Food

Bocas town offers a fair range of cuisine, considering its size and location. Some places serve surprisingly good international fare. Pizza is particularly easy to come by, and some of it is quite tasty. A number of fast-food stalls are set around the perimeter of the park. Note that many restaurants are closed for lunch, when the tourists are usually out snorkeling and sunbathing.

Please boycott any restaurant that serves sea turtle meat or eggs or any other endangered species protected by law. It does still happen.

Markets

In addition to its restaurants and cafés [1], Bocas town also has an abundance of food stores, though don’t come expecting a great selection of food.

Super Gourmet (Calle 3 near the ferry pier, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. daily) is a godsend for expatriates hungering for something beyond the usual local fare. It has a nice selection of goodies, including fresh bread, cheese, fruit, organic Bocas chocolate, gourmet Boquete coffee, and many items that only in the backwaters of Bocas would be considered “gourmet” (e.g., Old El Paso salsa, ramen noodles, Vienna sausages). It also carries pricey but not necessarily good wine.

The best thing about the place is its deli counter, which offers salads and sandwiches for around US$6, lasagna, whole roast chickens, pastries, and so on. The sandwiches are only so-so, but they’re big. The cookies, many made with Bocas chocolate, are killer.

Tropical Markets (Calle 1 and Avenida E. Luis Russell, 9 A.M.–6 P.M. Mon.–Fri.) is a series of food stalls in an odd two-story building on the east side of town. The stalls carry meat, seafood, produce, wine, and other groceries, with a more upscale selection than is normally found in Bocas stores.

At last count there were a dozen chinos (mini-supermarkets) in Bocas town alone. Several are on Calle 3, just north and south of Avenida D. Supermercado La Estrella de la Isla (Calle 3, 7 A.M.–midnight daily) is next door to Hotel Laguna [2]. Supermercado Cayo Zapatilla (Calle 3) is a similar place across the street. Both have produce stands on the street. The newer Supercentro Cristina is bigger but not really better. Supermercado Isla Colón (7:30 A.M.–11 P.M. daily) is on the southeast corner of Calle 3 and Avenida D.

The basic Supermarket Hawaii (Calle 6 and Avenida G, 7:30 A.M.–10:30 P.M. daily) is more convenient for those staying north of downtown.