Bocas del Toro Panama Hospital Point - A vast section of the history in Bocas del Toro

Hospital point Bocas del Toro

Hospital Point sits about 1.2 miles east of Bocas del Toro. This is where the central medical center for the United Fruit Company was once placed, in 1899; this company located its center of operations in Bocas del Toro. However this facility is now privately owned and is visited by many tourists for a Panamanian history lesson. This hospitals main structure is to be found sitting upon a well-reserved hill on the tip of Isla Solarte. Centuries after Christopher Columbus voyaged this island it has held the name Nancy Cay. It is said that this name came from a fruit tree called nances, which is found frequently on the island.

Because of it's Spanish surrounding this island is referred to as Isla Solarte. Facing the Caribbean Ocean, which is north of this island, you can witness stunning views of adjacent islands such as Isla Bastimentos, Careening Cay and Bocas town. Well-kept lawns and vibrant, specially arranged plants surround this landmark dwelling. The beaches are not far from this area, and can be found by following the concrete paths leading to the shore.

Native Americans inhabited this island, before Columbus's arrival. However due to foreign diseases brought upon them by European settlers, and domestic tribal fighting this colonization found itself fading. As far as authority of the area the Spaniards never detained control, and so came the advent of English speaking colonist from the Caribbean. In the 1800's fascinated farmers from the United States and Germany came to this island and built the areas primary banana plantation. Towards the middle of the 18th century the banana industry was swelling, which caught the attention of farmers and laborers from a variety of races, all hoping to get their hands on the wealth of this innovative industry. Towards the end of the 18th century varied banana industries positioned themselves on the mainland and surrounding islands of the Bocas del Toro Province. Bocas Town itself received the most commercial/ industrial expansion. This development of businesses and homes on the waterfront land of Bocas town added to the already troublesome disease problem the area had. In late 1899, the United Fruit Company joined the industry, the company decided to give a better effort in keeping their employees healthy and so, they built a medical facility on Nancy Cay, and it sits today upon Hospital Point. Cool Caribbean breezes reserved them from disease carrying mosquitoes, and isolation from the disease in Bocas town made Nancy Cay a superior setting for a hospital. However, this seclusion lead to failure and the closing of the hospital two decades later.

The facility at hospital point remains privately owned, but the island itself is available to any visitors. Some believe that the calm, sparkling waters around the point hold the best snorkel/diving in the province, and these are for everyone. The calmest seas are enjoyed in Bocas between the months of August-November. Parrotfish, Green Moray, Damselfish, Sergeant Major, and Gray Angelfish and are just some of the species that can be sighted here year round. Also there are varied marine invertebrates are sighted here as well such as, sea urchin, sea star, stinging coral, tube sponge and the bristle worm.

Bocas del Toro Panama Hospital Point

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