Starfish Beach / Playa Estrella

Atmosphere

Playa Estrella has calm, clear water and a sheltered setting, but the beach itself is narrow and offers very little proper space to lie down. The main stretch is lined with many simple restaurants and snack stands, which gives the area a busy and commercial feel rather than a quiet Caribbean beach atmosphere.

On weekends and holidays, the beach becomes especially lively. Many locals spend the day here, there are usually large numbers of visitors, and loud music often plays continuously around the restaurant area.

What to Expect

The main reason to come to Playa Estrella is to see starfish in the shallow water. Swimming and snorkeling are both easy here, and the water is usually very calm and approachable.

Beyond that, the beach itself is often less appealing than guests expect. There is little proper lounge space, the restaurant strip feels touristy, prices tend to be high for the setting, food quality is usually only average, and there is often quite a lot of litter around the area.

For a more enjoyable beach day, it is usually better to stay at the front near Bocas del Drago or stop at one of the small coves along the way to Playa Estrella. These coves are generally cleaner, have beautiful calm water, and offer small sandy sections that are much nicer for swimming and spending time by the sea.

The coastal way passes directly behind them, so there is some foot traffic throughout the day, but they are still often the better place to stay.

Good to Know

Because of the distance from town, this area is best planned as a half-day to full-day outing rather than a short beach stop. Playa Estrella is reached via Bocas del Drago on the northwestern side of Isla Colón.

From Bocas Town, the drive takes around 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, colectivo, scooter, ATV, or e-bike. A regular bicycle is also possible, but it takes longer and includes a few uphill sections.

From Bocas del Drago, Playa Estrella can be reached either by taking the path along the coast or by short water taxi. The water taxi from Bocas del Drago to Playa Estrella costs around $2 per person.

Walking is a good option in dry weather and also makes it easy to stop at the small coves along the route.