If you’re looking for a different side of Bocas, you’ll find it hidden in the indigenous villages tucked away in the forests on every island. The indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé and Naso continue to live without modern luxuries such as running water, electricity and medicine. They know how to get around the forests of the islands and speak their own language, make their own clothing and crafts, and cure illnesses with local plants prepared by medicine men known as curanderos. To learn more about living in the wild in these unspoiled communities, book a tour with an operator or if you’re staying in a remote hotel, ask the owners, there may be a village nearby.

The River Gambia National Park (or Baboon Island) is a collection of 5 river islands inhabited by all manner of indigenous animal species, from the endangered hippopotamus to omnipresent primates - bonobos and chimpanzees. The best way to experience this natural reserve is to stay overnight - the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project Camp (Badi Mayo) offers all-inclusive stays in safari tents on the water.

In Skäftekärr, close to Böda in northern Öland, lies an Iron Age village with around 20 well-preserved stone house foundations spread across 10 farms dating from 300–700 AD. At the heart of the Iron Age village are the remains of a chieftain's estate, comprising four house foundations. Adjacent to this historic site, the "new Iron Age landscape" includes a reconstructed version of one of these typical houses and the charred remains of an earlier reconstruction. The park is also home to an impressive collection of approximately 140 different species of trees and shrubs, forming an arboretum. An eco-park center with information about the Böda Eco-park is available on-site, along with Skäftekärr café, hotel, and conference, housed in the majestic main building. For the little ones, a popular obstacle course adds to the day's adventure.