Several of the pristine islands of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in the Caribbean Sea are protected by the marine Parque Nacional Bastimentos. The park offers great diving, snorkeling and swimming, and its beaches are used as a nesting ground by several species of sea turtle. The main town on the archipelago is Bocas Del Toro on the southeastern tip of Isla Colón. The archipelago is off the northeast coast of Panama and is accessible by plane from Panama City, David and Changuinola, or by ferry from Almirante and Chiriquí Grande.

The islands of the San Blas Archipelago are strung out along the Caribbean coast of Panama from the Golfo de San Blas nearly all the way to the Colombian border. The islands are home to the Kuna Indians, who run the 378 islands as an autonomous province, with minimal interference from the national government. They maintain their own economic system, language, customs and culture, with distinctive dress, legends, music and dance. The economy of the islands is based on coconut sales, fishing and tourism, and they offer travelers good diving, snorkeling and swimming; the best diving conditions are between April and June. The most interesting islands are Achutupu, Kagantupu and Coco Blanco. There are flights to several of the islands from Panama City or you can catch a ride with Kuna merchant ships from Colón.

It would take all the exotic Caribbean clichés to describe this remote and beautiful island off the Caribbean coast near Portobelo. Only 7 sq km (3 sq mi) in size, it's inhabited by 300 people of African descent who make their living from fishing and coconuts. There are a handful of places to stay on the island and boats for rent, but no dive operators or places to rent snorkeling equipment. Visitors are often attracted by local festivities, which include San Juan Bautista on June 24, celebrated with canoe and swimming races; the day of the Virgen del Carmen, on July 16, is marked by a land and sea procession; and Carnaval, before Ash Wednesday, is fêted with Calypso dancing and songs.