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Last updated on March 31, 2024
Lined with palm trees, turquoise waters, and plenty of shade, the two small Zapatilla Islands, listed as a National Park, feature some of the most beautiful beaches in Bocas del Toro. Both Zapatilla North and Zapatilla South are partly sheltered by a coral reef and offer decent snorkeling, despite the occasionally strong current. This page is about Cayo Zapatilla North, you can also check the Cayo Zapatilla South report.
Cayo Zapatilla is a duo of islands at the eastern tip of the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, which are only accessible by boat. A visit to Cayo Zapatilla is included in many of the snorkeling tours offered in town and online. It can however be difficult to get confirmation about which island, Zapatilla North or Zapatilla South, will be visited.
Full-day tours from Isla Colon often combine one of the Zapatilla Islands, another snorkeling location such as Cayo Coral, as well as dolphin watching and observation of sloths. If you want to visit the two islands, then the best option is to organize a private tour.
The recommended snorkel entry at Zapatilla North is from the northern beach, in one of the sandy passages between the reefs.
Cayo Zapatilla is more subject to waves and currents than other snorkeling locations in the archipelago. Before entering the water, get the advice of the National Park Office or your guide about the sea conditions and the best way to snorkel the location.
The snorkeling area at Cayo Zapatilla North extends in front of the island’s northern beach. Snorkeling from the beach you will first cross seagrass beds for a few dozen yards before reaching the reefs.
The coral reefs are separated by sandy passages that you can use to explore the area. In the sand, you might be lucky enough to encounter a resting stingray, who appreciates this sheltered environment.
In the reef areas, depth does not exceed 16 feet/5 meters, and the top of the reefs is always very close to the surface.
Despite damaged corals, Zapatilla North is home to a diversity of reef fish including schooling blue tang, bluehead wrasse, snappers, butterflyfish, damsels, and the occasional Queen triggerfish.
There are no restaurants on the islands. You will generally have the choice of taking a picnic with you or having lunch in a nearby restaurant, such as Restaurante Alfonso. Check what is precisely included in your tour before booking it.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
