Bocas del Toro: Customs and traditions

Geographical location 

Located on the north coast of the Panamanian Caribbean is the magical destination of Bocas del Toro. The province of Bocas del Toro extends from the mainland to the archipelago. Home to one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the first marine park in Panama, Bocas del Toro is considered one of the best ecotourism destinations in the country. It contains some of the most extensive rainforests in Central America and has 9 main islands, 52 cays and thousands of islets. Known as the “Galápagos del Caribe” Bocas del Toro is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. In this article we bring you all the information about Bocas del Toro customs and traditions.

The province of Bocas del Toro is located northwest of the Republic of Panama, in the western end.

Traditions

Like many coastal areas of the Caribbean of Central America, inhabitants of Afro-Caribbean origin settled in these coasts over the past centuries.

The indigenous cultures that are found on the island are very poor and have to be dedicated mainly to artisanal fishing. Women on the other hand apart from their family tasks, they sometimes have time to create the beautiful local crafts made from a plant called pita.

The natives are found in almost all the islands, however, it is in the islands of Popa and Cristóbal where they still live more originally. Their homes are built with palm leaves, a kind of palm that lives in the swamps of the area, while the structure is made of wood, usually jira bark.

Bocas del Toro customs

Dances

The bocatoreños have many distinctive dances which dance in pairs, and usually occur when they celebrate a special birthday or holiday.

The most outstanding dances that we can mention are those of the Antillanas Gangs, the Calidonia dance, the Palo de Mayo; They also dance rhythms of soca and calypso.

Music

In addition to the famous group The Beachers (formed by pianist and arranger Lloyd Gallimore), 2930 also feature prominent musicians Luis Russell (pianist, composer, conductor) and, of course, the “Monarca del Calipso” Lord Cobra (composer, singer, ukulele performer).

The best time of the year to visit

The tourism score favours clear and rainless days with temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. Based on this score, the best time of the year to visit Bocas del Toro for general outdoor tourist activities is from the end of December until the end of March, with a maximum score in the last week of January. The cloudiest part of the year in Bocas del Toro begins around November 25; It lasts 4-6 months and ends approximately April 12.