5 Best Sights in Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro Archipelago

The local office of the Panamanian Tourism Authority, housed in a large Caribbean-style building on the water, can supply you with all the standard info about Bocas and Panama.

A few minutes west of town by boat is the Bocas Butterfly Garden, where native butterfly species inhabit a screened flyway and a trail leads through a small forest reserve.

Finca Los Monos Botanical Garden has a large collection of heliconia, ginger, palm, and fruit trees in a rain forest setting with plenty of wildlife. In addition to the standard tours offered twice a week, bird-watching tours at 6:30 am and 4:30 pm can be arranged with prior reservation.

The town's central park site near the north end of Calle 3 is shaded by mango trees and royal palms. Children play here, and locals chat on its cement benches in the evening. North of the park stands the Palacio Municipal, a large cement building that houses various government offices.

Referred to by several names including Playa Bocas, Playa La Cabaña, and Bahia Sand Fly, this beach is the closest one to Bocas Town. It stretches along the narrow isthmus that connects the town to Isla Colón, overlooking tranquil Bahia Chitre (Sand Flea Bay). Just north of the beach is Playa Tortuga Hotel. Due to the proximity to town, this stretch of sand is popular with locals that come for an afternoon swim or cheap beers at nearby food shacks. Biting sand fleas, the sound of passing cars, occasional litter, and dark sand make this a mediocre beach, but it will do in a pinch. If you have the time and energy, rent a bike and make the rough 40-minute ride out to Bluff Beach (4 km [2½ miles] north of Bocas Town, on Isla Colón), which is gorgeous. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: walking; swimming.