The team at Condé Nast Traveler recently rounded up its picks for the world’s most beautiful small towns. When you think about coastal towns and their aesthetic beauty, what comes to mind? Positano along Italy‘s Amalfi Coast, Oia with its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches on the Greek Island of Santorini, and charming Camden in Maine are all often lauded for their beauty.
But the small coastal city that the publication recently highlighted isn’t one that most casual travelers are familiar with. Bocas del Toro, Panama, or “Bocas Town” as it’s often referred to, lies at the southern tip of the main island of Isla Colón. It’s part of the Bocas del Toro archipelago, made up of nine islands off the Caribbean coast, with the town serving as the main hub for activities, shopping, dining, and accommodations.
But What Makes it So Beautiful?
While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Bocas Town looks as if it were made for a postcard. Set along the waterfront, its buildings were constructed on stilts and painted in bright colors, a tradition that began among the indigenous communities. They have wide porches and balconies with banisters featuring detailed woodwork, embodying the ingenuity of the people, with every shade of paint and wooden plank holding a memory.
What to Do
Bocas Town offers a laid-back vibe and unique local culture that can be experienced by visiting local markets, attending traditional indigenous and Afro-Caribbean performances, and dining on local favorites at family-owned eateries like BAPÉ, a homemade stuffed bread.
For active travelers, Bocas Town is an ideal base for outdoor adventures, with diving and snorkeling two of the most popular activities. In the biodiverse marine parks, you can spot colorful corals, sea turtles, dolphins, octopus, reef fish, and even night-time bioluminescence. Or, go wildlife watching in the rainforests for the chance to see sloths and monkeys. ATV rides through the jungle trails, exploring bat caves, and visiting chocolate farms are all possible too.
Where to Stay
The islands, including Isla Colón, are known for affordable overwater bungalows, bringing the chance to experience a unique stay that’s hard to find anywhere else at similar price points. Koko Acqua Lodge is widely regarded as the best value within a short walk of Boca Town, but you’ll find many options throughout the island and beyond for a stay right on the water.
