Overview
Take a trip to Bocas del Toro on your Panama Vacation
Located 32 km (19.88 mi) from the Costa Rican border, Bocas del Toro is an archipelago in Panama that is made up of six islands, several uninhabited islets and two national parks to be enjoyed on a Panama vacation.
Christopher Columbus came to the archipelago during his final voyage in 1502. As gold was not plentiful on the islands, the Spanish did not colonize much of the archipelago. This allowed the area to become a haven for pirates who would use the islands as rest spots to repair their ships. When the French Huguenots arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Spanish sent a militia to remove them devastating the indigenous population with the disease as well as fighting.
The 19th century witnessed several aristocrats come to the archipelago with their slaves. However, once slavery was abolished, many of the now-freed people decided to make their homes in Bocas del Toro. By the end of the century, the archipelago’s banana industry had begun and was quite successful, eventually becoming part of Chiquita Brands International.
The archipelago is home to Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, the first marine park in the country hosting a great deal of Caribbean wildlife. Bocas del Toro also shares UNESCO World Heritage-listed La Amistad International Park with Costa Rica. The opportunity to see incredible flora and fauna, on trips to Panama whether on land or in water, is incredible making Bocas del Tora one of Panama’s most popular tourist destinations.
The archipelago is home to Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, the first marine park in the country hosting a great deal of Caribbean wildlife. Bocas del Toro also shares UNESCO World Heritage-listed La Amistad International Park with Costa Rica. The opportunity to see incredible flora and fauna, on trips to Panama whether on land or in water, is incredible making Bocas del Tora one of Panama’s most popular tourist destinations.
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Panamanian Balboa (PAB)Trending Trips
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4 Trips Found
Best of Costa Rica & Panama
Bocas del Toro, Panama City, and San JoseA mixed guided journey through Costa Rica and Panama, weaving rainforest canals, colonial charm and Caribbean shores into a dreamy escape for curious travellers
12 days
From US$4,617/p.p.
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Skyline & Sand: Panama City & Bocas del Toro
Panama City and Bocas del ToroExperience the best of Panama on this unforgettable journey, featuring an exciting boat tour near the Panama Canal, wildlife viewing in the rainforest, and leisure time on the idyllic beaches of Bocas del Toro.
8 days
From US$2,984/p.p.
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Deluxe Panama: Panama City, Boquete & Bocas
Panama City and Bocas del ToroDiscover Panama’s vibrant culture and diverse landscapes on this independent journey, from the Panama Canal and Boquete’s coffee farms to the beaches of Bocas del Toro.
11 days
From US$5,562/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Panama: City, Highlands & Caribbean
Panama City and Bocas del ToroVibrant cultures and stunning ecosystems await in Panama, where historic cityscapes meet lush rainforests and azure beaches.
11 days
From US$3,505/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Best of Costa Rica & Panama
Bocas del Toro, Panama City, and San JoseA mixed guided journey through Costa Rica and Panama, weaving rainforest canals, colonial charm and Caribbean shores into a dreamy escape for curious travellers
12 days
From US$4,617/p.p.
Request a Quote
Skyline & Sand: Panama City & Bocas del Toro
Panama City and Bocas del ToroExperience the best of Panama on this unforgettable journey, featuring an exciting boat tour near the Panama Canal, wildlife viewing in the rainforest, and leisure time on the idyllic beaches of Bocas del Toro.
8 days
From US$2,984/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Panama: Panama City, Boquete & Bocas
Panama City and Bocas del ToroDiscover Panama’s vibrant culture and diverse landscapes on this independent journey, from the Panama Canal and Boquete’s coffee farms to the beaches of Bocas del Toro.
11 days
From US$5,562/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Panama: City, Highlands & Caribbean
Panama City and Bocas del ToroVibrant cultures and stunning ecosystems await in Panama, where historic cityscapes meet lush rainforests and azure beaches.
