Explore Zapatilla Island

The Zapatillas Islands fall inside the boundaries of the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park. The marine park covers an area of more than 13,000 hectares including the Zapatilla Islands and several other small islands in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.

To get to the island there are many different tour operators in the province of Bocas del Toro that can arrange a boat to Zapatilla Island. Most people usually opt for a full day tour that includes additional stops such as Dolphin Bay where pods of dolphins are often sighted, snorkeling through coral reefs, and boating near mangrove trees in search of sloths and starfish. For full day tours, many of the guides stop at a small island restaurant only reachable by boat. At the restaurant you can place an order for lunch which will be served later in the day after exploring Zapatilla Island. You can also buy drinks at the bar before getting back onto your boat and heading to Zapatilla Island. Once on the island, you'll have several hours to swim and explore. The island is uninhabited with a thick dense jungle and beautiful beaches. You can walk the entire perimeter of the island in under an hour.