Bocas del Toro Province
Encyclopedia
Bocas del Toro is a province of Panama
. Its extension is 4,643.9 square kilometers comprising the mainland and nine main islands. The province consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago
, Bahía Almirante (Almirante Bay), Laguna de Chiriquí (Chiriquí Lagoon), and adjacent mainland. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro (Bocas Town) on Isla Colón
(Colón Island). Other major cities or towns include Almirante
, and Changuinola
. The province has a total population of 125,461 people (2010).
Christopher Columbus
and his crew discovered the area in 1502. Bocas del Toro borders the Caribbean Sea
to the north, Limón Province
of Costa Rica
to the west, Chiriquí Province
to the south, and Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca
to the east. The Río Sixaola forms part of the border with Costa Rica. An old railroad bridge spans the river between Guabito
and Sixaola
, Costa Rica. The bridge is a border crossing
used by tourists going between destinations in Bocas and Costa Rica.
The province contains two national parks: Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park and La Amistad International Park
. The Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute operates a research station on Colón Island just northwest of Bocas Town. There are many banana plantations in Bocas del Toro, often called the oro verde or green gold of Central America
.
explored here 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 the 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 2 districts, Bocas del Toro and Crimamola. Four years later, in became into the same division as before. In 1970, Bocas del Toro district became Changuinola, eliminated the district Bastimentos and added three new districts to what it is today. The extensions of the districts changed in 1997 when the reservation Ngöbe Buglé
was made.
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos) contains most of Isla Bastimentos and some smaller nearby islands. La Amistad International Park
(Parque Internacional La Amistad) spans the Costa Rica
-Panama
border. Bocas del Toro contains most of the Panamanian section of the park, which is 400000 ha (4,000 km²; 1,544 sq mi). The Costa Rica
n section of the park is 584592 ha (5,846 km²; 2,257 sq mi). La Amistad International Park is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. Its extension is 4,643.9 square kilometers comprising the mainland and nine main islands. The province consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago
Bocas del Toro Archipelago
The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea in northwest Panama. The archipelago separates Bahía Almirante and Laguna de Chiriquí from the open Caribbean Sea. The archipelago is located in the Bocas del Toro District of Bocas del Toro Province. The major city is Bocas...
, Bahía Almirante (Almirante Bay), Laguna de Chiriquí (Chiriquí Lagoon), and adjacent mainland. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro (Bocas Town) on Isla Colón
Isla Colon
Colón Island is the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago located in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. The capital city of the province, Bocas del Toro, is located on the island and is one of Panama's main tourist attractions...
(Colón Island). Other major cities or towns include Almirante
Almirante
Almirante is a city in the Bocas del Toro Province of the Republic of Panama. Its name is Spanish for Admiral.-Tourist Use:For travelers, Almirante is mainly used as a jumping off point for land travel to other cities on the mainland, Panama or to Costa Rica. An approximately 30-minute water taxi...
, and Changuinola
Changuinola
-Transportation:Changuinola is accessible by air, land, or sea. Visitors can fly into Captain Manuel Nino International Airport from Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Direct flights from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are not available. Airlines may include , Aeroplas, Air Panama, and Nature Air...
. The province has a total population of 125,461 people (2010).
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
and his crew discovered the area in 1502. Bocas del Toro borders the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
to the north, Limón Province
Limón Province
Limón is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica. The majority of its territory is situated in the country's Caribbean lowlands, though the southwestern portion houses part of an extensive mountain range known as the Cordillera de Talamanca...
of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
to the west, Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
to the south, and Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca
Ngöbe-Buglé
Ngöbe-Buglé is a comarca in Panama. It was formed in 1997 with lands from the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Veraguas. The capital is Chichica...
to the east. The Río Sixaola forms part of the border with Costa Rica. An old railroad bridge spans the river between Guabito
Guabito
Guabito is a town in the Changuinola District of the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama. Guabito is a small town located directly across the Rio Sixaola from Sixaola, Costa Rica. An elevated former railroad grade and bridge connect Guabito to Sixaola. This border crossing is popular with tourists...
and Sixaola
Sixaola
This article is about the town of Sixaola. For the river, see Rio Sixaola.Sixaola is a small town in the Talamanca Canton of Limón Province, Costa Rica. The town is located on the Rio Sixaola , which forms the Costa Rica-Panama border. Highway 36 ends in Sixaola. Sixaola is right across the river...
, Costa Rica. The bridge is a border crossing
Border Crossing
Border Crossing may refer to:* Border Crossing , an album by saxophonist Mike Osborne.* Border Crossing , a UK hip hop collective musical group.* Border Crossing , a 2001 novel by English author Pat Barker....
used by tourists going between destinations in Bocas and Costa Rica.
The province contains two national parks: Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park and La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park
The La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is an Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama, following a recommendation by UNESCO after the park's inclusion in the World Heritage Site...
. The Smithsonian
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Tropical Research Institute operates a research station on Colón Island just northwest of Bocas Town. There are many banana plantations in Bocas del Toro, often called the oro verde or green gold of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
.
