Photo Guide to Red Frog Beach in Panama
If you asked me what my favorite beach in Bocas del Toro is, my response is easy: Red Frog Beach. Hands-down. No contest. Despite being one of Bocas’s most popular beaches, it’s remote enough (you need to take a short boat ride + a five-minute walk through jungle to reach it) to feel unspoiled, yet busy enough to provide great people-watching, whilst enjoying amazingly fresh fish tacos & blood orange margaritas that will knock your sarong sideways. To me, this is the best of all worlds, in terms of beaches. In order to get a feel for this beautiful spot, here’s a quick “Photo Guide to Red Frog Beach.”
Lush jungle gives way to breaking waves & sand in your toes at Red Frog Beach….on Isla Bastimentos.
Map of Red Frog Beach
It’s just a 10-minute water taxi ride from Bocas Town to the dock for Red Frog Beach, on Isla Bastimentos. If you’re traveling from a different island ~ no problem. Simply go to that island’s main dock & ask for a boat to Red Frog; your hotel can also hire a boat for you.
PTY (International Airport)
Red Frog Beach
Water Taxi in Bocas Town
How to Get to Red Frog Beach
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- The majority of people visiting Red Frog Beach will be coming from Bocas Town: from here, walk to the main “Water Taxi Port” (located next to Hotel Bocas del Toro). Here, simply tell one of the attendants that you’d like to visit Red Frog Beach & they’ll give you a price. If it’s just you traveling, the price will be more expensive (I paid $10 for a solo trip) ~ but if you travel in a group, the ride will only cost $3-4. The ride takes about 10 minutes.
- The boat won’t drop you off directly at Red Frog Beach: there are typically waves there, meaning the boats won’t navigate the surf to drop you off. Instead, they’ll drop you off at the main dock near Red Frog, which requires a 5-minute walk through the jungle to reach the beach. This is a nice, easy walk ~ & you may even catch sight of some animals in the jungle…
Photo Gallery of Red Frog Beach
When you get off the boat from Bocas Town, you’ll land on this dock ~ then it’s just a 5-minute walk through the jungle to reach the beach.
The jungle you’ll be walking though…
….to reach THIS beach! (And NO: this photo is NOT edited.)
Simply beautiful.
Walk a few hundred yards to the right for some of the BEST FISH TACOS EVER, at beachfront Nachyo Momma’s restaurant. Their margaritas are also amazing.
Nachyo Momma’s also has palapas & lounge chairs to use: if you buy food, they’re free!
Watching the storm come in….
Where to Stay on Red Frog Beach: Just a few hotels line the beachfront here: Red Frog Bungalows is first, as you walk to the right ~ & this is where you’ll find Nachyo Momma’s; it’s also a popular surfer’s retreat. Next-door is hip Palmar Beach Lodge ($74+) ~ where you’ll find private or shared rooms (think: jungle-glamping chic). And the most high-end option is a little further down the beach, slightly more isolated from the rest: Red Frog Beach Island Resort ($350+), where you can rent multi-story, luxurious villas with kitchens & separate living spaces.
Stay in your own private villa at Red Frog Beach Island Resort…
What You Need at Red Frog Beach
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- A cute sarong or cover-up;
- A sexy bathing suit;
- Good sunscreen;
- Bring your surfboard or fins if you plan to surf or body surf;
- Headphones ~ this is a great spot to “tune in & turn off;”
- Cash for food & drinks (this island is more remote, & some places don’t accept credit cards);
- Consider bringing your own beach towel, as there is nowhere to “rent” them at Red Frog.
Photo Guide to Red Frog Beach
That concludes our look at Red Frog ~ for more reading on Panama, check out this guide to planning a trip there, why I recommend staying in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City, or get info on taking a trip to the neighboring country of Costa Rica…
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: Bocas del Toro Travel FAQ
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We’re headed to Bocas del Toro soon and trying to narrow down where to stay – do you think if we stayed on Red Frog Beach, we’d feel too isolated/be too bored at night? For reference, we’re a young, lesbian couple in our early 30’s. Not crazy partiers anymore, but we like to go out a bit, happy hour, etc. Thanks much!
Hi Darlene, thanks for reaching out ~ I think you’ll love Bocas! If I were you, I’d probably opt to stay max 1-2 nights at Red Frog Beach, then either choose another island to stay on, or Bocas Town if you want to soak up some nightlife. It is only a 10-minute water taxi from Bocas Town to Red Frog Beach ~ but I wouldn’t want to make this ride late at night, as you’ll need to walk through a very dark jungle to reach your hotel. I think staying there a couple nights gives you the best of both worlds : ) Hope that helps! xoxo