Things To Do In Bocas Del Toro With Kids

I've been intrigued by Bocas del Toro Panama for a while now.

Travelers rave about the calm, shallow water surrounding this archipelago. Kids love discovering underwater wildlife and exotic jungle creatures. And a favorite pastime here is simply wandering around the villages, enjoying the brightly colored buildings and vibrant locals who call Bocas del Toro home.

But perhaps most importantly, thanks to its remote location, Bocas del Toro is still a little rough around the edges. And after our most recent experience in booming Playa del Carmen, remote and undeveloped is exactly what my family is looking for in our next beach vacation.

Here are some of the things we're most looking forward to doing in Bocas del Toro with kids.

Hop on a Water Taxi and Explore the Islands of Bocas del Toro

Water taxis are readily available in Bocas del Toro and are a great way to begin your time here to get a feel for where things are located in the area.

If you're not staying on Bastimentos Island, be sure to hop on a water taxi and visit this island early in your trip. Red Frog Beach, famed for the poisonous red dart frogs, and Wizard Beach, are both popular areas to explore once on the island.

While on Bastimentos Island, don't miss the Old Bank area, home to the region's Afro Caribbean community. The photogenic homes are bright and colorful, and charming café's and shops line the streets.

Also be sure to utilize the water taxis to head to the Coral Key on Isla Zapatillas. Here you can spend the day snorkeling in a magical Caribbean setting, complete with clean, white sand, calm water and very few inhabitants. Grab lunch at one of the local island restaurants on stilts as colorful fish swim below.

Get Active (and Stay Cool) in the Water

It's hot in Panama, and Bocas del Toro is particularly steamy, so you'll want to spend as much time in the water as possible! Not surprisingly, there are plenty of ways to make this happen.

Most hotels and several independent shops around Bocas del Toro rent sea kayaks. This is a fun way for kids to explore the mangrove eco-systems around the archipelago and offers a unique vantage point as you coast along on top of quiet, glassy waters near the shoreline.
My kids have also recently been introduced to Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP boards) and love this fun, kid-friendly activity! SUP boards are widely available for rent in Bocas del Toro.

Gran Kahuna and Surf Escuela are two shops that rent SUP boards in Bocas del Toro, which older kids can even paddle all the way to Isla Solarte for some awesome snorkeling.

Bicycle Around the Islands of Bocas del Toro with Kids

You'll notice the candy-colored cruiser bikes that dominate the roads around Bocas del Toro. And you can join in the fun for around $7 per day per bike by renting from one of the many shops around Bocas Town.

This is also a fun way to get your bearings early in a trip, exploring the cities as well as the coastline out to Playa Bluff exploring beautiful golden sand beaches, quaint Caribbean houses, and incredibly lush green scenery. It's about an hour bicycle ride to Bluff Beach, which is a golden sand beach that stretches for miles with intense crashing waves. Bluff has a few resorts and beach bars and strong currents for surfing.

On the other side of the island is one of the most popular beach destinations in Bocas, Starfish Beach, with crystal clear water inhabited by colorful starfish.

Don't Miss This Hands-On Marine Biology Lesson

The Bocas del Toro archipelago is truly a unique ecosystem. Thanks to it's remote location there is very little water pollution. This combined with the fact that Bocas del Toro is not typically impacted by Caribbean hurricanes; the area's corals are some of the most vibrant and healthy in the world.

In fact, this area is home to over 95% of the coral species found throughout the Caribbean region, including several unique and endemic species of coral.

Look out for dolphins, beautiful giant yellow and blue starfish and tiny iridescent fish that light up the water at night. Expect to see countless species of fish, shrimps, crabs, starfish, spiders, clams, sea horses, fish, frogs, eels and a huge variety or sponges living in the coral reef.

There are a number of snorkeling excursion operators, and an organized snorkeling tour is a great way to find the best underwater spots.

Want more? Check out my Nicaragua Family Travel Guide here! Have you spent time in Bocas del Toro with kids? I'd love to hear about your family's favorite experiences there!

Fill out my online form.