How to get to Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Check out how to get to Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo.

How to travel between islands in Bocas del Toro

Any transportation out of Isla Colon and around the province’s islands is by water taxis. Below are some water taxi routes we used together with prices:

• Isla Colon <-> Isla Solarte: $10 each

• Isla Solarte <-> Isla Carenero: $10 each

• Isla Carenero <-> Isla Colon (town): $1 each during the day and $2 each during the night

Water taxis within the province are abundant and you just need to wait on the jetty and signal for water taxis to pick you up. Agree on a price before jumping on board.

Where to stay on Isla Solarte

We spent 3 incredible days on Isla Solarte, and we must admit that the accomodation we stayed in played a huge part in making it so great. We knew that Villa F & B was going to be a great place to stay based on their reviews, but it actually exceeded all our expectations. We can confidently say that the best time we had in all of Bocas Del Toro was on Isla Solarte and was thanks to Villa F & B. 

The rooms are amazing, the views are magnificent, and hosts Fabienne and Benoit really go out of their way to make sure that your stay is unforgettable.

We wouldn’t really consider ourselves what the cool kids refer to as “foodies”, but the food served at Villa F & B was amazing.

If you’re not after the hustle and bustle of Bocas Town and are looking for something quieter and more peaceful, we strongly recommend properly researching where to stay in Bocas del Toro. Paying a little extra for accomodation can go a long way here.

Be prepared to get bitten by annoying sandflies, especially at dusk. We recommend covering up and using an oil-based repellent during their peak activity.

Things to do in Bocas del Toro

Red Frog Beach

Red Frog Beach is a nice white sanded beach with clear waters. We got here by boat from Isla Solarte and spent around half a day. Access to the beach is through a private entrance and we paid $5 each to pass through.

Kayak and Snorkel the Mangroves around Isla Solarte

Kayaking through and around Isla Solarte’s mangroves was really something. The kayak was provided for free by Villa F & B and we spent the whole day exploring the mangroves and randomly snorkeling different spots. Visibility was perfect and we got to see barracudas, lots of starfish, and a stingray.

Kayak and Snorkel at Hospital Point

Our hotel on Isla Carenero allowed us to use their Kayaks for free and we kayaked to Hospital Point from Isla Carenero for around 40 minutes each way. Hospital point got its name from the medical center which was built by the United Fruit Company in 1899 to ensure a healthy and functional workforce. While we enjoyed relaxing on the beach and snorkeling the reef at hospital point, we felt that the other spots we snorkeled in Bocas Del Toro were nicer.

Snorkel in Bahia de Almirante 

There are many tours offering snorkeling trips which can be booked from any one of the tour offices in Bocas Town. We chose to book a private boat tour to snorkel at Bahia de Almirante (found on the south west of Isla Colon, very close to The Floating Bar). The boat waited for us close by while we snorkeled for an hour in clear blue waters. We spotted some dolphins as part of this tour as well.

Internet Connection in Bocas del Toro

Do not expect to have a stable or high-speed internet connection in Bocas del Toro – specifically in Isla Solarte and Isla Carenero. For the most part, not having an internet connection is fine when you are living in paradise. However, if you are a digital nomad or have important video calls you need to make (like we did!), this might be a problem. In case you require a somewhat high-speed internet connection, we suggest looking at Bocas Town instead of one of the more remote islands.