Exotic Islands of Panama

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Updated 23 July 2014 Photo: Exotic Islands of Panama, Central America in collaboration with Visit Panama: Exotic Islands The Republic of Panama has a privileged geographic position bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and the south by the Pacific Ocean. It therefore has a plethora of islands varying in sizes and includes uninhabited pristine islets, national marine parks, as well as up-and-coming hipster and backpacker islands with a great nightlife. Caribbean islands have a different feeling due to the influence of the African culture, while other Caribbean Islands are inhabited by local indigenous tribes preserving their pre-Columbian traditions. The most popular islands in Panama are Bocas del Toro, San Blas (Guna Yala), Taboga, Coiba, and the Pearl Islands. The Pearl Islands is an archipelago that is comprised of 90 islands and 100 islets with the most popular being Isla Contadora, Isla San José, Isla Viveros and Isla Saboga. Top 5 Bluff Beach Bluff Beach located on Isla Colon is becoming a hot destination for beach lo... Boca del Drago This beautiful palm-fringed white sand beach is a 45 minute drive from town ... Starfish Beach This popular beach is located on Isla Colon and is a great place for swimmin... Isla Carenero Isla Carenero is a one minute boat ride from Isla Colon. The beach is on the... Wizard Beach Wizard Beach on Bastimentos Island offers swimming in certain areas, diving ...

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Transcript of Exotic Islands of Panama

Page 1: Exotic Islands of Panama

Updated 23 July 2014

Photo:

Exotic Islands of Panama, CentralAmerica

in collaboration with Visit Panama: Exotic Islands

The Republic of Panama has a privileged geographic position bordered on the north by theAtlantic Ocean and the south by the Pacific Ocean. It therefore has a plethora of islands varyingin sizes and includes uninhabited pristine islets, national marine parks, as well as up-and-cominghipster and backpacker islands with a great nightlife. Caribbean islands have a different feelingdue to the influence of the African culture, while other Caribbean Islands are inhabited by localindigenous tribes preserving their pre-Columbian traditions. The most popular islands in Panamaare Bocas del Toro, San Blas (Guna Yala), Taboga, Coiba, and the Pearl Islands. The Pearl Islandsis an archipelago that is comprised of 90 islands and 100 islets with the most popular being IslaContadora, Isla San José, Isla Viveros and Isla Saboga.

Top 5

Bluff BeachBluff Beach located on Isla Colon isbecoming a hot destination for beachlo...Boca del DragoThis beautiful palm-fringed white sandbeach is a 45 minute drive from town...Starfish BeachThis popular beach is located on IslaColon and is a great place forswimmin...Isla CareneroIsla Carenero is a one minute boat ridefrom Isla Colon. The beach is on the...

Wizard BeachWizard Beach on Bastimentos Islandoffers swimming in certain areas,diving ...

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Traveling by Airplane

Air Panama is the domestic airline traveling daily to Bocas del Toro, Isla Contadora, Isla San Jose and San Blas (GunaYala).

Address: Marcos A. Gelabert AirportPhone: +507 3169000Internet: www.airpanama.comEmail: [email protected]

Traveling by sea

Ferry services travel daily to Isla Taboga and the most popular islands in the Pearl Islands archipelago. For moreinformation about ferries, go to the transportation sectionof your island of choice.

Cash or credit card?

Most of the islands do not have banks or ATMs so it is important to bring enough cash for your trip. There arejust a few hotels and restaurants that do accept creditcards so it is important that you are prepared for cashtransactions. Also, it is not advisable to bring $100.00 or$50.00 dollar bills as people may not have change forthem, preferably bring $20.00, $10.00, $5.00 and plentyof $1.00 bills.

Safety

Panama is considered a safe country in which to travel, however we advise to exercise caution as you would in anyforeign land. Avoid ashing money or jewelry. Avoid going

alone into the jungle and any unknown territory.

BOCAS DEL TORO

Of all the tourism destinations in Panama, Bocas del Toro is the place where you can have it all!During the day you can take a tour to any of the amazing islands of the archipelago, sail, sunbathe, swim, surf,snorkel, hike, ride a bicycle around town, and visit anindigenous village or a botanical garden. At night you canliterally go bar hopping, participate in a talent night, go toa costume party, and dance by a shipwreck, nd excellentlive music, and best of all, no need to drive!Bocas is constantly changing and transforming itself. There’s always something new and by walking in thestreets, you can feel the energy of people coming andgoing who are happy and feel lucky to be there.

