Hostels in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago off the coast of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. Your hostel will be reachable by water taxi from Almirante, a journey which takes about forty-five minutes. From Bocas there are easy connections to Changuinola to the Costa Rica border or to Panamanian cities such as David or Panama City. Temperatures in Bocas del Toro average at more than thirty degrees Celsius year-round but rains are common most of the year also.

If you are staying at a Bocas del Toro hostel and are interested in surfing, there is some excellent surfing in Bocas, though it is not possible to go surfing in Bocas town -- however, it is possible to take a water taxi to the surf breaks. Bastimentos Island also has some good breaks. Beaches in Bocas are reasonably nice. Diving is not highly rated because a number of rivers drain into Bocas, bringing the visibility down to a few metres.

Bocas has a reputation as a party town and this is what attracts most travelers who come to stay at Bocas del Toro hostels. At night, the backpacker bars are full of tourists and some locals for happy hours; some of the establishments in town also run promotions, including ladies drink free. A must-visit venue is Aqua Lounge, a two-minute water taxi ride offshore, where you can jump off the diving board, the swings, or the trampoline into the warm Caribbean Sea! Barco Undido is a well designed popular nightspot that is busy every night, as is Iguana.

There are more hostels than hotels on Isla Colón. All Bocas del Toro hostels have good locations in the small town. Some look to be rundown but are comfortable and have all the facilities needed. You'll also find some additional hostels on the nearby Isla Bastimento (which is also reachable by water taxi).

Handwritten by local expert for Bocas del Toro hostels RayJ