Bocas Del Toro is the northeastern-most state in Panama. There is a small archipelago off the coast of that state also called Bocas Del Toro. The islands are known for their extremely laid back way of life and their beauty. If you go, plan to sleep in late, island hop in boat taxis all day, and go to bed early. This place was made for relaxation.

We spent spring break 2003 on the islands, just taking it all in. The most interesting aspect for me was the diversity of languages spoken on the islands. Residents are a mixture of Panamanians, indigenous indians, and people who immigrated from Jamaica in the early 1900's to work for the booming United Fruit company. The most widely spoken language on the islands is a creolized version of english that was totally indecipherable to us United States kids, followed by Spanish. Most locals speak some 'Americanized' English as well, having learned it from visiting tourists.