Bocas del Toro Living - How to live, succeed, and enjoy life in Panama's most incredible ecotourism outpost

Bastimentos National Park - Includes most of Bastimentos Island, Zapatilla Cays, Crawl Cay, and Red Frog Beach and the surrounding waters and mangroves. Just off Isla Colon, this Panamanian National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bocas. Daily tour operators include this park in their primary destinations.

The western tip of the island, better known as Bastimentos, can be seen from the town of Bocas, but isn't actually part of the protected area. Private homes, inexpensive hotels and small restaurants are there. This part is a nice place to hang out for the day being within walking distance to nearby Bastimentos National Park beaches.

The Caribbean side of the island is typically rougher than the western side and the terrain is wilder, with rock cliffs, long beaches, and hidden coves. Many beaches could act as boat landings but normally cannot be accessed due to rough seas or rocky shorelines.

Almost all major beach destinations are located on this side of the island including Red Frog Beach. The famous red poison dart frogs that can be seen on the beach lend origin to the name. These frogs cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If you have any trouble seeing them or hearing their loud shrill calls try the hills on the southern end of the beach. Red Frog Beach is the easiest to get to and the most popular.

If you want privacy hike to the north or south beaches. The southern beaches can be reached by walking along the beach itself. Follow paths through the forest and you will find the beautiful coastline all around.

Unless you are very adventuresome and make the effort to hike into dense inland forest and marshes, you probably will not experience the true wealth of this Park: it's plethora of interesting wildlife. At least three species of monkeys live here, as well as sloths, and numerous small ground creatures and birds.

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