We want your experience in Bocas to be as pleasant as possible, so please take note of the following:
If you are only going to be here for 2 or 3 days we recommend that you make an advance appointment with us so we can give you the time that you need. However, if you think you may want to buy a property while you are here, plan to be here for a week so you can see as much as possible.
Bring plenty of cash and/or an ATM (Clave) debit card, as many places to not accept credit cards. Traveler's checks are difficult and expensive to cash.
The weather in Bocas del Toro is different from the rest of Panama. Generally the rainy months are June through August and November through January. Drier months tend to be March through May, and September through October. If you plan to come during the rainy months we recommend that you stay in Bocas a minimum of 5 days, as it can easily rain 3 days and you will only have a short time left to look at properties. Regardless of when you come, we suggest that you bring rain gear, boots (or footwear that you don’t mind getting wet and/or muddy), long pants (sometimes we walk through razor grass), hat and sunscreen. Our office has a few pair of rubber boots that you can borrow (bring your own socks), but if your feet are very large or small, please bring your own footwear. We are often out for several hours at a time and there are no restaurants, so bring snacks and plenty of water.
We recommend that you do not come during Carnival time (March 1-4, 2014), as you may not be able to find a room and many businesses are closed.
We are not a tour company and unfortunately we only have time to show properties to serious buyers, therefore we ask that you pay the boat and taxi fees (if applicable) and you will get a refund when you buy one of our properties. This is standard procedure for all independent real estate companies in Bocas. The cost can range from $70 - $120 per day depending upon how many properties you want to see and how far away they are located. Properties are widespread and some are up to 45 minutes away and you can probably see 6-8 properties in 6-7 hours, depending how long you want to stay at each place. The driver usually charges $10 an hour plus gas, which is currently $5 a gallon for mix. Thank you for your understanding.
Bocas Information:
The Bocas Archipelago is a jungle and it is relatively remote. It is not the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands or Hawaii. Most properties are off-the-grid, with solar, generator and rainwater collection systems. There are no malls or movie theaters. Properties do not have addresses. The archipelago interior waters have mostly mangrove waterfronts. If you want a sand beach, they will be on the exterior side of Colon and Bastimentos Islands, the open Caribbean Sea, and access can be difficult at certain times of the year. If the sea is not too rough, the boat driver can drop you off on the beach and pick you back up between waves. These properties are only for the physically fit, adventurous type.
If you want a dock, you will need to buy a property on the inland waters, very much like the Florida Keys, including the mangroves. It is illegal to cut mangroves other than to make a channel for a boat dock and access.
The only roads are on the main island of Colon and only go along the coastline from Bocas town to the end of Bluff Beach, and from Bocas town across the center of the island to the north end at Playa Drago. There are also no roads to most of the mainland waterfront areas, access is by boat.
