Bocas del Toro Living - How to live, succeed, and enjoy life in Panama's most incredible ecotourism outpost

Zapatilla Cay - Take a 90-minute boat ride through the Bastimentos National Marine Park to one of Panama's best marine park spots, Zapatilla Cay. Zapatilla is actually two small islands, Cayo Zapatilla Norte, and Cayo Zapatilla Sur. This marine park was set up to help protect and conserve Panama's unique marine and coastal ecosystems, including swamps, mangrove forests, coral reefs, clean beaches and more than 220 species of fish.

Panama's National Environmental Authority (ANAM) manages reserve. The ANAM center is on the southeastern island, and tourists are charged $10 if they come ashore. Fees are $10 per person for non-residents and $2 for residents. You can camp on the islands for $5.00 per night. Bring sunblock and bug repellent, which you will need to stop the onset of "no-see-ums", small nearly invisible biting insects.

Great diving can be found on the ocean side of the marine park. There are complete individual and identifiable underwater ecosystems like fan gardens, hard reefs and soft coral pastures. Experienced divers can explore nearby caves found down about 40 feet. You'll need lights to see down there.

All of the beaches on the island are excellent for swimming. Many like to take the hour-long nature trail over a wooden platform, winding through mangrove swamps and inland low lands. Adventurous folks can hike through the center of the island and walk back along the beach. You'll find driftwood, an old shack, a coconut grove, and of course more mangrove and native plants. Ask for directions to the large coconut plantation owned by the Ngöbe-Buglé Indians. It's unique, beautiful and set quite apart from the modern world.

The second island has rougher surf, is home to bird rookeries, and interesting island rocky cliffs and terrain. Sea birds and brown pelicans are everywhere. If you get off the boat on this island you can have a much more private beach experience, as fewer tourists do so.

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