The Museum of Science & Industry has something for visitors of all ages. The museum offers an array of hands-on activities, including lying on a bed of nails, exploring optical illusions, solving brain puzzles, and diving into a NASA-funded lunar colony simulation. You can also observe butterflies, enjoy a round of mini-golf, and gaze at the stars in the planetarium. Come with time to spare because you will probably want to spend the entire afternoon here.

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.

Cayos Zapatillas offer some of the best skin diving in the marine park, windward from Crawl Cay. The variety of underwater ecosystems includes fan gardens and coral reefs. Choose from a variety of depths and currents to suit your skills. More intrepid and experienced divers can explore a series of nearby caves at a depth of 40 feet and require underwater lights.