Starfish Beach Panama – A Complete Guide
Are you interested in exploring Starfish Beach Panama for yourself?
We didn’t fully appreciate before we went to Panama, what a complete gold mine it is when it comes to incredible nature and beautiful beaches. One of the best examples is Starfish Beach in Bocas Del Toro.
Bocas del Toro is a wonderful area in the north of Panama, close to Costa Rica and one of our favourite places we visited in Panama. There is incredible diving and of course the infamous Starfish Beach. It is one of those places you need to make sure you add to your Panama Itinerary. Trust me!
Getting to Starfish Beach isn’t difficult once you know how, so in this post, we will cover everything you need to know so you can visit this totally unique beach for yourself.
Is Starfish Beach Panama Worth Visiting
100% yes it is!
That is the short answer. But so you know why I’m saying yes, let me explain a little. Starfish Beach in Panama is one of the most unique beaches I have ever visited. I simply have not ever been to a beach before that has crystal clear warm water and HUNDREDS of big starfish just chilling in the shallows.
It is the perfect place to spend a morning relaxing, snorkelling and enjoying nature. There are even a few bars and restaurants along the beach you so can enjoy lunch there too.
TOP TIP**
Make sure to head to Starfish Beach early in the morning to enjoy the most peaceful water and have the beach all to yourself before all the boat trips arrive around lunchtime.
Read more on why Panama is worth visiting in general.
Where is Starfish Beach in Panama?
Starfish Beach in Panama is located on the Island of Bocas del Toro. Right in the north of the country, off the east coast.
Once on Bocas del Toro, Starfish Beach can be found right in the northwest of the island. There is one main road that leads all the way up to the north of the Island. It is at the end of this road that the path to Starfish Beach begins.
It is one of the easiest beaches in Bocas Del Toro to visit without a boat or tour guide.
How To Get To Starfish Beach in Panama
This is the question most people ask themselves and there are several easy ways you can reach Starfish Beach in Panama. Let’s go over each way individually so you can decide which suits you best;
Get to Starfish Beach by Bus
Surprisingly there are a couple of buses that run on the Island. One of the buses goes all the way up to the end of the road in the north, right where we need to be.
The buses go from the main park in town – Simon Bolivar Park. You need to catch the one with the sign ‘Bocas del Drago’. The buses heading to Starfish Beach are every 2 hours from 6 am to 6 pm. Be careful because the last bus back is at 5 pm. The cost of the bus is around $5 for a return ticket.
The bus journey lasts about 40 minutes and then you arrive at Bocas del Drago.
Get to Starfish Beach by scooter
This is the option we did. We hired a scooter for the day so that we would have freedom over the times we went there and came back. Having the scooter also meant we could go and explore somewhere else after we were done at Starfish Beach.
There are multiple places around the main town to hire scooters (or even ATVs if you prefer) But we rented ours from Flying Pirates on the main street. It cost us $40 to hire for the day.
It took us around 40 minutes to ride all the way up to the end of the road and specifically to a restaurant called Yasinori. This is where we parked our scooter for free, while we walked round to Starfish Beach.
Get to Starfish Beach by Taxi
The other option is to take one of the pickup truck Taxis on the Island, which usually costs around $30 each way. If you take this option you will need to get the number of the driver or arrange a time for him to come back and collect you if you don’t plan to take the bus back.
Once you get to Boca Del Drago
Once you reach the end of the road at Bocas del Drago, you have 2 options. You can either do the short 15-minute walk along the beach/coastline to Starfish Beach or take a water taxi from the end of the road. This is around $1-4.
The water Taxis will be sitting waiting for you and if there aren’t any then wait just a few minutes and one will arrive back from dropping someone off.
We decided to walk when we went and it is really straightforward, you just follow the path and signs along the edge of the water until you arrive at Starfish Beach. We are glad we walked because we passed several smaller, picturesque beaches along the way,
Take A Tour Of Starfish Beach Panama
The other option available, if you would rather see a few different sights in a day is to take a tour that includes Starfish Beach.
This speed boat full-day trip takes you to Starfish Beach as well as the mangroves, Bocas del Drago and Birds Island.
⭐️ Check out this full-day boat trip including Starfish Beach!
Sometimes taking a tour is the best option if you are short on time and want to make the most out of the time you do have.
Where To Stay In Bocas Del Toro – Panama
I will give a few suggestions for great accommodation options depending on different budgets. I would also recommend staying on the main Island for ease and not having to keep taking Taxi boats.
