Hi all!

I'm getting started at planning a family vacation (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 kids) for the February break. We are in the (very) early stages of picking a destination. I'm hoping to gather some information about Panama (specifically Bocas del Toro).

The teen has actually been here before on a surf camp trip (Costa Rica and Panama), the rest of us have not. Last year we all spent some time in Montezuma, Costa Rica.

So I guess my questions boil down to:

1) Would Bocas be fun? We do NOT require crazy activities and a party. We like our beach vacations to be mostly mellow. A hike and some low key restaurants, snorkeling, pretty beaches- those things are all good. What do you like to do in this part of the world?

2) We'll have about a week and a half. Would it make sense to fly into San Jose and work our way down/over? Better to fly into Panama City? Good stops along the way? (I"m not looking at a map and I don't have a Panama guide, so be gentle!)

3) Lodging recommendations (cheapish, but not grody)? Recommendations of any kind? An additional or different/ better place to check out?

4) Anything else, aka what do YOU think?

Thanks!!

Hello,
We are going in Dec. to Bocas. It appears to be very low key. We are also going to San Blas, which seems to have a bit more to explore. Maybe someone will give you more info here.
There are a few expensive resorts in Bocas, but I found this lovely guest house, called Beverly's Hill Guest House. Seemed very reasonable, here is the website: www.beverlyshill.blogspot.com
We haven't been there yet, but hoping it is as sweet as it seems.

Bocas isn't quite low-key - it's very popular among Panamanians, and gets a steady trickle of foreign visitors too. It would be a great place for a family trip.