Bocas Del Toro, Panama - Tips to Maximize Your Vacation

Panama's Bocas Del Toro: 10 Tips to Maximize Your Vacation

Are you half packed for your trip to Bocas Del Toro in Panama? Well, before anything else, there's some congratulating in order. After all, you not only chose one of the best vacation places in Central America, you also picked a nice time to go. Imagine being in a place where you can find the most fabulous beaches in the Carribean, like the well-known Red Frog Beach (yes, there are still red frogs there, too), where you can scuba, snorkel, kayak, and do whatever you can and want to do in the water, while at the same time being striking distance to extreme sports arenas for mountain biking or just zip-lining through the jungle canopy. The nightlife isn't bad, either. In Bocas Town, you can find good food, dancing, and maybe a few drinks to wrap up the day.

There's something in Bocas for everyone. After all, it's the best of both worlds. You have the beaches of Aruba on one hand, and the wildness of the jungles of Costa Rica on the other. The best part about it is that you won't have to file for bankruptcy to enjoy anything that tickles your fancy. Judging from the "bare essential" needs like shelter ($50 for a standard room) and food ($20 for a decent meal for two), it's also extremely affordable.

There is really no need to sell you on the idea of going there, is there? There are, however, some things that you may find useful to know if you're new to Bocas Del Toro:

1) There are a lot of picture perfect underwater sceneries that you can enjoy, and sometimes, memories just don't do these enough justice. Having an underwater camera (even just the disposable ones) will come in handy. You might find a few being sold in the area but these can get pricey, so it would be better to bring your own. It's better to be safe than sorry, so bring an underwater camera.

2) The weather is hot (around about 90 degrees F), and the streets in town are narrow. That means you will end up doing some - okay, a lot of - walking (it's better to soak in the culture of the place that way) in very unfamiliar stuffiness because the humidity is perennial. So, unless you're used to hot weather, be sure to bring a good pair of sandals you don't mind taking to the beach along with some shorts and t-shirts.

3) You would, of course, need money, and the acceptable currencies are the local Balboa and the US dollar. The exchange rate for that is one dollar to one Panamanian Balboa exactly, which is to say that the Balboa and the dollar are used interchangeable. In other words, plan on spending U.S. dollars while visiting Bocas.

4) If your stomach is sensitive, it's best to stick to purified bottled water since these are readily available, anyway. Most of the water in this tropical country comes from collected rainwater. Although it is generally safe, collected rainwater might not always agree with your system. Bottled water isn't expensive or hard to find, so why risk it?

5) Know the immigration policies. If you're from the US or Canada, you don't need anything other than a passport and perhaps your driver's license if you want to rent a car (and renting a car likely isn't necessary). The only obstacle when you arrive - you'll need to pay for the tourist stamp which is $8 to $12 U.S. dollars, depending on where you land. Extensions of stay are also pretty easy to get.

6) Beaches are remote, so pack a lunch. The beaches of Bocas are mostly accessible only by boat, and there are no convenience stores for miles around. Bring food, water, Balboa (Panama's own brew), sunscreen, and whatever you think you will need for the day before going anywhere. It's better to lug around a large bag, rather than to faint from hunger or dehydration, or crying in pain because of your sunburn.

7) The two major languages used in Bocas are English and Spanish. If you speak either language, then you're in good shape. If you don't, a phrase book or two would be a good idea.

8) You can't bring everyone with you, but you can keep in touch. There are Internet cafes in town where you can rent a computer for about $3 an hour. Many of them offer free VOiP calls to the US or Canada. If it's a really long vacation, you can buy a disposable or prepaid cell phone.

9) For bragging rights, you can drop by Costa Rica, which really isn't all that different unless you go a lot further than usual the package tours that will take you to its jungles. Costa Rica is about an hour away from Boca Del Toro, so crossing the border does not take too much time.

10) Chill. You're on vacation! If a waitress doesn't run to you immediately to get your order, don't sweat it. That's just the way things are in Boca Del Toro - slower paced and more laid back. They aren't doing it to be rude or insulting or to irk you. Besides, there's enough time to sit back and relax. Isn't that why you're going, after all? Leave the hurry at the door, and live the lazy island life.

I really enjoyed my time in Panama, and I hope that these 10 tips helped so that you can enjoy yours, too.