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Katiana Murillo: Bocas del Toro: Panama´s Natural and Cultural Paradise


Located off the Western Caribbean coast of Panama, The Bocas del Toro Archipelago seems to be a place where time has stopped to let the natural beauty of the tropical forests, mangroves and coral reefs make a perfect combination with the variety of cultures, rhythms, flavors and colors.






White and gold sandy beaches plenty of cushion star fish, colorful sponges and corals are part of what makes these islands so special. The tropical forests in the islands, especially at Bastimentos Marine National Park, are also the habitat for such species as the three-toed sloth, the night monkey, the red frog and a variety of birds, including the red-billed tropical bird; whose only nesting site in the Central American Caribbean is Pájaros (Bird) Island.






But cultural groups in Bocas are quite interesting too. You can find the Afro Antilleans, the Ngobe or Guaymí indigenous group, the Hispano-Indigenous or mestizos and, in the mainland, the Teribe or Naso indigenous group. Each one offers a unique cultural experience, including food, music and traditions, making Bocas one of Panama´s main tourist attractions.






You cannot leave Bocas if you have not experienced the famous and tasty “killing me man sauce” at Lilly´s Café, very spicy of course; or listened to the popular Bastimentos Beach Boys, who feature calypso, reggae and even music from The Beatles. You can also dance to whichever possible tropical rhythm exists at the Barco Hundido Bar (Sunken Boat) on a floating deck next to a sunken structure of a boat, full of sponges and star fish.





Christopher Columbus arrived to this natural paradise in his fourth and last trip to America back in 1502. In fact, the capital of Bocas, a colorful Caribbean-style island, was named Colón --Columbus in Spanish--after him. What is impossible to believe, especially for the hundreds of
tourists who visit these islands every year, is why he left

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