Isla Carenero is in the Caribbean West of Panama, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. It's just across a narrow channel from Bocas Town. The island is known for its relaxed cabana restaurants, sandy beaches, and surfing spots.
A small island and the closest to Bocas Town, Carenero includes beaches, jungles, and a village of its own, all in the small package. Walk the loop trail around the island to see the variety. The southern tip is a village where locals live in wooden shacks on stilts, while the farther north you go along the west side, the fancier the houses (and tourist accommodations) get. There beaches here, but you'll find more natural beauty on the east side of the island, where beautiful beaches and palm trees stretch along most of the shore, with a smattering of beach bars to serve tourists. This is also where most of the surfing happens.
Take a water taxi from Bocas Town for $1-2 per person each way, depending on where you're getting off (March 2020).
The island is pretty small - you can walk all the way around it in about two hours, or take a water taxi from place to place. There are no cars on the island, and many of the paths would be pretty rough going on a bicycle.
There is a "beach path" that loops around almost the whole island - the northern tip of the island isn't accessible to the public, but the trail cuts across the jungle here to allow you to complete the loop. There's also a cross-island trail in the south that cuts across from Bibi's to the fancy housing and accommodations on the west side.
There's a local grocery store in the village near the southern tip of the island. Walk a few minutes clockwise around the coast from Aqua Lounge to find it. There are few, if any, other shops on Carenero, except maybe some snack bars near the beach.
There are several beach bars/restaurants along the east shore of the island.
See also the "Eat" section above.
In addition to Aqua Lounge, there appear to be several more upscale accommodations, perhaps of the Bed & Breakfast or rustic resort variety, along the western shore of the island.
Bibi's has free wifi for customers, as presumably does Aqua Lounge. You will likely have cell signal here too, but quality may vary.
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