Old Point (Punta Vieja)

The northeast point of Isla Bastimentos, known as Old Point, is covered with jungle and surrounded by coral reefs. It probably looks about the same as it did when Christopher Columbus sailed through the archipelago five centuries ago, aside from the small hotels nestled in the forest. It's just a 40-minute boat ride from the ATMs and Internet cafés of Bocas. It is thus an easy place to get away from it all and immerse yourself in nature at its finest. A narrow beach lines the coast between Old Point and Salt Creek, and it is backed by exuberant tropical flora where birdsong complements the lapping of the waves against the sand. The ocean bottom here is a bit mucky, but the water is usually calm, and there are coral reefs in the deeper water near the point. A couple of trails lead into the rain forest, one to the nicer, wider beach of Playa Larga, on the island's northern shore.