History

Columbus landed on Bocas del Toro in 1502. The original inhabitants of Bocas were the guaymies , Bokota and Teribe.The region was forgotten while the time passed until the colonial times. During the 18 and 19 century, is was populated by Afro Caribbean immigrants from Jamaica, San Andres and Providencia, who founded Bocas del Toro. Also the English settled here ( Boca Drago ) while the region was still of no importance to the government of Panama

Bocas del Toro has gone through different commercial development stages. First, the hunt of Carey Turtles, the trading of Cocoa, Mahogany and other goods. In the 19 century, the United Fruit Company started developing the region.

Nowadays, the Islands of Bocas del Toro are of great natural and cultural interest. A beautiful blend of people are to be found, from Afro Caribbean inhabitants, to indigenous people from the Ngobe, Teribe, Guaymie and Teribe tribes to white people from mainland Panama.