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Bocas del Toro (), also known colloquially as Bocas Town, is the capital of the
Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...
nian province of Bocas del Toro and the district of Bocas del Toro. It is a town and a tourist resort located on the southern tip of
Colón Island Colón Island (Spanish: ''Isla Colón'') is the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago located in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. The capital city of the province, Bocas del Toro, is located on the island and is one of ...
in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in the
Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere, located south of the Gulf of Mexico and southwest of the Sargasso Sea. It is bounded by the Greater Antilles to the north from Cuba ...
. Bocas Town had 12,996 residents in 2008. Bocas del Toro is served by Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport which hosts daily commuter flights from and to
Panama City Panama City, also known as Panama, is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has a total population of 1,086,990, with over 2,100,000 in its metropolitan area. The city is located at the Pacific Ocean, Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, i ...
and San José in neighboring
Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...
.


Population and tourism

The corregimiento of Bocas del Toro has a land area of and had a population of 7,366 as of 2010, giving it a population density of . Its population as of 1990 was 5,274; its population as of 2000 was 4,020. Relatively few Panamanians live on the island, opting for cheaper housing on the mainland. Mainland residents working on Colón Island travel by boat. Bocas del Toro is a popular tourist destination year-round. The town is small enough that most places are within walking distance. The streets are arranged in a grid. Avenidas (avenues) run east to west and calles (streets) run north to south.


Climate

Under the
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, Bocas del Toro features a
tropical rainforest climate A tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southeast Florida, United States ...
. The area does not have a predictable dry season. The driest months are October, January, and March.Frommer's Panama (2E, 2009), . During the course of the year Bocas del Toro sees a copious amount of precipitation. Bocas del Toro averages of rain per year. Temperatures are consistent all year (high: , low: ). Sunrise is normally around 6 am, and sunset is around 6 pm local time. These times vary only slightly during the year.


Transportation

Bocas del Toro is accessible by air or boat. Most visitors fly into Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport from
Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...
or
Panama City Panama City, also known as Panama, is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has a total population of 1,086,990, with over 2,100,000 in its metropolitan area. The city is located at the Pacific Ocean, Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, i ...
. Ferries connect Almirante to Bocas del Toro. Buses run between
David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...
, Almirante,
Changuinola Changuinola is a city in the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama and seat city of the Changuinola District. The city attracts tourists as a popular gateway to Bocas Town and nearby cities Almirante and Chiriqui Grande. Changuinola is surrounded ...
, and the
Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...
n border. Islands and islets in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago are accessible only by private boat or water taxi. Many small communities line the string of islands and very few have roads. Many companies provide boat service to various islands and diving spots.


Infrastructure

Bocas del Toro lacks some basic infrastructure. A generator plant provides power to the towns of Isla Colon, Carenero and Bastimentos. The community does have a waste water (sewage) treatment plant, but not the same quality as found in the United States. The town lacks a water filtration or treatment system. Both the drinking water and the sea water have very high levels of fecal form bacteria.Infrastructure development in Bocas del Toro
Retrieved 25 May 2009.


Health care

Health care is available, but facilities are limited. A public health clinic operates in town. Common medical problems include food and waterborne diseases, insect bites, sunburns, heat stress/stroke, and dehydration.


Attractions

* The Bastimentos Island National Marine Park is about a twenty-minute boat ride away, and is a major destination for ecotours. * Isla Colon has numerous white sand beaches. Swimmers should be aware of dangerous riptides. * Scuba Diving Bocas del Toro is still relatively unknown as a dive destination. However, it offers a great diversity of aquatic life around its islands. * Surfing Bocas del Toro offers a wide range of surf spots for different levels of experience, among them Black Rock, Carenero, and Wizard Beach, as well as Bastimentos Island. November to April are considered to be peak season, as well as summertime. Bocas del Toro also hosts (inter)national surf competitions.


Notable people

* Princess Angela of Liechtenstein


See also

* Archaeology of Bocas del Toro


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bocas Town, Bocas Del Toro Populated places in Bocas del Toro Province Corregimientos of Bocas del Toro Province