Red Frog Beach

Playa Red Frog

A gorgeous stretch of golden sand on Isla Bastimentos named for its resident red poison dart frogs. Popular for surfing, swimming and beach lounging with a jungle backdrop.

Things to do

• Spot red poison dart frogs — Follow the jungle trails behind the beach to find the tiny bright-red frogs the beach is named after, often perched on leaves near the boardwalk.
• Surf the beach break — Paddle out to the consistent waves that make Red Frog a favorite for both beginners and intermediate surfers, especially from December to March.
• Swim and lounge on golden sand — Relax on the wide stretch of soft sand backed by dense rainforest, with calmer swimming conditions on lower-swell days.
• Hike to Wizard Beach (Playa Primera) — Take the jungle trail over the headland to the more secluded neighboring beach, passing sloths and howler monkeys along the way.
• Zipline through the canopy — Fly over the rainforest on the Red Frog Beach zipline canopy tour for aerial views of the jungle and coastline.
• Boat over from Bocas Town — Catch a water taxi from Bocas del Toro town to Isla Bastimentos, then walk the short trail across the island to reach the beach.
• Watch for sloths and monkeys — Scan the trees along the access trail and marina area where three-toed sloths and howler monkeys are frequently seen.

Food to try

• Rondón — A hearty Afro-Caribbean coconut milk stew simmered with fish, yuca, plantain and breadfruit, a signature dish of the Bocas region.
• Fresh coconut water — Buy a machete-cracked green coconut from a beach vendor to sip straight from the shell.
• Whole fried snapper — Locally caught red snapper served whole and crispy, typically with patacones (fried green plantains) and coconut rice.
• Coconut rice and beans — Rice cooked in coconut milk with red beans, a Caribbean staple served alongside most meals in Bocas.
• Ceviche — Fresh raw fish cured in lime with onion and cilantro, sold at beachside bars and marina kitchens.
• Cold Panama or Balboa beer — Grab a local lager at the Red Frog Beach Club bar to cool off after surfing.

Local customs & good to know

• Never touch the frogs — The red poison dart frogs secrete toxins through their skin, so admire and photograph them without picking them up.
• Bring cash and pay the beach access fee — There is a small entry fee to reach the beach and few card readers, so carry US dollars, which are Panama's currency.
• Respect the Ngäbe-Buglé communities — Bastimentos is home to Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean villages like Old Bank, so ask before photographing people and support local vendors.
• Watch the tides and currents — Swimming conditions vary with the swell, so check with locals or lifeguards before entering when the surf is strong.

Nearby

• Isla Bastimentos — 3 km
• Coral Cay — 7 km
• Isla Carenero — 7 km
• Bocas Town — 9 km