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ArrivalGuides goesArrivalTV!

BOCAS DEL TORO DO & SEE

Island Tours:

All of the activities may beorganized through the varioustour operators on the islands.Water taxis are less expensiveand make exploring theislands on your own a more

aordable option. If you plan on a more leisurely exploration of the islands, sailing may be the best optionfor you.

Diving:

The Bocas del Toro region ispart of the larger La Amistadarea, which, according to TheNature Conservancy, holdsBiosphere Reserve andUNESCO World Heritage Site

statuses for its rich ecosystems, including the reefs of Panama’s Bastimentos National Marine Park. The watersare inhabited by a wonderful variety of tropical reefcreatures including starsh, sting rays, nurse sharks,lobster, angel sh, parrot sh, damsel sh – the list isendless. Dive schools regularly visit up to 15 locations withdepth ranges from 2 to 18 meters inside the bay area.Many centers oer try-dives, open water courses andeducation right through to dive master. Some dive sitesinclude Crawl Cay, The Wreck, Hospital Point, Buoy Line,

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Playground and many more. The best time of year fordiving is April-May and Sept-October but there is goodvisibility year round.

Surfing

Bocas is one of the very fewCaribbean surf spots withgood sized waves. There maybe better and bigger waves inthe Pacic, but here, when yousurf, you do it in turquoise

waters, while you ride above colorful coral reefs or white sand.There are beach breaks, point breaks and reef breaks, lefts, and rights for all tastes and preferences. You can ndbreaks three minutes away from Isla Colon.The preferred surf spots are Wizard, Blu, Punch, The Point at Carenero and Tiger Tail.It is important to visit these spots with somebody who knows the area, especially if you will be surng over a reefbreak.

Spot dolphins

Visit Dolphin Bay and spotdolphins in their naturalhabitat.

Visit a chocolate farm

Bocas Del Toro is home tosome of the best cacao farmsin the world and chocolateartisans are ocking to theregion to grow, harvest andcreate chocolate libations to

satisfy any sweet tooth.Tours are readily available to learn about the process of farming and producing cocoa.

Birding

Bocas del Toro is one ofPanama's best places forbirding. According to theAudubon Society, one canspot 300+ species of birds ina day. Bird Island is named for

its glorious abundance of birds and can be accessed easilyby boat for $15.00 to $20.00 per person when the wateris calm. Bocas in general is a paradise for birdwatchersand nature enthusiasts. Planned birding tours include apreparatory talk about the geography and bird life in thearea of Red Frog National Park. During the tour you'll havethe opportunity to see and hear trogons, ant birds, forestwrens, pu birds, tanagers, parrots, mot-mots and manyother bird species. You can also visit other hot spots in theregion on some of the other islands.• Carenero • Bastimentos (Red Frog)• Bird Island

Visit a Nivida bat cave

Hire a boat captain at theBastimentos boat dock onMain Street or arrange a tourwith a tour operator and theywill navigate you up the BahiaHonda River. You will then

hike for about 20 minutes before reaching Bocas' most spectacular cave located in the Bastimentos NationalMarine Park. There’s a guide from the Bahia Hondacommunity who will take you through the cave. The watercomes up pretty high so expect to get wet. There areother bat caves in the area but not as impressive asNivida.

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Visit an indigenous tribeIf you’re looking for a dierentside of Bocas, you’ll nd ithidden in the indigenousvillages tucked away in theforests on every island. Theindigenous Ngöbe-Buglé and

Naso continue to live without modern luxuries such as running water, electricity and medicine. They know how toget around the forests of the islands and speak their ownlanguage, make their own clothing and crafts, and cureillnesses with local plants prepared by medicine menknown as curanderos. To learn more about living in thewild in these unspoiled communities, book a tour with anoperator or if you’re staying in a remote hotel, ask theowners, there may be a village nearby.

Kayaking/ Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)

Some hotels have their ownkayaks including Lula’s andCocomo but if you want to seethe islands and surroundingreefs up-close in a boat, youcan rent one at BiBi’s on the

beach in Carenero. Ask any boat driver to take you there from Isla Colon for $1.00. Kayak rentals are based onhourly rates. BiBi’s also rents Stand Up Paddle Boards andoers lessons hourly.

