Say it in English. Bocas hears Panamanian Spanish.
WhatsApp voice notes for your plumber, electrician or landlord. A live two-way conversation at the dock. And a free directory of 280+ local boats, trades and businesses. Built in Bocas del Toro. Book a water taxi, order at a restaurant or ask a pharmacist, all by speaking English. Plus a free directory of 280+ boats, taxis and island businesses. Built in Bocas del Toro.
On iPhone? Join the waitlist. The directory and the voice demo below work in any browser.
60-second walkthrough
280+ Bocas boats, trades and businesses
Verified contacts that open straight in WhatsApp. No account needed, and listing is free for local businesses.
Activities & tours
Dive shops, surf schools, kayak, cacao farms, wildlife and sailing trips.
Boat captains & water taxis
Rides to Carenero, Bastimentos, Red Frog and the mainland, plus outboard repairs.
Electricians, A/C & trades
A/C leaks, wiring, refrigeration, plumbing and general repairs.
Hardware & building supplies
PVC, zinc roofing, marine fasteners, cement and electrical parts.
Car & outboard mechanics
Outboard engines, ATVs, golf carts, welding and tire repairs.
Gardening & property care
Trail clearing, brush cutting, nurseries and tropical landscaping.
Doctors & pharmacies
The hospital emergency room, private clinics and pharmacies.
Land taxis & airport rides
Yellow taxis, 4x4 trucks to Bluff and Paunch, and airport pickups.
ATMs & cash
Every ATM on the island, payment kiosks and mainland money transfers.
Restaurants & groceries
Where to eat, supermarkets, produce stands and drinking-water refills.
Border runs & shuttles
Daily transfers to Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Limón and San José.
Community & culture
Book exchanges, animal rescue, events and island groups.
Hotels & lodges
Hostels, eco-lodges and villas across the islands.
Try it: type English, hear Panamanian Spanish
Pick a scenario or write your own. Listen, then share the voice note to WhatsApp.
Buenas, el aire acondicionado está botando agua en el cuarto. ¿Puede revisarlo?
The demo is free. The app adds live two-way talk, decoding of the voice notes you receive, and offline phrases for the boat.
Three things that are hard in Bocas without Spanish
Understanding the voice notes you get back, talking face to face, and reading the paperwork.
Understand the voice notes they send back
Local boat captains, mechanics, and landlords in Bocas rarely text—they send fast, colloquial WhatsApp voice notes packed with island slang, dock terminology, and background boat engine noise.
- Forward or Paste Audio: Transcribes rapid Caribbean Panamanian Spanish in under 2 seconds.
- Colloquial Breakdown: Converts island slang (panga, repuesto, qué xopa) into crystal-clear English takeaways.
- 1-Tap Voice Reply: Generates an authentic spoken Spanish voice response in your chosen voice ready to send back.
"¡Qué xopa compa! Voy saliendo del muelle de Almirante con la panga, pero tengo que parar en Saigón a buscar un repuesto pal fuera de borda. Llego como a las 4 y media..."
Captain departing mainland Almirante now. Quick parts stop in Saigón for outboard engine. Estimated arrival ~4:30 PM.
Talk face to face, in both directions
Hand over your phone or open a live audio room. You speak English naturally, and the app speaks authentic Panamanian Spanish. When the contractor answers in Spanish, you hear clear English.
- Dual-Channel Voice Separation: Outgoing audio speaks in your chosen persona (Diego or Sofia), while incoming translations reflect the contractor's natural voice.
- Fair Session Lifecycle: Rooms activate on first voice transmission with a 15-minute window and inactivity auto-close.
- Works Dockside & Offline: Built-in phrase library ensures you can negotiate boat fares even when cell tower reception drops.
"How much to take 3 people with luggage to Red Frog Beach dock?"
"Son cinco dólares por persona, quince en total. Salimos al tiro."
Read bills, leases and menus
Navigating utilities and rental contracts in Panama can be intimidating. Snap a picture of any Naturgy power invoice, IDAAN water bill, or stamped rental agreement for immediate clarity.
- Instant NIS Extraction: Automatically isolates your Naturgy NIS account number, current balance, and cutoff deadline for Banco Nacional payment.
- Lease Red-Flag Scanner: Highlights island-specific rental terms like solar battery maintenance, generator fuel sharing, and dock upkeep duties.
- 1-Tap Dispute Drafting: Drafts a polite, formal Spanish query to Naturgy customer service or your landlord.
Payable via Banco Nacional online banking or cash at Punto Pago kiosks in Bocas Town with NIS 2849102-1.
Simple passes
Try everything free for 7 days. Subscriptions are sold on Google Play and cancel in one tap.
Annual Pass
For residents, homeowners and people who come back every year
- ✓ Unlimited voice notes and live sessions
- ✓ Natural Panamanian voices
- ✓ Decoder for incoming voice notes
- ✓ Offline phrases and directory
Monthly Pass
Month to month, cancel anytime
- ✓ Unlimited voice notes and live sessions
- ✓ Natural Panamanian voices
- ✓ Decoder for incoming voice notes
- ✓ Offline phrases and directory
7-Day Travel Pass
For a week on the islands, no renewal
- ✓ 100 voice notes • 20 live sessions
- ✓ Natural Panamanian voices
- ✓ Offline phrases for boats and beaches
- ✓ No subscription
Just need a few voice notes?
50 credits for $3.74 on the web until Oct 15 ($4.99 in the app). One credit per voice note, five per live session. Credits never expire.
On iPhone?
PoquitoTalk is on Android today. Leave your email and you get one message the day it reaches the App Store.
Run a business in Bocas?
Listing is free, there is no commission, and enquiries go straight to your WhatsApp. Pick what fits:
Questions people ask
No! PoquitoTalk generates standard .mp3 audio voice clips and polite text that share directly into native WhatsApp chats. The recipient doesn't need any special app or setup.
Locals and service workers in Bocas del Toro are often driving boat taxis, on job sites, or managing busy schedules. Listening to a 10-second polite voice note in local Panamanian Spanish receives a 3x faster response rate than formal translated text!
Don't worry! You can still press hold-to-talk and record your voice note even with zero internet or 1-bar signal out on a boat. PoquitoTalk safely saves your message locally and automatically sends it the instant connection returns.
Your 50 Credits Pack or Pro Membership instantly unlocks Premium Voices across both our website and mobile app. Single voice notes use 1 credit, and credits never expire!
PoquitoTalk will soon be available on Google Play for Android devices; the web version currently offers only samples and the verified directory, not the full app functionality. iOS is planned for release Q1 2027.