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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Boca Chica
Spend 1–2 days in Boca Chica for fishing, diving and island hops; day‑trip possible from David.
Boca Chica is a small Pacific‑coast village near the Costa Rica border, serving as a launch point for world‑class sport fishing, scuba diving and visits to nearby islands such as Isla Saino, Isla Brava and the Islas Ladrones. A single day covers the main activities; a second night lets you stay on an island or enjoy a relaxed beach evening.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Dec–Apr, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- May–Aug (rainy season, road can be rough)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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 $30–45 USD excl. bed · Mid $45–70 USD excl. bed · High $70+ USD 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 |
|---|---|
| Bus from David to Boca Chica | $1.75 |
| Minibus 21 km (13 mi) to waterMinibus 13 mi (21 km) to water | $2 |
| Taxi from highway junction | $15 |
| Full‑day boat tour (whale watching, beach, snorkel) | $20 person (≈ $100 per boat) |
| Boat to Isla Saino (round‑trip) | $30–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DAV · Enrique Malek International Airport (David)
- Less than 1 h by road to Boca Chica
Typical fares
- Bus David → Boca Chica
- about $1.75, 1 h
- Minibus to water
- about $2, 15 min
- Taxi from highway junction
- about $15, 30 min (check availability at night)
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
Walk in town; hire a boat for island trips; taxis from the highway junction (≈ $15) or minibus from David (≈ $2) to the water’s edge.
See and do
Known for
- Sport fishing (marlin, tuna, dorado)
- Scuba diving in Golfo de Chiriquí
- Island hopping (Isla Saino, Isla Brava, Islas Ladrones)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Isla Saino | Boat from Boca Chica, ~10 min | ≈ 30 min total |
| Isla Brava | Boat from Boca Chica, ~20 min | ≈ 45 min total |
| Islas Ladrones | Charter boat from Boca Chica, 1‑h trip | ≈ 2 h total |
Sleep
- Seagull Cove Lodge
- Boutique hotel, bungalows, near the road to Boca Chica
- Bocas del Mar
- First‑class bungalows, two pools, organized water activities
- Gone Fishing inn
- Family‑run, basic rooms
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kwes-tah |
| I would like to book a boat | Quisiera reservar un botekee-see-eh-rah reh-ser-var oon boh-teh |
| Where is the nearest ATM? | ¿Dónde está el cajero más cercano?don-deh es-tah el kah-he-roh mahs sehr-kah-no |
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
- Road to Boca Chica can be difficult at night; plan transport ahead.
- Boat operators often speak only Spanish; confirm price ($20 person for full‑day tour, $30‑35 round‑trip to Isla Saino).
- Rainy season (May–Aug) may make the single access road impassable.
Generally safe for tourists; watch for road conditions after dark and keep valuables secure on boat trips.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boca Chica yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sport fishing (marlin, tuna, dorado)
- Scuba diving in Golfo de Chiriquí
- Island hopping (Isla Saino, Isla Brava, Islas Ladrones)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Boca Chica: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Boca Chica, revision 5320432 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5320432
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/boca-chica). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.