Continued from Part 1...

Colon Island:
Bocas Town on Colon island is the commercial hub of the area, buzzing day and night with visitors and locals alike, as well as an impressive range of accommodations, restaurants and nightlife. First stop might be, dinner at Raw for sushi and tapas with fresh, local flavours (also try the life-changing passion fruit mojito!) or grab a bite at the relaxed Indi Lounge. On another day, chill in a hammock over the water after lunch at Casa Verde or shop for organic delicacies (though at a steep price) at Super Gourmet.

A short bus ride will take you to Boca del Drago (when you get off the bus just hike around the bend, along the beach instead of taking a $ water taxi). There you will find breathtaking Starfish Beach frequented by its namesakes. There are dozens of these beautiful, fragile creatures close to the shore in the clear, warm water. Please don’t be tempted to touch or remove the starfish, just seconds out of the water can be lethal for them.

Zapatillas Island:
The claim to fame for this mini paradise is that a season of Survivor was filmed here, but the nature is the real star. On a sunny day the beaches are postcard perfect and you can hide from the sun in the jungly interior. When we visited it was raining and gusty. I loved it none the less—in a stranded on a desert island sort of way. You can book a boat ride from Bocas Town and they might even stop by Dolphin Bay on the way over.

Coral Cay:
Locally known as Crawl Cay, the area boasts a beautiful (though overfished) snorkelling spot. The coral reef is pristine and incredibly colourful and we saw dozens of different fish species, none of which I can name (sorry). The Cay is a small island surrounded by mangroves and has a seafood restaurant right on the water (we even caught a World Cup game there).