Is Bastimentos, Panama safe?

The general answer to “Is Bastimentos Safe?” is Yes. Crime usually falls under the 'petty theft' as opposed to the 'violent' category. One reason for this is that even though Bastimentos is the biggest island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, the majority of the population is centered in or near Old Bank (Bastimentos Town). The people in Old Bank consider themselves special and therefore, they usually look out for their neighbors.

Having said that, you still...

The general answer to “Is Bastimentos Safe?” is Yes. Crime usually falls under the 'petty theft' as opposed to the 'violent' category. One reason for this is that even though Bastimentos is the biggest island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, the majority of the population is centered in or near Old Bank (Bastimentos Town). The people in Old Bank consider themselves special and therefore, they usually look out for their neighbors.

Having said that, you still would be wise to be cautious. Make sure your home is secure since break ins do occur. (Remember that most of the locals live at subsistence level and when there is no money for food for the kids...) But don't be ostentatious. If you home looks like a fortress, you are asking for problems.

If you have a boat, find a safe place to store or moor it. And take your outboard inside. If you don't and wake up in the morning with the intention of going somewhere and your boat is gone, don't immediately panic. Chances are that someone 'borrowed' it to go to another island for some reason and left it there. Don't be surprised if one of you neighbors comes up to you and tells you that someone found the boat and where it is. Outboard motors are another story. One of the dichotomies of Bastimentos is that even though many make their living with boats (ferrying locals to Bocas Island or taking tourists on excursions), they don't maintain their motors. They run the engine until it dies and then have no money to replace it. Solution? Guess. If you want to make your Yamaha 25 horse power stand out among the others, find a way to personalize it. I always carved my name on the back of the propeller. I also painted one of mine bright orange. It did stand out.

A couple of other considerations. Bastimentos has some excellent beaches. Keep an eye on what you bring with you. Beware of someone asking for a loan (prestame in Spanish). In Panama, loan means give me. As a result the chances of getting your money repaid are about 99.9% against.