Bocas del Toro - Fishing - Surfing - Diving

Bocas del Toro is located NW of the Republic of Panama and its only 30 miles from Costa Rica. Now a days it is by far the most touristic place in the Republic, in terms of visitors and touristy developments. Isla Colon offers a variety of Hotels, Bars, and great Restaurants. It even has its own International Airport.

Bocas del Toro is famed for its cruising around its large Archipelago since the Colonial Era. The islands that conform the Archipelago offer a great variety of activities such as world class surfing, sports-diving, snorkeling, exploration adventures and others.

The Bocas del Toro province is conformed of two large bays (Bahia Almirante and Laguna de Chiriqui) which are located on main land, 8 Islands and over 200 islets. Christopher Columbus discovered Isla Colon on his fourth and last voyage on 1502. Because of the lack of gold there was no colonization on this area.

Around 1500’s the archipelago became a paradise for pirates as there were no Spanish people in the region. Bucanneers used this area for ship construction and maintenance as well. It is said that pirates had buried their treasures on some of these islands. However, there has been none reported as of yet.

Fishing in Bocas del Toro

The Bocas del Toro area for Panama fishing trips is known for its small tides (2-3ft), tropical colorful reefs, golden sand beaches and semi-enclosed costal rivers mouths flowing into its crystal clear Atlantic Ocean making a connection to the open sea. These are only a few interesting things for any fishing guide or traveler.

The archipelago is know for sailfish fishing, yellow fin tuna fishing and red snapper fishing during the months of March/April. The fishing ground depth is usually 60 to 200 ft deep and at only 1 or 2 miles offshore the Colon Island. Water depth reaches 2000ft at 3 miles and 5000 ft at 9 miles offshore in some areas of the sport fishing zone of Bocas del Toro.

The Republic of Panama receives prevailing NE strong winds (10-20 knots) from December to May. This creates strong swells on the Atlantic coast that are convenient for surfing in Panama but not for navigation while on sport fishing charter. The best time for sport salt water fishing in Bocas del Toro is June to November as the sea gets calm and water gets clear as well making it perfect for fly fishing, surf fishing, flats fishing, sailing and sport fishing charters with panamacruise.com.pa

Fishing Charter Quarry: Snapper, Sailfish, Dorado, Tuna, Grouper, Tarpon, Jack, Barracuda, Pompano, Permit fishing, Amberjack, Snook, Kingfish, Sharks and other assorted types of fish.

Panama Fish Chart

Surfing in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro has some of the best surfing in Panama and in the planet. This place is good from Dicember to late March and pumps waves up to 20 ft faces. The archipelago has mostly left hand waves in exeption of Bluff, Silverbacks and Paunch that have both (Rights and Lefts). Most of the waves here break on crystal clear water, coral reef and are very hollow. Surfers tend to think that Bluff beach could be an option for beginners as it breaks on sand. However, this spot is a very powerful shore break pumping 6ft heavy tubes on a regular basis. Bluff is certainly one of Bocas’s most hard core spots when surfing in Panama.  

Bocas del Toro surfing is very convenient as it offers more activities than anywhere else in the Republic of Panama. Here you will have access to good food, night life, rentals and other activities. We are pros when it comes to coordinate a surf charter around this famous archipelago for dreamed uncrowned surf sessions in Panama.

Bocas del Toro Diving

Besides from sport fishing and surfing, you will have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful and well preserved hard and soft coral reef in the world. Diving conditions in Bocas del Toro are exellent all yearr round.

Bocas del Toro Video

Bocas del Toro Islands

Colon Island: Is the most popular island on the archipelago of Bocas del Toro and Panama. It counts with a great number of hotels we operate with (For info on Hotels, contact us). Visitors comes to this island to incorporate to the Caribbean vibe and to enjoy the great sport-diving, salt water fishing and surfing on spots like Bluff Beach, Paunch, Dumpers, Carenero and other secret surf spots.

Carenero Island: Is the closest island to Isla Colon’s town. It takes about 2 minutes to get across by boat and 10min swimming. The island counts with a few lodges, bars and restaurants. When it comes to privacy and relaxation this would be the best place as Isla Colon has some active night life.

Bastimentos Island: This 13,226-hectare park is shaped like a bridge and as its name suggests, most of it is underwater. It starts among the mangrove islands on the southwest side of Bastimentos, arcs across its midsection, and curves down to two lovely little islands (Cayo Zapatillas).

Cayo Zapatillas: These islands, the Cayos Zapatillas, are the most visited parts of the park thanks to the good snorkeling and diving among the nearby coral gardens and underwater caves, which start about 12 meters down. It’s quite dramatic even to snorkel around here; the shallow waters suddenly give way to deep canyons. The coral heads inside the reef are in good shape, and there is a large variety and abundance of fish.

Solarte Island: is known for its Hospital Point, named for the United Fruit Company hospital that was built here in 1900 when the company had its headquarters in Bocas town. Now days you can find one Bocas del Toro best hotels.

Escudo de Veraguas: This Panama Island lies at 24 miles from the limit of Bocas del Toro. This is a total unspoiled area with only a few Guaymi Indians living in it. It is a great diving spot as we have seen Indians traveling from mainland for skin diving sessions.

Note: we have only mentioned some of the most important Islands of Bocas del Toro.

FAQS?