Isla Taboga Travel Guide

  All Aboard!
by bilgeez
 
  • All Aboard!
      All Aboard!
    by bilgeez
  •   Hotels
    by tabogan
  •   Hotels
    by tabogan
  •   Hotels
    by tabogan
  • View from the ferry on the way in
      View from the ferry on the way in
    by lalikes
 

Pro

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 Great weather, nice people, pretty beaches 


Con

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 Not much to do 


In a nutshell

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 It´s quaint but, not very exciting. 

 

Explore Isla Taboga

Things to Do  

2nd oldest church in the western hemisphere

2nd oldest church in the western hemisphere, Isla Taboga

 lalikes Says:  Not really the proper category on "things to do, " especially since you can see it right from the boat dock and there isn't anything "to do" there really. The unassuming church was founded in 1550 and is the second oldest church in the western hemisphere (as mentioned... 

Taboga Beach

Taboga Beach, Isla Taboga

 lalikes Says:  There are great beaches in Taboga to either side of the ferry dock. Went to the better one to the right. It is a beach with a sand bar. On one side there are a lot of waves. On the other, it's more calm. You decide. 

Life is a Beach!

Life is a Beach!, Isla Taboga

 bilgeez Says:  The beaches on Taboga are not large or dramatic, in any sense, and nearly non-existant at high tide! But the locals come to get away from the dank, dreary, drab life in Panama City and have a little fun in the sun.You can rent a beach umbrella for $5 for the day or a picnic... 

Paul Gaugin on Taboga

Paul Gaugin on Taboga, Isla Taboga

 bilgeez Says:  The Impressionist artist, Paul Gaugin, lived on Taboga for three months in the summer of 1887. Had he been able to scrape together the money to buy a place on the Island, he may never have gone to Tahiti, because he liked it here. He worked on the Panama Canal for a few... 

FISHING IN TABOGA

FISHING IN TABOGA, Isla Taboga

 tnvans Says:  Go with a local called Taboga Fishing Charters. Nice boat and he (Thijs) knows the waters around Taboga, Tabogilla and Uraba. Great rods and reels. Dorado, red snapper, corvina and others. He also gives island tours where you might see migrating whales, dolphins or turtles... 

Hotels  

Taboga Island apt: Taboga Island Vacation Rental

Taboga Island apt: Taboga Island Vacation Rental, Isla Taboga

 tabogan Says:  apt 2 room,fully furnished, complete kitchen, sky tv, bbq, terrace,a/c, 10 meters from the beach, 12 miles from panama canal,daily public transport. This accomodation is very comfortable, with a peaceful atmosphere, where you can spend time with your family without any... 

TRES TERRAZAS HOUSE RENTAL: ABSOLUTELY GREAT!

TRES TERRAZAS HOUSE RENTAL: ABSOLUTELY GREAT!, Isla Taboga

 samfishing Says:  Great for our family vacation. Our two sons loved that we were so close to the beach for swimming every day. The house is nicely set up with a full kitchen and a very comfortable bed (important as I have back problems now and then). We brought the big futon into our bedroom... 

TRES TERRAZAS VACATION RENTAL: Fantastic Views & Huge House

TRES TERRAZAS VACATION RENTAL: Fantastic Views & Huge House, Isla Taboga

 docdmac Says:  I, and my new bride, just spent our honeymoon at this wonderful place. We could not have been happier with the accommodations. Everything we needed was available. The bedroom is very large and comfortable with a large television to watch CNN and my sports. The bathroom is... 

TRES TERRAZAS VACATION RENTAL: Fantastic Views & Huge House

TRES TERRAZAS VACATION RENTAL: Fantastic Views & Huge House, Isla Taboga

 docdmac Says:  I, and my new bride, just spent our honeymoon at this wonderful place. We could not have been happier with the accommodations. Everything we needed was available. The bedroom is very large and comfortable with a large television to watch CNN and my sports. The bathroom is... 

