Bocas del Toro Itinerary Template: 3–5 Day Planning Guide

The fastest way to ruin a Bocas del Toro trip is to overplan it. This itinerary template is built for island pacing: one base, buffer time for travel days, and flexible options depending on weather and energy.                   

Download: 3–5 Day Bocas del Toro Itinerary Template (PDF) 

Want more planning tools? Browse Checklists & Templates.       

• Travelers planning their first trip to Bocas del Toro
• Anyone who wants structure without a rigid schedule
• Short trips where pacing matters more than “seeing everything”
• Island travelers who want built-in flexibility 

• 3-day and 5-day base itineraries
• Arrival and departure day planning guidance
• “Anchor experience” planning (1–2 must-do days)
• Weather buffer options and Plan B ideas
• Notes section to customize for your stay and interests.            

1. Decide your trip length first (3, 4, or 5 days).
2. Choose one base location.
3. Mark arrival and departure days as light days.
4. Add 1–2 anchor experiences.
5. Leave open space — that’s not wasted time on the islands.

Pair this with the planning guide: How to plan a trip to Bocas del Toro.

• Scheduling big tours on arrival day
• Moving lodging too often
• Stacking multiple “must-do” days back-to-back
• Ignoring transfer time and weather variability