| Ten Bocas Del Toro Panama Vacation Tips | | | | there are few concerns about water safety. |
| If you're reading this article, odds are good that you've | | | | However, if your system is sensitive or if you're |
| decided to visit Bocas Del Toro, Panama. | | | | interested in preventing any digestive problems, bottled |
| Congratulations! Not only is Bocas beautiful, but it's quite | | | | water is incredibly inexpensive and available |
| possibly the perfect vacation destination in Central | | | | everywhere. |
| America. Do you like the beach? Bocas has some of | | | | 5) All you need is a passport. Anyone visiting Panama |
| the most magnificent beaches you'll find in the | | | | from the USA or Canada is automatically granted a |
| Caribbean, including world-famous Red Frog beach | | | | 30 day visa upon entering the country with a valid |
| (named for the tiny Red Frogs that are found there). | | | | passport. Panama does require that visitors purchase |
| What about adventure tourism? Mountain biking, scuba | | | | a tourist stamp, which costs $8 to $12 depending on |
| and snorkeling, sea kayaking, zip-line jungle canopy | | | | your port of entry. If you're interested in staying more |
| tours, and all types of water sports are readily | | | | than 30 days, extensions are very easy to come by. |
| available in Bocas. If you like night life, you'll find that | | | | Your driver's license is required if you rent a car, but |
| Bocas Town has dozens of bars with great dining, | | | | there's little need to do so in Bocas. |
| dancing, and drink specials. | | | | 6) Get some supplies when you arrive. Once you've |
| Put another way, Bocas offers everything you would | | | | had a chance to check in to your hotel or bed and |
| expect to find on an Aruban beach vacation as well | | | | breakfast, visit one of the many grocery stores in |
| as everything you would expect to see at a Costa | | | | Bocas and buy some snacks and water for the |
| Rican jungle resort. The best part? Bocas is | | | | beach. Most of the beaches in Bocas can only be |
| surprisingly inexpensive. Standard rooms are available | | | | reached by the water (this is a good thing, by the |
| for less than $50 a night at quite a few places in | | | | way), so there aren't a lot of beach shops, restaurants, |
| Bocas Town, and you'll have to work hard to spend | | | | or convenience stores. Be sure to buy lots of bottled |
| more than $20 on dinner for two. | | | | water and sunscreen (just in case you forgot to pack |
| Anyways, there's a good chance you already know all | | | | some). This is also a good excuse to try Balboa, |
| of that. Bocas is great - that's why you've decided to | | | | Panama's favorite national beer. |
| visit. Here's a list of tips and advice for anyone new to | | | | 7) Don't worry about knowing how to speak Spanish. |
| Bocas Del Toro: | | | | Visitors to Bocas Del Toro will find that English is |
| 1) Bring an underwater camera. Disposable waterproof | | | | spoken almost everywhere, from tour guides to hotel |
| cameras are sometimes hard to locate in Bocas, and | | | | staff to restaurant waiters. There are rare occasions |
| when you do find one the price is higher than you | | | | where a smattering of Spanish is helpful, but it's |
| would pay at home. Go ahead and pack a couple in | | | | certainly not necessary. In fact, many of the hotel and |
| your bag and bring them to the beach. Bocas beaches | | | | restaurant staff are native English speakers from the |
| are so pristine and the water is so clear that you'll | | | | USA and Canada. |
| have plenty of opportunities to snap some photos of | | | | 8) Staying in contact with home is easy. Bocas has |
| tropical fish and corals underwater and up-close. | | | | multiple internet cafes where computers can be rented |
| 2) Pack shorts and a good pair of sandals. The main | | | | for less than $3 per hour. Many of these internet |
| island in Bocas is just a little too small for taxi service, | | | | cafes offer free VOIP calls to the USA or Canada, so |
| so you can expect to walk quite a bit in and around | | | | staying in touch with friends and family is simple. For |
| Bocas Town. North Americans should also remember | | | | anyone considering an extended stay, pre-paid cell |
| to bring shorts - the temperature in Bocas hovers | | | | phones are easy to find. |
| around 90 degrees Farenheit year round with a fair | | | | 9) Pop over to Costa Rica when you visit. Bocas del |
| amount of humidity. The sea breeze keeps things cool | | | | Toro is less than 1 hours drive from Costa Rica, and |
| at night, but during the day long pants are | | | | many tour operators offer a package that includes a |
| uncomfortable. | | | | visit to Costa Rica along with a jungle tour. You won't |
| 3) U.S. Dollars are just fine. Most tourist destinations in | | | | see much that's different in Costa Rica (not unless you |
| Central America will readily accept U.S. dollars, but | | | | venture farther anyways), but you can say you visited |
| many of these places will give you a | | | | two countries on your vacation. Not bad. |
| less-than-favorable exchange rate. What makes | | | | 10) Pack some extra patience. There's nothing |
| Bocas different is that the U.S. dollar is essentially the | | | | fast-paced about Bocas. No one is in a rush, and |
| national currency, so there's no need to worry about | | | | everything takes just a little bit longer than it should. |
| currency exchange. The Panamanian national currency | | | | Understand that when your waitress ignores you for 5 |
| is technically known as the "Balboa," but since the | | | | minutes it's nothing personal or mean-spirited - it's just a |
| Balboa is tied to the value of the U.S. dollar (one | | | | different way of living. If you're in a rush you might be |
| Balboa equals exactly one U.S. dollar), US currency is | | | | disappointed, so be sure to plan for delays. Besides, |
| used across the country. | | | | you're on vacation! Enjoy the island life. |
| 4) The water is safe to drink, but bottled water never | | | | These 10 tips are based on my personal experiences |
| hurts. Much of the water served in Bocas del Toro is | | | | in Panama - I hope you find them useful. |
| collected rainwater (Bocas is in the tropics after all), so | | | | |