These twin cays paralleling each other east of Isla Colonboast rainforest with rewarding hikes, world-class snorkelling spots, and interesting Ngobe-Bugle villages. Surfers rave about Hawaiian-size waves on Bastimentos, which is also known for its strawberry poison dart frogs; one-third of he isle is protected as a national park that extends into the marine environment.

Isla Bastimentos

Appealing mainly to nature lovers, this lush, 52 square kilometres island also pulses to the heartbeat of Afro-Antillean culture, centered on the small, down-at-heels settlement of Old Bank. A 10-minute boat ride from Bocas Town, this funky, colourful community snuggles in a sheltered cove on the isle’s southwest side.

Isla Solarte

Slung beneath the underbelly of Isla Bastimentos and 2 kilometres east of Bocas Town, the 5-kilometer-long by 1 kilometre wide Solarte, where the mostly Ngobe-Bugle inhabitants live by fishing and lobstering.

There is great snorkelling and diving in he little bay off the western tip of Punta Hospital, although it can get crowded with tour boats bringing snorkelers.