What You Should Know About Tito, the Crocodile of Coiba

Coiba National Park · A true story

For more than a year, nobody has seen Tito.

He grew up among the most feared prisoners in Panama and became the king of the beach. This is his story, and the question everyone in Coiba is asking.

Lunchtime at the Coiba prison, more than 30 years ago. The cook walks down to a little wooden bridge with a plate of scraps and shouts one word: “Tito!”

For a moment, nothing. Then the water under the bridge starts to move.

Most people have dogs or cats. Some keep exotic birds or goldfish. In Coiba, they adopted a wild American crocodile. To understand how that happened, you first need to know the island where Tito grew up.

A Prison With No Bars

From 1919 and for almost a century, Coiba Island was the place where Panama sent its most dangerous convicts, to serve their sentence or simply to disappear. More than 3,000 inmates lived there, and most of them were never locked behind iron bars. So why didn’t they escape?

Because the island itself was the guard. Thick jungle full of venomous snakes, and giant crocodiles watching the river mouths and the beaches. Anyone who made it past the jungle still had to face the open sea and Coiba’s powerful currents. There was no way out.

When the prison closed in 2004, the island became one of the largest marine parks in the world and the home of the last stands of tropical moist forest on the Pacific side of Central America. Its waters hold about 800 species of marine fish, 33 species of sharks and 23 species of whales and dolphins, and the island adds 36 land mammals, about 147 species of birds and more than 40 amphibians and reptiles. Curious about the full list? Here it is.

The convicts left. The crocodiles stayed. And one of them was already famous.

Who Is Tito?

Resident ID · Coiba National ParkTitoSpeciesAmerican crocodileLengthMore than 3 metersWeightAbout 200 kilosHomeThe beach behind the Gambute ranger stationIn Coiba sinceMore than 30 years agoFamous forShowing up when someone called his name

Imagine a pet the size of a small dinosaur. Seeing Tito always causes shock, surprise and a little fear, and none of that ever stopped anyone from wanting to see him. But here is the part almost nobody knows: Tito was not born in Coiba.

Tito’s Untold Story, in Six Chapters

A Private Beach Behind the Ranger Station

For years, the park rangers spoiled him with fish bones and chicken scraps. When they called him, he walked out onto the sand for his snack, or to pose for a photo with a daring tourist.

Many visitors never found him. He would disappear for days to look for food, or to visit his wife on another beach. We lovingly call her Tita.

Meet the Couple: Tito and Tita

The kingTito, the SurvivorHe often came back from his trips badly beaten after territorial fights with younger males, and he even survived fishermen’s hooks. He had his own doctor: a Panamanian crocodile biologist who has spent his life studying and protecting these reptiles.

The queenTita, the Top ModelMuch younger than Tito and just as photogenic, she lets anyone who dares to get close take her picture. How close would you get to a girl with a smile like that?

Movies turn crocodiles into terrifying, misunderstood creatures. Their looks hide that they are living beings that can form bonds with those who care for them, just like dogs, horses and many other animals.

So, Where Is Tito Now?

Back to where we started. For more than a year, Tito has not shown up on his beach behind the ranger station. Rangers still look for him, and guides still scan the shoreline every time a boat arrives.

Nobody knows if the king of the beach is still out there. Crocodiles can disappear for long stretches, and Coiba has plenty of quiet rivers to hide in. Maybe he is simply enjoying his privacy after 30 years of fame.

From $950 / boatCoiba · Private boat · Up to 6Go Look for the King of the BeachWe cannot promise Tito, but Coiba always delivers: sea turtles, reef fish of every color and empty beaches. Granito de Oro, its most famous islet, is now closed for conservation.See the snorkeling tour →

Not sure how to get there? Here is how to get to Coiba, step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there crocodiles in Panama?

Yes. Panama is home to the American crocodile, which lives in mangroves, river mouths, lakes and coastal islands on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides, and to the spectacled caiman, a smaller species found in rivers and freshwater lakes.

Are crocodiles in Panama dangerous?

Crocodile attacks in Panama are rare, but American crocodiles are large wild predators. Keep a safe distance, do not swim near river mouths or mangroves at dusk, and never feed them, because feeding teaches them to approach people.

Who is Tito the crocodile?

Tito is an American crocodile who arrived in Coiba as a young pet more than 30 years ago, when the island was still a prison. He grew up around inmates, rangers and fishermen and became the most famous resident of Coiba National Park.

Is Tito the crocodile still alive?

Nobody knows for sure. Tito has not been seen on his beach behind the ranger station for more than a year. Crocodiles can vanish for long periods, so rangers and guides keep looking for him.

Is it safe to snorkel in Coiba National Park?

Yes. Snorkeling in Coiba happens over reefs and around islands in open water, far from the river mouths where crocodiles live. Our guides choose each spot according to the tide and the conditions of the day.

Special thanks to Francis Pérez y Andis Batista, for collaborating with us.