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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Islas Ladrones
Skip unless you dive or snorkel: a boat day-trip from Boca Chica or Pedregal, not a stay.
Islas Ladrones is a 500 m island 40 km south of Boca Chica in the Gulf of Chiriquí. The draw is underwater: diving visibility of 30–80 m, schools of jack, barracuda and snapper, and white-tip, black-tip and nurse sharks year round. Giant manta rays appear May–November and humpback whales pass through seasonally. Whether you can stay or eat on the island is not documented in the sources — check with your operator before you go.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- May–Nov for giant manta rays (check sea conditions for the rest of the year)
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PAB
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Day-trip (boat + dive) $120–200 (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Boat transfer from Boca Chica (return) | $60–80 |
| Dive trip (2 tanks, guide, gear) | $100–150 |
| Snorkel trip (half-day) | $50–70 |
| Lunch on the boat | $10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DAV · David (Enrique Malek International)
- check — the source only gives boat access from Boca Chica or Pedregal, the port near David
Typical fares
- Boat from Boca Chica (return)
- $60–80 (check)
- Dive trip (2 tanks)
- $100–150 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island is 500 m in diameter — everything else about moving around it is undocumented; check with your boat operator.
See and do
Known for
- Scuba diving with 30–80 m visibility
- Sharks (white-tip, black-tip, nurse)
- Manta rays (May–Nov)
- Humpback whales (seasonal)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boca Chica | Boat from Islas Ladrones, about 40 km (25 mi)Boat from Islas Ladrones, about 25 mi (40 km) | About 1 h |
| David | Boat to Pedregal, then taxi or bus | About 1.5 h |
| Isla Palenque | Boat from Boca Chica, about 30 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Boca Chica
- Boat trips to the island depart from here; lodging options: check.
- David
- Larger town with more hotels; access to Pedregal port: check.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kwes-tah |
| Where is the boat? | ¿Dónde está el bote?don-deh es-tah el boh-teh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- No accommodation, food or water on the island: bring everything.
- Boat trips depend on weather; check sea conditions the day before.
- Shark sightings are common — keep hands still and follow the dive guide.
The main risk is the boat ride: wear a life jacket, check the weather. Sharks are present but not aggressive if you keep calm. No crime reported on the island.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Islas Ladrones yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Scuba diving with 30–80 m visibility
- Sharks (white-tip, black-tip, nurse)
- Manta rays (May–Nov)
- Humpback whales (seasonal)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Islas Ladrones, revision 4238534 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4238534
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/islas-ladrones). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.