Depart by boat from the Bocas Inn dock traversing the expanse of Bastimentos National Park, Panama's first marine national park. Reach Salt Creek navigating through clusters of red mangroves, which provide a nursery for sea creatures during their reproductive and developmental stages. Walking along the Caiman Trail leads through several stages of lowland forest where you look for birds, and mammals such as night monkeys, white-faced capuchins monkeys, and three-toed sloths. A nearby lagoon is home to spectacled caiman and slider turtles. On the ground, look for the tiny endemic poison dart frog. The hike leads to an indigenous Ngobe Bugle community where you have a chance to purchase handicrafts such as painted woodcarvings and Ngobe handbags, followed by a delicious lunch. Heading out to palm-fringed and white sand cayes in the afternoon, you snorkel among mangroves and coral reefs on the lookout for colorful tropical fish, as well as dynamic and brightly colored sea fans, sponges, and brittle starfish.
The following day take to boat to Swan’s Caye, a rock protruding from the depths of the Caribbean Sea, which serves as rookery for red-billed tropic birds—this is the only place in Panama you can find them—and brown boobies. You also enjoy the time to swim and explore on the beach at Boca del Drago and search for colorful giant starfish. On your return back to the lodge you make stops at coral reefs and mangrove isles for snorkeling.