Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Isla Colón
The archipelago's largest and most developed island is home to the provincial capital of
Bocas del Toro. Starting in the mid-1990s, foreign investors flooded the island, creating
new hotels, restaurants and condos while infrastructure for water, trash and sewage
lagged far behind. Today, the island, which runs on diesel, struggles to find a balance
between satiating development and serving community needs.
Note that the town, the archipelago and the province all share the name Bocas del Toro
or simply Bocas. Isla Colón and Bocas del Toro town are also referred to as Bocas Isla.
Activities
Cycling
Whether you're heading to Boca del Drago on the paved road, or taking the dirt path to
Playa Bluff, a bicycle can seriously increase your mobility. Note that the cycle to Boca
del Drago from Boca town is taxing, especially when the sun is beaming. If you're un-
sure of your fitness level, it's advised that you head to Punta Bluff instead, even though
the road can flood after heavy rains. Bikes are available from some hostels and from
Ixa's Bike World (
Click here
) in Boca town.
Bird-Watching
While the bird-watching on the islands isn't as good as that on the mainland, it can still
be rewarding. Particularly rare birds, or at least those poorly known to Panama, have
been recorded on the islands in recent years, and include the semiplumbeous hawk,
white-tailed kite, zone-tailed hawk, uniform crake, olive-throated parakeet, red-fronted
parrotlet, lesser nighthawk, green- breasted mango, chestnut-colored woodpecker, snowy
cotinga, brown-capped tyrannulet, yellow-bellied elaenia, stub-tailed spadebill, purple
martin, tree swallow and black-cowled oriole.
Fishing
The best budget option for aspiring anglers is to go surf casting with the local water-taxi
drivers. The hand lines are a bit tricky at first, though you'll get the hang of it. It's best to
go early in the morning when the fish are biting.
Hiking
If you're looking to seriously get off the beaten path, there is a network of undeveloped
hiking trails that fan out across the island. One of the more popular hikes starts at the end
