PANAMA, Sailing, San Blas Islands

March 29, 2019

Flew from New Orleans to Panama City, Panama and stayed at Hostel for 2 nights before busing to Portobello and boat crew meeting on the 31st. Had seen sights in Panama City on previous visit so chilled 1st 2 nights.

We set sail with 10 passengers from England, Scotland, Germany, Netherlands and US at 6 pm on April 1st. We sailed all night through pretty rough seas, thank you Dramamine,  and arrived at the 1st of the San Blas Islands we would visit. Spent nice day on uninhabited island and set sail again during the next morning for a 30 minute cruise to a bigger, uninhabited island where we put up hammocks and enjoyed snorkeling, sunning and snoozing for 2 days. Then 40 hours (2 nights) of rough seas to Cartagena arriving at 6 am on April 6th. Enjoyed the overall experience, not the rough seas, but Captain Paul and his partner Sindry made it a great experience. Thanks for the great food Sindry.

PANAMA, Boquette

I spent a couple of days in Boquette after traveling all day by bus from Quepos. Boquette is a coffee producing area with a 3500 meter volcano close by. I had planned on climbing it but it rained for 2 days and there was no end in sight. You are supposed to be able to see the Carribean and the Pacific at the same time if there is good weather. I was also unable to visit the coffee plantations. Another reason to come back and visit again.

PANAMA, Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro is an island on the Carribean coast and the number one tourist destination in Panama. You first have to take a water taxi to the island which takes about 45 minutes. I spent 5 days here relaxing on the beach. There is a very Jamaican vibe on the Carribean coast in Central America. While the beaches at Bocas del Toro were not as beautiful as the nearby island, Bastimentas, it was definitely party central for the young college students.

PANAMA, Isle of Bastimentas

A 15 minute boat ride from Bocas takes you to the Isle of Bastimentas, the home of the most beautiful beaches in the area.The walk to the beach was 30 minutes through the jungle unless it was raining which it was the first day, then it is an hour of slipping and sliding. I spent 3 days here including going on a tour to watch the leatherback turtles nest on the beach at night. It was amazing. We left the hostel at 9:30 pm for the 40 minute boat ride to the other side of the island. We then sat on the beach until the guides located some of the nesting turtles. We were not able to use flashlights or flashes on our cameras but the moon was full and we had excellent light on the beach. We watched the leatherback turtle lay over 50 eggs in the hole it had dug. We were only 1 to 2 ft. away from the turtle. One of the park rangers put a flashlight on the back of the turtle so we could watch the egg laying.

Afterwards, the turtle covered the eggs and returned to the ocean. Truly, one of those special moments. We got back to the hostel at 3 am. exhausted.