Budget Option – Surfari Bocas
This is where we stayed and it was exactly what we needed. A really reasonable price for a good-sized double room, private bathroom and aircon. It is also located just away from the main street so you don’t hear any noise but is still only a short 5-minute walk to the boats.
⭐️ Book your stay at Surfari Bocas Here!
Mid-Range Option – Caribbean Villages Appartments
This is a great option for anyone looking for a little more privacy. Their one-bedroom apartments are well-equipped and really nice and modern. Also located just a short walk from the main town you can enjoy everything Bocas Has to offer.
⭐️ Book your stay at Caribbean Villages Appartments Here!
High-End Option – Bambuda Bocas Town
This stunning accommodation is situated over the sea and all rooms have balconies and incredible sea views. This also means direct access to enjoy the sea right on your doorstep from their own private decking with over-the-water swings.
Book your stay at Babuda Bocas Town Here!
How To Get To Bocas Del Toro – Panama
Getting to Bocas del Toro is also pretty straightforward. We were coming straight from Costa Rica like most people do. You can buy direct shuttles that take you from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica all the way to the Islands, including the boat. So everything is organised for you.
This is also the case if coming from Boquete in Panama, as this is often a stop people make before heading to the islands. We saw various tour shops with signs offering buses to Bocas del Toro in this town.
We booked our transfers through the Costa Rica Tour site which partnered with Caribe shuttles. They were great with communications and the ride was exactly as promised.
Other Things To Do In Bocas Del Toro
We absolutely loved our time in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Besides the beautiful Starfish Beach, there are also many other fun things to do on these islands. I will name a few here for you;
- Scuba Diving
Perhaps one of the best things to do on this Island is Scuba diving. The waters are warm and clear and there are multiple shipwrecks dotted around the island. We saw rays, sharks and so many different fish on these dives. Not to mention the famous local Starfish too. - Visit Dolphin Bay
We didn’t get the chance to do this as we were short on time. There is a cove near the island that is known to be a great place to spot wild dolphins early in the morning.
Head out on a boat trip to explore the bay and see if you can find them.
This Boat trip starts off with a visit to Dolphin Bay so why not take a look and see if it’s for you? - Spend an Afternoon at Skully Beach Bar
A short ride out of town, in the opposite direction to Starfish Beach, you will find Skullys. To give it credit, it is more than just a beach bar. They have a pool, direct access to the ocean, pool tables, music and multiple street food vendors almost like a mini festival. - Party on Filthy Fridays
For those who love to party, Bocas del Toro has its own organised pub crawl called Filthy Fridays. This is a pretty unique pub crawl because it takes you by boat to multiple floating bars to spend the day partying like pirates.
Starfish Beach Panama FAQs
Now that we have covered where Starfish Beach Panama Is and how to get there, it’s time to answer a few last questions that people often have.
When Is The Best Time To Visit StarFish Beach Panama?
The best time to visit is during the dry season of January to April. This way you will be able to fully appreciate all the Starfish without being disturbed by the rain. The wettest months are November and December.
If you do go and it happens to be a bit on the rainy side then just be careful of the road that goes up through the island. After it rains it becomes like a giant mudslide so is no longer really suitable for hiring a scooter and getting around by yourself.
You will be better off with an ATV or taking a taxi or bus.
How far is Starfish Beach from Panama City?
The drive from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro is around 10.5 hours. Then you will need to take the boat for 30 minutes and drive across the island for 40 minutes to get to Starfish Beach.
I would not advise trying to do this all in a day.
Also, check out our guide on places to stay in Panama City here.
Can you touch starfish on the beach?
Technically yes you can. Starfish are not dangerous and won’t harm you BUT the answer is no you SHOULDN’T.
It is important to remember to always respect nature and not disturb them. It is incredibly easy to see them from above the surface if you don’t have a snorkel so you can enjoy their company without touching them.
There are also signs up on the beach requesting that visitors do not touch the Starfish, although it is sad to see how many people still do.
Starfish Beach Panama – Final Thoughts
Starfish Beach in Panama may only be a small sample of the many incredible beaches on offer but it is one that we would put right at the top of the list. It is clean, calm and of course FULL of Starfish!
It is also free to access the beach and who doesn’t love a free day out?
We hope you love it as much as we did and of course, let us know if you have any more questions we are always happy to chat.