11 days
From US$3,505/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
U.S. dollars are used interchangeably with Panamanian balboas (at a 1:1 rate). There’s no need to exchange currency if you’re carrying U.S. cash.
Many assume Panama is just about the canal. In reality, it’s also a paradise for beaches, highlands, and indigenous culture — from Caribbean islands like the San Blas to the coffee region of Boquete.
Panama has more bird species than the United States and Canada combined — over 1,000. For birdwatchers, it’s one of the richest destinations in the world.
A visit to an Emberá indigenous village along the Chagres River is a cultural highlight — arriving by dugout canoe, sharing traditional food, and learning about their way of life in the rainforest.
Globetrotters should ensure they visit Isla Coiba, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once a penal colony, today it’s one of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Americas, often compared to the Galápagos for its marine biodiversity.
Bocas del Toros is a popular photo opportunity ...
Bocas del Toros - always a great time to relax ...
Bocas del Toro Tours
Poison Dart frog
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ExcellentBased on 5,285 ReviewsAbsolutely incredible trip! From beginning to end! All accommodations were excellent. If you want to experience Safaris this trip will fulfill all your expectations! A special thanks to our driver we had for our entire trip Evans! He made our trip over the top! The Hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara is a must…it’s breathtaking!Pam SeitzI have worked with Goway several times in the past two years and every single trip has been unforgettable. Specifically, our travel advisor, Maria, has helped us book phenomenal trips to Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and most recently, Iceland. Maria is so wonderful and easy to talk to, but what really stands out is her ability to get to know her clients so she can plan trips that perfectly align with our interests and desires. I cannot recommend her strongly enough! Her expertise, hard-work, and dedication towards each trip has given myself, my family, and friends memories to last a lifetime! Kayla CovelloJamil made our 40th birthday trip to Portugal so so very amazing and special! Great service, fabulous hotels, and wonderful day trips! Lane StricklandKatie was great, planned everything we needed, was great with changes and trip schedule conflicts. Fantastic working with her.CTI have been booking with GoWay for more than 2 years and feel so fortunate to have the best Travel Advisor, Maria Spitman, making our vacations unforgettable. I can’t say enough about Maria… she is personable, efficient, detail-oriented, and extremely knowledgeable about her specialty destinations. We have booked many trips with her, including Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Iceland, and our most recent trip in Greece. Maria has not only curated nuanced itineraries, but has done so combining her vast knowledge of each region with our interests and needs being met perfectly. With that, it is evident that Maria learns about her clients to create vacation packages that far exceed expectations. I won’t book with anyone else! GoWay has a gem that is irreplaceable! I highly recommend seeking Maria out for all your destination needs. DarleenGoway has been amazing to work with. Farooq was my agent through Goway and she communicated promptly, planned a great international trip for my clients and was always organized. The trip was flawless to Rome and Malta from beginning to end!Kim KameleskyLisa Dachuk was incredible on organizing my trip. She took the time to know what I wanted and created an experience I will forever be grateful for having.Louise Helie MastersLori Mezzomo and the team at Goway Travel are fantastic! Lori helped plan a 3-week Australia trip for our family of 5. Our teenage boys enjoyed exploring Sydney, Uluru, Cairns and the Gold Coast. Highlights included a Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, sunrise hike around Uluru, snorkeling with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, and surfing on the gold coast. Lori did a fantastic job of creating an itinerary that was engaging for our teenage boys and relaxing for the parents... not an easy task! We miss Australia and would gladly book again with Lori Mezzomo and Goway Travel.BlairSwati was fantastic! She worked with us to create the perfect Greece trip, and handled all the details to make it a worry-free experience.JtvMichael at Goway Travel was great to work with. We were planning a pre-trip with him prior to a group tour. He worked with us to hit the special places we wanted to visit and things we wanted to do. The accommodations arranged exceeded our expectations. Local guides were all amazing. This was the third trip we booked through Goway, and we will definitely book with them again in the future David Picka
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