Beach· Isla Colón· Other Caribbean
Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella, Boca del Drago)
9° 24.3′ N · 82° 19.6′ W
Calm, clear shallows at the north-west tip of Isla Colón where cushion sea stars dot the sand — and a row of beach bars to retreat to.
Practical
Position 9.40417, -82.32695 (Wikivoyage). Reached by boat, or bus to Boca del Drago and a 20-minute (about 2 km) walk along a path with boardwalks over the mangroves (Wikivoyage; Tourism Panama). Do NOT pick up or touch the starfish — they stress and die out of water (Visit Panama). Starfish numbers vary and they hide when crowded; scientists have counted up to 800 per hectare (Tourism Panama). Busy with day-tour boats and jet skis by day; much calmer after about 6 pm (noforeignland). Some sanitation complaints from cruisers. Snorkel the seagrass edge for other marine life including lionfish (Wikivoyage).
Best for
Swimming among starfish; cruiser beach potlucks
Nearby
- Starfish Beach Anchorage0.1 NM away
- Starfish Beach Reef & Seagrass Snorkel (Playa Estrella)0.1 NM away
- Starfish Beach Restaurants (Playa Estrella)0.1 NM away
- Boca del Drago Beach (Isla Colón)0.7 NM away
- Bird Island (Isla Pájaros / Swan Cay)3.4 NM away
- La Piscina, Playa Escondida & Mimitimbi (Isla Colón north coast)3.7 NM away
- Big Bight Anchorage (Isla Colón)3.8 NM away
- Bluff Beach (Playa Bluff)4.7 NM away