Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park

Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Bastimentos Wizard
Location Bocas del Toro Province, Panama
Nearest city Bastimentos
Coordinates 9°16′57″N 82°8′23″W / 9.28250°N 82.13972°W / 9.28250; -82.13972Coordinates: 9°16′57″N 82°8′23″W / 9.28250°N 82.13972°W / 9.28250; -82.13972
Area over 13.226 ha
Established 1988

Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park (in Spanish: Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos) is a marine park located in the Bocas del Toro District and archipelago of Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. Created in 1988, this is Panama's first national marine park. Covering an area of 13,226-hecatres (32,682-acres), of which 11,596 is home to a variety of plant and animal species, the park stretches from Playa Larga (Larga Beach) to the Cayos Zapatillas (Zapatilla Cays) and over to Coral Cay. The national park extends across the southwest side of Isla Bastimentos and into the Caribbean Sea.

The park protects forests, mangroves, monkeys, sloths, caiman, crocodile, and 28 species of amphibians and reptiles. Playa Larga (Long Beach), on Isla Bastimentos, that is important nesting site for sea turtles. Four species of endangered sea turtles use it as a nesting site from April through September. The rana rojo (strawberry poison-dart frog) also inhabits the island.[1]

Sights

The Cayos Zapatillas ("Shoe Cays") resemble a pair of shoes and are two island refuges for coral reefs, mammals, reptiles and birds, also used as a nesting place for sea turtles.

Wizard Beach. also known as Playa Primera, scenic yellow sand beach next to jungle reached by a wilderness path from Old Bank in dry weather. Further along the coast are Playa Segunda (Second Beach) and Red Frog Beach. There is also a water taxi to Red Frog Beach from a marina on the south side of the island.[1]

Etymology

Named after the Zapatillas fruit,[2] the park has been managed and protected by ANAM since its creation in 1988.[2][3] The Cayos Zapatillas are the most popular place to visit this park.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Wizard Beach Lonely Planet
  2. 1 2 Woods, Sarah (2009), Bradt Panama, Bradt Travel Guides, p. 280, ISBN 1-84162-260-5
  3. ↑ D. Firestone, Matthew & Regis St. Louis (2008), Panama, Lonely Planet, p. 231, ISBN 978-1-74104-552-9
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