Cerrito Tropical B&B: Cerrito Tropical B&B - Breathtaking

Cerrito Tropical B&B: Cerrito Tropical B&B - Breathtaking, Isla Taboga

 Luke6647 Says:  We stayed in an apartment with two nicely furnished bedrooms (1 with queen bed, the other with 2 twin beds both bedrooms with air conditioning) one bath and a kitchenette. A light breakfast is included and other breakfast foods can be made to order for an additional price.... 

cerrito b&b: great bang for your buck

cerrito b&b: great bang for your buck, Isla Taboga

 whatahoot34 Says:  My husband, brother, sister-in-law and myself stayed the night at the cerrito b&b. We stayed in an apartment with two bedrooms (1 with queen bed, the other with 2 twin beds both bedrooms with air conditioning) one bath and a kitchenette. A light breakfast is included and... 

cerrito b&b: great bang for your buck

cerrito b&b: great bang for your buck, Isla Taboga

 whatahoot34 Says:  My husband, brother, sister-in-law and myself stayed the night at the cerrito b&b. We stayed in an apartment with two bedrooms (1 with queen bed, the other with 2 twin beds both bedrooms with air conditioning) one bath and a kitchenette. A light breakfast is included and... 

Vereda Tropical Hotel: Nice View

Vereda Tropical Hotel: Nice View, Isla Taboga

 bilgeez Says:  I haven´t stayed here, but I hear it is one of the few decent places that is on Taboga now. They have a restraurant there as well. Outstanding view, heard the rooms are spare, but habitable. Expensive for what you get. But there ain´t much there to choose from. 

Tres Terrazas: Beautiful Isla Taboga House Rental

Tres Terrazas: Beautiful Isla Taboga House Rental, Isla Taboga

 alligator33 Says:  Spacious house with incredible views. Huge kitchen with everything we needed. Nice bath with a really big shower with hot water. Very close to the beach. Nice, safe area with good lighting. Comfortable queen bed. We would definitely recommend this place. Very private and... 

Restaurants  

Hotel Restaurant: Vereda Tropical Hotel
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lalikes 169 reviews
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Atop a hill with a spectacular view, this is a beautiful hotel (did not stay there) and the restaurant was great. The restaurant is open-air with a sunny patio. It serves great meals that are prepared by a Portuguese chef. It's located 100m past the path leading up to the Kool Hostel. You can just ask a local where it is. They will point you in the right directions.

Favorite Dish: Had calamari, spaghetti carbonara, a pineapple infused fish and rice dish.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Address: see below

Phone: 250 2154

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Transportation  

Ferry Ride

Ferry Ride, Isla Taboga

 lalikes Says:  The boat ride is scenic and about 45 minutes to the island. It is $10 per person and departs from Panama City at:8:30 and 3:00 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday8:30 on Tuesday and Thursday8:30, 10:30 and 4:00 on Saturday and SundayFerries depart Isla Taboga:9:30 and 4:00 on... 

Getting There is Half the Fun!

Getting There is Half the Fun!, Isla Taboga

 bilgeez Says:  Going to Taboga is easy, the Charter company has several boats going round-trip to Taboga every day. It costs $11, return, round trip, if you please. Seniors pay only $7. It may be a good idea to get tickets in advance, they sell them at several locations in Panama City.The... 

Local Customs  

Iglesia en Isla Taboga
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

bilgeez 259 reviews
Iglesia de la Bediga Virgen.
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All towns in Panama have as their focal point the local Catholic Church. The Church on Isla Taboga is no different. It is the main reference point of the town on the Island. Since it was on Good Friday, they were having their interminable Good Friday paegent. We came during a break in the festivities and I was admonished by a miniature Roman Soldier not to take photos in the church! OK...
But I took a few anyway!

Written Apr 25, 2008

Related to:
 Arts and Culture

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Favorites  

Isla Taboga
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

a005116 189 reviews
Isla Taboga

Favorite thing: Isla Taboga is a small island just 20km offshore. A ferry will take you from Bolboa to the island in about 1-1,5 hour.
The island is an oase of peace if you compare it to the very buzzy life in Panama city! It's the island to rest out a bit, to swim and relax!

Written Jun 7, 2003

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Map of Isla Taboga