From North America or Europe, several major airlines fly into Panama City. If you are not spending time in the city and connecting immediately to a flight to Bocas, you will need to change airports. From Tocumen, the international airport, is about a 30-45 minute drive (depending on traffic) to Albrook, the domestic airport. For tour guide or hotel information, see the Panama City section.
The airlines serving Bocas del Toro are Air Panama (www.flyairpanama.com) and AeroPerlas (www.aeroperlas.com).***
***Important! Both carriers have at least two flights per day, however please be aware that AeroPerlas’s afternoon flight arrives after 5PM. Due to the time it takes to transfer from the airport and then 45-minutes by boat to Casa Cayuco, for safety reasons we are unable to pick up guests arriving on the late afternoon Aeroperlas flight until the following afternoon. For this reason we encourage all guests to book the afternoon Air Panama flights for their Bocas arrival and departure.
Upon arrival, we will pick you up in Bocas town between 3 and 5 pm. If the flights are late, we will wait for your arrival. We return our guests to the airport after lunch, in order for them to make the afternoon flight which leaves around 4:30 pm. In this manner, we will meet the afternoon arrivals at the same time. This process enables us to make one trip per day to Bocas Town, which saves considerably in gas and our carbon footprint. If you do arrive on the morning flight, then we can direct you to a secure place to store your baggage, and we can suggest sites, restaurants etc in Bocas Town to pass the few hours until we arrive.
If your schedule warrants an early morning pick-up or drop-off, then we must charge an extra $90 for the unscheduled trip. We apologize for this inconvenience, however our remote location dictates this policy, and once you have enjoyed the 45 minute boat ride out to CC, you will understand. If booking a morning departure please be aware we can only accommodate departures booked on the morning AeroPerlas flight. Air Panama’s 7:30AM morning departure time is too early for us to be able to safely travel from Casa Cayuco to the airport in time for check-in. If you require a morning departure on Air Panama then we will need to take you to Bocas Town the afternoon before your departure, meaning you will need to stay a night in Bocas Town at the end of your stay.
If you are coming from Costa Rica, Nature Air (www.natureair.com) runs flights to/from Bocas del Toro. Nature Air’s arrival and departure times are in the afternoon, so their schedule presents no problems with our afternoon transfer policy.
Panama is the undiscovered gem of Central America, with rugged volcanoes, fast moving jungle rivers and waterfalls, lush tropical rain forests, azure waters and palm-fringed beaches. Beyond the natural wonders, man-made marvels abound. From the incredible engineering feat of the Panama Canal to the beautiful and detailed molas sewn by the Kuna Indians and the spectacular refined baskets woven by the Wounaan and Embera Indians. You could spend weeks in Panama and still not sample all of its diverse offerings.
The islands of the Bocas del Toro are located in the province of the same name, in the northwest corner of the country. Costa Rica borders to the west, Volcano Baru, the country’s highest point, lies to the south, and the warm Caribbean ocean is to the north. The geography of Panama deceives some people. Since Panama is shaped like a shallow S lying on its side, there are even places on the mainland where you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific and set over the Atlantic.
The archipelago consists of countless islands, with Isla Colon, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Cristobal, and Isla Popa being the largest (ranging from 40-60 sq km in size).
The climate in the Bocas is distinctly tropical. There are two seasons, wet and dry. The wet season usually runs from May to August and November to December. Dry season includes September through October and January through April. However, it can rain anytime during the year, and it has been know to be dry for several days at a stretch during the wet months. Temperatures range pleasantly from 70 – 88 degrees throughout the year.
The diversity of animal and plant species in the region is astounding. There are more species of birds recorded in Panama than in any other part of Central America. According to record, there are over 100 animal species in Panama that are not found anywhere else in the world. And the Bocas in particular are home to some of these. There is a species of red frog that lives only on Bastimentos.
Isla Bastimentos also welcomes four of the world’s eight sea turtle species to nest on its long sandy beaches. Along the northern side of the island, on the aptly named Long Beach, loggerheads, hawksbills, leatherbacks and green turtles make their nests. Different species come ashore at different times of the year, but mostly they can be spotted from April to September.
Migratory birds flock over the isthmus in their annual journeys, but those make up only a fraction of the nearly 1000 species of birds found in the country. Parrots, macaws, quetzals, and harpy eagles are frequently spotted. Stately gray pelicans feed every morning and evening just off our dock. Mammals large and small inhabit the rain forests of Panama. Jaguars, ocelots, sloths and various monkeys are just a few of the larger species you might see. And the ocean boasts its own mammals; dolphins are frequent visitor to the boaters and snorkelers in Dolphin Bay.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest draws in the Bocas for the adventure traveler is the underwater life. Snorkelers and divers will be treated to vibrant coral reefs teeming with fish. In some areas near Bastimentos the elkhorn coral is as thick as a forest. Many of the reefs are shallow, allowing for great visibility without diving. Whereas other locations in the islands offer exquisite wall dives.
If all this isn’t enough, you can indulge yourself in the exploration of the endless variety of plants in the rainforest. From mangroves to coconut palms, orchids to bromeliads, botanical enthusiasts will love spending time in the rainforest.
Panama City has lots of interesting things to see and do, so don’t leave it off your itinerary when you are planning a visit. Your may want to tour the Canal or visit the Old Town. Here are some suggestions for your city stay.
Tour Guide
Judy Tovar of Easy Travel Panama is a terrific guide. She grew up in Panama and went to school in the US. Her English is excellent and her knowledge of and enthusiasm for her country are unparalleled. Judy’s email is: easytravel@cwpanama.net. Judy can suggest a number of places to explore, while in Panama City. Of course the Canal is a must, as well as the Old Town “Casco Viejo.” There are several museums worth checking out, with the Canal and Natural History being our favorites. The YMCA market is fabulous for finding the best inventories and prices for molas and all of the great arts and crafts from the region. There are a number of tours into the rain forest near the Gamboa Lodge. The Soberania National Park is excellent and very accessible. The world famous “Pipeline Road” is unsurpassed for accessible birding.
Hotels
There are a great number of good hotels in Panama City and we have checked a number of them out. Additionally, new hotels are springing up in the city on what seems to be a monthly basis. After doing your Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak etc search for Panama City Hotels, feel free to email us, if you have any questions.
Some hotels we have used are (listed from least expensive to most expensive):
Marbella (basic, economy) 507-223-2220, hmarbella@cableonda.net
La Estancia (great value!) 507-314-1581, www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com
Sevilla Suites (quite comfortable and spacious, some rooms have kitchenettes) 507-213-0016,www.sevillasuites.com
Bristol (a very fine hotel/expensive) 507-265-7844, www.thebristol.com
The above hotels (except La Estancia, which is located on Ancon Hill) are all in an area called “El Congrejo” where you can find numerous good restaurants and shopping within walking distance.
In addition to the hotels above, you may consider: The Milan, Torres del Alba, Toscana and the Country Suites as options.
Things in Panama City can get booked up quickly, especially during high season. So make your airline and hotel reservations as early as you can.
