What's on in Bocas del Toro (Bocas), Panama through the year

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Surf season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Carnaval

• Festival

  Carnaval

  14–17 FebCarnivalCrowdedBook early

  Bocas Town does a wet carnival: tanker trucks hose the crowd down through the afternoon, comparsas take the main street after dark. Water taxis run late and the small hotels sell out weeks ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Surf season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Sea turtle nesting

  1 Mar – 31 Oct · usuallyBook early

  Hawksbills and leatherbacks come ashore on Playa Larga on Bastimentos and the Zapatilla cays. Numbers on the beach are capped and a guide is compulsory; the walks are at night and get called off in swell. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval (14–17 Feb), Surf season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  The September dry spell

  20 Aug – 15 Oct · usuallyDry season

  Bocas runs against the Caribbean pattern with a drier, flatter stretch through September and early October. It is when visibility out at Zapatilla is at its best and the boat crossings stop being a soaking.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Feria del Mar, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Feria del Mar

  10–21 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The town's own fair on Playa Istmito, running since 1962: fried fish stands, fairground rides, boat races and folk dancing at night for about ten days in the middle of September. Source ↗

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)), The September dry spell (20 Aug – 15 Oct (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sea turtle nesting (1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)), The September dry spell (20 Aug – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Panama's November holidays

• Holiday

  Panama's November holidays

  2–10 NovSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Four national days inside nine: separation from Colombia, flag day, Colon day, then the first cry of independence. Panamanians take the lot as one holiday and the islands fill with domestic flights. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Surf season

  1 Dec – 31 Mar · usually

  North swells arrive around December and Paunch, Bluff and Silverbacks start working. The same swell makes the reef snorkel trips rough and takes the beginner beaches out of use for days at a time.