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Activities
Popa Paradise offers a wide selection of Caribbean vacation packages designed to allow our guests to experience all facets of these beautiful, sparsely populated islands within Bocas del Toro. We can tailor your experience to your specific needs, or you can join us in a planned activity. All of our off-site excursions are at an extra price and are weather dependent. We will make sure that you will cruise Panama in style.
The pool is open to day guests for a nominal fee of $10 per person for the day if you arrive before 12 noon or $5 per person if you arrive after 12 noon. As a courtesy we ask that you call ahead of time so that we may prepare for your arrival.
Water Activities
Explore the undersea world
The snorkeling here is spectacular, with crystal clear waters that average 82 degrees year round. Snorkel gear is available free to our guests and the fun starts right off our beach. Like a giant aquarium, clouds of colorful tropical fish inhabit our reefs. Lobster and crab populate the crevices. Larger pelagic fish patrol the slightly deeper water fronting our reef system. Don’t be surprised to see turtles, a big amberjack, harmless nurse sharks, or a playful dolphin cruise through! From beginner through advanced swimmers, snorkeling in the Caribbean reefs can keep you busy for weeks.
Kayak Safari
We maintain a fleet of single and double kayaks and there are literally miles upon miles of calm waters to explore right from our shore. Sandy beaches, abundant coral heads, and tiny islands are all in waters less than 15 feet deep. Disappear for a half or full day and lose yourself in the beauty of it all in our kayaks. We can even pack an ice chest with snacks, a lunch, and cold drinks for your kayak cruising pleasure. All this just steps from your cottage door.
Kayak Fishing
We have all the gear for kayak fishing, all you have to do is get the fish to eat! Great fishing starts right off our beach. There are too many species to name them all here, but our favorites are snapper, grouper, and barracuda. Nothing more fun than kayak fishing the outer reefs.
Guided Fishing
We have a shaded panga for guided Panama fishing trips. Bocas fishing ranges from reef fishing and trolling outside our offshore reef, to fly fishing the islands sandy shallows. Gumercindo, our local Ngobe Panama fishing guide and captain, grew up fishing these waters from a cayuco, a dugout canoe. He knows every hotspot for miles and loves to share his knowledge. When we send clients off with Gumey, we know we will eat well that night!
Surfing
Bocas del Toro surfing is some of the best surfing in the world because it is the most diverse of the Panama islands offering a wide variety of surf spots from beach breaks to clean point breaks. Clear, warm waters and green tropical islands provide the canvas for days of shredding the best waves in the Caribbean Sea. For beginners, Popa Paradise can arrange a day of learning with skilled instructors. For advanced surfers, our boat captain will take you to un-crowded breaks and empty lineups where you can surf the channel between the many Bocas islands.
Land Activities
Popa Paradise offers a variety of on-island activities as well. We have a variety of board games and ball games, on offer for our guests. We also have a pool table and ping-pong. We have a beach volleyball court, great for sunset games with the staff.
Our jungle trail, which leads into primary rainforest, where you can see green tree frogs, sloths and birds, is a great activity to do as well. We provide the Wellington boots and Indio guide.
Our spa offers manicures, pedicures and massages by appointment. We also have a DVD Library and Satellite TV for those days when you just feel like enjoying the cool AC in your casita.
Families
Popa Paradise Beach Resort is a perfect facility for anything from small family vacations to family reunions. Babysitting is offered on-site, freeing up nights for romantic dinners, or days for snorkeling and excursions. We also have a variety of activities to keep children entertained, whether it be pool activities, or swimming in the gentle ocean, shelling, or exploring nature in the jungle trails, kids never seem to find an end to the fun here.
Weddings
Popa Paradise is the destination in Bocas del Toro for a tropical, fantasy beach wedding. Whether it is a barefoot beach wedding ceremony or a formal tux and tails event, the staff and facilities are more than happy to accommodate all your needs. We have an on-site wedding coordinator who can arrange all the details of your wedding. Contact us for availability and begin planning your wedding package in paradise today!
Off-Site Excursions
Join us on one of our day trips around the area and explore the beautiful outer Panama islands that create the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Below are a few examples of the Panama travel trips we have been offering to guests. They can all be customized based upon your needs and desires and are priced accordingly. We provide a packed lunch, snacks and beverages for our guests and a guide. All of our day island trips are weather dependent.
The Zapatilla Cays
A part of the Bastimentos Marine National Park and just two miles off our beach lie the incomparable Zapatilla Cays. These are two deserted Panama islands each about a mile long, ringed by sandy beaches, virgin reefs, and some of the clearest water known to man. Imagine – hardly a soul in sight, wandering the shoreline in search of shells or following nature trails in the interior. Gently swaying palms provide shade for your lounge chair, ice chest, and personally prepared lunch and refreshment choices. Eat your heart out Robinson Crusoe; this is what the Popa Paradise experience is all about!
Bastimentos Island
Located a few miles to our north, Bastimentos is the largest island of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. It is sparsely populated, there are no roads, and primary rainforest descends to all shores. The shores facing Popa and the Caribbean Sea feature several miles of sandy beaches and rocky shoreline perfect for a picnic or sunset stroll. Tour Salt Creek, a native Ngobe Bugle village, and shop for native crafts, or we can arrange a trip through the jungle to Playa Larga beach where the shelling can be fabulous!
Dolphin Bay and Snorkeling
Get your cameras out, as we head over to Dolphin Bay, a playground and natural sanctuary for our underwater cousins. Keep an eye out for the dolphins as their natural curiosity and need for fresh air drive them to the surface for excellent photo opportunities. After a break for a picnic lunch on the boat, we head over to Crawl Key, to snorkel from the boat over pristine reef in calm waters.
Land & Sea Tour
This tour provides insight to Bocas del Toro below and above the waterline. First stop is the indigenous village of Popa Dos, known by its Guyami name Sandubidi. The Ngobe-Bugle villagers are our closest neighbors and their resident fisherman provide a majority of our food here at the resort. We tour the Ngobe-Bugle village, accompanied by the American Peace Corps Volunteer who lives there and can even take a hike up to a lookout on Isla Popa. A local women’s group provides jewelry and sometimes a cooked meal to showcase the local culture. After our visit, we head over to Crawl Cay to do some snorkeling, one of the highlights of any visit to Bocas del Toro.
Bocas Town
The gateway to the archipelago, Bocas Town is a funky Caribe town that has a unique blend of Creole, Panamanian, and international influences. We can arrange a shuttle to let you enjoy the warm friendly atmosphere of town, do some shopping, and perhaps grab a meal at one of the many fine waterfront restaurants. It’s a great town to watch people , meet fellow adventurers, and watch the boats go by. Our sister hotel, Bocas Paradise Hotel is built over the water and offers 30 rooms, an incredible restaurant, and a wonderful bar with some of the best views in Bocas. It sets the bar for Bocas accommodations!
Customized Tours
Snorkeling and beach combing at Playa Polo, checking out the hordes of starfish at Starfish Beach, birdwatching at Isla Pajaro (Bird Island), exploring bat caves at Isla Bastimentos, dancing to reggae in the Afro-Caribe town of Old Bank, or surfing at some of the best spots in the Carribean Sea. We have a number of exciting and incredible adventure tours to offer based on your desires. During your stay, you will have a chance to chat with Jermain, our resident tour guide, for customizable adventure tours.