Carenero Island is a vast, beautiful forested land situated east of Isla Colón in Bocas Town of Panama. Carenero is small, but the landscape is to die for, and the serenity is powerful. Nature reigns supreme here as there is not even a single road. Looking for an escape? Carenero Island is waiting for you! The beaches are full of starfish and flanked by mangroves. You can spend all your time on this island relaxing and eating at the delicious seafood places, but the island also offers opportunities for diving, snorkeling, and surfing. You can also visit the neighboring islands by boat if you’d like.
Checklist Before Going To The Island
Preparing a to-do list and a list of essential items beforehand is a smart move. Since there is going to be a lot of walking, go for some comfortable footwear. Additionally, your choice of footwear should also be water friendly. Your clothes should be comfortable, but stylish if that is important to you!
Also, select a backpack wisely. It should hold your clothes, water bottle, and other essentials. You don’t want to be carrying multiple smaller bags, or one large one, and remember – do not overlook your personal care. Since you’ll be at the beach, make sure to bring plenty of trusty sunscreen. Also, the island is majorly forested so there are bugs, mainly chitras or sand flies. They are very, very mean little creatures so by no means can you forget to bring personal bug spray.
Things to Know Before Visiting
Even though the island is only 0.36 sq. mi. (0.94 sq. km.), it has many restaurants and bars that you can visit. Though it is not very far away from Bocas del Toro, the vibe and ambiance here are different. This small island is not filled with a lot of people – the residents and a few visitors.
So, a lot of care is taken when it comes to serving travelers or even the locals by the business holders in Carenero. You can find a number of hotels near to beaches or over the water. The best part is that the water will be in front of you 24/7.
Because of the proximity to the sea, fresh and exotic seafood is always offer. There are no automobile services available on the island, but this won’t hinder your experience at all or the living conditions of the people. Boating is widely used by the locals as a mode of transportation from Bocas Town. Water taxis are the most convenient mode of getting around.
The Escuela del Mar Surf School is a must-visit if you have a soft spot for surfing. Furthermore, if you want to surfing but don’t know how to, then the instructors from the school have got your back. And if you are really, lucky, you might even have the beach all to yourself.
To Do In Carenero
Hiking
As soon as you get off that water taxi, you can start hiking right away. It would take less than two hours to hike the whole island, but of course, you want to enjoy yourself and explore so have at it!
Food & Drinks
While most of people like to enjoy the food of the restaurants and bars located in the midway, you will spot some of the most exquisite cocktails and seafood hubs during the course of your journey. These hotels also offer various deals on a daily basis for customers. The residential area, the market area that includes the hotels and other general stores, and the beach area all have a vibe of their own.
Surfing
Besides hiking, another adventure sport that you can go for is surfing. Unlike the regular beaches, you will not find a lot of people here and so you can have the best time surfing the waves. Snorkeling and diving is not to be missed either, as you can easily rent equipment from any hotel.
Beaches
Another wonderful thing to do at any beach is to simply relax on the sand. Just make sure you apply a lot of sunscreen before you do so.
Conclusion
Before visiting the island, you should plan ahead. This place is best suited for relaxation. It is situated near Bocas Town, and the dominant mode of transportation besides walking is water taxis.
Since this place has both beaches and forest, be smart about packing for both. Even though the island is small, you can have a vacation you’ll cherish for a lifetime. The place offers exclusive seafood and cocktails and views that ought to be treasured. Also, this island is not known by a lot of people, so it has fewer visitors and the population is also small. This is the perfect destination for a one day holiday or even longer.
What’s Nearby?
