Post - Everyday Travel Guides

by Rebecca Hollman
updated June 12, 2019

Boca Chica, Panama

Boca Chica is a small coastal town in the Chiriquí Province of Panama. This tiny town is almost always overlooked by tourists and rarely even visited by Panamanian tourists. However, this town is the jumping off point for a chain of 25 protected islands called the Gulf of Chiriquí National Marine Park. This park encompasses many unique ecosystems including mangroves and coral reefs. These islands offer pristine white sand beaches lined with palm trees, in stark contrast to the other dark sand and rocky beaches of the Pacific coast.

Table of Contents

What to Know

LANGUAGE: The language of Panama is Spanish. Because Boca Chica is not a popular tourist town, not many locals speak English. I would highly recommend trying to learn at least basic Spanish before traveling to Central America. Being able to order at a restaurant, or ask for the right bus, etc. will take you very far.

CURRENCY/BANKS/ATM: The currency of Panama is technically a Balboa, but it is exactly equivalent to the US Dollar. Everywhere in Panama accepts US Dollars and it is very rare to see Balboas (except sometimes with coins). There is no need to exchange your money for Balboas. ATMs (cajeros automaticos) seem to be in short supply in Panama. There is no ATM in Boca Chica. I would suggest trying to get out a decent amount of cash beforehand in either Boquete or Davíd (both of which have at least 2 ATMs). A few restaurants and hotels take credit cards, but for the most part cash is still king in Panama. Expect to pay for all your tours and most your food in cash.

WEATHER: Boca Chica is on the Pacific coast of Panama, and like the whole Pacific coast it is incredibly hot. Thankfully the heat is dry, arid heat but in the dry season temperatures push 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) during the day and only slightly cool down to 85 degrees at night. The dry season is from December to May, typical of Central America. Rainy season is from June to November and has it’s benefits - like sea turtle hatching and whale watching, but most tourists stick to dry season to make sure they get the good beach weather.

GETTING AROUND: Since Boca Chica is an obscure stop, there aren’t really any shuttles or buses that go out there. There is probably a local chicken bus that goes from Davíd or Boquete. The easiest way to get around is definitely with a rental car - the roads are good so a small car is totally fine. Once in the town though, you don’t even need a car. The town is one street and so everything is walking distance. To get to the other islands, you can go to the marina at the end of the road and hire a boat ride for a couple US dollars.

SAFETY: For the most part, Panama is safe. Boca Chica is no exception but you just need to be conscious of yourself. If you are walking around at night visibly drunk, then someone may pick pocket you, etc. Just don’t be stupid. The smaller, less touristy towns are actually safer.

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Boca Chica is by car but it is also possible to get here via bus. Taking a local bus would probably cost around $2-5 USD in total from either Boquete or Davíd. Find the bus going to Hornocitos. Here you will have to get off and transfer to another bus heading to Boca Chica or take a taxi to Boca Chica (around $10-15 USD). Both the bus and the taxi will drop you at the Boca Chica marina, which is the meeting point for most tours or if you want to take a boat across to Boca Brava.

FROM BOQUETE:

FROM DAVÍD:

What to Do There

1. SPEND THE DAY ON BOCA BRAVA: The biggest island, and easiest to access from Boca Chica, is Boca Brava. This island is the only island in the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine Park that has accommodation and infrastructure on it. There are a few hotels that you can stay at on the island, two main beaches to visit and some trails that meander around the top of the island, giving view points around. A good day trip is to take a boat across from Boca Chica for $1 USD to Boca Brava, walk along the trails and spend time at the two beaches. Make sure to arrange a boat driver to come pick you up in advance! When we wanted to leave Boca Brava we realized there were no boats waiting on the other side and so we had to walk to the one hotel nearby and ask if they could call someone for us - needless to say they weren’t very happy about that. I would also highly advise to bring plenty of your own water and food. There is no where to buy either of these on the island!

2. TAKE A TOUR OF THE CHIRIQUÍ GULF MARINE PARK: The main draw for why people come to Boca Chica in the first place, the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine Park sports multiple coral reefs, beautiful white beaches lined with palms, and uninhabited islands full of iguanas and monkeys to great you. Most tours take you to 1-3 of the islands the comprise the park and also to a few snorkeling destinations. This is usually a full day tour, going from 7 AM to 4 PM.

Learn more about the chiriqui gul tour here

3. GO ON A SPORT FISHING CHARTER: The other main draw for Boca Chica is the fishing opportunities. There are heaps of companies that go on deep sea sport fishing tours with the possibility of catching Blue Marlins, Yellowfin Tuna, Cubera Snappers, Mullet Snappers, Rainbow Runners, and more (and also a chance of some whale and dolphin watching from the boat). Take a look at some of the most highly rated tour companies below:

Sport Fish Panama

Come Fish Panama

Reel Inn Panama

Where to Stay

BOCA CHICA:

Residencia de la Marina - A lovely and cheap accommodation run by an Italian couple. Includes breakfast and they can arrange tours for you. Simple double bed room with a communal kitchen and lounge area. This is the probably the cheapest accommodation in town and definitely the best value.

Roxy Fishing Club - Another cheaper option, although slightly more expensive than Residencia de la Marina. This is more of a classic hotel with two stories, a restaurant out front and a swimming pool. This is one of the only restaurants in town, but it also doubles as the only bar so it can get loud.

Hotel Bocas del Mar - Outside of the main town, there are a few nicer resorts and lodges scattered along the coastline. These are much more expensive and most are 5 stars. They all include their own restaurant and can arrange tours for you. Many of these lodges are specifically for guests who want to stay and do fishing trips.

BOCA BRAVA:

Boca Brava Lodge - A mid range hotel located on the eastward facing tip of Boca Brava. Has beautiful views from a high point facing out in the ocean. Has a restaurant in the hotel and a dock and service bringing boats across from Boca Chica.

Hotel Boca Brava Paradise - One of the only luxury hotels on Boca Brava, this is a good option for people who want to stay on the more island but still want a touch of class.

Booking.com

Where to Eat

Roxy Fishing Club - Truly one of the only restaurants in town, they offer pizza, hamburgers, beers and cocktails. They do have a decent veggie burger and some vegetarian pizzas. We ate here almost every night just because it was pretty much our only choice.

Restaurant Bocas del Mar - Inside this 5 star lodge is a high-end restaurant. This restaurant isn’t in town, and is about a 10 minute drive so isn’t really an option if you’re relying on walking. If you have a car, you can drive out to some of the nicer restaurants inside the nicer hotels for a proper meal.

Seagull Cove - Another hotel outside of town, this restaurant offers seafood, hamburgers, salads and more. They have drink Happy Hour every Friday.

Cala Mia Restaurant - One of the only restaurants in Boca Brava, this restaurant (technically called Punta Sur Restaurant) is located inside the Cala Mia Hotel. They offer Mediterranean inspired food, desserts, cocktails and wine.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: There are very limited food options in Boca Chica! We were pretty much on the verge of starving the two days we were there because we didn’t know what we were getting into and didn’t plan in advance. Make sure you stay at a hotel that either offers breakfast or has a restaurant in the hotel - otherwise you will not be eating breakfast or lunch. None of the other restaurants in the area are open during breakfast/lunch hours. Again, if you don’t have a car you are limited to only one option for dinner in town - Roxy Fishing Club. There are no supers, minisupers, mercados or anything in the whole town so you can’t even purchase snacks to get by. Please plan accordingly!!