Bocas del Toro Province

{{More citations needed section|date=September 2011}}

Christopher Columbus explored the area in 1502 while searching for the passage to the Pacific Ocean. Columbus's original name for the island was Isla del Drago. In colonial times, Bocas del Toro was part of Veraguas. It was originally part of Costa Rica until, in one of many territorial disputes, Colombia took control of it with armed forces. The then government made a reservation called Bocas del Toro in 1834. In 1850, Bocas del Toro became a part of Chiriqui, then was separated from it and became part of Colon. On November 16, 1903, Bocas del Toro was separated from Colon and became its own province. In 1941, Bocas del Toro was divided into two districts, Bocas del Toro and Crimamola. Four years later, it became part of the same division as before. In 1970, Bocas del Toro district became Changuinola, the district of Bastimentos was eliminated, and three new districts were added, making the province what it is today.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} The districts' areas changed in 1997 when the Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca was created{{cite thesis|last=Ford|first=Sarah Elizabeth Birvin|title=The Ngäbe-Buglé Fight to Maintain Territorial Sovereignty|degree=Masters of Arts|institution=University of California San Diego|year=2015|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9qf03131|access-date=23 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g14/072/35/pdf/g1407235.pdf|title=Addendum: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Araya, on the situation of indigenous peoples’ rights in Panama|date=3 July 2014|publisher=General Assembly of the United Nations|access-date=23 March 2025|id=A/HRC/27/52/Add.1}} and again in 2020, when the Naso Tjër Di Comarca was established,{{cite web|url=https://ensegundos.com.pa/2020/12/04/presidente-cortizo-sanciona-ley-que-crea-la-comarca-naso-tjer-di/|title=Presidente Cortizo sanciona ley que crea la comarca Naso Tjër-Di|lang=es|website=En Segundos|date=4 December 2020|access-date=23 March 2025}} which had been proposed since 2005.{{cite web|url=https://garymarks.web.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13018/2021/03/Panama_combined.pdf|title=Panama: Self-Rule|last=Chapman-Osterkatz|first=S.|date=November 2020|access-date=23 March 2025|website=Gary Marks - Regional Authority Country Profiles|publisher=University of North Carolina Chapel Hill}} Demarcation of indigenous territory is continuing within the province.{{cite web|url=https://www.ciel.org/panamas-supreme-court-recognizes-indigenous-peoples-land-rights-and-role-as-guardians-of-the-environment/|title=Panama's Supreme Court Recognizes Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights and Role as Guardians of the Environment|date=20 January 2021|access-date=23 March 2025|last1=Dorman|first1=Sarah|last2=Zendejas|first2=Carla García|website=Center for International Environmental Law}}

The province is the home of the unique Bocas del Toro Creole of English.

Bocas del Toro Province is divided into four districts and 30 corregimientos.{{cite web|url=http://www.editorialox.com/bocasdeltoro.htm |title=Municipios (Distritos) de Bocas del Toro |access-date=15 November 2012 |work=Editorial OX}} On 8 June 2015 the new Almirante District was created, after splitting out from Changuinola District.{{cite web|url=http://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/27801_A/51095.pdf |title=Ley 8 de junio de 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015|work=Gaceta Oficial}}

^* The area of Almirante District is included in the figure quoted for Changuinola District, from which Almirante was divided.

{{Weather box

|location = Bocas del Toro (1971–2000)

|metric first = y

|single line = y

|Jan high C = 30.8

|Feb high C = 30.7

|Mar high C = 31.0

|Apr high C = 31.4

|May high C = 31.9

|Jun high C = 32.0

|Jul high C = 31.5

|Aug high C = 31.8

|Sep high C = 31.9

|Oct high C = 31.7

|Nov high C = 31.6

|Dec high C = 31.0

|Jan low C = 20.4

|Feb low C = 20.2

|Mar low C = 20.5

|Apr low C = 21.4

|May low C = 22.2

|Jun low C = 22.2

|Jul low C = 21.7

|Aug low C = 21.8

|Sep low C = 22.0

|Oct low C = 22.0

|Nov low C = 21.8

|Dec low C = 20.6

|Jan precipitation mm = 123.9

|Feb precipitation mm = 266.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 83.8

|Apr precipitation mm = 369.1

|May precipitation mm = 178.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 259

|Jul precipitation mm = 420.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 440.7

|Sep precipitation mm = 311.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 150.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 291.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 563.6

|Jan precipitation days = 16.6

|Feb precipitation days = 14.6

|Mar precipitation days = 14.8

|Apr precipitation days = 15.2

|May precipitation days = 16.7

|Jun precipitation days = 17.9

|Jul precipitation days = 20.9

|Aug precipitation days = 18.4

|Sep precipitation days = 15.8

|Oct precipitation days = 16.4

|Nov precipitation days = 17

|Dec precipitation days = 20.0

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization {{cite web

| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/076/c01245.htm

| title = World Weather Information Service – Bocas del Toro

| publisher = World Meteorological Organization

| access-date = 25 July 2010

}}

|date=August 2010

}}Bocas del Toro is a travel destination that is most known for its vibrant culture, beaches, rainforests, and surfing. It is estimated that 95% of the economy in Bocas del Toro is based on tourism.{{cite web|url=https://www.costaricavibes.com/destinations/caribbean/bocas-del-toro/ |title=Bocas del Toro Visitors Guide|access-date=19 May 2021}} The most popular destinations in Bocas del Toro are the Zapatilla Islands, the Bastimentos National Marine Park, Starfish Beach, Red Frog Beach, Bluff Beach, and Hospital Point.

The High-Season for tourism in Bocas del Toro is from November to April, which also coincides with the dry season as well as the being the best surf season. The best months to visit Bocas del Toro for dry weather are January, February, March, May, September, and October. These are statistically the driest months of the year. However, dry weather is also common in June, August, November, and even the wettest month of the year, December, can see weeks without rain.

Common activities in Bocas del Toro include surfing, scuba diving, exploring bat caves, learning about the local indigenous cultures, cacao farm tours, hiking, and nightlife.

Bocas del Toro is becoming famous globally for the abundance of newly constructed and affordable overwater bungalow hotels.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Over the next decade, it is predicted to be a competing location to the Maldives and Tahiti for overwater bungalows.

The national parks in the province are Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos), which contains most of Isla Bastimentos and some smaller nearby islands and extends into the large nature preserve at the Red Frog Beach Island Resort,{{cite web|title=Red Frog Beach|url=http://www.redfrogbeach.com|website=Red Frog Beach}} and La Amistad International Park (Parque Internacional La Amistad), which spans the Costa Rica–Panama border. Bocas del Toro contains most of the Panamanian section of the park, which covers {{convert|400000|ha|km2 sqmi|0}}. The Costa Rican section of the park covers {{convert|584592|ha|km2 sqmi|0}}.[https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/205.pdf UNESCO La Amistad International Park overview] Retrieved: 14 June 2009. La Amistad International Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

{{Commons category|Bocas del Toro Province}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120925065905/http://paraisoforsale.impactofilms.com/index.html Paraiso for Sale] 2011 documentary about US immigration to Bocas, and the attendant impact on locals and indigenous peoples
• [https://www.bocas.com/ingles/bocascom-culture-ing.html Let's Talk about Culture – Bocas del Toro The Official Portal of Tourism]
• [https://go.bocasdeltoro.travel/ Official Bocas del Toro Travel Website]

{{Bocas del Toro Province}}

{{Provinces and regions of Panama}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Provinces of Panama

Category:States and territories established in 1903