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Zapatilla Island Tour from Bocas del Toro
Experience one of the most popular island-hopping adventures in Bocas del Toro on our Zapatilla Island Tour. This full-day boat excursion combines dolphins, sloths, snorkeling, coral reefs, tropical beaches and the spectacular Cayos Zapatilla in one Caribbean adventure.
Departing from Bocas Town, your Zapatilla Island Tour takes you through Dolphin Bay, the mangroves of Bahía Honda, Hollywood Cove and Cayo Coral before reaching the beautiful Zapatilla Cays in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park. After enjoying the islands, we return to Cayo Coral for lunch and make a final stop at the Hollywood Natural Pool before heading back to Bocas Town.
Please note: The exact itinerary, order of stops and time spent at each location may vary depending on weather, sea conditions and other operational factors.
Table of Contents
- Zapatilla Island Tour Itinerary
- Zapatilla Island Tour at a Glance
- What's Included
- What's Not Included
- What to Bring
- Important Booking Information
- Cancellation Policy
Zapatilla Island Tour Itinerary
Your adventure begins in Bocas Town, where you'll board a local boat for a full day exploring some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
Dolphin Bay
Our first stop is Dolphin Bay, a sheltered area where bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen swimming through the calm waters. Keep your eyes on the water as we cruise through the bay — dolphins may surface near the boat as we make our way deeper into the archipelago.
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but Dolphin Bay is one of the best-known places in Bocas del Toro for observing dolphins in their natural environment.
Bahía Honda & Sloth Spotting
We continue toward Bahía Honda, a peaceful mangrove-lined bay on Isla Bastimentos. As the boat moves slowly through the area, look into the treetops for sloths resting among the tropical vegetation.
The surrounding mangroves provide important habitat for wildlife and offer a completely different landscape from the open Caribbean waters and beaches you'll experience later in the day.
Hollywood Cove & Starfish
Next we visit Hollywood Cove, known for the bright orange starfish that can often be seen resting beneath the clear, shallow water.
Please enjoy the starfish without touching or removing them from the water. They are delicate marine animals and are best observed in their natural environment.
Cayo Coral Snorkeling
Our next stop is Cayo Coral, one of the best-known snorkeling areas in Bocas del Toro. Put on your mask and snorkel and explore warm Caribbean waters around colorful coral formations inhabited by tropical fish and other marine life.
Snorkeling conditions and visibility depend on the weather and sea conditions on the day of your tour.
Cayos Zapatilla
The highlight of the tour is Cayos Zapatilla, two undeveloped tropical cays surrounded by Caribbean water, coral reefs and lush vegetation within the protected Bastimentos Island National Marine Park.
Once on the island, enjoy time to relax on the beach, swim in the Caribbean Sea, explore the shoreline or walk through the tropical surroundings. The Zapatilla Cays are among the most beautiful natural destinations in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
The islands are also an important nesting area for hawksbill sea turtles. During nesting season, visitors may occasionally encounter signs of turtle activity along the beaches. Please always respect protected areas and follow your guide's instructions around wildlife.
Lunch at Cayo Coral
After enjoying Cayos Zapatilla, we return to Cayo Coral, where you'll have time for a freshly prepared lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is not included in the tour price, allowing you to choose from the available menu options.
Hollywood Natural Pool
Before returning to Bocas Town, we make a final stop at the Hollywood Natural Pool, a shallow area of clear Caribbean water where starfish can often be observed below the surface.
After our final stop, we cruise back through the archipelago and return to Bocas Town at approximately 4:00 PM.
Zapatilla Island Tour at a Glance
- Price: $44 per person
- Tour type: Small-group boat tour
- Duration: Approximately 6 hours
- Availability: Daily
- Departure: Approximately 9:45–10:00 AM from Bocas Town
- Main stops: Dolphin Bay, Bahía Honda, Hollywood Cove, Cayo Coral & Cayos Zapatilla
- Return: Approximately 4:00 PM
This Zapatilla Island Tour from Bocas del Toro is ideal for travelers who want to combine island hopping, snorkeling, wildlife and Caribbean beaches in a single day.
