ECOTEC Natural History Adventures Bocas del Toro, Panama

Bocas Town

The town of Bocas del Toro and the surrounding region represents the number one tourist destination in Panama. The village is located on the south side of Isla Colon and looks out on several other islands of the archipelago. The streets are bustling with both local folks (mostly Afro-Caribbeans who originally settled the area) and tourists alike as they go about visiting the many shops, restaurants and night spots. The restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including, Italian, Mexican and Indian. “Criollo”, a uniquely Caribbean dish, is served in many of the town’s restaurants. At night the streets really come alive as, so it seems, everyone in town comes out for their promenade up and down mainstreet, or to hang out with friends in the central Parque Bolivar. Along the streets you will encounter many vendors both local and foreign, eager to sell their jewelry and folk art. We encourage the purchase of indigenous art such as from the Kuna, Ngöbe and Emberá because of the high quality of their work and because this is often their only source of income. Most nights you will encounter the “airplane guy”, a local inhabitant who builds working models of well-known airplanes and flies them along the streets. Bocas is becoming fairly modern with the advent of ATM machines, internet cafes, and taxi service. Bocas town is only a 30 min. drive from the field station and can be visited at any time.



	Bocas Town The town of Bocas del Toro and the surrounding region represents the number one tourist destination in Panama. The village is located on the south side of Isla Colon and looks out on several other islands of the archipelago. The streets are bustling with both local folks (mostly Afro-Caribbeans who originally settled the area) and tourists alike as they go about visiting the many shops, restaurants and night spots. The restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including, Italian, Mexican and Indian. “Criollo”, a uniquely Caribbean dish, is served in many of the town’s restaurants. At night the streets really come alive as, so it seems, everyone in town comes out for their promenade up and down mainstreet, or to hang out with friends in the central Parque Bolivar. Along the streets you will encounter many vendors both local and foreign, eager to sell their jewelry and folk art. We encourage the purchase of indigenous art such as from the Kuna, Ngöbe and Emberá because of the high quality of their work and because this is often their only source of income. Most nights you will encounter the “airplane guy”, a local inhabitant who builds working models of well-known airplanes and flies them along the streets. Bocas is becoming fairly modern with the advent of ATM machines, internet cafes, and taxi service. Bocas town is only a 30 min. drive from the field station and can be visited at any time.