Bicycling

Explore Isla Colon on a scenicride all the way to Blu Beach.The bicycle is the mostpopular means oftransportation after watertaxis.

Finca Los MonosThis beautiful farm located onIsla Colon has largecollections of heleconias,gingers, palms, oweringtrees, fruits, spices andornamentals. While hiking

through the nca you may see howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and tiny colorful frogs. There is a wide variety offruits such as cacao, guava, mammee also known asmamey, nutmeg, passion fruit, pineapple, papaya,tamarind, and nine varieties of bananas, amongst others.A wide variety of birds call the farm home drawn by its abundance of fruit and owers.

Internet: www.bocasdeltorobotanicalgarden.com

Ziplining

The sky canopy tour onBastimentos Island is a greatrush for adventure seekers.You can spend the morningrelaxing at Red Frog beachand hike over to the canopy

tour for the ropes course and tons of treetop ziplining! There are seven zip lines and excellent tour guides that areknowledgeable and friendly. Kids are welcome but willhave to meet weight and height restrictions.

Dining

As in any coastal destination,seafood is the star and Bocasdel Toro is no exception. Fromhigh end to popular localstreet vendors, Bocas del Torooers a little bit of everything.

Popular dishes are “pulpo” octopus and “patacones” fried plantains among other Caribbean specialties. Manyrestaurants are on the water making the experience ascenic and entertaining one.

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Nightlife

When the sun goes down, themusic pumps up and Bocasdel Toro becomes a partytown. There are many nightclubs and bars on the water,cozy lounges, taverns and the

streets are packed with people going places until the wee hours. The atmosphere is beach casual and people fromall over the world mingle with the friendly locals.

BOCAS DEL TORO RESTAURANTS

Cosmic Crab Cafe

The Cosmic Crab Cafe locatedon Carenero features sh andseafood appetizers andentrees, as well as anextensive menu featuringdishes like Mango Chutney

Barbecue Ribs, and Jerusalem style Hummus. Crab cakes with a spicy remoulade is a Cosmic Crab Signature dish. Itcertainly has the most extensive and original cocktailmenu in Bocas. Joan Crabtree, Cosmic Crab owner andtop mixologist, serves up fabulous tasting cocktails suchas Hot & Dirty Martini or Sex in the Mud. The Margaritafamily at the Cosmic Crab is worth meeting.....Razzarita,Minty Maggie, Mango Margo, Passionate Rita, and the HotPassionate Rita - a jalapeño infused tequila with freshpassion fruit.

BOCAS DEL TORO HOTELS

Gran Hotel Bahia

Built in 1905, it is one of IslaColon’s oldest historicbuildings and was constructedto accommodate the mainoces of the United FruitCompany, today known as

Chiquita Brands International.Conveniently located close to all the main attractions on Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Gran Hotel Bahia oers 18spacious and comfortable rooms, all of them with airconditioning, cable TV and private bathrooms with hotwater. Its relaxing and friendly atmosphere makes you feelat home.After the latest renovation, the new Deluxe Plus rooms areavailable on the upper oor, each with a king size bed, fullsofa bed, mini-fridge and at panel TV. There also is aremodeled room on the lower oor to meet the needs ofguests with impaired mobility, with two double beds andall the facilities required for their convenience.

Address: 3rd St. & Ave. A, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, PanamaPhone: +507 7579626Internet: www.ghbahia.comEmail: [email protected]

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BOCAS DEL TORO BARS & NIGHTLIFE

Isla Colon's nightlife is without a doubt the most exciting and interesting of all destinations in Panama. This is theperfect place to go bar hopping and to meet all kinds ofpeople from locals to expats to tourists from all over theworld.

Barco Hundido

This is the most popularnightclub where music blastson the dock’s dance oorwhich surrounds a shipwrecklit by spotlights.

La Iguana

This is the place to dance tothe best DJ in town; what agreat selection of music!Hundreds of one dollar billscover the walls and the bar, allsigned and doodled on by

happy and enthusiastic travelers from all over the world.

Toro Loco

Good old rock and roll, a coldbeer, great food, a dartboard,live music, and your favoritesports game on the TV….hey,what else do you need?

BOCAS DEL TORO BESTDESTINATIONS

Bluff Beach

Blu Beach located on IslaColon is becoming a hotdestination for beach loungechilling and has a reputationfor great surng.

