An aerial view of Soropta Beach

HOW TO GET THERE

Bocas is easily reached, either by air from Panama City or overland by bus from San José in Costa Rica from where a morning bus enables one to reach Bocas the same day in the afternoon. From the Costa Rican border it is a short distance and a few dollars in a shared taxi to Almirante where the fast water-taxis run an hourly service across the water to Bocas. The trip costs $3 and takes 20 minutes.

Our local representative in Bocas will arrange transport to Soropta or Playa Larga. The cost of this is not included but volunteers can often hitch a ride in a boat taking stores or, in the case of Soropta, take a scheduled water-taxi for three or four dollars.

A local group arriving with turtle volunteers

Soropta beach is on one side of a narrow spit of land. On the other side is a canal originally dug to transport bananas to the nearby port of Almirante. Nowadays it is very little used but recently a water-taxi service has been started from Bocas to the town of Changuinola on the mainland, and the route takes the boats along the canal and 'past our door', which is very convenient for volunteers joining or leaving, as well as for shopping in Changuinola.

Both projects are an easy boat-ride from Bocas del Toro (known simply as 'Bocas'), the popular resort on the island of Colon, but they protect beaches, which are isolated and unspoilt.

Prices

Please contact us for details of current prices.