Bastimentos National Marine Park - Panama

Bastimentos National Marine Park is a group of islands that are located at Almirante Bay in the province of Bocas del Toro It has an area of 13,226 hectares.This is one of a few protected areas of Latin America that preserve both the wildlife and habitat of beaches, coral reef and mangroves.

Bastimentos National Park encompasses a large portion of Bastimentos Island, Zapatilla Cays and includes the waters and mangroves that surround the island. The western tip of the island, better known as Bastimentos, is clearly visible from Bocas town, and is NOT part of the Bastimentos National Park itself. Bastimentos has private residences, hotels and restaurants. It is a good place to base yourself - and explore the National Park and all the wonderful beaches within it's boundries.

Long Beach, on the north of Bastimentos Island is a large beach with a very rugged beauty. There is where marine turtles come to nest during the monthes of april to october. It is difficult to get to due to the rough seas.

The north & eastern shores of Bastimentos Island faces the Caribbean Sea - making it more rugged and rougher than the western side. There are many coves and inlets with beautiful beaches but many can not be accessed by boat as the seas are normally to rough. Between the months of August-Ocober the water conditions tend to be the calmest, and at times you can access this portion of the island.

Red Frog Beach (named after the poisonous frog that inhabits the area)located on the eastern side of Bastimentos is the island's most accessible and frequently visited beach area.

The Zapatillas Keys are a place of tranquility. Here, visitors can snorkel, dive or swim in the clear waters or simply relax on the beach of explore the small interior forest. These islands are are the most visited parts of the park thanks to the good snorkeling and diving among the nearby coral gardens and underwater caves, which start about 12 meters down. The Zapatillas are about an hour by boat from Isla Colón

The most common entrance point to the Park is via Magic Bay, which is located on the opposite side of the island (western side).

Admission to Bastimentos National Marine Park is $10.