Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

🇵🇦 Panama

🐸 Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs Underfoot

⏱ 2–3 days 🥾 Easy trails

🌍 #114 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Central America #54 in Tropical Forest

Bocas del Toro, Panama 690 spp. recorded

Bastimentos Island National Marine Park is a protected tropical rainforest reserve stretching across Caribbean islands and coral reefs in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Dense jungle vegetation, mangrove swamps, and coastal trails define the landscape, setting this marine park apart through its distinct mix of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

9.275° N 82.250° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

Oophaga pumilio

80–90% · Very likely

Brown-throated Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

70–80% · Very likely

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

40–50% · Likely

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Red-lored Parrot

Amazona autumnalis

70–80% · Very likely

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

70–80% · Very likely

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely

Brown Basilisk

Basiliscus vittatus

50–60% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

50–60% · Likely

Golden-collared Manakin

Manacus vitellinus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Brown-throated Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

70–80% · Very likely

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

40–50% · Likely

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

50–60% · Likely

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

30–40% · Possible

Derby's Woolly Opossum

Caluromys derbianus

20–30% · Possible

Panamanian Night Monkey

Aotus zonalis

20–30% · Possible

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

20–30% · Possible

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

10–20% · Possible

Greater Spear-nosed Bat

Phyllostomus hastatus

10–20% · With luck

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

10–20% · With luck

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

10–20% · With luck

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Insufficient data

Orange Nectar Bat

Lonchophylla robusta

Insufficient data

Proboscis Bat

Rhynchonycteris naso

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Red-lored Parrot

Amazona autumnalis

70–80% · Very likely

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

70–80% · Very likely

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely

Golden-collared Manakin

Manacus vitellinus

50–60% · Likely

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

50–60% · Likely

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Basilisk

Basiliscus vittatus

50–60% · Likely

Common Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

50–60% · Likely

Mourning Gecko

Lepidodactylus lugubris

50–60% · Likely

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely

White-throated Gecko

Gonatodes albogularis

30–40% · Possible

Central American Boa

Boa imperator

30–40% · Possible

Black Terrapin

Rhinoclemmys funerea

30–40% · Possible

Border Anole

Anolis limifrons

30–40% · Possible

Middle American Ameiva

Holcosus festivus

30–40% · Possible

Striped Vine Snake

Oxybelis vittatus

20–30% · Possible

Blunthead Tree Snake

Imantodes cenchoa

20–30% · Possible

Helmeted Iguana

Corytophanes cristatus

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

Oophaga pumilio

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Red-eyed Treefrog

Agalychnis callidryas

40–50% · Likely

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

Dendrobates auratus

40–50% · Likely

Striped Rocket Frog

Allobates talamancae

40–50% · Likely

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

30–40% · Possible

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

Leptodactylus savagei

30–40% · Possible

Green Climbing Toad

Incilius coniferus

30–40% · Possible

Striped Poison-Dart Frog

Phyllobates lugubris

20–30% · Possible

Vaillant's Frog

Lithobates vaillanti

20–30% · Possible

Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

Scinax elaeochroa

20–30% · Possible

Harlequin Treefrog

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

20–30% · Possible

Coastal Plain Litter Frog

Craugastor polyptychus

20–30% · Possible

Hypsiboas rufitelus

Boana rufitela

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🐬

Dolphin Bay Congregation

MarAprJulAugNov

Bottlenose dolphins gather to feed in the calm, sheltered coves of Dolphin Bay, often cruising and surfacing alongside their young calves. Their close, unhurried presence makes them the signature encounter of the marine park's boat tours.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

30–40% · Possible

🐸

Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog Breeding

MayJunJulAugSepOctNov

During the wet season the forest floor behind Red Frog Beach erupts in tiny courting calls as flame-red Strawberry Poison-Dart Frogs, jet-and-emerald Green-and-Black Dart Frogs, and Red-eyed Treefrogs breed. Attentive parents ferry their tadpoles one by one up the trees to rear them in water pooled inside bromeliad leaves.

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

Dendrobates auratus

40–50% · Likely

Red-eyed Treefrog

Agalychnis callidryas

40–50% · Likely

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

Oophaga pumilio

80–90% · Very likely

🐦

Migratory Bird Season

OctNovDecJanFebMar

Waves of North American migrants pour into the park's mangroves and forest edges to overwinter, swelling the local birdlife with flashes of gold and warbling song. Yellow, Prothonotary, and Tennessee Warblers flit through the foliage, boosting warbler and songbird diversity across the island.

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

40–50% · Likely

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia

20–30% · Possible

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

Brown-throated Sloth

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

Mantled Howler Monkey

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

Central American White-faced Capuchin

40–50

30–40

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

30–40

30–40

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

Red-lored Parrot

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

Montezuma Oropendola

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

30–40

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

Pale-vented Pigeon

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Magnificent Frigatebird

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

30–40

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

30–40

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

Golden-collared Manakin

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

Animal Events

🐬 Dolphin Bay Congregation

🐸 Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog Breeding

🐦 Migratory Bird Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐸 Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs Underfoot

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

415

🐒 Mammals

186

🦎 Reptiles

52

🐸 Amphibians

37

690 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

27 Threatened 38 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

66%

📊

Coverage (251 species at ≥5% of 690 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

36%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 1 amphibian, 1 mammal, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

56%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

156

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

15

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

28

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