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.

Discover the history of the Capuchin order - and have a somehow morbid experience - while paying a visit to this venue, where you will get the chance to see the Capuchin monastery’s crypt! Here, mummified bodies of 150 monks are displayed and preserved naturally since 1784 in the dry atmosphere (visitors will also notice that many were buried with their boots on).

The Bocas del Toro region is part of the larger La Amistad area, which holds Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site statuses for its rich ecosystems, including the reefs of Panama’s Bastimentos National Marine Park. The waters are inhabited by a wonderful variety of tropical reef creatures including starfish, sting rays, nurse sharks, lobster, angel fish, parrot fish, damsel fish – the list is endless. Dive schools regularly visit up to 15 locations with depth ranges from 2 to 18 meters inside the bay area. Many centers offer try-dives, open water courses and education right through to dive master. Some dive sites include Crawl Cay, The Wreck, Hospital Point, Buoy Line, Playground and many more. The best time of year for diving is April-May and Sept-October but there is good visibility year round.

One of the Hoi An Ancient Town's most emblematic structures, the Japanese Covered Bridge dates back to the early 17th century, when it was first constructed by the Japanese community as a link to the Chinese quarters of Hoi An. Much of the original ornamental wood carvings remain preserved, and so do the sculptures of two dogs and two monkeys on either end of the bridge. Although the exact reasons for this particular animal selection aren't clearly identifiable, some explanations include the sacred status of the two in Japanese culture and birth years of Japanese emperors predominantly falling on either dog or monkey. Inside the bridge, there is a tiny temple of the northern god Tran Vo Bac De, who is believed to hold powers of controlling the weather. The Japanese Covered Bridge is included on the list of attractions one can visit on an Ancient Town Entry Ticket.