Boca del Drago

This beautiful palm-fringedwhite sand beach is a 45minute drive from town on theother side of Isla Colon. It is aprime location for swimming,snorkeling, and relaxing.

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Starfish BeachThis popular beach is locatedon Isla Colon and is a greatplace for swimming. Manystarsh hang out in theshallow water near the shore.It can only be reached by

water taxi.

Isla Carenero

Isla Carenero is a one minuteboat ride from Isla Colon. Thebeach is on the back-side ofthe island with shallow clearwaters welcoming swimmers.Near Bibi’s beach, there is a

large shallow area called “the kiddie pool” by locals which is a great place to hang out in the water and wade inshallow pools. Ask the boat driver to drop you o at Bibi’sor Peter Kent´s for dock access. All beaches are public.The boat to the beach is approximately $2.00 and theboat to the public dock is $1.00. It´s a 10-15 minute slowpace walk around the island from the public dock to get tothe beaches.

Wizard Beach

Wizard Beach on BastimentosIsland oers swimming incertain areas, diving atDolphin Rock, snorkeling andsurng. This beach is good forlearning to surf as there are

no rocks, and the waves aren’t high.

Red Frog BeachThis beach is located onBastimentos Island and is oneof Panama’s most beautifulsurf and swimming beaches.This is the only place in theworld where the red poison

dart frog lives in its natural habitat. Food and drinks are sold in the recently refurbished bar. There are high-endrentals available as well as a hostel for budget travelers, adeep water marina, and soon to open zip lines.

Coral Cay also called Crawl Cay

This small island nearBastimentos is a perfectsnorkeling destination whereyou can spot all kinds of coraland sh. This is one of the fewplaces where you can grab a

meal while out on day tour and therefore is almost always a regular pit stop for most boat tours.

Cayos Zapatillas

Cayos Zapatillas oer some ofthe best skin diving in themarine park, windward fromCrawl Cay. The variety ofunderwater ecosystemsincludes fan gardens and coral

reefs. Choose from a variety of depths and currents to suityour skills. More intrepid and experienced divers canexplore a series of nearby caves at a depth of 40 feet andrequire underwater lights. Cayos Zapatillas are part of aNational Park.

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BOCAS DEL TORO USEFUL TIPS

ATM

There are 2 ATMs on IslaColon, both located in BancoNacional on the way to theairport. Currency related:Although credit cards areaccepted in some businesses,

many restaurants and tour operators have a cash only policy. Make sure to use small denomination bills,especially when dealing with water taxis.Insect repellent: This is a must - either buy the traditional brands, or the local coconut oil based repellent, as sandies can be annoying in dierent seasons.

Drinking water

Do not drink tap water.Remember to bring bottledwater when touring theislands.

BOCAS DEL TORO EVENTS

The Ocean Fair “Feria del Mar”

This is an annual celebration featuring the local traditions including live music, dance and cuisine. They also holdmotor boat and rowing competitions and even a shingtournament.September 15th to 21st.

BOCAS DEL TOROTRANSPORTATION

By Airplane

Air Panama – Panama’s only domestic airline ies to Bocas del Toro with three scheduled ights 6:30 a.m.,3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Air tickets cost $282.70 roundtrip. (Prices updated in July 2014)

Phone: +507 3169000Internet: www.airpanama.com

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By bus

The bus station in Panama City is located at Albrook Mall – tickets to Almirante, Bocas del Toro can be purchased atwickets in the terminal or by phone. Tickets from Panamato Almirante cost $28.00. Once you have reached theAlmirante port, take a water taxi to Isla Colon also knownas Bocas. A one way trip to Bocas is approximately $4.00for tourists and $3.00 for locals. Boats depart every 30minutes to Bocas starting at 6:00 a.m. and nishing at6:00 p.m. If you arrive at the port after 6 p.m., you willhave to stay overnight in a nearby hotel which is not ideal.The boat ride from Almirante to Isla Colon takes about 25to 30 minutes.

Taxis

Rides within downtown cost $0.50 cents, transportation from downtown to the airport costs $1.00. Passengersheading to and from Playa Tortuga may pay up to $2.00per ride.

