Bocas del Toro, Panama

I should explain to you the madness that ensues on the roads of Central America. It is one thing to drive fast while on a straight road, but it is a completely new game when you drive the same speeds on windy roads. These roads are nothing like the Mario Kart roads from back home...they are a whole new level of difficulty. Bus drivers wiz around sharp corners and cars veer into the opposite lane constantly, all while the imminent threat of certain death hangs out on the side of the road in the form of a jungly cliff.  This morning we caught the 8 am boat out of bocas del toro ($5 for a 30 minute ride? yes please!).  We took a taxi from Almitante to Changuinola .. racing through small rainforesty roads.  As we turned a corner, there was a semi truck coming straight for us.  He was attempting to pass about 5 other cars in a no passing zone, but was wildly unsuccessful.  Our driver slammed on his breaks and swerved to the "side of the road"...which is more like a very small patch of dirt followed by death.  We barely missed it...the cab driver hung his head out the window shouting obsceneties while the semi driver drove on.  Near death experience #1on this trip.  

That's my dramatic story for the day...onto my adventures in Bocas del Toro (which I keep refering to as Boca di Beppo).  

We left Puerto Villejo early in the morning for Panama.  A bus will get you to the boarder, you hop out, go through immigration, walk across the boarder, go through immigration on the other side, catch another bus and BAM!  done.  Crossing the boarder into Panama was not so much of a big deal...except the actual crossing part of it.  A river seperates the 2 countries in this area, with an old (VERY old) train track/bridge joining the 2 sides.  The tracks aren't used anymore for anything other than walking across the boarder.  Several of the railroad boards are missing, but more boards are placed over in a "walk the plank" fashion.  I managed to not fall through any holes, although I did witness a man on a bicycle biff it.

Bocas was another couple of hours away from the boarder (shuttle, boat, 2 minute walk).  Bocas del Toro is made up of several islands, the main being Isla Colòn. We stayed at a nice little hostel called Hostel Hansi.

 

The islands have many activities including zip lining, hikes, snorkeling, surfing, etc...none of which we did...I just thought I'd let you know ;)...  We did a lot of walking around the main island, grocery shopping, more walking.  We went to an awesome bar with some friends from Pacuare, where the turtle project is.  It's right on the ocean, built around a ship wreck.  

BONUS STORY: We went to a different bar the next night...ragae style place.  The 4 of us were sitting at a table in the corner of a mostly empty room (one 1 other guy).  All of a sudden, several policemen came in..at least 10 of them..They shined a light over in our direction but went straight to the other guy sitting in the corner.  They were there for maybe 10 minutes talking to that guy and looking for drugs around the bamboo pipes that made up the wall.  They ended up leaving with that guy and one other.  We obviously didn't do anything wrong...but it's still intimidating when the establishment is rushed with guys carrying M-16s over their shoulder!

On the last day we found these delicious kabobs..let's just call them crack kabobs.  And that was our final meal... a $3 dinner.

The other islands are also very simple to get to.  Water taxis are constantly running between the islands.  

We visited Red Frog Beach and Turtle Beach on Isla Bastimentos.  I was completely in awe of the views these beaches had to offer.  We went to Red Frog the first day, swimming in the warm, crystal clear water.  

and I got to play with the waterproof camera...

While leaving to catch the boat back to Bocas, we discovered Turtle Beach.  It had even BETTER views, and was completely empty.  We went back for another day on this beach...the sand flies kept us in the water most of the time.

Overall...I love this place!  It has a nice, laid-back feel and is completely gorgeous. I can't wait to return!  For now...we are on to explore the west coast of Costa Rica for a few days.  

~Jac