Bocas del Toro, an archipelago of islands in the west of Panama, is recognized as Panama's Caribbean jewel and is a prime tourist destination. The Bocas region boasts clean, calm waters, huge tracts of virgin hardwood and rain forests. It is a last refuge for many endangered species. The diversity of birds, coral and aquatic life are rivaled by few other places in the world. A standard for visitors is a trip to the Bastimentos National Marine Park. This 13,226-hectare (1,630 inland and 11,596 of mainly shallow waters) marine park is one of the most beautiful and important marine habitats that exist today. Apart from its reefs, it includes the pristine Zapatilla Cays.

More than a dozen coral reefs protect a marine environment un-equaled in most of the Caribbean because its remote location has ensured that it has remained untouched; it is a protected zone for the endangered manatee and is a tarpon spawning ground.

Snorkeling excursions can be arranged with bilingual boatmen (the majority of Bocas del Toro people speak Spanish and English). [ more ]