Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By water-taxi
Water-taxis regularly ferry people back and forth from Bocas to Isla Carenero
($1 to the near shore) and to Old Bank on Bastimentos ($3) at fixed rates from around dawn
to dusk. Taxis leave once they've gathered a few passengers, every 10-15min or so, and the
rates go up at night. The main water-taxi dock for Carenero is by the
Barco Hundido
on C 1,
while for Old Bank, Bastimentos, you should head for the Boteros Bastimentos' water-taxi
dock, on the main street, opposite Av “C”. On C 1, opposite Av “D”, Jampan Tours ( 757
9619) runs a regular water-taxi service to Red Frog Beach on a fixed timetable (9am, noon,
1pm, 2pm & 5pm, returning at 9.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 4pm & 5.30pm; $4 one
way, $7 return).
INFORMATION
Tourist information
The tourist office (Mon-Sat 8.30am-3.30pm; 757 9642) has toilet
facilities, and may be able to provide a map but is otherwise of little help. The website
bocas.com
is a good resource for hotel and tour operator information and the free monthly
Bocas Breeze
(
bocasbreeze.com
) advertises local events. The sustainable tourism group,
Alianza de Turismo Sostenible de Bocas del Toro, does not have an office in town but has a
useful website (
redtucombo.bocasdeltoro.org
) and will provide further information on re-
quest.
ANAM office
A couple of doors down from the tourist office on C 1 (Mon-Fri
8.30am-3.30pm; 757 9244). ANAM hands out permits to camp within Parque Nacional
Marino Isla Bastimentos ($10/person).
SAFETY IN BOCAS
The collapse of the banana trade and the social inequalities exacerbated by the mushroom-
ing tourism and real estate industries have led to an increase in
petty crime
. Valuables
can go missing from even the most apparently empty beach, especially on Islas Colón and
Bastimentos, despite police patrols. Robbery on the path across to Wizard Beach from Old
Bank even in daylight occurs periodically, with the occasional report of guys threatening
with knives. If you hike this path, seek local advice and ensure that you are in a group.
However tempting, camping on any of the beaches on the main islands outside an official
campsite is very unwise.
Another safety issue concerns
boats
. Serious, even fatal collisions have occurred in the
bay, usually at night, generally involving an unlicensed or inebriated boatman and/or a lack
of lights on the vessel. Don't get into a boat until you've assessed the level of risk. And
finally, take note of
riptides
, which are prevalent in the archipelago. Ask locals about cur-
rents and tides before swimming, especially on Bastimentos.
