This Caribbean archipelago off Panama's north coast alternates between rainforest and reef every few hundred metres: sloths in the mangroves at Bastimentos, red frogs on the beach that bears their name and starfish scattered across the shallows at Playa Estrella like dropped decorations. Water taxis are the buses here — negotiate the fare before boarding. Base yourself in Bocas Town for the restaurants, then day-trip. February, March, September and October are the drier windows.
Featured in Ten lush rainforest-and-reef escapes for nature lovers · Tropical