1. Destinations

Islands of Panama

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Islands of Panama

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From the Bocas del Toro and Guna Yala archipelagos along the Caribbean coast to the Pearl Islands and Gulf of Chiriquí islands on the Pacific, Panama is literally bursting with islands. These islands usually lack crowds and have a pleasant, picturesque environment. Many are near coral reefs that provide excellent snorkeling or scuba opportunities, and some are close to good sport fishing sites. Needless to say, these island attractions are awesome places to visit.

Destinations

Panama highlights: Islands of Panama

Not sure where you want to go yet? Get inspired and browse the best places to visit in Panama
Dolphin Bay

Dolphin Bay

Dolphin Bay is a lagoon in Bocas del Toro that hosts bottlenose dolphins throughout much of the year. Boat tours of the islands often stop here.
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Cayo Crawl

Cayo Crawl

Many islands in the Bocas del Toro archipelago border water that is crystal-clear and teeming with marine life. Cayo Crawl is one such area. Set between Isla Bastimentos and Isla Popa, Cayo Crawl is a shallow channel of water that has fantastic snorkeling.
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Cayos Holandeses

Cayos Holandeses

The Cayos Holandéses (Dutch Cays) are several remote and mostly uninhabited islands along the northwestern end of the Guna Yala archipelago. These are some of the prettiest islands in the entire comarca (semi-autonomous reserve). There are small Guna villages on three of the twenty islands.
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Bastimentos Island National Park

Bastimentos Island National Park

The Bastimentos Island National Park was Panama’s first marine park. Established in 1988, this park protects 13,226-hecatres (32,682-acres) of land and sea. It’s best known for the Cayos Zapatillas, two lovely islands that have fantastic snorkeling and diving opportunities.
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Gobernadora Island

Gobernadora Island

Gobernadora Island is a small island set in the Gulf of Montijo on Panama’s Pacific coast. The island is often skipped over by travelers, but it’s a pretty little place that offers secluded white-sand beaches and a densely forested mainland.
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Maquina Island

Maquina Island

Isla Maquina is a small island in the Guna Yala archipelago. Set near Río Sidra and the mainland, Isla Maquina is an attractive island with a strong traditional Guna culture.
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Cayos Zapatillas

Cayos Zapatillas

The Cayos Zapatillas are two idyllic islands in Panama’s Bastimentos Island National Marine Park. These islands are like something off a postcard—they have white-sand beaches, tropical forests, and coral gardens just offshore.
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