Bocas del Toro, Panama -- a string of islands a few miles south of the border, Bocas del Toro, Panama makes a great side-trip from Costa Rica, or even an extended vacation. Especially if you enjoy snorkeling, secluded beaches, and the soft kiss of Caribbean trade winds in a place most travelers have not even heard of yet. But get there in the next year or so,...

A wide range of accommodations tops out at around $80 a night for the Buccaneer Resort. In the main part of town, Hotel Swan Cay is the swankiest place, with A/C and a pricey Italian restaurant (in fact, "Italian" anything is the only thing overpriced here). Cabins go as low as $5. A villa, resort or hotel can run from $10-$100 a night. For those who want to build...

In December, 2005, two airlines started service from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Bocas del Toro, Panama: Nature Air and Air Costa Rica. It's a one-hour flight that costs $100 one-way, $200 round-trip. Nature Air flights depart San José at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Air Costa flights take off at 11:30 a.m.; on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can...

Panama - the southernmost country in Central America - offers a unique array of things to do, whether here on vacation or business travel. Take a tour of the majestic Panama Canal. Relax on sun kissed beaches. Go sportfishing, diving and surfing on either coast. Try the exciting adventure tours springing up from one end of Panama to the other. The virtually...