Water taxi

To reach the nearby islandsand beaches, you can hiretaxis operating motorizedboats. As a general rule, youshould always sort out therate beforehand, and clarify

whether it is for one way or round trip. From Isla Colon to most destinations on Carenero, rates range between $1.00and $2.00. For longer trips, the rates will be higher. Forexample, to Old Bank Bastimentos, the rate will runaround $4.00; boat trips to Red Frog, approximately$6.00 while distant destinations like Zapatilla will costaround $25.00 to $30.00 per person. Try to negotiatenicely and remember the drivers are not trying to rip youo, they are providing a service and trying to support theirfamilies.

BicycleDaily rentals are a maximumof $10.00 at Island Bicycles.Take them for a test drivebefore heading on any longride to ensure everything isworking.

ATV rentals

Renting ATV vehicles requires a valid driver’s license. Prices start from $70 per day.

THE PEARL ISLANDS

One of the country’s best kept secrets is only 15 minutes by plane from Panama City and just over an hour and ahalf by ferry through the Bay of Panama.The Pearl Islands is an archipelago of hundreds of islands and islets, many uninhabited. Although located oPanama’s Pacic Coast, the islands have a distinctlyCaribbean feel with white sand beaches and turquoisewaters. Oshore, however, waters are teeming with a richPacic marine life, perfect for diving, snorkeling, sailing,sports shing and spotting dolphins and whales.Named by Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa for the abundance of pearls he encountered upon discoveringthe archipelago in 1513, the islands are also known forproducing the largest recorded pearl in the world, "LaPeregrina", which once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor.

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PEARL ISLANDS DO & SEE

Contadora Island

The most developed island isContadora with its luxuriousvillas and a handful of hotelsand restaurants. In the days ofthe Spanish conquistadors,the island was used to store

and count gold (hence the name which means bookkeeperin Spanish). It remained relatively undisturbed until the1960s, when construction began on a large resort, andContadora became the choice getaway spot for wealthyPanamanians and foreigners, including Jimmy Carter, JulioIglesias and Iran’s exiled Shah Reza Pahlavi.

San Jose Island

South of Contadora is Isla SanJose, the second largest islandof the archipelago and hometo one of Panama’s mostexclusive island resorts,Hacienda del Mar.

PEARL ISLANDS BEST ACTIVITIES

Whale Watching

Humpback whales passthrough Panamanian watersbetween June and Octoberduring their migration andspecialized companies oeramazing tours catering to all

budgets and interest levels.

Snorkeling & Diving

Whether you are anexperienced scuba diver orjust a beginner, the pearlislands oer a greatunderwater experience andSCUBA professionals can help

you explore the abundance of marine life in the Pearl Islands.

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PEARL ISLANDS TRANSPORTATION

Traveling by Airplane

Air Panama is the domestic airline traveling daily to Isla Contadora. San Jose is a private island so before you bookyour ight with Air Panama, you have to make your hotelreservation at Hacienda del Mar. Round trip air tickets toIsla Contadora and Isla San Jose cost $162.23. (Pricesupdated in July 2014)

Traveling by sea

There are two ferry services traveling to Isla Contadora, Ferry Las Perlas leaves from Trump Ocean Club with around trip rate of $95.00 per person, while Sea Las Perlasdeparts from the Balboa Yacht Club on the AmadorCauseway and charges $90.00 per person round trip fee.(Prices updated in July 2014)

SAN BLAS DO & SEE

Snorkeling

The best snorkeling in theComarca is found around Isladel Perro, also known asAchutupo. A ship was wreckedhere in the 1940s and it isnow covered with amazing

coral and is home to a vast array of tropical marine life.

Fishing

The best shing is foundaround Cayos Holandeses, oneof the most northern of theislands, about 1.5 hours fromPorvenir by a small boat.Since the water here is

deeper, there are some larger sh and some sharks, making this a great place for snorkeling as well as shing.

Beachcombing

For beach lovers, Kuna Yala isa true paradise. With so manypristine beaches, it is hard tosay which is the best, butamong the most popular areIsla Pelicano and Isla del Perro

(Achutupo).

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Food in the areaOne of the highlights of a visitto the Kuna Yala is the food.Lobster, conch, octopus andsh are the staples here,usually served with arroz concoco (coconut rice).

Sailing

Sailing has long been popularin the area, although therehave been some problemsbetween the chartercompanies and the Kunacongress , so charters are less

common now than they were previously. Private yachts, however, are still common in the area. These are mainlyseen around Chicheme, Cayos Holandeses and GreenIsland, where there are good anchorage points.