History
Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
explored here in 1502, while searching for the passage to the Pacific ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Columbus's original name for the island was Isla del Drago. In colonial times, Bocas del Toro was part of Veraguas
Veraguas Province
Veraguas is a province of Panama, located in the centre-west of the country. The capital is the city of Santiago de Veraguas. The province covers 10,677.2 km² and is divided into twelve districts.-History:...
. It was originally part of Costa Rica until, in one of the 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 2 districts, Bocas del Toro and Crimamola. Four years later, in became into the same division as before. In 1970, Bocas del Toro district became Changuinola, eliminated the district Bastimentos and added three new districts to what it is today. The extensions of the districts changed in 1997 when the reservation Ngöbe Buglé
Ngöbe Buglé
The Ngöbe–Buglé are a union of two indigenous peoples of western Panama, the Guaymí and the Bokota . They live in the highlands of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí Province and on the arid plains of Veraguas, and have a joint reservation, the Ngöbe–Buglé Comarca.-History:The Ngöbe–Buglé Comarca was...
was made.
Protected Areas
National Parks- Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos)
- La Amistad International ParkLa Amistad International ParkThe La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is an Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama, following a recommendation by UNESCO after the park's inclusion in the World Heritage Site...
(Parque Internacional La Amistad)
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos) contains most of Isla Bastimentos and some smaller nearby islands. La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park
The La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is an Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama, following a recommendation by UNESCO after the park's inclusion in the World Heritage Site...
(Parque Internacional La Amistad) spans the Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
-Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
border. Bocas del Toro contains most of the Panamanian section of the park, which is 400000 ha (4,000 km²; 1,544 sq mi). The Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n section of the park is 584592 ha (5,846 km²; 2,257 sq mi). La Amistad International Park is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.
Districts
| Districts of Bocas del Toro | Establishment | Surface area | |
Cabecera (Seat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bocas del Toro District Bocas del Toro District Bocas del Toro District is a district of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama. The population according to the 2000 census was 9,916. The district covers a total area of 399 km². The capital lies at the city of Bocas del Toro... |
1855 | 430 km² | Bocas del Toro, Bastimentos Bastimentos Bastimentos Island is an island with eponymous town, and corregimiento located in the Bocas del Toro District and archipelage of Bocas del Toro Province, Panama... , Cauchero Cauchero Cauchero is a town and corregimiento in the Bocas del Toro District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... , Punta Laurel Punta Laurel Punta Laurel is a town and corregimiento in the Bocas del Toro District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... and Tierra Oscura Tierra Oscura Tierra Oscura is a town and corregimiento in the Bocas del Toro District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... |
Bocas del Toro |
| Changuinola District Changuinola District Changuinola District is a district of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama. The population according to the 2000 census was 71,922. The district covers a total area of 3,995 km². The capital lies at the city of Changuinola... |
1903 | 3995 km² | Changuinola Changuinola -Transportation:Changuinola is accessible by air, land, or sea. Visitors can fly into Captain Manuel Nino International Airport from Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Direct flights from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are not available. Airlines may include , Aeroplas, Air Panama, and Nature Air... , Almirante Almirante Almirante is a city in the Bocas del Toro Province of the Republic of Panama. Its name is Spanish for Admiral.-Tourist Use:For travelers, Almirante is mainly used as a jumping off point for land travel to other cities on the mainland, Panama or to Costa Rica. An approximately 30-minute water taxi... , Guabito Guabito Guabito is a town in the Changuinola District of the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama. Guabito is a small town located directly across the Rio Sixaola from Sixaola, Costa Rica. An elevated former railroad grade and bridge connect Guabito to Sixaola. This border crossing is popular with tourists... , Teribe Teribe Teribe is a town and corregimiento in the Changuinola District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... , Valle del Risco Valle del Risco - Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com... , El Empalme El Empalme, Bocas del Toro El Empalme is a town and corregimiento in the Changuinola District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... and Las Tablas Las Tablas, Bocas del Toro Las Tablas is a town and corregimiento in the Changuinola District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... |
Changuinola Changuinola -Transportation:Changuinola is accessible by air, land, or sea. Visitors can fly into Captain Manuel Nino International Airport from Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Direct flights from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are not available. Airlines may include , Aeroplas, Air Panama, and Nature Air... |
| Chiriquí Grande District Chiriquí Grande District Chiriquí Grande District is a district of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama. The population according to the 2000 census was 7,431.The district covers a total area of 207 km²... |
1970 | 207 km² | Chiriquí Grande Chiriquí Grande Chiriquí Grande is a town in the Bocas del Toro province of Panama.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com... , Miramar Miramar, Bocas del Toro Miramar is a town and corregimiento in the Chiriquí Grande District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... , Punte Peña Punte Peña Punte Peña is a town and corregimiento in the Chiriquí Grande District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... , Punta Robalo Punta Robalo Punta Robalo is a town and corregimiento in the Chiriquí Grande District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... and Rambala Rambala Rambala is a town and corregimiento in the Chiriquí Grande District of Bocas del Toro Province of Panama.... |
Chiriquí Grande Chiriquí Grande Chiriquí Grande is a town in the Bocas del Toro province of Panama.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com... |