Bocas Town, Bocas del Toro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bocas del Toro
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Corregimiento and town
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City of Isla Colon
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 Bocas del Toro
Location in Panama
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| Country |  Panama |
| Province | Bocas del Toro |
| District | Bocas del Toro |
| Area | |
| • Land | 67.3 km2 (26.0 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 7,366 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (No DST) |
| Climate | Af |
Bocas del Toro, often called Bocas Town, is the main city of the Bocas del Toro area in Panama. It's a popular spot for tourists. The town is located on the southern tip of Colón Island. This island is part of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. In 2008, about 13,000 people lived in Bocas Town.
Bocas del Toro has its own airport, Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport. You can fly there daily from Panama City or San José in Costa Rica.
Contents
Exploring Bocas del Toro: A Tourist Hotspot
Bocas del Toro is a favorite place for visitors all year round. The town is small, so you can easily walk to most places. Its streets are laid out in a grid pattern. Avenidas (avenues) run east to west, and calles (streets) run north to south.
Who Lives in Bocas del Toro?
The land area of Bocas del Toro is about 67.3 square kilometers (26 square miles). In 2010, about 7,366 people lived here. Not many Panamanians live directly on the island. They often choose to live on the mainland where housing is cheaper. People who work on Colón Island usually travel there by boat.
Weather in Bocas del Toro: Tropical and Rainy
Bocas del Toro has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it's warm and rainy throughout the year. There isn't a clear dry season. The months with the least rain are October, January, and March.
Rainfall and Temperatures
Bocas del Toro gets a lot of rain, averaging about 3,458 millimeters (136 inches) each year. Temperatures stay pretty much the same all year. Highs are usually between 28-32°C (83-90°F). Lows are around 21-24°C (71-75°F). The sun usually rises around 6 AM and sets around 6 PM, with only small changes during the year.
| Climate data for Bocas del Toro (1971-2000) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) |
30.7 (87.3) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.9 (89.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
31.5 (88.7) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.6 (88.9) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.4 (88.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.5 (68.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.8 (71.2) |
20.6 (69.1) |
21.4 (70.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 123.9 (4.88) |
266.1 (10.48) |
83.8 (3.30) |
369.1 (14.53) |
178.3 (7.02) |
259 (10.2) |
420.1 (16.54) |
440.7 (17.35) |
311.2 (12.25) |
150.5 (5.93) |
291.7 (11.48) |
563.6 (22.19) |
3,458 (136.15) |
| Average precipitation days | 16.6 | 14.6 | 14.8 | 15.2 | 16.7 | 17.9 | 20.9 | 18.4 | 15.8 | 16.4 | 17 | 20.0 | 204.3 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization | |||||||||||||
Getting Around Bocas del Toro
You can reach Bocas del Toro by flying or by boat. Most visitors fly into Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport. This airport has flights from Costa Rica or Panama City.
Travel by Sea and Land
Ferries connect Almirante on the mainland to Bocas del Toro. Buses also travel between places like David, Almirante, Changuinola, and the Costa Rican border. The many islands and smaller land areas in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago can only be reached by private boat or water taxi. Many small towns are found along these islands, and very few have roads. Lots of companies offer boat trips to different islands and diving spots.
What to Do in Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro offers many fun activities for visitors.
- Bastimentos Island National Marine Park: This park is about a twenty-minute boat ride away. It's a great place for ecotourism, where you can enjoy nature.
- Isla Colon Beaches: Isla Colon has many beautiful white sand beaches. If you go swimming, be careful of strong riptides, which are currents that can pull you out to sea.
- Scuba Diving: Bocas del Toro is becoming more known for its amazing underwater world. You can see many different kinds of sea creatures around its islands.
- Surfing: Whether you're a beginner or an experienced surfer, Bocas del Toro has waves for everyone. Popular surf spots include Black Rock, Carenero, and Wizard Beach, as well as parts of Bastimentos Island. The best time for surfing is usually from November to April, and also during the summer. Bocas del Toro even hosts national and international surf competitions.
Notable People
- Princess Angela of Liechtenstein
See also
In Spanish: Bocas del Toro (ciudad) para niños
