Category: Living in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro has historically attracted backpackers, surfers, and retired expats, but that list has expanded to include families with school-age children in recent times. More and more families are looking to expatriate to our beautiful archipelago for the lower cost of living and richer life experiences surrounded by nature. But what about education? While some families choose to homeschool, many begin searching for schools before the big move. With this influx of families over the past few years, more schooling options have been created. There are two main divisions when it comes to schooling in our beautiful archipelago:...

Holidays fill the month of November in Panama; starting with Dia de los Muertos on the 2nd of November and ending with Independence Day on the 29th of November, the month is a festive one! During the month of November the country is adorned in patriotic flags, music fills the air, and parades march throughout the streets. In addition to the national holidays, the province of Bocas del Toro celebrates its birthday in November as well, making the festivities even more grand in Bocas. During the year of Covid lockdown, many of these celebrations went dormant, but this year...

Regenerative Travel is adding another layer to Sustainable Tourism. This is the practice of leaving a place better than when you found it through volunteering, education, buying and hiring locally, creating opportunities for professionals, personal growth for locals and regenerating natural habitats. Bocas del Toro has stepped up to the plate by banning plastic bags and straws even before the pandemic and the pandemic has acted as an accelerant for people helping people and animals here in the archipelago. Did you know there are at least 20 non-profits here promoting regeneration and sustainability? Some of them are Caribbean Coral...

There are several paths to acquiring a Panamanian Visa. Two of the most popular ones are the Pensionado Visa and the “Friendly Nations Visa.”

Forget apples and snakes in the original Eden story. Let me tell you the BEST ways to get to Bocas del Toro, the closest I’ve found to paradise on earth!

By Kimberly Roberts I was on the phone the other night, talking to one of my dear friends.  He was at his Indiana hometown grocery store getting stuff for his dinner.  I could hear in the background his banter with the cheerful clerk, and the rolling tune of ‘beep’ (pause), ‘beep’ (pause), ‘beep’…and so on. It struck me that it has been almost a year since I’d heard the sounds of a modern day ‘checkout’ experience! A year! This made me wonder what would be the sounds I now take for granted in my Bocas del Toro paradise, that I...

By Kimberly Roberts Searching the internet for any pre-packing tips on traveling and you will find countless articles with titles like “Top 10 Things To Take With You”, “Must Haves Every Traveler Should Take To X”, and “Best Things To Take With You To X.” I have found however, far greater in significance is what you shouldn’t take with you.  Each of us as humans are oft to take familiar things with us – a little piece of home.  A picture, a favourite pillow case, our usual coffee mug. You name it.  And that’s not what I’m talking about here....