Jungle Trails

Isla Pino is the only island inthe Comarca which hasmountains, so this is a greatplace to nd wild animals,including deer, wildcats andsnakes. This is also a good

spot for birdwatching.

Shopping

Since the Kuna economy isbased largely on tourism, theislanders urge visitors topurchase their handicrafts,whether it is a mola,woodcarving or palm-woven

basket. Opportunities to purchase molas and other handicrafts are in no short supply. You will nd Kunasselling their wares almost everywhere.

Photography

Note that you will also beasked to pay $1 for everyphoto you take of the people.

Museums

There are 2 museums in theregion, one in Carti and one inPorvenir. The better of the twois the museum at El Porvenir,which features informationabout the Kuna Congress, an

exhibition of molas, tinajas (bowls for carrying water-plant pot), and more. There is also an interesting video aboutthe Kuna culture made in 1980 but since it lasts 1.5 hours,most tourists don’t get a chance to see it.

SAN BLAS USEFUL TIPS

Passport or ID

Always bring your passportand if you are Panamanian besure to have your ID with you.San Blas is close to theColombian border and thereare many sailboats coming

from the Caribbean islands so there is a chance that government authorities may ask for your ID and if you

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don’t have it, you will be asked to go and get it and thatcan be highly inconvenient.

No $100 dollar bills

Bring small denomination bills,$1, $5, $10 and $20. Some ofthe islands have an admissioncharge of $1 or $2 and youwill not get change for a$100. Also, there are no ATMs

in the tourist areas.

Respect

Please respect the Kuna´sculture and traditions. Forinstance, don’t walk into agraveyard and always ask forpermission before takingsomeone´s photo.

SAN BLAS TRANSPORTATION

Travel by airplane

Air Panama has daily ights from Panama City to Achutupo, Carti, Corazon de Jesus, El Porvenir, Rio Siderand Playon Chico. Be aware that the airplane service tothis area operates like a bus service, and ights are rarelydirect, usually landing and taking o on various islandsbefore reaching your destination. Round trip tickets rangebetween $186.00 and $184.00 (Prices updated in July2014)

Travel by car

The best way to travel is by car and it is only a 2 ½ drive from Panama City to the port. There are 3 ports, Carti,Yandup and Tupile and depending on your destination, theboat ride will take between 15 minutes and 1 hour.

TABOGA ISLAND

The island of owers, as it is known, is just one hour by ferry from the Amador Causeway in Panama City. Thispopular haunt for pirates from days of yore is now asleepy little island perfect for enjoying a day in the sun,swimming or practicing watersports. There are a fewhotels and restaurants available and, for the energetic,there is a good hike up to a viewing point on a hill.This island is a favorite well to do Panamanian weekend getaway, especially for its proximity to Panama city,although it may take 1 hour for the ferry ride but fasterboats can reach Isla Taboga in 20 to 30 minutes.

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TABOGA DO & SEE

Getting to know the island

Either hiking to the top of theisland or walking around townis a good way to exploreTaboga and to learn about itshistory and interesting facts.

Boat touring

Hire a boat for a tour aroundthe island.

Snorkeling

Taboga has good spots forsnorkeling; make sure to askyour hotel or tour guide aboutthe best spots for snorkeling.Beware, there is a strongundertow at the tip of the

main beach so inquire about safety when going in the water.

TABOGA EVENTS

The Ocean Fair “Feria del Mar”

This is an annual celebration featuring the local traditions including live music, dance and cuisine. They also holdmotor boat and rowing competitions and even a shingtournament.September 15th to 21st.

TABOGA TRANSPORTATION

There are two ferries traveling daily to Isla Taboga; Calypso which takes an hour to reach Taboga and charges$14.00 for a round trip, and National Tours Ferry whichhas smaller and faster boats that take around 30 minutesto reach the island and charges $16.00 for a round trip toTaboga. (Prices update in July 2014)

PopulationBocas del Toro: 125,461 inhabitantsContadora Island: 115 inhabitantsTaboga Island: 1,629 inhabitants

CurrencyUnited States Dollar / Balboa

Internet

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www.visitpanama.com

NewspapersLa PrensaPanama AmericaLa Estrella de Panama

Emergency numbers911

Tourist informationwww.visitpanama.com

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