The Bocas del Toro Province of Panama boasts of an island chain along the Caribbean coast and a mainland comprising of scintillating wildlife and rainforests dotted with indigenous villages. Here in this article, we will talk about two important towns in the Bocas del Toro Province – Almirante and Changuinola.
Almirante
Almirante (Spanish for ‘Admiral’) is a lovely little port town located along the coast of the Caribbean Sea. The town acts as the principal launching point for trips to the Bocas del Toro archipelago, and tourists always find great hustle and bustle in and around the town. Direct car ferries and water taxis to the islands are readily available for travelers.
In addition to its status as a jumping-off point for traveling to the islands, this small town boasts of several sports facilities, including concrete basketball courts, artificial turf soccer fields, and the world-famous Myrick Stadium used for sports like softball, basketball, etc. A well-known face in Major League Baseball (MLB), Fernando Seguignol, hails from Almirante.
A beautiful lodge named La Escapada, located about 20 km from Almirante, is a great place for tourists to spend their nights. It offers four comfortable rooms with large porches in front. A rustic path built above the waters leads to the in-house restaurant serving delicious cuisine and rendering spectacular views of Isla San Cristobal. The owners also arrange boating and fishing tours for guests.
Changuinola
This hot and humid town is located on Panama’s Caribbean coast, near the Costa Rican border. It is famous for its widespread banana plantations and is encompassed by the beautiful Changuinola River. The city is divided into small communities called ‘fincas’ (Spanish for ‘farm’). It serves a great starting point for visiting ‘Bocas’, the main town in the Bocas del Toro Province.
The town is also a great access point for the Humedal de San San Pond Sak and the La Amistad National Park, which are two of the most dazzling wildlife destinations in Panama. The town boasts of incredible beaches featuring clear waters and vibrant marine life, along with some beautiful islands including the Isla Bastimentos, which features colorful, eye-catching animals that can be seen by taking one of the island’s zip-lining tours.
The Snyder (Changuinola) Canal, a 12 kilometer-long and 30-meter wide waterway, was constructed parallel to the Caribbean coast in 1903 in order to facilitate the loading of bananas into ships. However, the canal was abandoned after a few years of serving as a barging site and has today become a great spot for wildlife watching. The canal is located 5 km east of Changuinola and can be reached via taxi for $2 USD.
Places to Stay in Changuinola
Changuinola offers a number of decent options for tourists to spend their nights on the way to the La Amistad National Park. Find some of the best options below.
Hospedage Golden Sahara
Golden Sahara is a very famous hotel in the town. It is a big, family-run place containing twenty-eight rooms, all offering flat-screen cable TVs, air conditioning, wardrobes, and private bathrooms. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi to visitors, along with a front desk which is operational 24/7. A total of six personal computers are also available for guest use. Choose one of the rooms at the back because the ones facing the main road are very noisy because of the central bus station nearby.
Hotel Alhambra
This high-value option, located on the southern end of the main road leading out of the city, finds itself above a shopping center. The hotel offers thirty-three rooms featuring comfortable beds, air conditioners, and private bathrooms with hot water showers.
Hotel SemiRamis
Hotel SemiRamis is an ideal option in Changuinola for travelers looking for a small, family-friendly accommodation. There are twenty air-conditioned and well-furnished rooms available onsite. Free parking and Wi-Fi are also available. Guests can enjoy delicious international and local cuisine in the onsite restaurant. A very popular Spanish restaurant, ‘REbony’, is located just a short walking distance away. The hotel has a local ambience, rendering an enjoyable and peaceful experience for visitors.
Places to Eat in Changuinola
Apart from the hotels and lodgings offering meals to the guests through onsite restaurants, there are many other decent eating options available in and around the town of Changuinola. These include restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world. The best options include:
Restaurante Ebony
Ebony, an Afro-American restaurant, is one of the more expensive options in the town. Located at the southern end of Changuinola’s main street, the eatery offers predominantly Caribbean dishes including shrimp with coconut, rice with peas, salt fish, etc. Walls of the restaurant are adorned with carved birds and portraits of eminent black personalities, including Bob Marley, Malcolm X, and former U.S. president Barack Obama.
La Fortuna
This Chinese restaurant is located opposite to the Urraca Bus Terminal. The restaurant is famous for serving delicious Chinese staples including rice and noodles. The eatery also specializes in seafood.
REbony
Tourists will find the REbony restaurant just a few meters away from the SemiRamis Hotel. The eatery specializes in international cuisine, including a torrent of Spanish, Caribbean, Jamaican, Central and South American dishes. The place is the best for having a drink along with delicious chicken, fish, and other seafood.
Cotty’s Restaurant
This eatery located on the main street is a cafeteria cum restaurant serving local Panamanian dishes. The walls feature traditional folkloric murals, giving the visitors a local nostalgic feel. A delicious plate of rice and chicken curry here will make your day.
Reaching Changuinola
Tourists can take an Air Panama flight from Panama City to Changuinola, and carry on to Bocas town. This will cost around $130 USD one way. Flights run twice a day on weekdays and once a day on weekends. Buses also run through this route till the Costa Rican border.
Conclusion
The above article talks about two significant towns in the Bocas del Toro Province. The town of Almirante serves as a springboard for trips to the town of Bocas and is famous for its extensive sporting facilities, most notably the Myrick Stadium. Changuinola is surrounded by immense banana plantations and boasts of a number of colorful islands housing a diverse marine life.
The Snyder Canal in Changuinola serves as a great spot for wildlife watching. The staying and eating needs of visitors are taken care of by a decent number of lodgings and restaurants located in and around both the towns. Both these towns have their unique specialties and are a must-visit for people planning to tour the La Amistad National Park.
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