especially the soft corals. To the south of the Island you can find “El Jardin” (The Garden) another famous spot for Scuba Diving.

Cristobal Island

Cristobal Island is located in the south of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and its closer to mainland, this area is well known for the Dolphins Bay (Laguna de los Delfines). In this Bay, which is actually a piece of protected open sea with the form of a lagoon, is one of the spots with more dolphin watching in the world.

Popa Island

Popa Island is located to the South-East of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, equally inhabited by the Ngobe Indians, it’s famous for the existence of the Blue Frogs.

The Zapatilla Cays or Zapatilla Islands

Zapatilla Islands are located in the North East of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, away from the Bastimentos Island. This two islands, rather islets, are the spitting image of a tropical paradise. White sandy beaches, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving as well as other local attractions. They are part of the Bastimentos National Marine Park.