hospital point bocas del toro panama snorkeling in bocas del toro
Hospital Point lies off Colon Island and rests on the northwest tip of Nancy Cay (Solarte Island). Once the central medical center for the United Fruit Company, which established its headquarters in Bocas del Toro in 1899, Hospital Point is now under private ownership and a popular tourist destination for divers and snorkelers.
On the backside of the property — behind the house in this photograph — is a small, white-sand beach, which no one seems to mind if you use it. If you are kayaking, it's a convenient place to rest.
Perhaps even more so than Coral Cay, Hospital Point possesses a vast assortment of sea life and is arguably Bocas' best place to snorkel and dive. The water is shallowest just off the northwest side of the point — facing Bocas town — where you'll find an abundance of colorful tropical fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, sea stars, and pufferfish, among others. Off the island's tip, the coral formation descends abruptly, quickly reaching depths over 30-40ft, forming part of the deep ocean channel between Hospital Point and Carenero Island. Here, you're more likely to encounter eels, lobster, crabs, lionfish, and sponges, though they're difficult to find if you're not diving with tanks.
Most tour operators include a stop at Hospital Point on a full-day tour. It is most often the last stop before returning to Bocas town. Anyone wanting to visit Hospital Point at leisure can hire private water taxis or rent a sit-on-top kayak by the hour, half-day, or full-day from any waterfront tour/dive operators. The water is typically relatively calm, but it’s further away than it looks.