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The archipelago of Bocas
del Toro is located on the northwest coast of Panama, not far from
Costa Rica. It consists of hundreds of mangrove keys, virgin coral
reefs, white sand beaches and pristine turquoise water set against the
dramatic backdrop of the 10,000 foot peaks of the mainland. One of the
main attractions of the area is Bastimentos National Marine Park. This
is one of the most important marine habitats that exist today and
covers 13,226 hectares. It is a protected zone for the endangered
manatee and is a tarpon spawning ground.
This region, considered
the most geographically diverse in the Caribbean, abounds with
eco-tourism attractions such as turtle watching, jungle tours, river
tours and bird watching. It is also the home of two tribes of
indigenous people who are happy to share their age-old lifestyles and
crafts with visitors. Of course many opportunities for the more
traditional recreational activities including camping, snorkeling and
diving, hiking, boating and beach combing on the many secluded islands.
The town of Bocas del
Toro, located on the island of Colon, is easily reached by car, boat or
air. There are several daily flights from Panama City and David into
the modern airport as well as ferry and boat taxi service and two
marinas for those who wish to travel here on their own boats.
The predominate
architectural style of Bocas del Toro is Caribbean Colonial; a
Victorian style that reminds many of the ambiance of Key West. The town
is striving to preserve this old world character by requiring that all
new construction or remodeling on the main street must conform to that
Colonial style.
In addition to a small town rustic charm the town boasts paved streets,
treated potable water, several new hotels and restaurants and such
modern conveniences as internet service. As in all of Panama the
currency is the US dollar, and in Bocas you will find that many of the
local people are fluent in English.
Bocas del Toro may be one of the last easily accessible areas where the
dream of owning a piece of paradise for an affordable price is still a
reality. Oceanfront home sites, tropical rain forest retreats, large
secluded farms, ocean view properties; these can still be purchased at
a fraction of the prices elsewhere.
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