Study Abroad Examiner 04 january 200702 September 2008

Bocas, Bocas, Bocas…what is there to say about this spectacular chain of islands off the northern Caribbean coast of Panama? I suppose one could start with all the typical island attributes: deserted white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, unbelievable wildlife, stunning mangroves, cool reggae island vibe; really the list goes on and on. But these brochure clichés don’t even touch the true magic of this amazing ecological paradise. It is a place where conventional time stops. In fact, the only reason to look at a clock is to find out if happy hour has started yet.
Bocas del Toro, Panama is made up of several larger and smaller sized islands with less than 10,000 total inhabitants. The main island, Isla Colón, is the largest and most populated containing the most restaurants and accommodations. All of the other islands in the stunning archipelago, including Isla Bastimentos and Isla Cristobal are accessible by water taxis.  Although Bocas (as it is largely known) is one of Panama’s most popular tourist destinations, it remains largely unpolluted by large-scale development, which means compared to other popular tourist destinations it is extremely inexpensive.

In fact, life in Bocas is like no other. There is a laid-back, relaxed feeling in the air that defies description. You have to be there to feel its impossible charisma. While each Bocas experience is unique with its own crazy stories, my seven days in Bocas pretty much consisted of waking up, laughing about the wild goings-on of the previous night, leaving to a new beach on a new island, returning after several hours, starting drinking, bar-hopping, partying, and eventually heading to bed around 4 in the morning. It is true, Bocas is a place you may end up wondering, “what the hell was I thinking last night,” but once again, that is all apart of its charm.

For those uninterested in partying, although sights like relentlessly shoeless bartenders and bar side water trampolines really make the bar scene one of Boca’s biggest attractions, there is still a ton to explore and enjoy. For example, the snorkeling and scuba is wonderful as is wildlife watching and hiking. You can choose to stay in a very inexpensive youth hostel or in luxury accommodations.

In addition to the screensaver picturesque environment, the cultural diversity of the island is a true gem. There is an incredible mix of Afro-Caribbean inhabitants who migrated from Jamaica, a variety of indigenous tribes including the Ngobe and the Teribe, and a community of ex-pats from all over the world who came to Bocas on vacation and never left. Although the official language is Spanish, English and French are spoken almost everywhere.

Truly, the most amazing feature about the place is the people. Everyone is so laid-back and chill you end up hanging out with people from all over who become your closest friends if only for a week. My advice is to stay in a hostel and meet as many characters possible. Because Bocas is a little hard to get to—for instance, form Costa Rica I took two buses, crossed a rickety old bridge across the Panama border, took a taxi, then a water taxi, then finally another water taxi—only the most dedicated backpackers travel there. However, the trip is a must, especially if you are studying abroad or traveling through Central America. I suggest staying as long as possible to soak up the life where every thing seems funnier, more relaxed and more beautiful.

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