Bocas Island Hopping – Isla Bastimentos

A short boat ride from Bocas Town, the wild and wonderful Isla Bastinmentos is one of the largest islands in the Bocas del Toro archipelago and one of the most popular day trips for guests at La Coralina Island House.

It’s said that Christopher Columbus christened the island Bastinmentos (“Provisions”) upon setting foot on the island during his fourth and last voyage to the New World in 1502.

Whatever indigenous people who lived there at the time are long gone, there place taken centuries later by Afro-Panamanians in a small community called Old Bank at the island’s western tip.

Old Bank boasts modest waterfront restaurants like Reggae Bites Basti, where the menu includes Caribbean-inspired dishes like saltfish balls and jerk meatballs, mofongo, pumpkin soup, and pork with pineapple. From Old Bank, it’s a short walk (20 minutes) to Wizard Beach on the island’s north shore.

Those with a private boat or the services of water taxi can explore the rest of the island, much of the rainforest, beaches and underwater wilderness protected within the confines of Bastimento National Marine Park. The reserve safeguards numerous land, water and airborne species including sea turtles, sloths, monkeys, and poison-dart frogs that lend their name to the park’s popular Red Frog Beach.

Read More

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/panama/bocas-del-toro/isla-bastimentos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastimentos_Island