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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Boca Brava
Go for a day-trip from Boca Chica or a 1–2 night stay for howler monkeys, hiking and kayaking; skip if you want beaches — the best ones are on Isla Palenque.
Boca Brava is a sparsely populated island in the Gulf of Chiriquí, part of the Chiriquí National Marine Park. It is known for its howler monkeys, rainforest trails and calm waters for kayaking. The island has no shops, limited dining and no beaches worth swimming from — the clear water and sand are on neighbouring Isla Palenque. Most visitors come for a day-trip from Boca Chica or spend one night at one of the two lodges.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, trails can be muddy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PAB
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–50 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire and ambulance 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Water taxi Boca Chica–Boca Brava (day) | $3 per person |
| Water taxi Boca Chica–Boca Brava (night) | $5 per person |
| Double tent Howlers Bay | $22 |
| Double cabin Howlers Bay | $34 |
| Meal at lodge | $10–20 |
| Kayak rental (half day) | $25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DAV · Enrique Malek International Airport (David)
- About 45 min by taxi to Boca Chica, then water taxi
Typical fares
- Water taxi Boca Chica ↔ Boca Brava
- $3 per person day, $5 night (check)
- Taxi David → Boca Chica
- about $30–40 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Water taxi from Boca Chica (5 min, $3 per person day, $5 night) or foot on the island's hiking trails. If no water taxi at the dock, ask your hotel to take you.
See and do
Known for
- Howler monkeys
- Chiriquí National Marine Park
- Kayaking and sport fishing
- Cala Mia eco-resort
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Palenque | Water taxi from Boca Brava, about 10 min | About 20 min |
| Boca Chica | Water taxi, 5 min | About 10 min |
| David | Taxi from Boca Chica, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Cala Mia
- Solar-powered resort with 11 bungalows; eco-friendly, sport fishing packages.
- Hotel y Restaurante Boca Brava (Frank's Place)
- Midmarket lodge with hammocks for backpackers; under new management.
- Howlers Bay Hotel
- Double tent $22, double cabin $34 (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Water taxi, please | Taxi acuático, por favorTAHK-see ah-KWAH-tee-koh por fah-VOR |
| Where is the trail? | ¿Dónde está el sendero?DOHN-deh es-TAH el sen-DEH-roh |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médiconeh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- No stores on the island — bring supplies from Boca Chica.
- Beaches are not clear; the best swimming is on Isla Palenque.
- Howler monkeys are loud at dawn and dusk; they are wild, do not feed them.
- Trails can be muddy in the rainy season.
Boca Brava is generally safe; the main risks are muddy trails, mosquito-borne diseases (bring repellent) and the lack of medical facilities — the nearest clinic is in Boca Chica.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boca Brava yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Howler monkeys
- Chiriquí National Marine Park
- Kayaking and sport fishing
- Cala Mia eco-resort
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Boca Brava, revision 4847278 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4847278
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Boca Brava
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US embassy is in Panama City; nearest consular agent is in David (check).
No ATM on the island; bring cash from David or Boca Chica.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/boca-brava). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.