What's Included in the Zapatilla Island Tour
- Local guide
- Boat transportation throughout the tour
- Snorkeling equipment (mask and snorkel)
- Drinking water
- Cooler box onboard
What's Not Included
- Lunch at Cayo Coral (restaurant meals are typically available for approximately $12–$18)
- Hotel transfers
- Bastimentos Island National Marine Park entrance fee ($10 per international visitor)
- Tips, souvenirs and personal expenses
National Park entrance fee: The $10 entrance fee is paid separately and is not included in the tour price. We will provide you with instructions for completing the required payment.
What to Bring on Your Zapatilla Island Tour
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Lightweight sun-protective clothing
- Comfortable sandals or water shoes
- Waterproof phone case or dry bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Cash for lunch, tips, souvenirs and personal expenses
Sun protection: We encourage guests to use sun-protective clothing and to be mindful of products entering the marine environment while swimming and snorkeling.
Important Information for Your Zapatilla Island Tour
Weather & Sea Conditions
Bocas del Toro has a tropical Caribbean climate and weather can change quickly. The itinerary, snorkeling locations, order of stops and time spent at each destination may be adjusted depending on weather and sea conditions.
Wildlife
Dolphins, sloths, starfish, tropical fish and other wildlife live freely in their natural environment. Although these animals are frequently seen during the tour, wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Protecting the Marine Environment
Cayos Zapatilla and the surrounding waters form part of a protected marine environment. Please do not touch coral, handle starfish, disturb wildlife or leave trash on the islands. Always follow your guide's instructions while visiting protected areas.
Last-Minute Bookings
Reservations made after 6:00 PM for the following day are subject to confirmation. Please wait for explicit confirmation from our booking team before considering a last-minute reservation confirmed.
Explore More of Bocas del Toro
Looking for more island, wildlife and snorkeling experiences? Explore our Bocas del Toro tours to discover more ways to experience Panama's Caribbean archipelago.
Cancellation Policy
Please read our Tour Cancelation Policy before booking.
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TOUR CANCELATION POLICY
Tao Travel 365 strives to deliver the best possible customer experience. If at any point you have a question or concern about our service, please call us by phone at +1 (805) 826-3657 or email us at sales@taotravel365.tours.
The following cancellation policy applies only for Day Tours (DOES NOT apply for Multi-Day Tours).
TOUR POLICIES
Due to the nature of our business, the logistics involved with organizing tours and the high reservation demand following refund policies apply:
- 100% refund less credit card processing fees will only be granted if booked via our website www.taotravel365.tours AND if canceled more than 24 hours before the start of the tour.
- No refund will be granted for cancelations received less than 24 hours before the tour start date.
All sales are final.
For all bookings made via outside portals such as, but not limited to Viator, Expedia, Airbnb, please refer and adhere to the respective cancellation policy of the portal that you booked with.
If you are unable to realize the reservation, contact us as soon as possible and we will try to arrange and reschedule the same or different tour for you.
If you are not at the designated meeting point by the time of your scheduled reservation or pick up, Tao Travel 365 reserves the right not to provide a refund. However, we will always try our best to locate you at the meeting point and call your WhatsApp number, if one was provided. After all, we want you to participate in our tour and have fun. That is our goal!
CANCELED OR POSTPONED TOURS
Occasionally, tours are canceled or postponed due to weather or ocean conditions, mechanical failure, or other unforeseen events. Should this occur, we will attempt to contact you about the cancellations and to inform you of refund or exchange procedures for that tour. For exact instructions on any canceled or postponed tour, please contact us. In the case of a cancellation of your tour by Tao Travel 365, we will refund your tour or schedule you for another tour, as detailed below.
REFUNDS
All sales are final. No refunds are available unless a tour is canceled or postponed, or we are given 24 hours advance noticed whereby a 100 percent refund will be awarded. We will offer refunds of the full face value of the tour(s) that are canceled or postponed (or, if a discounted tour, then instead the discounted tour price paid). No refunds are offered on any service, payment processing or convenience fees. To receive a refund for a canceled or postponed tour, contact us at sales@taotravel365.tours within 2 days of the tour cancellation and write "refund" in the subject line. Instructions will be provided in order to obtain your refund.
TOUR EXCHANGES
No tour exchanges are offered by Tao Travel 365. While in some extreme cases we may offer this service (such as a cancellation by Tao Travel 365), it is not guaranteed and often impossible. Contact us directly by phone at +1 (805) 826-3657 or by email at sales@taotravel365.tours to inquire about tour exchanges. Fees may apply.
