Bocas del Toro

Bocas town on Isla colon.






Isla Bastimento.






Isla Escudo de Veraguas




This is a Continental Archipelago on Panama's East coast.
It doesn't have much WaveSailing potential but the surfing is surprisingly OK
for being in the Caribbean "lake" without any hope of ever receiving a real swell.
The diving is also merely OK, definitely NOT World class.


Here are some photos from around Bocas del Toro town.


































Having superb food on the "Nomad" moored off Bocas town.


Isla Carenero.








Photos of the East coast of Isla Colon below.






















Calling all surfers ! ....you like?....you like???


One more then.......


One more.......


















Photos of Bastimentos town below.




























Heading around to the Oceanside of Bastimento with William
to see a local surfing competition in a splendid setting.
































Cayos Sapatillas are the pride and joy of Bocas del Toro.


They are the most "tropical paradise"-like of the lot.


























Underwater off the Sapatillas.





























Bocas del Toro has become a Gringo haven to the degree that
One can now spy plenty of "Not for Sale" signs while cycling about the Island.
Prices have risen accordingly, Bocas is no longer dirt cheap. Having investigated this place for
a week I really can't see what the fuzz is all about....Bocas really doesn't have a whole lot going for it....
lots of Mangroves, no "attractions" worth mentioning, mediocre diving, an average sort of "gringo trail" town....
doesn't add up to much in the end. It was OK, but no need to return, once is enough, thank you Bocas. Now, off to Guatemala !

P.S. Panama has many more interesting areas than the ones we went to on this visit.
It has another archipelago not unlike Bocas called San Blas also on the Caribbean coast.
It has the popular Islas las Perlas right off of Panama city and another fabulous Island
on the Pacific coast called Isla Coiba (National Park) which is arguably Panama's finest
attraction and then there's the infamous Darien Gap, connecting North America to South America.
The Darien is full of drug traffickers, guerrillas, Jaguars and steamy jungle, it's considered
off-limits to casual backpackers as the chances of making it through unscathed are exceedingly
SLIM. That's a LOT for such a tiny Country ! Panama is also reasonably cheap, uses USD.