Isla Iguana is one of Panama’s most beautiful natural attractions. Located just half an hour off the coast of Pedasi in the Pacific Ocean, Isla Iguana is a great spot for camping.

The main beach on the island is a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water. There is a large reef just a handful of meters off the shore which is perfect for snorkeling. It’s easy to spot turtles, rays and all kinds of fish and coral without going too far off shore.

There are also walking trails on the island where you can spot hundreds of iguanas and various crab species. Besides the beach and the trails, there is not much else on the island. There is a visitors center on the island which features outdated photos of the various animals and birds that can be found on and around the island. The visitors center was recently renovated to include a bathroom, but according to the Environmental Authority employee on the island, the bathroom rarely works because there is not enough water. That leaves a small, run-down outhouse as the only bathroom option on the island.

Because Isla Iguana is run by Panama’s Environmental Authority, anyone entering the island, which is a protected zone, must pay a fee. A day pass for Panamanians is $4, and $10 for foreigners. If you want to camp on the island it will cost an additional $5 per tent for nationals and $10 a tent for foreigners.

Considering there are basically no facilities on the island, the price of admission is pretty steep. There are no real bathrooms, no sinks, no electricity, no where to buy a bottle of water if you run out, they don’t rent snorkel equipment. Isla Iguana is a wildlife refuge and they need to protect that, but even if there was a shower and some changing rooms, that would make visiting the island for an extended period much more comfortable.

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Filed under: Country Guide, News on January 26th, 2009