The reefs are young and show little signs of bleaching. Surfing is sensational. While hiking you might encounter monkeys, parrots, sloths and frogs as colorful as M&Ms. Many ex-pats live on the shorelines or on their own islands and they always welcome a visit from a sea gypsy. There are dozens of completely empty anchorages and because it is an inland sea, the waves are never more than thigh-high. The only reason to put in a double reef is to see if you can still remember how to do so. 

The little town of Bocas del Toro is charming in an uber-funky way and has much to offer. Dozens of bars and restaurants, an assortment of hardware stores, and a plethora of family-run Chinese grocery stores where you will often find three generations working side by side. 

The area attracts the more adventurous traveler types – surfers, backpackers and sailors. You would never mistake it for a trendy cruise ship port. In fact, it is so laid-back that it is almost laid-over.

By All at Sea Magazine