When to Go in Bocas del Toro Archipelago

The big drawback of Bocas del Toro is the rain. Rain can sometimes fall for days on end, and it can do so at any time of year. Statistically, March is the sunniest month. September and October are the next-driest months, and May and June tend to be nice as well. The locals call the period from mid-August to October their "Second Summer," when waters are calm and ideal for snorkeling and diving. Since May, June, and (especially) September and October are the rainiest months in the rest of Panama, Bocas del Toro is the place to be at those times. December is the wettest month, and July and August are right behind it, though it tends to be sunny only about a third of the time. Despite this, December, July, and August are good months for surfing in the archipelago but the worst months for diving. In January and February the odds of enjoying sunny days are about fifty-fifty. The annual feria (fair) in mid-September is party time in Bocas town, as is November, when parades and festivals dominate the streets in honor of Panamanian and Bocaterno independence. Many of the outlying lodges and some restaurants close during May and June.