Christopher Columbus first explored Bocas del Toro in 1502, and not much has happened here since! It was the hideout of pirates in the 1700’s, which explains the occasional Johnny Depp impersonator you’ll see hanging around the bars at night. There are rumors of buried treasure, and if the pirates really did hide their loot that way, here would be where they would do it – but none has yet to be found. Chiquita grows their bananas on the mainland and you’ll see lots of containers emblazoned with their logo at the port at Almirante. Other than that, it’s a very sleepy, undeveloped and undiscovered place full of beautiful, unpopulated beaches and snorkeling, diving and surfing spots.

Undeveloped is the key word. In my opinion, the area is more beautiful than anything I’ve seen in Costa Rica, but there are no big-name resorts, no big hotels, and no developed tourist attractions. You won’t get manicured beaches and paved walkways through the jungle. You can’t drink the tap water, and you will have to get used to seeing garbage. It is not sanitized Central America – it’s an undiscovered, rough cut gem of a place that will inevitably be found and developed – but that hasn’t happened yet. It isn’t for everyone. If you want comfort and luxury, go to Costa Rica, where they’ve built a tourist industry. But if you want untouched jungles, secluded beaches and secret diving spots, Bocas del Toro is your place.

Bocas is also much less expensive than Costa Rica. If you want, you can spend a lot here at a few very upscale resorts, but for the most part, the tourists in Bocas are young backpackers with a sense of adventure and skinny wallets. Just be warned, some of the accommodations here are just as adventurous as the backpackers.