If you are looking for one of the best day trips from Panama City, opt to spend one day on Taboga Island. There are a ton of unique things to do on Taboga Island and it is the perfect peaceful getaway from the business of Panama City. It is the closest beach to Panama City, so you will find that many locals visit the island on a gorgeous day.
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History of Taboga Island
Taboga Island is known as the Island of Flowers and lies just off the coast of Panama City. It was originally inhabited by the Cocle and Huaca natives. In 1515, the Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa “discovered” the island.
The location of the island and its natural resources made it great for ships traveling through the area. Throughout the 1500s to 1600s, pirates such as Francis Drake and Henry Morgan frequently attacked the island.
In the 1600s, the Spanish established a settlement on Taboga and then during World War II that settlement turned into military bases to defend the Panama Canal. Present-day, people are drawn to Taboga for its picturesque beaches, charm, and rich history.
Currency in Panama
The currency in Panama is the Panama Balboa. 1 Panama Balboa is about $ 1 USD.
Language in Panama
While Spanish is the main language in Panama, many of the major tourist areas have English-speaking people.
When to Spend One Day on Taboga Island
Taboga Island will be very hot year around, thus why it is such a popular beach destination. The best months to visit are January to April as it will be less humid while the rainier months are May to August. We spend one day on Taboga Island in March and it was already quite hot.
How to Get to Taboga Island
Taboga Island is an island just 12 miles southwest of Panama City. To get to the island, visitors can take the Taboga Express Ferry from the Amador Causeway. It costs $24 round trip, or you can opt to take a more private ferry with this tour or this tour! Both options allow a smaller ship cruise to Taboga Island and access to the same activities listed above. Once on the island, you can get to all the main sites by walking.
Where to Stay on Taboga Island
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Panama City and Taboga Island hotels here!
While many people come to Taboga Island as a day trip from Panama City, you can also opt to stay overnight on the island. One option is Villa Caprichosa. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
Things to do During One Day on Taboga Island
There are several options for unique things to do when spending one day on Taboga Island. From relaxing to more strenuous options, everyone will be able to find a fun activity and enjoy their day.
Relax on the Beach
Taboga Island is one of the cheaper Panama beaches to visit. Visitors can rent beach chairs and umbrellas for the day so there is no need to bring your own. There are a ton of stalls surrounding the beach to rent from and most will even set them up for you!
Go for a Hike
There are also several hikes visitors can go on that takes you to several of the highest points of the island. Look for local maps and signs to direct you, or you can opt to book a guided hike through the visitor’s center.
Tour the Island
The best thing to do during one day on Taboga Island is to go on one of the tours of the island. You can book various tours through the Taboga Tour Center. The Taboga Tour Center is owned by Heidi and her husband Herman and offers different tours.
We opted to take the historical walking tour and the hill tour. Although you can book these tours online, it was cheaper to book them the day of. If you are visiting on the weekend I recommend booking ahead of time as Taboga Island gets busy. It costs us $20 total for both tours.
Historical Walking Tour
The first tour we took during our one day on Taboga Island was the historical walking tour. The walking tour brought us around the main part of the island and we learned about the different historical buildings throughout the center.
At one point, pirates took residence on Taboga Island and hid a bunch of their gold on it. It was eventually found by the Europeans. The tour also passed by the one school on the island where about 100 students attend school and there are 3 teachers to teach seven grade levels.
One of the sites we walked past was the house John F. Kennedy, Jr. lived in for a bit. When he first arrived on the island he broke his leg and spent the beginning of his time recuperating. Francisco Pizarro also resided on Taboga for a while. The street where his house was located is named after him.
The artist Paul Gauguin also lived on the island for a good portion of his life. There are multiple murals recreated on the street where he lived. The end of the tour brought us to a little cathedral. Altogether, the walking tour lasted about an hour. I thought it was the perfect way to get introduced to the island.
Hill Tour
The hill tour takes visitors up to the top of the island which has the best views of the area. Heidi picked us up in a van and gave us a tour of what we passed along the way.
We learned that when the French occupied Panama, they built a resort on the island that cost them $400,000 to build in the 1800s. They intended for it to become a popular spot for investors in the Panama Canal, but it ended up becoming a hospital due to the workers who were building the canal catching yellow fever and malaria.
The hill tour drove us through some rugged terrain. We stopped at a panoramic viewpoint very close to the top of the island. Since it was so clear, we could see for miles! It was the perfect addition to one day on Taboga Island.
Taboga was used as a station for American soldiers during World War II. Thus, there are several remains of the island from this era, including a bunker. We saw the remains of the dining hall and explored a couple of rooms in the bunker. Afterward, we climbed to the top of the bunker for a more amazing view of the island and Panama City.
Final Tips for Visiting Taboga Island
Taboga Island made for a great day trip from Panama City. I liked that there were several activities to participate in on the island and that it was not too far from Panama City. If you have the time, pair a trip to Panama with a trip to Cartagena like we did on our trip!
2 thoughts on “5+ Fun and Unique Things to Do During One Day on Taboga Island”
Nice article. Thanks for shearing.
A great article Francesca 🙂 Taboga Island is a great place! Lots of people just go there for the beach, but there are some great tours you can get there. See if you can get a small boat to take you around the coastline of the island. Magic! Also some great places to eat there too! Kind Regards from down under!